UPS technically did not pack the amp. IIRC, each UPS store is an independent franchise. It's the franchisee that packed your amp and is the shipper. You need to hound him or her to get this straightened out.
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Dropped Tube amp help
- Thread starter Justin Tuskey
- Start date
Remember that small piece of paper you signed that asked what was in the box and value?
Guess what it said in small print.......Something to effect of "We will pack it to UPS standards, but even if it gets damaged, we are not liable."
(It would be the RIGHT thing to do to refund you). At least UPS corporate a chance first. To save face if a UPS store packed it I have heard they cover the packages a little better in these situations.
Lovely. The UPS Store claims they packed it perfectly. I am glad Jusballs13 has pics of that too- BTW, why keep the comedy to ourselves there, you might as well post the pics of the packing here too!
Don't you remember the amp I got that I posted where the guy used a kids innertube for packing? 
I used to have it up on photobucket for reference, but I only have them at home now.
Things I got damaged from UPS.
Mesa Venture 212 combo. Titanium Bar bent all of the way down to top of amp, baffle damage. Guitar Center gave refund
GK 212 NEO - Baffle dislodged. Guitar Center gave refund
Eden Nemesis NC212 - Back of amp (electronics side) smashed and 7 of the 9 screws dislodged. Seller was a douche, refused to pay for his mistake that UPS confirmed that a child floatation device is not suitable packing.
Mesa Walkabout Head - huge dent on top. Guitar Center refund
I will say the packing job wasn't spectacular on all of the items, but in all instances it was UPS that mishandled the box or damaged the item.
I have shipped two tube amps and both were flawless upon delivery, the "How to pack a tube amp" thread fails and I would not recommend using that as a tool.
I used to have it up on photobucket for reference, but I only have them at home now.
Things I got damaged from UPS.
Mesa Venture 212 combo. Titanium Bar bent all of the way down to top of amp, baffle damage. Guitar Center gave refund
GK 212 NEO - Baffle dislodged. Guitar Center gave refund
Eden Nemesis NC212 - Back of amp (electronics side) smashed and 7 of the 9 screws dislodged. Seller was a douche, refused to pay for his mistake that UPS confirmed that a child floatation device is not suitable packing.
Mesa Walkabout Head - huge dent on top. Guitar Center refund
I will say the packing job wasn't spectacular on all of the items, but in all instances it was UPS that mishandled the box or damaged the item.
I have shipped two tube amps and both were flawless upon delivery, the "How to pack a tube amp" thread fails and I would not recommend using that as a tool.
hey guys, yes I have kept the packaging and boxed it back up how it was, UPS will come by tomorrow and pick it up. The box had the "heavy duty" sticker on it and says "83 lbs" on it. I will upload the 2 pics of the box in just a second. It really looked ridiculous though. So I guess its all up to you Brent to hound the UPS store 
I think I am still confused though fenderhutz. You say that there is small print saying they arent liable....but why do they give insurance then? I mean the amp was packed piss poor, AND someone at UPS dropped it.....so either way it was one of their (both of their) faults and they are liable to pay, correct? If not then that just doesnt make sense why they would offer insurance and then not HAVE to act on it.
I think I am still confused though fenderhutz. You say that there is small print saying they arent liable....but why do they give insurance then? I mean the amp was packed piss poor, AND someone at UPS dropped it.....so either way it was one of their (both of their) faults and they are liable to pay, correct? If not then that just doesnt make sense why they would offer insurance and then not HAVE to act on it.
hey guys, yes I have kept the packaging and boxed it back up how it was, UPS will come by tomorrow and pick it up. The box had the "heavy duty" sticker on it and says "83 lbs" on it. I will upload the 2 pics of the box in just a second. It really looked ridiculous though. So I guess its all up to you Brent to hound the UPS store
Insurance is ONLY good IF the package was packed properly. The UPS stores are franchised out. If the owner of the UPS store flubbed up the packing, UPS has no obligation to honor the insurance then "thedude" has to take the issue up with the store owner.
It sucks, but don't freak out until Thursday or Friday when they get word whether or not it will or will not be covered.
Since it is a UPS store and the owner SHOULD know proper packing procedure, I wouldn't put it past UPS to honor the claim and then penalize the store owner in their monthly billing.
I was just pointing out some scenarios I have had to deal with.
Yikes! That's another reason why I'm scared of buying "breakable" stuff on Ebay too.
BTW, those places called "UPS Stores" are actually different and SEPARATE from UPS the shipping company. Kinda like a contractor situation. They set their own rates and stuff. Not sure State-side, but that's how it is up here in the Great White North.
I've picked stuff up at one of our local express delivery depots (FedEx, UPS , I can't recall which one) but they had the door open to the back, and while these guys try to be "careful," they are on the clock. I've seen them move (toss) packages rather "enthusiastically."
Good luck
- edit note: oops! I see my point has been made already, sorry! -
BTW, those places called "UPS Stores" are actually different and SEPARATE from UPS the shipping company. Kinda like a contractor situation. They set their own rates and stuff. Not sure State-side, but that's how it is up here in the Great White North.
I've picked stuff up at one of our local express delivery depots (FedEx, UPS , I can't recall which one) but they had the door open to the back, and while these guys try to be "careful," they are on the clock. I've seen them move (toss) packages rather "enthusiastically."
Good luck
- edit note: oops! I see my point has been made already, sorry! -
hey guys, yes I have kept the packaging and boxed it back up how it was, UPS will come by tomorrow and pick it up. The box had the "heavy duty" sticker on it and says "83 lbs" on it. I will upload the 2 pics of the box in just a second. It really looked ridiculous though. So I guess its all up to you Brent to hound the UPS store
I've known a few guys that worked at a UPS hub, and they drop everything.
holy crap dude....I own a bassman 300 too....seeing this makes me wanna cry......if all else fails got beat the dogsh*t out of whoever did this, im a christian too, and it prolly aint right to go waiting till all hours of the nite with a bat, and a grudge, but this is NOT how you treat a tube amp......lol im mostly kidding but still man my condolences, its like a family member died in grade school, we never knew what they could have done 
. take the money and get another amp......keep the wreck, and find a killer amp teck, i know one that would fix this like new, but itd be 1500$ and i live in Southern Calif. so it does you no good.....my real advise do what i do every time I buy some thing....get a local store to ship it for you, then its their problem...or spend the gas, and make a road trip for you and your friends to go get your next one....my hopes and prayers are with you that next time works out better..........
keep us posted
. take the money and get another amp......keep the wreck, and find a killer amp teck, i know one that would fix this like new, but itd be 1500$ and i live in Southern Calif. so it does you no good.....my real advise do what i do every time I buy some thing....get a local store to ship it for you, then its their problem...or spend the gas, and make a road trip for you and your friends to go get your next one....my hopes and prayers are with you that next time works out better.......... keep us posted
I don't know if it would make a difference, but I would walk right in to that same UPS store, walk directly up to the guy who told me what a great job he'd do packing the amp for me, and I'd show him the pictures of what he actually did. Now, he's probably just some poor schlep working a McJob like the rest of us, but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to break his word without being called out for it. If I did something that ridiculously lame, I'd fully expect to be told I screwed up. Period. If he didn't accept responsibility for the end result and promise to take care of it, I'd go to the nearest FedEx/Kinko's and have them print up a nice, glossy little presentation for me. Then I'd spend a few Saturdays handing out my pictorial/testimonial to every customer who approached that UPS store's door. Sure, UPS ultimately might just tell me to go pound sand, but I'd feel just a little bit better cutting into their business for a time.
Matt
Matt
holy crap dude....I own a bassman 300 too....seeing this makes me wanna cry......if all else fails got beat the dogsh*t out of whoever did this, im a christian too, and it prolly aint right to go waiting till all hours of the nite with a bat, and a grudge, but this is NOT how you treat a tube amp......lol im mostly kidding but still man my condolences, its like a family member died in grade school, we never knew what they could have done
Yeah believe me I am quite irritated at not only th packing job, but whoever dropped it, because it WAS dropped, no doubt. UPS called me and scheduled a pickup tomorrow morning. some paperwork has been sent to the UPS store up in maryland. after UPS gets the amp, they take it to be "inspected" and then send the UPS store some more paperwork. So hopefully within a week I can get $1100 and get a new amp. Ill keep everything updated. thanks for the thoughts and support guys
scotch
It's not rocket science!
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Whoever shipped that amp with the tubes installed needs to do a little more homework next time..... total noob move!
I hope you get compensated jusballs13 - that's a great amp and it sucks it was packed like that. It should have:
1) had all of the tubes removed, bubble wrapped & shipped separately
2) been packed in a box, and then double boxed (or crated)
3) been properly insured by the shipper
I feel for ya' man... that sucks!!! That's totally improper packaging.
You should have an answer sometime tomorrow, I will let you know if you try and call UPS for an update they will only give you vague info.
"Thedude" is going to have call the UPS store he sent it from tomorrow for an update.
"Thedude" is going to have call the UPS store he sent it from tomorrow for an update.
gotcha. I kept wondering why you were calling him "thedude" and realized that was part of his username. haha
I worked at the airport for a summer cleaning up bathrooms, floors and stuff when I was 17. I shared the same break room as the baggage handlers and they actually took pride in throwing the heaviest boxes/suitcases around.
Those jobs are for shifty meth heads who cannot work at McD due to incompetence, so it's not surprising that someone at UPS dropped a package. Reall sorry for you and a reason I don't trust eBay for breakable stuff anymore.
Those jobs are for shifty meth heads who cannot work at McD due to incompetence, so it's not surprising that someone at UPS dropped a package. Reall sorry for you and a reason I don't trust eBay for breakable stuff anymore.
