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Question about shipping damage

I recently sold an amp and when the buyer received it he contacted me stating that the "speaker a" binding post were broken but the smp powered up and worked fine. Then I received another message from the buyer stating that one channel went out and the other was distorting.

I had taken the amp to a UPS store to have it packed and I watched the attendant pack it. She did a really good job of packing it with several sheets of bubble wrap and foam and then double boxed it (packing peanuts in the outer box).

The buyer even commented on how well it was packed. I insured it for more than the value so I think I'm covered.

My question is how to proceed from here. The buyer said the box was undamaged so I am mystified as to how the binding posts could get damaged and further more what could cause the amp to distort.

Has any one ever had this happen? If so what course of action did you take with UPS. Should I have the amp sent back and file the claim or contact UPS immediately and then have a pick-up scheduled.

Any direction or words of wisdom are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
chrshanl37
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tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Retired now, but worked in the A/V industry for 20 years, and it is possible to ship 60lb amps with nothing but bubble wrap and peanuts in a single box. I did this many times, and never had a problem. You must use the heavy duty bubble wrap and the type peanuts that are difficult to compress. What is most important is that packing is extremely tight with absolutely NO internal movement when the box is shaken as hard as you can. Even the slightest amount will increase as the package travels due to shifting and damage to the actual packing. Enough movement will eventually cause the damage to the equipment with no evidence to the outside of the box.

I'm guessing the amp was a little loose inside the inner box, then increasing as it traveled causing the damage.

I do agree that it is better, safer, and more foolproof to use the methods stated by the other posters.
chrshanl37 OP
835 posts
 
The attendant used 3 layers of thin foam and then three more layers of the large bubble wrap. She placed it in a tight fitting box. Then placed that box into a larger one filled with peanuts.

I thought it seemed well packed however as Elizabeth and the others said, it was not enough.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Just a thought, and I'm not trying to accuse anyone, but the buyer may have damaged the amp while unpacking or installing in his system, and now he's trying to cover the problem. I'm sure things like this happen, but there is no way to ever know. Best to just care of it as soon as possible, and then forget about it. Good luck!
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I agree with TLs49, you are going to make bad deals now and then .
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