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Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | In the last couple of years, I've had an '89 Collector's damaged by the USPS and an MM-68 Mando damaged by UPS. Neither honored their insurance. Today Fedex brought this to my office. (I wasn't there so the secretary signed for it without opening it first.) I'll contact Kim Keller for a repair estimate on Monday and see if Fedex is any better than the other two I guess.
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Location: Feeding Hills, MA | OUCH!!! Good luck. |
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Posts: 1374
| just the rosette? or other structural damage..
the abalone rosettes are expensive, but if that's all it is should be an easy fix.
good luck.. they do miracles up there.
Glenn |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | The only personally observed settlement was through FedEx. In fact the seller had FedEx pick up a damaged git up from me and he had a check a month later.
I've been  'ed
by the USPS.
:mad: |
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Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Kim Keller says the rosette alone is about $200. Then they have to grind the glue off the top to put the new one on. Don't know the total cost yet. The rest of the guitar looks OK. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I repaired a rosette by gluing the pieces ack together. It's very hard to notice, but it wasn't abalone. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Patch, you sure this was done in shipping? I mean, a rosette being ripped off while the guitar is still in a hard case is a little hard to accept. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Yeah, the abalone is the problem. According to Kim, if the abalone breaks from the rosette, they consider it irreparable. The abalone from this one is in tiny pieces inside the guitar. :rolleyes: |
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May 2007
Posts: 53
| Wow!! I had a book elite damaged by Fedex. When the driver returned to pick up the damaged beauty he actually dumped 1/2 the popcorn and bubble wrap onto the floor of our office in order to fit the guitar back into the box. I called the next day and offered to bring the damaged goods directly to the factory (I work 30 min away) to expedite processing and luckily made a joking comment about my staff having to clean up after the driver, much to the amazement of patient's in our waiting room.
The shipper's claim was denied after numerous correspondences. Reasons for denial: the item was not new, then they do not cover collectable items, then due to inadequate packing. This is when I took over on behalf of the shipper.
I sent a detailed letter noting times and dates of whom I spoke with, noted lack of Fedex policy statement excluding coverage for items which were not new or collectable, offered to send signed statements by patients in our office who witnessed the driver's actions, noted our frequent use of fedex with no claim history, and noted I was not looking to profit from the situtation and suggested they send a check to cover the cost of repair directly to Ovation, or make the check out to both parties.
A check was finally sent to the shipper. Book elite receiving a new cover and chapter in its life. Unfortunately one must persist, as many companies count on people who do not follow through and simply give up. I hope the above provides some assistance and GOOD LUCK!! |
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Posts: 1330
Location: ms | Is this a guitar you just bought? Like Trader said this does not look like something that would happen with the guitar in the case. |
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Location: East Tennessee | Ship by Air.
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Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I just bought it last week. The seller shipped overnight. I could see no evidence in the pictures of any damage. Here's the scary part; he didn't pack it in a box, just shipped it with a Fedex receipt attached to its case. :eek: :confused:
I hope to talk to Kim on Monday to get a complete repair estimate. If it's too high, I'm hoping the seller will just take it back and deal with Fedex himself.
It's really a shame; the guitar is beautiful. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I've heard of horror stories of people buying guitars, and rightfully assuming the seller knows enough to put the %$#@& thing in a box to ship it, only to find out not all people possess common sense. Actually, the box only protects the case from scuffing and abrasions. The real protection is from the case fitting the guitar correctly. I realize the box will absorb some impacts, but the rosette torn off the guitar just doesn't seem like something that would happen in shipping with the guitar in the case. I would contact the seller, and have him refund your money, then let him deal with the insurance. If you bought it on Ebay or used paypal, you may have recourse through them. |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Patch, you sure this was done in shipping? I mean, a rosette being ripped off while the guitar is still in a hard case is a little hard to accept. I agree with TJ
That doesnt look like shipping damage to me. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I really liked the guitar, but after some consideration have contacted the seller and asked for my money back. We'll see what happens. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
seller knows enough to put the %$#@& thing in a box to ship it after reducing string tension! |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | It doesn't look like shipping damage to me either. That would take a heck of a specific impact to rip off, and I can't imagine that happening inside a case.
I just got a dud though as well...guy shipped me a custom legend in a horribly packed box that he claims UPS packed for him, and lo and behold there's a big crack from bridge to bottom right down the top. Still arguing that one with him and paypal. He claims there was just a "small cosmetic blemish" there when he shipped it, but one way or another this thing needs a trip to CT...and hopefully not on my dime.
I feel for you Patch...best of luck with that one. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Andrew, if he had a UPS store pack it, they are supposed to have an iron clad, full value guarantee on shipping damage so this guy shouldn't have a problem refunding the money. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | With enough pre-planning, we ship enough guitars within this forum to almost make it worthwhile to form our own guitar transport business. |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Yeah, you would think...except that he kind of tip-toed around the idea that it might have had something there already, which wasn't in his description. I honestly think he shipped it already damaged, and it either got worse in transit or he expected me to not really notice. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Andrew, if he had a UPS store pack it, they are supposed to have an iron clad, full value guarantee on shipping damage so this guy shouldn't have a problem refunding the money. Don't know if this is true industry-wide, but all of my local Fed Ex offices say that they will not Pack any Musical Instruments!
Apparently they have been burnt before. They have no trouble with insuring the guitars I pack, but they won't pack 'em for me.
[fine with me, anyway.]
Oh! I've had two, (maybe three), guitars sent to me by USPS and both arrived quickly, cheaply, and undamaged.
Just thinking out loud :rolleyes: |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I use USPS International all the time, and have never had an issue. I've probably sent at least 15 to 20 guitars this way in the last few years, and (knock on wood) they've been really good. Domestically, they're inexpensive, but I'm just really not fond of their tracking system and delivery procedures. FedEx has been the best for me overall so far, with UPS being dead LAST in my book. |
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SIGH...Let's see if Fedex is any better than UPS or USPS
