• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Club Alleva Coppolo (Part IV)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,041
I might be the reporting the death of my first ever Alleva Coppolo bass. Hows this for a horror story -

I have my dream AC on order and therefore decided to trade my AC Jazz in for a couple of great but cheaper basses to make room for the new number one. I shipped the bass to the US using a company I'll exclude because of legal reasons. Shipping internationally costs a bundle so I used a quick service that cost over $300 but I turned down the option to pay an additional $350 on insurance.

My first update -

The shipping company have received a box in Nashville with no contents. They decided to destroy the box. Wheres my bass? They have no idea.

After some pressure from me. The second update is -

US customs decided to "destroy" the bass. No reason why - no communication given. They then apparently sent the "empty box" on to this company :mad:

This is clearly bs. These morons have either lost my bass, someone has stolen it or worse still, some genius has torched it. Anyone who has ever owned an AC would know that hearing one has been destroyed is the worst possible outcome. These are works of art. I felt good about trading it because another player would get to use it. If I end up being out of pocket for this bass, thats a disaster. If it never shows up and they confirm it has been destroyed, it is a complete and total disaster. It's been a pretty rough couple of days:(

I'm taking some steps to make sure this is resolved legally. Theres no excuse for a parcel to just disappear when it has not even made it out of the depot. I just hope the bass shows up.
 
#1,042
That is one of the most incredibly awful stories I've ever heard. I really hope you're able to get this resolved in your favor, or at least find out what the hell happened. I can't imagine that Customs would arbitrarily decide to destroy an instrument unless a) it's a cover story for theft, or b) someone tried to use your package for something illegal and it was discovered.

I'm so sorry to hear about it man... best of luck!
 
#1,043
That's just about the worst bass loss story I have heard. $350 for insurance seems a little extravagant.
I hope things work out for you.
You would think if it was a customs issue your local would be at your door step.
 
#1,044
Tendollarcat said:
I might be the reporting the death of my first ever Alleva Coppolo bass. Hows this for a horror story -

I have my dream AC on order and therefore decided to trade my AC Jazz in for a couple of great but cheaper basses to make room for the new number one. I shipped the bass to the US using a company I'll exclude because of legal reasons. Shipping internationally costs a bundle so I used a quick service that cost over $300 but I turned down the option to pay an additional $350 on insurance.

My first update -

The shipping company have received a box in Nashville with no contents. They decided to destroy the box. Wheres my bass? They have no idea.

After some pressure from me. The second update is -

US customs decided to "destroy" the bass. No reason why - no communication given. They then apparently sent the "empty box" on to this company :mad:

This is clearly bs. These morons have either lost my bass, someone has stolen it or worse still, some genius has torched it. Anyone who has ever owned an AC would know that hearing one has been destroyed is the worst possible outcome. These are works of art. I felt good about trading it because another player would get to use it. If I end up being out of pocket for this bass, thats a disaster. If it never shows up and they confirm it has been destroyed, it is a complete and total disaster. It's been a pretty rough couple of days:(

I'm taking some steps to make sure this is resolved legally. Theres no excuse for a parcel to just disappear when it has not even made it out of the depot. I just hope the bass shows up.
Click to expand...
Ouch... I hope things turn up for you soon, bud. That's horrible. :(
 
#1,047
You didn't say it had a Brazilian rosewood board on there in any shipping description did you? Martin Peterson at The Bass Gallery (London, UJ) was talking to me last year about someone who sent a couple of new basses into the USA stating on the spec that the board was Brazilian Rosewod.

Due to it's endangered status, the customs people actually sawed the necks in half and then delivered the 2 (now in pieces) instruments to the intended recipient!

Saying that, they never "disposed" of the goods - merely delivered it in a a completely unuseable status.

I hope you get some resolution to your tale of woe - you must feel awful!
 
#1,048
Wow...that's horrible, and I'll be hoping for a proper resolution for you...


Tendollarcat said:
I might be the reporting the death of my first ever Alleva Coppolo bass. Hows this for a horror story -

I have my dream AC on order and therefore decided to trade my AC Jazz in for a couple of great but cheaper basses to make room for the new number one. I shipped the bass to the US using a company I'll exclude because of legal reasons. Shipping internationally costs a bundle so I used a quick service that cost over $300 but I turned down the option to pay an additional $350 on insurance.

My first update -

The shipping company have received a box in Nashville with no contents. They decided to destroy the box. Wheres my bass? They have no idea.

After some pressure from me. The second update is -

US customs decided to "destroy" the bass. No reason why - no communication given. They then apparently sent the "empty box" on to this company :mad:

This is clearly bs. These morons have either lost my bass, someone has stolen it or worse still, some genius has torched it. Anyone who has ever owned an AC would know that hearing one has been destroyed is the worst possible outcome. These are works of art. I felt good about trading it because another player would get to use it. If I end up being out of pocket for this bass, thats a disaster. If it never shows up and they confirm it has been destroyed, it is a complete and total disaster. It's been a pretty rough couple of days:(

I'm taking some steps to make sure this is resolved legally. Theres no excuse for a parcel to just disappear when it has not even made it out of the depot. I just hope the bass shows up.
Click to expand...
 
#1,050
Thanks for your comments guys. The bass was professionally packed so I guess there is always an element of risk that something dodgy has occurred. I'm thinking these are the most likely outcomes -

1) Someone along the way has made an error with the status of the bass and it is sitting in a depot somewhere. (This is what I'm hoping for)

2) Someone working for the delivery service has noticed that they can pick any status they like on a parcel and walk away with it. (This is plain old theft and it just feels like this is what has happened).

3) Customs found a problem and the bass has been destroyed. (I just can't see this as anything other than a freak occurrence. If there was something wrong with the parcel, I'd expect a communication and a warning of whatever it is that I must have done wrong)

4) Customs checked the bass and forgot to put it back in the box. (Could happen. Unlikely though).

5) The people charged with packing the bass ripped me off.

I'll get an outcome on this one way or another. It's been bizarre to hear my shipping company referring to other areas of the business as "they must have done this" or "that sounds pretty fishy". I don't think they have grasped the concept that I will take them to court over a $3000 bass! Theres a strange - "Well, thats just the way it goes.....Bad luck" attitude from the company. I just can't believe what I'm hearing.
 
#1,051
Tendollarcat said:
Thanks for your comments guys. The bass was professionally packed so I guess there is always an element of risk that something dodgy has occurred. I'm thinking these are the most likely outcomes -

1) Someone along the way has made an error with the status of the bass and it is sitting in a depot somewhere. (This is what I'm hoping for)

2) Someone working for the delivery service has noticed that they can pick any status they like on a parcel and walk away with it. (This is plain old theft and it just feels like this is what has happened).

3) Customs found a problem and the bass has been destroyed. (I just can't see this as anything other than a freak occurrence. If there was something wrong with the parcel, I'd expect a communication and a warning of whatever it is that I must have done wrong)

4) Customs checked the bass and forgot to put it back in the box. (Could happen. Unlikely though).

5) The people charged with packing the bass ripped me off.

I'll get an outcome on this one way or another. It's been bizarre to hear my shipping company referring to other areas of the business as "they must have done this" or "that sounds pretty fishy". I don't think they have grasped the concept that I will take them to court over a $3000 bass! Theres a strange - "Well, thats just the way it goes.....Bad luck" attitude from the company. I just can't believe what I'm hearing.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure there's legal precedents set for it being the shipper's responsibility until it's in your hands. It's up to THEM to resolve any shipping issues, since they're the shippers.
 
#1,053
Speaking of things worrking out, in light of my recent lay off, a TB'er stepped up and has taken over my AC LG5 build slot. It is being switched to CAO/Poly for the new buyer.

Jimmy was just so totally cool and understanding I was blown away. It took a lot of humility to acknowledge that I needed to let go, to contact Jimmy, and even to post here in the thread.

My TB brothers and the awesome bass builders wehold in the highest regard are the most giving, loving people I've ever had the pleasure to associate with. Thanks again TB'ers. You guys give me hope, offering comfort, understanding and optimism. Everything is working out, even as I write this. God is good and he is taking care of my needs.

Thanks again to Jimmy for being such a stand up, cool guy.
Gary
 
#1,057
Gary: aces!

Jimmy cares. That's why his basses turn out so good!

TDC: UGH. let us know how it goes. if it does go to court, it will be very interesting and helpful to all of us to hear about the process and results. i also hope you can avoid excessive legal fees. and as soon as you can, plz post the name of the shipping co. involved so we can all avoid them in the future.
 
#1,060
Tendollarcat said:
2) Someone working for the delivery service has noticed that they can pick any status they like on a parcel and walk away with it. (This is plain old theft and it just feels like this is what has happened).
Click to expand...

This sounds like the most likely scenario. As other have stated, this is one of the worst cases of theft. You take the time to do things right with packing and shipping, and then someone else screws you within that system.

Best of luck finding your bass.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back