What is the value of Classe P401 ?


Hi,I am every week reader but first time posting here. My Classe P401 (400W/Ch at 8ohm, 800W/ch at 4 Ohm), a predecessor of CA-401, developed some noise on both channels so I shipped it to factory for checkup and possible repair. It was otherwise working just fine. Without naming the packing and delivery company here, I want to say it was both externally and internally damaged when it arrived at repair facility. It wont even turn on, heatsinks were bent, handles we bent, the transformer cover was broken inside, so it did look like it took a serious hit. The repair cost estimated by the company is over 5000 dollars, I think because now they have to check everywhere as the unit does not even turn on. I had declared the value of the amp at 5000 dollars, I thought was a fair upper limit for value for a 400W/ch high end amplifier given it is over 25 years old. I have filed a claim with the packing/delivery company but it keeps getting rejected because they cannot establish its value. The only place they can establish a value is from some used goods website which tells them that the value is 3 dollars (quite a joke but people who have to pay a claim would love it :-)). The only other place I can find the value of this amp is with a Chinese seller who lists it at close to 4000 US dollars, but the company will not accept a foreign value, which honestly is a lame excuse because we trade with China for everything and the conversion value is well established by Federal Reserve (I sent them the conversion and also the phone number of the vendor in China). So I am wondering if anyone here has the same amp and what would you all think is the fair value of this amp ? Thanks in advance
saumil
Feel your pain!!

  Did you insure it, I don’t think declaring value is same as insuring it against damage?.

  If so, get on it right now, pictures, and lots of them, email, phone, the company, contact corporate as well, on a daily basis, 
hopefully Classe can help,a,bit as well. 
   Write letters to the hub, where it was shipped from.
I would be doing everything I could, what your describing is disgusting, and shows these heartless,mind,ess morons really don’t care about any thing. 
     Wish we could help more.......been through it, not at the level your mentioning. 
   Do what ever it takes, the shipping company IS RESPONSIBLE!!!
Absolute worse nightmare.  I am so sorry, I feel your pain and loss.  Now you have to deal with idiots that want to mess with you.  You knew the value and that's why you insured for what you did.  You are dealing with bereavement and loss and they are throwing this crap.   

Classe is still in business.  Tell them your situation and see if they can help.  Just the parts alone in that thing have to be $1,000's.  Let them know you won't be able to purchase a replacement until you get this resolved.  Or, can they repair?  Their repair estimate might be higher than a new one. 

The issue is also this.  You aren't going to be able to replace that amp without spending lots and lots of time waiting for one to come up on the market.  I collect the old stuff and it can take years to find exactly what you want.  How much is your time worth? 

Ask them to either produce a replacement that works or send you the money.  Your loss is worth much more than that, especially in this community.  There is a CA-300, used for sale on Audiogon for $3k.  Perhaps they can use the CA-300 as a reference price to justify your settlement, establishing that this is the model down from yours?? 

Good luck, so sorry about your loss. 



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