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Shipping. Hard Lesson.

I'm selling some high end audio gear for the estate of a relative who passed away. I've never done this before. I'm using C's List, eBay and A'gon. It has been a lot of work and not a lot of fun.

Tons of scammers on C's list but excellent experience selling to a local audiophile.

Got a sale pending here at A'gon. Not too bad.

One good experience on eBay.

But then the Bryston 9B SST2 amp sold on eBay. I had actually about decided to purchase it myself when it sold via eBay. Super nice, experienced buyer.

Took the amp to UPS. It weighs 65 pounds. Asked them to double box and was ready to pay the price but the clerk convinced me that there was no need. They would wrap it well and the box she chose was supposed to handle 85 pounds.

Well, it gets to the buyer and he sends me a picture and it looks like the box has rolled down a mountain. The handles are broken off of the amp and it is dinged all up. Have no idea if it works or not. I'm not sure double boxing would have mattered in this case.

We insured it for the price paid. Buyer was very understanding but disappointed of course. I will get paid (by UPS) what I was going to get paid anyway but both the buyer and I commiserated over a fine piece of equipment destroyed. Or at least marred.

Anyway, sorry about the long sad sop story but I will probably have other gear to ship in the near future possible even the gorgeous Aerial Acoustics 5Ts which, even thought they are bookshelf speakers, are large and heavy.

So all of this is basically to ask: Who do you use for shipping large heavy delicate audio gear?
n80
n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
I appreciate the sympathies. As mentioned, I have no financial stake in this exchange but it just kills me to think of such a nice piece of equipment ruined like that. Especially since it did not appear that is was just simply dropped. That kind of mistake is going to happen from time to time and can be forgiven. This unit was not simply dropped. I still can't imagine what happened.


Also as mentioned, I was selling this stuff for an estate. The former owner, a cousin of mine, did not keep the boxes etc for any of this gear. We looked all over for it. I don't suppose the audio dealer that sold him would have kept that stuff?


UPS says they are sending someone to pick up the amp from the buyer. I am assuming they will keep the unit which is their prerogative. I was kind of hoping the buyer would get to keep it and that it might still be functional so this would not have been such a bad experience for him. He apparently is an experienced audiophile and has been on both ends of these type of fiascos and has been very understanding. If I had been the buyer it would have freaked me out!

Anyway, I shipped out a pair of 10' Transparent Super G5 speaker cables that sold here on Audiogon today. I boxed them myself and it was still expensive to ship them because I was not taking any more chance.

At this point I'm not shipping anything else. Local pick up only or take it back to the dealer to sell on consignment.
k600r
33 posts
 
a recent purchase of a vintage McIntosh MR-71 tube tuner by me which I had been looking for maybe for about a year was destroyed by UPS.
    The unit was professionally packed by a reputable seller, overkill on the packaging and sent to me via UPS. Got the tracking number on Monday, updated and scheduled for delivery on Friday. On Thursday got an update from UPS that the package might be delayed and was in Kansas City at a UPS distribution center. About a week goes by and it’s still in Kansas so the seller puts in a query to see what’s up with the package. A couple more days go by and he finally hears that there was a fire at the distribution center and the building burned to the ground with everything lost. The seller puts in a claim for lost merchandise but had to wait for 8 days before it could be filed because of the investigation. I truly thought I was out a grand and the tuner which I really would have liked to have. Anyway the seller was above reproach and refunded everything including shipping while he patiently waits for his money.
   Moral is DO NOT use UPS under any cercumdtances, something always goes wrong. Third piece of gear lost to me all by UPS. Never had a problem with FedEx or FedEx Freight. Very good company that actually reads what’s put on the box, ie. fragile stickers, do not drop, font stack, etc. won’t use anyone else.
n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
I refunded the buyer's money even before settling the case with UPS. He certainly should not have any risk in this exchange. I am assuming UPS will settle this properly. I hope they spend as much time investigating why, how and by whom this unit was destroyed as diligently as they seem to be investigating me and the buyer.
They say it will be 8-10 days before they agree to a settlement.
If it is not quick and for the full amount I will probably get an attorney involved as a matter of principle. UPS's service was egregious.
Post removed 
zyphryx's avatar
zyphryx
128 posts
 
I bought a pair of amps from the manufacturer last year and one locked like it had rolled down a few steps. I worked for about a day then failed. Told the manufacturer and he was unfazed. He just sent a new one out like this happens all the time. These were double boxed, packed tightly, molded foam, etc. Didn't matter. Wonder what the damage would have been if it had been single boxed?
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