So bummed right now...

[jmgman69]

That shit looks to wierd!!!No headshell damage at least from the photo and wtf hit that in that exact spot to do the faceplace damage Thats not right!!!

 

[rockstah]

when its dropped on a side, the weight of the trannies causes buckle, Thats why no knob damage or strike marks on the plate. (s)

good point... so then that means the transformer mounts are bent like crazy.

 

[ibenhad]

Good points. My VL502 with the same damage had damage to the headshell also and the 2061x headshell is toast. I would not use this amp till a tech goes through it, at least not reliably. Think about all the solder points and stuff that got jarred with a hit like that. What if a wire got stripped to the core and is close to rubbing to ground and the heat causes it to touch during use. BOOM. This kinda crap just plain sucks.

Funny note. I got a Randall RM100 that the guy literally shipped from AZ to NY in a cardboard grille box with the head wrapped in what seemed like a couple of plastic paint tarps around it. It seriously had no damage whatsoever. And this thing was way small for the cheap cardboard box it was in.

 

[jerrydyer]

when its dropped on a side, the weight of the trannies causes buckle, Thats why no knob damage or strike marks on the plate. (s)

good point... so then that means the transformer mounts are bent like crazy.

yep. unless its mercury with those heavy duty flanges ...either way there should be SOME tilting one way or the other.

 

[HerbieBoogie]

fuck me


im sorry that is horrible.

 

[drewiv]

Yes. I'm the guy with the amp tossed over my 5 foot privacy fence onto my concrete patio by FedEx. Thankfully, it only damaged the plexi glass front panel, which I've replaced with 316 Stainless Steel.

Anyway, sorry about the damage to the amp, Steve. It really blows when a well packaged piece gets damaged. It never ceases to amaze me the ways shipping companies find to damage product.

Im having the same issues with the last 2 shipments. One guy said he had a neighbor who witnessed the dude throwing my amp. They gave me some money back. Still....no excuse. I think some laws need to be implimented. if they cant handle the work load they should say so not things like "your amp needs to be able to survive a four foot fall." why jackass?? do your jobs right.

 

[jerrydyer]

Just like the video. Fed ex dude throwing large box over fence. I shipped a carvin to kentucky. I just put it in a regular box. got there perfect. I take the time to double box, amp gets hurt. I dont know.............life.........................?????????????

 

[glpg80]

Just successfully finished a similar claim with USPS. Cracked headshell and busted tubes. Except i kept the box and it shows it being dropped flat on its small side long ways and styrofoam was all bent out of whack.

It does not help when people are pointing fingers - especially sellers/buyers involved. Thankfully i was able to get the proper damage costs documented - its hard to prove to a shipping company that so little costs so much to repair. USPS does honor labor charges but not shipping charges - not sure what UPS's policy is.

It seems like the only way to send something these days is to ship it freight. Air ride suspension and pallets required.

Packaging is everything - I am part of the "packem right packem tight" club on rig-talk. Spend $120 on packaging material and double box everything. These days single ply boxes end up looking like that ^ and what mine did.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Buddy....I feel for you (and the buyer)!!!

I shipped an amp that was damaged in almost EXACTLY the same way, that also had very little (virtually no) damage to the box.

I know damage can happen with any carrier, but everytime I've had an issue, it's been UPS.

Agreed! I use FEDex for years, and have had no problems...I am sure others have, but I haven't thank goodness. 2 times year back...had an avatar 2x12 smashed, a randall head exploded, both from UPS. I wanted to know how the whole randall head was like a bomb went off. Stupid.

 

[drewiv]

I like to believe I'm part of the pack 'em right club, I think anyone that's received anything from me can vouch for that. The key people that are widely known are Ian Egnater and Brad King, both commented on the superior packaging jobs on amps they received from me. As far as Jerry @ Surreal, his amp was packaged well. The Atomica 100 was double boxed and packaged as well as could be expected.

It is definitely the responsibility of the seller to package product properly, but a minimal amount of care in handling packages should be expected. Throwing a 60 pound package over a 5 foot fence to "god only knows where" is not proper handling of a package, imho.

I'm not discounting anything you've said in your post, all of which is true. I don't want people thinking that in my case there was a poor packaging issue.

Just successfully finished a similar claim with USPS. Cracked headshell and busted tubes. Except i kept the box and it shows it being dropped flat on its small side long ways and styrofoam was all bent out of whack.

It does not help when people are pointing fingers - especially sellers/buyers involved. Thankfully i was able to get the proper damage costs documented - its hard to prove to a shipping company that so little costs so much to repair. USPS does honor labor charges but not shipping charges - not sure what UPS's policy is.

It seems like the only way to send something these days is to ship it freight. Air ride suspension and pallets required.

Packaging is everything - I am part of the "packem right packem tight" club on rig-talk. Spend $120 on packaging material and double box everything. These days single ply boxes end up looking like that ^ and what mine did.

 

[glpg80]

I like to believe I'm part of the pack 'em right club, I think anyone that's received anything from me can vouch for that. The key people that are widely known are Ian Egnater and Brad King, both commented on the superior packaging jobs on amps they received from me. As far as Jerry @ Surreal, his amp was packaged well. The Atomica 100 was double boxed and packaged as well as could be expected.

It is definitely the responsibility of the seller to package product properly, but a minimal amount of care in handling packages should be expected. Throwing a 60 pound package over a 5 foot fence to "god only knows where" is not proper handling of a package, imho.

I'm not discounting anything you've said in your post, all of which is true. I don't want people thinking that in my case there was a poor packaging issue.

Just successfully finished a similar claim with USPS. Cracked headshell and busted tubes. Except i kept the box and it shows it being dropped flat on its small side long ways and styrofoam was all bent out of whack.

It does not help when people are pointing fingers - especially sellers/buyers involved. Thankfully i was able to get the proper damage costs documented - its hard to prove to a shipping company that so little costs so much to repair. USPS does honor labor charges but not shipping charges - not sure what UPS's policy is.

It seems like the only way to send something these days is to ship it freight. Air ride suspension and pallets required.

Packaging is everything - I am part of the "packem right packem tight" club on rig-talk. Spend $120 on packaging material and double box everything. These days single ply boxes end up looking like that ^ and what mine did.

The sad part of it all is that managers do not allow workers in sorting facilities to take their time to load a box. I am sure the workers would rather not break something but when managers are breathing down your throat and you have bills to pay of your own there is not much you can do. Also if someone hates their job their performance on the job will show it. I believe there is nothing you can do in either instance but spend the money on packaging it to withstand a 10ft drop off. Sad these days, but if the item means that much to either party it is worth over-packaging.

Not saying this was the case here - but proper packaging is not the pack'em right pack'em tight way and is way over any carriers expected packaging limits as well.

Accidents happen too - just sad to see another amazing amplifier succumb to the real world. If you buy and ship anything it is not a matter of if, but a matter of when.

 

[rlord1974]

It is definitely the responsibility of the seller to package product properly, but a minimal amount of care in handling packages should be expected. Throwing a 60 pound package over a 5 foot fence to "god only knows where" is not proper handling of a package, imho.

It's not your opinion Drew - it's fact.

If your neighbour was willing to testify or submit a sworn affidavit to what he saw, I think you could likely win a lawsuit against UPS in this case. They failed to exercise an acceptable duty of care with your package. No judge is going to conclude that throwing a parcel of that size and weight over a 5 foot fence is an acceptable manner of delivery, and no customer would expect such method of delivery when entering into a shipping contract with a courier company.

Companies like UPS and FedEx would smarten up if more people that had evidence or eyewitness accounts of their bullshit behaviour actually took it to litigation.

No pressure, though!

 

[Anonymous]

.... he gets the amp... takes the chassis out of the head box to appreciate the workmanship... drops it off the bench and then says "look what UPS did!"... hmmmm

"the headshell had to be damaged"....? hes there looking at it isn't he? you couldn't write this stuff... i don't know man

That shit looks to wierd!!!No headshell damage at least from the photo and wtf hit that in that exact spot to do the faceplace damage Thats not right!!!

Look guys, I know that anything is possible, but I've been dealing with this guy and it just doesn't seem in character for him. While I don't know him personally, he has been extremely cool through this whole thing, admitted I was not at fault and that it had been packed properly, etc, etc, etc. I just don't think this is what happened... I know it looks weird, but I believe he received it this way...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

BTW... Lest anyone question the way I pack, here is an example. There is a VHT 2/50/2 in that box. Notice the thick inserts that encase the whole power amp and then the massive amount of bubble wrap, etc that surrounds every hole where something could come through. Then I seal and double box. This is far better packed than the Apogee I/O unit I received in the box. All that was in there was the foam inserts. I don't know what else can be done to prevent this kind of damage?

I really think it is a numbers game. Ship enough stuff and no matter how well you pack, something is going to get destroyed... Never happened to me before, but lesson learned, it is just inevitable...

Also, I don't think double boxing that Metropoulos amp would have prevented the damage in this case. There is almost no damage to the box externally. It almost looks willful to me on the part of UPS!

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

It is definitely the responsibility of the seller to package product properly, but a minimal amount of care in handling packages should be expected. Throwing a 60 pound package over a 5 foot fence to "god only knows where" is not proper handling of a package, imho.

It's not your opinion Drew - it's fact.

If your neighbour was willing to testify or submit a sworn affidavit to what he saw, I think you could likely win a lawsuit against UPS in this case. They failed to exercise an acceptable duty of care with your package. No judge is going to conclude that throwing a parcel of that size and weight over a 5 foot fence is an acceptable manner of delivery, and no customer would expect such method of delivery when entering into a shipping contract with a courier company.

Companies like UPS and FedEx would smarten up if more people that had evidence or eyewitness accounts of their bullshit behaviour actually took it to litigation.

No pressure, though!

Problem is that I think a lot of the damage happens outside the eyes of the public as things are loaded on trucks, in their warehouses, etc...

Steve

 

[glassjaw7]

Damn, that is horrible! UPS really blows. Happens way too often. I learned the hard way when Carvin sent me an amp that arrived in pieces and then a second one that arrived with shattered tubes.

Now when I pack an amp, I pack it to survive a beating!!! Everyone says that but I mean it. Ask Lolzgreg how excessive the packaging was on the recto I sent him. I go crazy with padding and materials inside the first box, tons of shrink wrap, padding around the tubes and transformers, and then a shitload more packing materials, and finally a second box. It's the only way to ensure that your amp will survive. It's so damn big when I'm done that I need a pickup to haul it! It should not have to be that way, though.

 

[Anonymous]

Now when I pack an amp, I pack it to survive a beating!!! Everyone says that but I mean it. Ask Lolzgreg how excessive the packaging was on the recto I sent him. I go crazy with padding and materials inside the first box, tons of shrink wrap, padding around the tubes and transformers, and then a shitload more packing materials, and finally a second box. It's the only way to ensure that your amp will survive. It's so damn big when I'm done that I need a pickup to haul it! It should not have to be that way, though.

Dude - it doesn't mater. I pack to survive nuclear war - look at the packing job above. They will still fuck you eventually...

Steve

 

[glassjaw7]

Now when I pack an amp, I pack it to survive a beating!!! Everyone says that but I mean it. Ask Lolzgreg how excessive the packaging was on the recto I sent him. I go crazy with padding and materials inside the first box, tons of shrink wrap, padding around the tubes and transformers, and then a shitload more packing materials, and finally a second box. It's the only way to ensure that your amp will survive. It's so damn big when I'm done that I need a pickup to haul it! It should not have to be that way, though.

Dude - it doesn't mater. I pack to survive nuclear war - look at the packing job above. They will still fuck you eventually...

Steve

Just saw the pics, yes that is solid packing for sure. Sucks that they operate the way they do.

 

[Mailman1971]

Damn Steve.....thats terrible.
I pack like you as well....and ALWAYS am holding my breath till I hear how it lands on the other end.
Hope everything works out with the claim.
Dont matter if its Fed ex....UPS...or USPS....if some jackass mishandles a package....shit gets broke.

 

[Chris6870]

Definitely negligence of some type. Have a look at what USPS did to a POD I bought off another forum. This thing is metal and obviously got speared by a fork lift or something. They told me unless it was insured I was SOL. Pretty sad that you pay a company to 'do what they do' and if they fuck it up they are not responsible. If my company fucks up a clients job, they are no longer a client.