Re: Is it true that Fedex won't insure vintage audio gear?
- From: Patrick Turner <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2005 03:07:20 GMT
w_oland wrote:
> On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 20:02:49 -0400, Jon Yaeger wrote:
>
> > I had a bidder tell me that Fedex won't honor claims for audio gear
> > damaged in transit.
> >
> > Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this?
> >
> > There is no clear disclaimer and it seems to me that if you state the
> > value and identify the contents, once the shipper accepts it they are
> > obligated to honor damage claims.
>
> Actually you can get into a fuss with any shipper over anything you send.
> Doesn't have to be FedEx and doesn't have to be vintage audio equipment.
>
> One issue is the valuation. Just because you declare an item worth $1000
> doesn't mean that's what they pay in the event of loss or damage. When you
> buy a new mass market product, the value is pretty clear. The items are
> $39.95 or $399 or whatever. When you're talking older equipment with a
> limited or highly variable market, that's where you run into problems.
>
> If a claim is made, the shipper is going to investigate the going prices
> for similar items. If you insured a Dynaco ST70 for $1000 when they
> routinely sell for $300ish on eBay, you're probably going to have a tough
> time collecting the grand, not matter how "special" your unit was.
>
> Another issue is proper packaging. Someone who sends a package has an
> obligation to safely pack their item. A poor packing job can also cause
> problems if a damage claim is made. I've bought a number of things on eBay
> over the years and am occasionally stunned by wholly inadequate shipping
> container and packing. It's only been by the grace of God that some of the
> stuff has arrived in one piece.
When shipping old tube gear you should have 50mm at least of styrene foam
board
between any protusion such as binding posts and switches to the cardboard case
which should be a couple of layers thick, and taped up with nearly a roll of
tape.
Tube gear has lots of weight, and tends to crush foam packaging when dropped.
The bigger the amp, the thicker the styrene must be, so for a 30Kg item that's
only a
cubic foot in size, 75mm foam should be used, and all this bulk puts up the
cost of shipping,
which ppl don't wanna pay.
Where possible you specify that your're not interested in completing a deal if
the packing isn't done right.
But ebay is the land of where stuff is sold off to get rid of problems.
Most of the stuff I ppl buy makes it here ok but 1/2 of it has serious faults,
some so serious it cannot be used at all, like blown OPTs, noisy power
trannies,
so shopping at ebay is a risk, a lottery.
Assume your item will be dropped 6 feet to a concrete floor from a conveyor
belt.
Pack the tubes separately.
Even then, don't expect nil breakages.
I had a client who had a cathedral timber radio made in 1933 shipped from the
US,
and it was all matchwood and broken glass on arrival.
It was packed OK, but it seems it was in a shipping container that was
dropped,
and the radio crushed under tonnes of goodness knows what, so plywood crates
are
good made from rebated 17mm structural ply, and screwed carefully together
and banded with the foam inside to stop the item from ramming the
walls of the crate during a drop.
Expect that like my client with a radio that you won't get any claim paid
unless you win in court, a process that isn't worth the hassle unless the item
is an Amati violin worth 3 million $.
Here in Oz I use Cope Transport and you pay a litle more but there
is no need for insurance, since they take the care.
Patrick Turner.
.
- Follow-Ups:
- References:
- Is it true that Fedex won't insure vintage audio gear?
- From: Jon Yaeger
- Re: Is it true that Fedex won't insure vintage audio gear?
- From: w_oland
- Is it true that Fedex won't insure vintage audio gear?
- Prev by Date: Re: Mystery OPT
- Next by Date: Re: Hickok 580 - Question about using tube specs instead of roll chart.
- Previous by thread: Re: Is it true that Fedex won't insure vintage audio gear?
- Next by thread: Re: Is it true that Fedex won't insure vintage audio gear?
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
