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How To Safely Ship Cartridges For Retip

Now I am not worried about securing them in the box, I got that part down.

What I am worried about is safe and timely arrival. I am shipping a Transfiguration Proteus and ZYX 4D for replacement diamonds, probably to VAS. The MSRP of these two cartridges was $10k when new, in used condition certainly the value is lower. But if they are lost I would essentially spend equivalent to MSRP for like replacements.

How do you ship and insure high dollar items such as this? Given the recent news about USPS I am hesitant. Although I was thinking of using a registered parcel, but I don’t think I can insure for a significant amount. FED EX is what I typically use, but their capacity seems to be maxed out these days, and packaging takes some odd routes.

Anyone have any tips they are willing to share about sending a small and light but high value package these days?
neonknight
neonknight OP
432 posts
 
@chakster

Yeah that sounds good and all. Until I remember my last order for a Dynavector headshell that came to a USPS facility about 30 miles from my home and never left it. Went to the post office three times to try to use the tracking number to locate it was fruitless. One time I spent 30 minutes waiting for a supervisor who never came out of the back room. I finally had to give up and leave. Fortunately it was an eBay purchase, so my money was returned to me. Your suggestion of shipping with the post office without insurance is idiotic. The only way I would consider it is if I use USPS registered, which has a tighter chain of security.

At this point Fed Ex super saver air is probably my best option at this point.
solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 
I have had some recent bad USPS experiences so +1 on something weird going on in that organization
I have also had a hard time collecting on ahipping insurance so now consider it of little value...

get a cheap 'flight case' from say harbor freight that can hold the original box. then put that into a padded cardboard outer box and send overnight or three day max.


neonknight OP
432 posts
 
So I shipped them off today. Decided to use FED EX Air Super Saver. Threw $2K insurance on it so hopefully they know there is some care needed. To go across country it cost me $64 with my discount for having an account. Hopefully in a bit Steve will do his thing and I will have my cartridges back. No damage, just worn diamonds, so stock cantilevers will stay in place. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
The more important is a return shipping from your retipper :)

In my county you can’t insure a cartridge to whatever value you want, you must prove the real cost with real/valid documents. For example you can’t ship a $500 cartridge (or a piece of junk) with $5k insurance pretending you will get $5k if it’s lost :) 

For international shipping (not your case) insurance must be equal to declared value, so the import tax will be charged by custom, in Europe import tax is extremely high (can be over 20%) and it’s better to declare as low as possible without any insurance. 
neonknight OP
432 posts
 
Which is why I prefer a domestic option if possible. Whenever I have my Ikeda done it will have to go to Expert Stylus, and that will require me to follow those rules and take more risk than I would like to. 

At the moment I have one of these new generation AT OC9 cartridges installed. I have the XSH and XSL, with the XSH on the SOTA/SME V and I am quite impressed with how good this cartridge sounds. Significant improvement over the OC9 III in terms of tonal balance and low level resolution. I think this is the best cartridge I have heard at it's $650 price point. I could easily use this as my casual cartridge. I am very curious to hear the XSL, as I am thinking of installing it on the Dynavector arm. 
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