F'n UPS got me today

[m40dotcom]

Just got a delivery of a boombox I found on craigslist and got what I thought was a good deal. Being that the seller was looking for a local sale and I wasn't local I had him do the UPS 'Pack and Ship' option and covered the costs, figuring they'd know what their doing better than a random person. I told him all the things we all request with any big box being shipped so he could relay to UPS. He did all of that and even the receipt says "fragile pack service" on it. While despite a nice large new box, bubble wrap and all, the didn't have nearly enough peanuts on all sides of it. And what you see below is what I documented/saw as I was opening it. Then what I found inside once I opened the radio up.

Already filed a claim, talked to Customer Service on the phone. Being that it was their 'Pack and Ship' service and it's insured and all that, she said that I might get my purchase and any shipping/packaging costs refunded. So... silver lining, as long as they let me keep it, I have a great box for free. Just gotta make sure they don't want to refund and still take it as they might come over to inspect packaging or something I guess.

Oh yeah, and I'll let you guess what box model (or AKA, hint) it is. Yes, that one. AARARRRRGGGGGG DAMN YOU UPS!!!! Just lucky it wasn't a 4th of the price of the real nice ones going on ebay of late. But just even a functional unit like this is great to anyone on this board. So..... who's really good at case repair and getting the seam to look real nice (already assuming i'll paint back case as it's discolored pretty bad too)


Never good if you open the cardboard box and you can see the 25+ pound contents have plenty of room to move around. Right here is when my heart starts thumping big.

I can see what looks to be a gap in the side of the case. Thinking I might've been screwed over by the seller.

Almost bring tears to my eyes for this type of box.

Recognize the model yet?

 

[blu_fuz]

F'd up CLAIRTONE (or Helix, based off your clue )!


Make claim, get paid, and KEEP THE BOOMBOX!


What area craigslist did you find that?

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

FRIGGEN' UPS!

"Cr@p and Slip"

I had the same thing happen. Those people at the UPS stores need a little more training!

It pisses me off that a 30 year old C100 can survive all this time until THEY get their hands on it!

 

[m40dotcom]

Yep yep. Helix. Trying to get the holy trinity of Conion/Clairtone/Helix for some reason. This one was the roughest I've got, but still the radio/aux/amp/speakers/alarm/LEDs all are working fine and I'd bet with belts the decks will work. Missing cassette door, missing spare tape tray, and a bit rough cosmetically in a few odd ways including a punched in dust cap or two yet not ripped. Still sounds great though. At worst a real nice parts box to improve my others cosmetically, but I highly doubt I'll do that as it's totally usable as is. Just hate to not have a Tape A door for it.

 

[blu_fuz]

That one was on fleabay too wasn't it?

 

[m40dotcom]

Not this one. I haven't seen a Helix on there in while I've just seen Conion's and Clairtone's on ebay of late.

 

[rustoleumbloodstream]

i traveled a couple hours to pick my helix to avoid this exact situation.

 

[m40dotcom]

I would do couple hours drive for a nice box no problem, this would've been 30 hours each way. Gas alone would be enough to buy another one more expensive than this one.

 

[rustoleumbloodstream]

word. thats a long drive. worth it if you were picking up a large quantity of boxes.

 

[baddboybill]

Yikes this is why I don't trust shippers and shipping companies. I have Been picking up all my boom-boxes. I drove like 700 miles round trip to get my Conion good luck keeping it. Shippers usually ask for package and contents. You may get lucky

 

[THAFUZZ]

Sorry to hear about your shipping disaster. I fixed my pushed in speaker chrome cap problem with some rolled up scotch tape piece and 'carefully' touched the cap with it. It pulled the dent out. Good luck with all. That Helix would complement my Helix Wheely just fine.

 

[blu_fuz]

I havn't had a single shipping company ask/tell me to give them the damaged boombox when I filed claims.

 

[tmlfan]

Yikes this is why I don't trust shippers and shipping companies. I have Been picking up all my boom-boxes. I drove like 700 miles round trip to get my Conion good luck keeping it. Shippers usually ask for package and contents. You may get lucky

Same here, I have had my vz-2000, sharp 777, clairtone 7980 all picked up locally, if its to far for me I get a family member to pick it up in Toronto. I have never bought a box off ebay.

The drive itself is fun, the anticipation of getting that new grail is the best, and the drive home with the smile on your face it worth the extra effort

 

[m40dotcom]

Guess I gotta move to Ottawa. I'm not even sure where to look locally as anything I've tried just seems like a lost cause. Outta maybe 30 boom boxes bought over ebay, I've had maybe 3 get damaged from shipping, one really bad, one bad, and one minor. So until I start seeing anything decent in town, I got no other option.

Was out of town over the weekend and I got a UPS notice saying they tried to stop by to see the damaged package. So... we'll see what happens, but what the heck they gonna do with a vintage boombox? Just getting that beast around I'd think would be annoying for them. I ain't letting them leave with it I know that, just gonna see how any haggling goes tomorrow if they come back.

May the force be with me (to keep the box and get all my money back too)

 

[baddboybill]

Guess I gotta move to Ottawa. I'm not even sure where to look locally as anything I've tried just seems like a lost cause. Outta maybe 30 boom boxes bought over ebay, I've had maybe 3 get damaged from shipping, one really bad, one bad, and one minor. So until I start seeing anything decent in town, I got no other option.

Was out of town over the weekend and I got a UPS notice saying they tried to stop by to see the damaged package. So... we'll see what happens, but what the heck they gonna do with a vintage boombox? Just getting that beast around I'd think would be annoying for them. I ain't letting them leave with it I know that, just gonna see how any haggling goes tomorrow if they come back.

May the force be with me (to keep the box and get all my money back too)

Yeah I don't think they are sending driver to see it usually they pick up to take for inspection

 

[blu_fuz]

Yeah - when that UPS guy comes to the house, he wants to take it.

Call UPS, talk to someone about it being fixable and that you would consider settling with some money back to pay a "shop" to fix it. Even if you are the "shop". $60 a hour to do body work on your car, should be about $60 a hour to fix a boombox at an electronics shop (even though there isn't an electronics shop on the earth that would touch your boombox). Figure 2 hours with paint materials should get you to about $150 return.... That's how I brake it down when I file a claim.

 

[baddboybill]

The other downfall is that the shipper is the one that gets insurance since they put insurance on bbx. That's where the untrustworthy come out. If you don't trust shipper then go through paypal if that's how you paid. Otherwise you might be S. O. L ........

 

[blu_fuz]

Again, not all the time.

I have had FedEX request that the sender/seller sign a piece of paper stating that the receiver is to accept the claim money. Also, you might have to submit the original ad, paypal transaction receipt, pictures, etc...

I typed up the document saying "I _"seller"______ and forwarding the claim duties and claim settlement to Joe Barnes and he is to receive the shipping claim settlement amount." Then I faxed the form to the seller/sender, they sign it, fax signed form back to me, and I send the signed fax in with the other claim paperwork.

You file the claim, state that you might be able to have it fixed or fix it yourself, and that you want partial/full refund of the shipping and or the purchase amount.