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Bass damaged during shipping from FedEx

T

theguy155

May 31, 2009
53
26
#1
I am the buyer. Bought the bass used. The bass arrived today and it had a few holes in the outer and inner box. I checked the bass out and it had one or two knicks in it that I hadn't noticed from the pictures. Plus, the electronics cover was warped and not flush with the body like it had been impacted or smashed. Fired it up and everything works properly but there is a distinct buzzing sound coming from somewhere when I pluck strings. It sounds like it is coming from the pickups although I suspect it could be the truss rod too? This is not a normal buzzing sound. It sounds like rattling plastic which is why I think it could be the pickups.

Anyways, the shipper is the one who must file the claim with FedEx. Thankfully, this guy has been awesome and he went ahead and filed the claim today. Insurance covered the package to $900.

I guess I'm just looking for any experience anyone has had with this because it's my first time dealing with it. What do I do? Has anyone ever dealt with a damaged bass shipped by FedEx?

Thanks in advance bass crew
 
#2
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#5
Don't throw away the box or break it down. Good you have pics. If I were you I wouldn't wait around for the claim to complete. Hopefully you bought on reverb or eBay and you should submit your return ASAP. I realize the guy is being great about it but any claim funds are going to him. You don't want to be stuck with a damaged bass regardless of the claim.
 
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#7
I use UPS when I have the option, I had a tube tester restored 4 or 5 years ago and it came back inoperative, I filed a claim and they fought me for at least two months and after repeated emails and phone calls finally paid me off but it was like pulling teeth. I don't know if they're always like that but just something to think about.
 
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#9
Rule 1 is even if the box looks OK, photos and preferably video of the unboxing just in case it has rattled around inside and there is minor cosmetic damage. Narrate the video. If there is obvious damage to the box, this is even more important.
 
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#10
theguy155 said:
Do you think they would refund the full $900?
Click to expand...
They may not refund anything. I have gotten brand new basses from ups and fedex that we're just as badly damaged. The basses had no issues. Insurance claims are a 50 50. They will send the driver out usually within 24 hours to inspect things and then it can take 8 to 10 business days from there.

Regardless of all of this. You are not the seller and it's the sellers obligation to ship the item so it doesn't get damaged inside. Even reverbs as is policy is based on it arriving in the same condition as the pictures. If that didn't happen you would get a refund for the return.
 
#11
Bassclef46 said:
They may not refund anything. I have gotten brand new basses from ups and fedex that we're just as badly damaged. The basses had no issues. Insurance claims are a 50 50. They will send the driver out usually within 24 hours to inspect things and then it can take 8 to 10 business days from there.

Regardless of all of this. You are not the seller and it's the sellers obligation to ship the item so it doesn't get damaged inside. Even reverbs as is policy is based on it arriving in the same condition as the pictures. If that didn't happen you would get a refund for the return.
Click to expand...

gotcha, so they will actually send an insurance guy out to check it out then. thats good to know. also, this was a person to person deal, no reverb or ebay.
 
#13
Been dealing with FedEx for two weeks over a busted camera lens. They charge through the nose for insurance, then do everything they can to not pay.

Kinda like an actual insurance company.

Two damaged items in the past three weeks through FedEx means no more FedEx. They're impossible to deal with.
 
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#15
SLPimp said:
Been dealing with FedEx for two weeks over a busted camera lens. They charge through the nose for insurance, then do everything they can to not pay.

Kinda like an actual insurance company.

Two damaged items in the past three weeks through FedEx means no more FedEx. They're impossible to deal with.
Click to expand...

Insurance is highly regulated. If they sold you insurance, then be sure to reach out to the insurance regulator in your state and, and potentially where they are domiciled...maybe even the source of the shipment, if you aren't getting your claim paid.

Be sure to tell them that you are going to contact the relevant insurance regulators. Sometimes just the threat is enough, as it will cost them more to deal with the headache than to just pay your claim.
 
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#17
FedEx screwed me over last year when I bought a cabinet from someone here on talk bass. The seller took it to FedEx and paid them to pack it. They packaged it poorly, with lots of air between the cab and the box. It showed up with box having a giant hole and crushed in corner. I could fit my entire arm through the hole. The outside of the cabinet had no damage, but the entire crossover inside had broken, and detached from the cabinet. I took pics, filed a claim in less than an hour, had a repair person evaluate and give a quote on repairs. After much back and forth, they "could not ascertain how the damage occurred, or that it was damaged during transit." I'm never doing business with FedEx again.
 
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#18
Before i quit using UPS, they destroyed a couple shipments of toy car parts and the shop i was using had to file those claims. They took about a week or two to get it processed. I'd call my supplier and send photos of the damage then they'd file the claim and when it was settled they'd call me and let me know a replacement order was on it's way. The last straw was a ten pound box of parts batteries and other assorted r/c race car stuff that wound up about 20 miles away on a nice older lady's back stoop. My number was on the label so she called me and i went and got the box. In transit the bottom of the box split open and everything spilled out by the time it got tossed on to the nice lady's back steps. I took home a beat up empty box.
 
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#19
I have had issues with FedEx on several occasions. I received, and sent back, a new combo bass amp from a reputable dealer 3 times. The first time, I waited for FedEx to send someone out. The next 2 times, I refused to accept the delivery. The last time, the driver said "why don't you just go to a local music store and buy your amp, if you're gonna be so picky?". I replied "why don't you do your job and deliver am amp without gaping holes in the box?". I reported him to the company. Never again!
 
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#20
The bottom line is that the contract is between the seller and the shipping company, not you. So whether they pay out or not YOU should get a refund. If they don't pay out then it's the seller that ends up eating it. That also means that they will be responsible for paying the money to you if the Fedex payment comes through. Stay in contact with the seller and if you used paypal start a claim at this time so that its documented. Fedex might take the bass as part of the payout process or they may not. They may offer a partial or they may not pay out at all. They often say that it was a packing problem. If that is the case the seller needs to accept the return of the bass and refund your money.
 
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