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a FedEx vintage amp destruction site-

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4/26/2003 2:43 PM
marc	a FedEx vintage amp destruction site- A friend of mine sent this Ampeg to California from North Carolina. I used to have confidence in FedEx, more than UPS, but now I'm not so sure. This site documents what happens to vintage gear sometimes....caution there are disturbing pictures of a defiled Ampeg within. http://users.lmi.net/scottr/amp_damage/box.html Marc

4/26/2003 4:18 PM

Marc:

... caution there are disturbing pictures of a defiled Ampeg within.

Omigod... they turned it into a Marshall!

    I guess I just assume the worst from all of the shippers out there and insist that anything sent to me be double-boxed— the outer box to be offered as a ritual sacrifice to the shipping gods while the inner box will (hopefully) protect the goodies inside.

    I would guess that the Marshall amp in that box originally left the factory securely strapped down to a pallette and probably had foam blocks, at least on the corners if not on two of the sides. Even then if the Marshall amp was to be shipped by itself via UPS or FedEx it would be a good idea to place that box inside a larger box with plenty of packing inside...

    Not that I'm placing the blame on your friend— FedEx should not accept any package unless they can guarantee that it be delivered intact. They could tell what it was by the picture on the box and they knew how heavy it was so they should have loaded it onto their trucks properly. It's not like there was something loose inside the box heavy enough to punch out a hole from inertial and/or centrifugal forces (as I've seen happen with a heavy transformer or a speaker).

--Good luck with your claim!

Steve Ahola

4/26/2003 4:50 PM

That box looks as if it were thrown around by the Gorillas from the old Samsonite luggage commercial from tv. LOL....

Steve is right about double boxing as shippers do seem to disregard the print that says (Handle WITH care!) Every time ive bought somethiong from ebay I always wonder what condition it will be in when I get it when it comes thru UPS or USPS or Fedex.

I just recieved two speakers from Avatar and Dave that runs that company has the good smarts to double box the speakers so they got here A-ok!

SLB

4/26/2003 9:58 PM

""" Omigod... they turned it into a Marshall! """

I'd say the handlers were Mesa owners,and took it out on the box not knowing an Ampeg was in there.

Wow looks like it fell off the back of the truck and skidded down the road a ways..

Seems this happens with all the shippers at one time or another,bad thing is,when its your stuff its even worse..

Sometimes even getting a claim from the shippers is a pain,they seem like its your fault it wasn't packed right. They ask a million questions,and want the box and contents..when you can see it was handled pretty rough.

I sent one of my 18 watters to Cali..and it got there ok..its kinda hit and miss. Just think if it had an old plexi in there..yikes!

Hope you get your claim..

Richie

4/26/2003 5:28 PM
Casey4s	Marc, How badly was the amp damaged? What model Ampeg is/was this? What was the shipping weight? Just wondering, because this really sux. Do you have any photos of the amp itself? Good luck with your claim, let us know how it turns out. Casey4s

4/26/2003 6:13 PM

David and all:
It's not my amp! Thank goodness! I think the claim is still pending.
I do agree that anything like this should be double boxed-better safe than sorry.
I think it was an early Echo twin. They aren't all that heavy, 35 pounds maybe?
It went across county two or three times with FedEx.
I've never had a problem with FedEx, I have had many crushed box UPS deliveries however.
I just don't understand how the caps & tubes got crushed....

Marc

4/26/2003 8:23 PM

I concur with comments about double boxing. The responsibility for packageing is on you and not the shipper. Also, buy extra insurance.

I ususually don't get into the mode of dissing the shippers because when it comes right down to it, they offer quite a bargain. The last time I shipped an amp across the country it cost me less than $50. An outrageous bargain. And they delivered it right to the receipients door. Incredible.

Sure the shippers could slow down and take better care of things but on the other hand I don't want to be paying $200 to ship my next amp just because some whinners decided to complain about their amp getting messed up.

Bottom line is pack it right.

LFO

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