Safe Shipping, Fact or Fiction

2chnlben,

You have posed several excellent questions. I am sure there are some horror stories out there but I can report over 40 items either sent or received by me without loss or contents damage. UPS did once deliver an item back to the sender and they came seriously close to damaging the amplifier I received last week. It only traveled a couple of hundred miles but UPS managed to put a large puncture through both boxes. The only thing that saved the amp was the space between the two boxes and the space between the amplifier and the internal box. The "rubbery" foam spacers also helped.

I am not a fan of either UPS or FedEx. They have done some major damage to more than one box but so far the contents have survived. You asked for honest feedback and that is MY experience.

You asked about tactics that can help to protect the shipment. I always insure and require a signature. That way a box can't be abandoned and mysteriously disappear. I always use the factory packaging. That saved my latest delivery and possibly others.

Full disclosure: I have never shipped or received speakers via UPS or FedEx. That could be a whole 'nother story.

Make sure the seller is willing to double box and that he/she knows how to pack well. Usually someone with high feedback is an experienced shipper/ packer. I read the feedback to determine thier packing skills. I personally have never had a piece damaged in transit. OTOH, large speakers require a whole different strategy.

Electronics, including amplifiers, preamplifiers and source machines that are shipped with their original inner packaging and outer boxes have always been safely delivered to me. Double boxing is helpful, but has not been necessary.

Speakers shipped via UPS, Fedex and Bax Global in their original boxes have been damaged. I do not recommend shipping speakers unless it's only within one shipping zone or between two zones. A cross country shipment of speakers is a problem waiting to happen.

Shipping via air has less possibility of damage because it's handled fewer times. This is also why ground shipping within a zone, or between two zones is safer...less handling.

Thank you. I'm interested in an amp from a member with impeccable feedback. I have no reservations about the seller, but I know of those who have had problems with shippers/carriers. Worse, I know guys who used to work at “XYZ” carriers...scary, scary! I think I'll just have to take the "plunge!"

Use Tvad's wisdom and make sure the seller has the manufactor's packing materials and box and have it shipped by air.

Make sure it is a tube amp as they ship better than SS. =8^)