Resolved: Reverb woes

[donahue]

Your packing was definitely not adequate. Your bass in its factory box was hand loaded into a truck at Rickenbacker, and it stayed in that truck until it was offloaded by hand at Sweetwater. No forklifts, no throwing packages, no switching vehicles. That's all it was designed to do. It's not designed to be adequate for shipping by USPS, UPS or Fedex. That's why Sweetwater ships it to you in an outer box.

If you had shipped directly through UPS or Fedex like you did, your claim would have been denied outright. Your packing definitely wouldn't have met their standards. I suspect USPS would have done likewise. Sure, the bigger box would have cost you more, but that's not their problem. It's up to you to charge enough to cover it.

Whether or not Reverb self-insures is completely irrelevant. You chose to ship through Reverb, you're required to deal with them on the claim. They have the option to repair. You're fortunate to have this much, considering your packing job.

Reverb is a marketplace, you have a store on Reverb. You are definitely the vendor. That's not subject to debate, it's a matter of law.

It's sad that the bass will never be good as new, but that's a risk you take when you ship something, whether it's a special issue or a run-of-the-mill bass that's easily replaceable.

One more cardboard box would have stopped the forklift blade huh? HAHAHAHAHA OK

I just sent a Ric from Oregon to St. Paul in its case in the factory Ric box and it WAS accepted by UPS and since it wasn't stabbed with a forklift it arrived perfectly.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

One more cardboard box would have stopped the forklift blade huh? HAHAHAHAHA OK

No, but it may have provided proof of adequate packing.

 

[donahue]

Get real dude. I've bought Rics from authorized dealers and they arrived packed tbe exact same way.

 

[9c1ny]

One more cardboard box would have stopped the forklift blade huh? HAHAHAHAHA OK

I just sent a Ric from Oregon to St. Paul in its case in the factory Ric box and it WAS accepted by UPS and since it wasn't stabbed with a forklift it arrived perfectly.

I've sent at least a dozen from Oregon to all over the world including 3 or 4 to Italy in the Ric box
Every one has arrived fine

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Get real dude. I've bought Rics from authorized dealers and they arrived packed tbe exact same way.

Authorized dealers ship in volume and can afford a few broken eggs. They usually don't buy the insurance and just cover the loss because their cost to replace is lower and they can right off the damage as a loss on taxes.

 

[donahue]

Authorized dealers ship in volume and can afford a few broken eggs. They usually don't buy the insurance and just cover the loss because their cost to replace is lower and they can right off the damage as a loss on taxes.

Ok. Actually it was a mom and pop shop but being devils advocate must be your hobby.

 

[FunkHead]

No, but it may have provided proof of adequate packing.

Absolutely 100% correct. Regardless if we have all gotten lucky with a Single box that tightly fits the case, it does not meet the UPS, Fedex or USPS guidelines. It is now completely at the discretion of Reverb to "Help OP out". They will be doing him a huge favor and are in no way obligated. That is why I strongly suggested extreme courtesy and politeness be used.

 

[9c1ny]

Same Devil's advocates acting like they got a dog in the fight
Can't wait to repay with a troll when karma catches up

 

[9c1ny]

Absolutely 100% correct. Regardless if we have all gotten lucky with a Single box that tightly fits the case, it does not meet the UPS, Fedex or USPS guidelines. It is now completely at the discretion of Reverb to "Help OP out". They will be doing him a huge favor and are in no way obligated. That is why I strongly suggested extreme courtesy and politeness be used.

Newspaper was used as a cushion around the case
Feel free to point out where it does not meet USPS guidelines

 

[FunkHead]

Feel free to point out where it does not meet USPS guidelinesView attachment 4159453 View attachment 4159454

From FEDEX:
Place small packages inside a larger outer box. For express shipments smaller than 7" x 4" x 2", use a FedEx Express packaging option, or you can purchase other packaging at a FedEx Office location.• Double-box fragile items with 3" of cushioning in and around the smaller box. • Wrap items individually with cushioning material and center them in boxes away from other items and away from the sides, corners, top, and bottom of the box.• Position bottles that contain liquids upright. Use an inner seal and perforated breakaway cap. The inner packaging must be able to contain leaks.• Place items that might be damaged by normal hand-ling, such as soiling, marking, or application of adhesive labels, in a protective outer box. • For odd- or irregular-shaped items, at a minimum you should wrap and tape all sharp edges or protrusions.• Enclose an extra label, business card, or letterhead with the shipper’s address and phone number and the recipient’s address and phone number inside the package before sealing it.• Remove all old address labels from reused boxes before shipping, and make sure there are no holes, tears, or corner dents in the outer box.General Packing Method

 

[FunkHead]

^^And that's just FEDEX (USPS is their biggest customer). I believe USPS and UPS require even more cushioning.... It's been a while since I read up on this subject so I am going from memory

 

[9c1ny]

I've been told the hardshell case constitutes a " box' , they are adamant about a case.
I've bought probably close to a hundred basses and a handful have actually had legitimate double boxing , it's safe to say 90% of the ones sold on Talkbass are shipped in a single box

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Same Devil's advocates acting like they got a dog in the fight
Can't wait to repay with a troll when karma catches up

I'm sorry, but when you start a thread on TB, it's wide open. I feel for you, but I think you're being unreasonable in your expectations. It's ok, my karma is good.

 

[FunkHead]

I've been told the hardshell case constitutes a " box'........

Absolutely not true. You have been told wrong. I believe I read something in the old Guidelines referring to "Flight Cases" But I think that even changed.
A flight case would have saved the RIC though.

 

[9c1ny]

Absolutely not true. You have been told wrong. I believe I read something in the old Guidelines referring to "Flight Cases" But I think that even changed.
A flight case would have saved the RIC though.

I bet not hitting it with a forklift would have saved it also

 

[9c1ny]

In the future double box & flight case, when it's mistreated and damaged don't pester the carrier or expect to use any insurance , know you took a chance, rolled the dice and lost

Got it

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You are the store and you are acting like you're the customer. Shipping is your responsibility and understanding the requirements and insurance terms are up to you. Research, don't assume.

 

[C Stone]

Your packing was definitely not adequate. Your bass in its factory box was hand loaded into a truck at Rickenbacker, and it stayed in that truck until it was offloaded by hand at Sweetwater. No forklifts, no throwing packages, no switching vehicles. That's all it was designed to do. It's not designed to be adequate for shipping by USPS, UPS or Fedex. That's why Sweetwater ships it to you in an outer box.

If you had shipped directly through UPS or Fedex like you did, your claim would have been denied outright. Your packing definitely wouldn't have met their standards. I suspect USPS would have done likewise. Sure, the bigger box would have cost you more, but that's not their problem. It's up to you to charge enough to cover it.

Whether or not Reverb self-insures is completely irrelevant.

Ridiculous...forklift damage, lol

 

[jamro217]

That's a fork lift gouge. Get a lawyer.

 

[bizzybass]

Absolutely 100% correct. Regardless if we have all gotten lucky with a Single box that tightly fits the case, it does not meet the UPS, Fedex or USPS guidelines. It is now completely at the discretion of Reverb to "Help OP out". They will be doing him a huge favor and are in no way obligated. That is why I strongly suggested extreme courtesy and politeness be used.

Adequate, sure. Consider the case the packing. Reverb needs to treat this for what it is, insurance claim issue at this point.