|
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | Dweezil,
Did it show up today?
Blues |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Still clearing customs, will be next week sometime :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Cleared customs - delivery for Mon or Tue... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | FD-14 arrived but with 6" crack in the top - it's ruined :(
In a word ****! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | :( I feel physically sick.
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | that sucks! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Sorry to hear that, dweezil. But the Mothership can fix it.
  |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | WOAH! Well that makes me feel a load better :)
Tell me how much did they charge? I guess mine needs a new top to make it like new. I've emailed Kim but no reply yet...
I also wonder is the new top the same quality etc?
THANKS A MILLION! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | That crack doesn't look too bad, and cedar is pretty easy to work with. I would bet a good luthier can fix it up just fine. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Nice one. I think I would rather have the top replaced by the Wizrds rather than knowing there's a fixed crack. It all depends on how much they'll charge as I did have it insured. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Elvis wouldn't date women who had had children..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | they replaced the top and body for $625. prices subject to change without notice. I'd follow Dave's advice and see if luthier can fix it before sending it back to the factory. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | It was insured so I would rather send it back and have USPS pay for a new top! Surely if money didn't come into it a new top would be the better option. OK it might not be opended up but I'll happily do it.
Did you have the neck glossed (or anything else) when you sent yours back. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Doesn't USPS pay your claim but they keep the item? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | WHAT!?!?!?
That wouldn't make sence would it?
From the USPS site:
"For partial damage, estimates of repair costs not to exceed the the original purchase price"
What would be the point of repairing it if they kept the item?!?! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I dunno. The only claim I ever had with them was a guitar they snapped the neck off. It wasn't repairable. They paid me the claim money but I never saw the guitar again. I guess it's different if the item is repairable. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Must reading re claims: Carmack Admendment !!!
Serge (G8r),
Could this be added to the FAQ? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Doesn't USPS pay your claim but they keep the item? This is complicated because of two things:
[list]
[*]1) USPS always says that if an item is totalled, they will retain the item upon paying out the claim.
2) This particular transaction involves two different postal carriers.
[/list]
Let's deal with #1 first. The guitar that Trader Jim recently bought from me was badly damaged in shipping. Guess what, it needs a new top. Depending on who each of us has talked to, we get slight variations of the "USPS retains ownership" story. Thus far, this is the total picture as we have come to understand it. Firstly, when filing the INITIAL claim, the claimant (usually the shipper) has to specifically state that the receiver wishes to have the article repaired and why. ("Because this instrument is no longer manufactured." is a valid reason.) Second, an authorized quote for the repair must be included in the claim as well. (Kim or John can help with this via email.) Don't forget any other helpful attachments like pictures, purchase receipts, etc. Third, the receiving local post office must receive, AND (in the US) RETAIN, the item to verify the condition and fill out the appropriate forms. They will keep the guitar for the duration of the claims process. The process requires up to thirty days. (I think it's 60 days for an international claim.)
This is where TJ and I stand at this very moment.
Now for the second part. As bad luck would have it, I had to place a similar claim last year for a guitar shipped to Canada as well. All of the above applied, but was tempered by the fact that the inspecting PO was from another country that had some sort of "agreement" with the USPS. I don't know what the deal may or may not be with the UK's postal service. But Canada had 60 days to receive and inspect the guitar and return the paperwork. They never did send the papers, and after 60 days, the USPS paid the claim. Strangely, the Canadian PO did not keep the guitar during the claim period, and the buyer took a gamble and sent the guitar (a Pacemaker) back to mother before the claim was paid. Happily, it all worked out.
So there it is, clear as mud. Put every detail you can think of on the claim form. Try to find out the COMPLETE requirements from each postal carrier. Don't take answers at face value from bureaucratic machines like postal services. Hound the living snot out of them. (I call every week, and TJ checks up as well.) And the only other thing I can think to say is GOOD LUCK. I feel for ya!
BTW, is it me or have the guitar boards in the last few months had WAAYYY more threads about damaged shipments than they used to?  |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Thanks.
I want to have the work done regardless of whether I get the claim authorised. It's a total crime but there is it.
So might just send it back to Mother and have it repaired and try and claim.
It certainly seems like it's setup so that the courier is not responsible despite paying extra for insurance. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | I'm on it from my end. Off to the Post Office to get the necessary forms.
(sigh!)
Blues(why is nothing ever easy)Sailor |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Originally posted by dweezil:
It was insured so I would rather send it back and have USPS pay for a new top! Surely if money didn't come into it a new top would be the better option. OK it might not be opended up but I'll happily do it.
Did you have the neck glossed (or anything else) when you sent yours back. I'm not sure they would replace just the top.
You don't need to worry about it being opened up, it's fantastic with the new top.
I didn't have any changes made to the guitar, but if I ever send another guitar back I will definitely have the neck glossed. I love the glossed neck on my 1719 30CM. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | USPS can disclaim any claim based on one factor - the box wasn't new.
Doesn't matter how strong or clean the box or well packed (or how blatantly damaged)...if it is not new, they can disclaim.
In the past, when sending a guitar, I have used a good to "like new" box (no crease or tears) that I had received from the factory or someone else.
If you want a lesson in frustration, try working with their St. Louis claims or Washington, D.C. last point of appeal.
I have seriously reconsidered my use of USPS (ground or priority). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | "Doesn't matter how strong or clean the box or well packed (or how blatantly damaged)...if it is not new, they can disclaim."
Can you say 'parachute'? The USPS can. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Dang, Dweez, that's a real shame.
@iffy - good suggestion, will link to the Carmack Amendment in the FAQ. |
|
| |
FD-14 For Sale
