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What to do when you get this in the mail?

Road Bull

Road Bull

Jul 24, 2011
883
7
Seattle, WA.
#1
So I got a couple of items from MF today via UPS. I ordered a Fender bass case, and a Tech 21 VT bass pedal. There were sent ground. I arranged to pick up the package at the UPS facility. I got there, signed for the package, noted no significant damage to the package and took it home. As I was taking the box out of my truck I heard something, (the pedal box) sliding around inside. I thought, no... there is no way they would just toss it in loose to let slide around all willy nilly.

When I opened it up, I was a bit surprised to find very little in the way of packaging. But I figured that, hey, its an ATA style bass case, it should be fine. Well, the case seemed fine, the pedal tin didn't do so well. It turns out that this thing was not secured in the least. No bubble wrap, no extra padding, hell no tape to keep the tin secure. Needless to say the tin is a banged up a bit.

I have yet to plug it in, but I have to admit that it is off putting to open a package and see it is given so little care and thought. Regardless of whether the pedal works or not, it just seems that this was done with so little respect for items and the buyer.

I am just really let down. I have had more than one bad experience with UPS, and I avoid them at almost ALL costs, but this was clearly not their fault. It was just bad packaging.

What would you do?
 

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#5
If the pedal works as it should, I personally wouldn't worry much or take any steps, aside from never ordering at that store ever again.
On the other hand, if you have an e-mail adress, a quick message to inform them of this terrible performance could make a difference in the future, if not for yourself then maybe for your fellow musicians.
 
#8
This is not UPS's fault here. This is just poor packaging from Musician's Friend. Maybe someone had an off day or something, but for a business that does a lot of shipping, it looks like there first day on the job.

They could have simply wrapped it up a few times in bubble wrap and it would look fine. Hell, they could have wrapped it up a bit and stuck it inside the bass case and that would have been better.
 
#9
I just looked at MF site and their shipping info page is kinda light on info, perhaps on purpose- They say a lot about fast and free delivery but nothing about packing or what to do in the event of a situation like yours, which leads me to believe they might push the blame off onto UPS- That said, can't hurt to call and raise a little hell. I have had more luck than not in asking for a supervisor right away in cases like these (not w/ MF)- if not only to show them you're seriously pissed, perhaps that can get you through to a person who can do something for you right away instead of having to go back & forth w/ an order taker before you get to a manager
 
#10
I'd say blame UPS for the package being damaged, and complain to MF about the poor packaging job they did. You might get a discount on another order.

Don't feel too bad though. At least you got what you ordered. I just got a package in today that is the wrong item. It took 9 days to be shipped 5 hours down the interstate.
 
#11
I did shoot off an email tonight with the pictures to see what they say, and I will follow up with a call in the morning to see what they can do. I think that things you get from people here on TB are packaged well because they care about the item being packaged and respect that someone will want that item in the condition it was described.
 
#16
I'm having to return some tubes I ordered for a friend's amp in need of repair. They put them in a box with some paper packaging, and shipped 'em off. No surprise that one of the tubes arrived broken.

Past experience tells me that there'll be no problem aside from holiday delays in getting them replaced fairly quickly. They have return instructions printed on the back of their shipping label, complete with return label. In the past when there's been a problem with something I've ordered, MF has made it right, in one case above and beyond what was required.

It does kind of bug me that they demand I use a double box when they couldn't be bothered in the first place, and that they require I pay shipping...I already paid shipping, thanks. Now, I'll have paid twice to get product shipped, effectively raising the price of the order. But, that's their policy and I was aware of it when I ordered. Most other companies' policies are similar IME.
 
#20
I once ordered a Rouge 8 String from MF (I know I know, but don't worry it was on sale) and it came slightly damaged on the headstock because of packaging. I gave them a call, and they credited me $40 to compensate. It made me happy :)
 

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