Question about shipping damage

Just a thought, and I'm not trying to accuse anyone, but the buyer may have damaged the amp while unpacking or installing in his system, and now he's trying to cover the problem. I'm sure things like this happen, but there is no way to ever know. Best to just care of it as soon as possible, and then forget about it. Good luck!

I agree with TLs49, you are going to make bad deals now and then .

UPS at one point had a policy on vintage electronics that unless the makers packing materials and boxes were used, no insurance money would be paid. I think that policy is still ineffective regardless of whether the UPS store paced the item.

First of all, in regards to your original post, NEVER have the amp sent back, as that will void any insurance that you purchased. Always contact the shipping agent and they will send out their inspector to investigate and pick up the damaged item.

Second, you should be alright in claims if you use the original manufacturer's packaging, or have the item packaged by an authorized shipping agent. If you pack by yourself and do not use original manufacturer's packaging, you might as well save money on the insurance, as you will never receive any damage claim. Do not over insure, as the claim will only be processed to the amount that you can prove that you received for the item. This is to keep folks from ripping off the shipping agents by shipping damaged goods that they sold for $500 and insured for $1000 from making money at the expense of the shipping agent. Yes, sharks are everywhere.

Lastly, I have received full insurance payment for damaged goods when the box was undamaged. In my case it was a power conditioner in the original manufacturer's packaging (I always keep the original packaging). It was determined that the damage was caused by a "flat drop". In this situation, the box could be dropped straight down from a height of 6-8 feet and fall completely flush on one of it's sides. In which case the box could show no signs of visible damage, but sensitive electronic equipment inside could still sustain damage. In my case, the glass meter cover cracked. I was refunded the full amount. Good luck.

When I shipped a bike frame, UPS drove a forklift blade through the box and snapped the carbon fiber chain stay right off. They denied my claim through three appeals. Their (the outside company UPS contracts to deny...errr...process claims) reasoning was that I packed the bike myself and it was inadequate. Never mind that I used an original Competitive Cyclist heavy duty box, zipped tied the frame to an internal full size, heavy duty cardboard plate in 10 different places, and placed foam around frame, stays, and forks.

I have purchased/received/shipped many frames and the only way this frame could have been damaged is if they ran a forklift though it or possibly drove over it with a semi-truck. Since there was a big hole in the box right where the chain stay was snapped, I would say any rational human being would acknowledge that UPS was responsible. Unfortunately, UPS looks at claims purely as a cost to be minimized by denying and stalling, rather than an element of customer service.

Advice: find a way to punch out of the contracted company that is processing the claim. I tried three times and was unsuccessful. Eventually, by dumb luck, I managed to contact a high level UPS executive through business contacts, explained it was a personal shipment, but that I was very frustrated with the claims process and the outcome. He took my info, told me someone would contact me in 30 min, and they would help resolve it. In 3 days we got it resolved to my satisfaction.