This isn't ment as a bitch thread and not intended to flame anyone but mearly highlight a situation one could find themselves in as i indeed did.
Back in December last year i placed an order for a new Friedman BE-100 with extra mod (BE-HBE switch mod), paid in full and paid via paypal gift as the fees would have been pass on to myself etc.
I had sold my VH4 in order to fund this purchase as i am of limited means etc so it ment that i would be without a decent amp during the period of waiting.
After several delays (2.5 months after its initial build time) it finally shipped on March this year through USPS to England, but somewhere between US and UK it dissapeared....nearly $4000 worth of amp vanished in to thin air with out trace and No-one could account for where it went? USPS couldn't find it, UK receivers/delivery said that it still waiting on it to arrive UK customs?? a case of its gone bye-byes and you ain't seeing it again.
After several weeks I had near enough resigned to the fact that i had lost $4000 and still had no decent amp in the mean time, but was fortunate to have a cousin who had a VH4 which help me out when i needed a good amp.
It has taken many months of over-time working just to get back to where i had started prior to buying the Friedman last year, and was working towards getting funds to get a replacement BE-100.
About a week and a half ago i got a steal on a CLR attomic cab in the US and bought it and was expecting its arrival here in England, i got customs order of amount to pay (little sooner than expected?) and i paid then paid extra for a Saturday delivery (yesterday) and at 9.55 am i got the knock on my door...
Delivery guy didn't have a Atomic CLR... He was standing there with a beat up Cameron amp box in head shape and i was like WTF?? that ain't no CLR??
Signed for it and open it up and there it was the Friedman BE-100. I was completey Gob-smacked!
Given the condition of its box i was like dumb-founded, couldn't really let it sink in that it's here? I was happy yet confused at the same time but was curious as to whether it was in working condition as the box had received abuse, it was shunted on it botton left side and holed and left a damage mark on the bottom left back side of the BE-100 amp.
I also could not believe that a $3500 amp could be shipped internationally in a single box with no packing and just an inch thick corner foam paddings which allowed an inch clearance all around the amp but the feet touching the bottom?? (i thought of Steve-k's Gillyaron perdicament) i mean C'mon, whats with these high$$ stuff being sent out in limited packaging?? when i bought a Diezel Hagen few years back it came double box with packing and 2.5 - 3 inch foam corner paddings etc??.
Anyways... the BE-100 is not working and have tried a band mates power tubes to see it if was minor tube issue... its not and i am like jeez after 7 months from it being declared lost i get it to only have to comtemplate sending it all the way back to LA to get fixed??
Only plus side right now is that i have the amp and its found and means the money is not lost,
Guess i am looking at the glass half full as opposed to half empty when it was considered lost.
The CLR is scheduled to arrive customs on Tuesday and the seller has assured me that its double boxed.
Lessons have been learned and mistakes will be well avoided in future.
