Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I had an idea (that I'm SURE some of you have thought of already) and I'm kind of ashamed I haven't thought of it sooner.

Many of you know of my recently acquired 1973 4001 BG incident where the shipper failed to package the bass correctly in a NON ORIGINAL HSC and the resulting damage that incurred.

I was first told that FEDEX would come to inspect the damage. After NOTHING happened for about a week, I called FEDEX and inquired. I was told that since the SHIPPER said the damage is repairable, NO INSPECTION was necessary. That the claim was APPROVED and a check was being sent to the SHIPPER. It appears I'm going to get the shaft again.

A lesson learned. Since we pay for shipping our guitars anyway, and since I've had a FEDEX account for over a year, I'm now going to request of the seller that when I purchase a guitar, that for INSURANCE REASONS, they bring it to their local FEDEX location and to BILL it to MY ACCOUNT. This way, IF it is damaged, I'm NOW the SHIPPER as well as the buyer. I GET THE CHECK if there is a problem, not the seller!

Opening a FEDEX or UPS account is FREE, all you need is a credit card or ATM card that the account can be billed to. It takes about 5 minutes to complete the form!

Thoughts?

I've recently had a BOGUS charge on my FEDEX account and I contested it. It only took about 3 days to have the $150.00 in charges removed. The agent told me that when you have an account, your IP address is generated when you print out the shipping label. IF it is not generated from your IP, or submitted at a LOCAL office, you are given credit. SO, I'm not worried about someone billing bogus charges to my account. OR, you can send a call tag with shipping paid for in advance and YOU choose the level of insurance.

Anything I've overlooked? Any ideas or suggestions?

END OF RANT!

Get an estimate of the cost, contact the shipper and demand your money and lambaste Fedex for sending it to the shipper instead of you. I have heard this before and have been using Fedex exclusively, now I will rethink that. Another thing you can do is use paypal, they will reimburse you for damages, I got the whole amount back that I paid for a vintage communications receiver some bonehead packed improperly from Paypal.

Tony, same thing happened to me with a combo organ I won in a US Ebay auction. Some might remember the incident--it was about a year ago and still gets my blood pressure up.

I received 1/2 of the organ--the stand and bass pedal unit, but the main case never arrived. I kept bugging UPS and they kept "investigating" to no result. Finally, as the claim deadline with Paypal was about to run out, the seller said he was going to receive a refund from UPS and he'd forward it to me.

You guessed it--he disappeared. He got paid twice for the organ (and reimbursed for the $200.00 shipping that I paid!) and I learned a $700.00 lesson.

UPS pays the claimant (the shipper); although we might pay for shipping in an Ebay auction, this is merely a reimbursement the way UPS sees it. So shipper gets paid for goods and transport.

In cases of lost items, bring the hammer down on the seller ASAP and keep it down. File a Paypal notice rapidly, too. You can escalate it to a claim or cancel it later, but the threat of Paypal action (they've been known to freeze bank accounts) is a good motivator to marginal sellers.

I think the idea of arranging shipping to yourself is a great idea. That way, should anything happen, the carrier deals with you rather than the seller. For lower cost items, I don't think it really necessary. But with guitars, it certainly would be peace of mind. I also don't think it would be necessary with an authorized Rickenbacker dealer, as I believe they will stand behind their reputation.

It is a good idea Tony. In fact that puts you in the drivers seat as as far as making sure your item is insured properly. I have considered making it a must if I were to sell an item. That way the buyer pays the exact amount.

I opened an account with FedEx years ago when selling my V63. I sent it collect. The buyer had to pay with certified funds that were overnighted back to me.

I have my own marine cargo insurance policy, bought specifically to cover damage or loss to guitars in transit. Up to ten guitars per year valued at five grand per guitar costs me around $250.

By doing it this way I cut out the inflated insurance charge from the shipping company, and if anything goes wrong, it's me making a claim on my local insurer.

If I were ever to purchase a "real money" vintage guitar, I would just about spend the time and money and drive across the country to pick it up in person.

Why doesn't someone here set up a Rick Forum account with a shipping company and get bulk rates on all the Ricks that seem to be travelling around the world thanks to us?

I know it's a big ask for someone to do this, but it could save a lot of cash and hassle for a lot of people. How many times have forum members asked "What's the cheapest way to send...", "Who's the most reliable..." and how many forumites are currently holding guitars for their international friends?

Many individual guitars dealers qualify for bulk shipping discounts, and surely we move a hell of a lot more product on this forum than most of them!

I'd offer my time, but living in Oz would make it hard to administer a shipping account with 90% of transactions occurring solely the US.

"If I were ever to purchase a "real money" vintage guitar, I would just about spend the time and money and drive across the country to pick it up in person."

Yes, that is the best way to do things, I've driven up to 350 miles one way to pick things up.
I would not ship a 1964 4001 or J bass across the country with a shipper for example, I'd take a plane and get an agreement I could carry it on the plane or else I'd drive, take a train or something like that. But then again, I don't think I would buy either without playing them first either.

Lots of great suggestions everyone, thanks.

Paul, I sure can understand why you feel the way you do. I have a hunch this is going to irritate me for some time.

I messed up BIG TIME on this one. I ASSumed that being I was purchasing it from an established dealer, I would just use my ATM Debit card to make the purchase. I even told the guy he would save the 3% the credit card company would hit him. I NORMALLY only use my CC first, Paypal if they don't take credit, and a Money Order ONLY if the deal is being done in person. I just wasn't thinking.

The damage was caused by the shipper's carelessness. It was shipped in an old Fender case. You can actually see where the headstock was rubbing up against the side of the case. The only packing to protect the headstock was a piece of newspaper just tossed over the face of the TRC. It even wore the felt lining away where the tuner was hitting it. THAT is where the tuner broke off, then bounced around the case and caused the finish damage.

SO, to add insult to injury, HE screwed up and got paid for it! The seller offered to buy back the bass PLUS an additional $100.00 "pure profit for me for doing nothing". The dealer thought it was a 1984, as soon as he figured out it was a 1973, the whole FEEL of the deal became stressed.

Anyway, you live and learn. From now only, CREDIT CARD or PAYPAL, SELF INSURED shipping billed to my FEDEX account. If the seller doesn't want to do that, I can always just pass on the deal.

When you ship Fedex, they are supposed to inspect the case and make sure the neck is adequately protected. I put bubble wrap around the neck to make sure it doesn't rub like that and also put stuff to ensure it can't move around in the case, that is usually what concerns Fedex the most.

Tony: there is a thing called diminished value...example...CME shipped a $14,000.00 guitar to a customer and it had the neck broken in shipping. This lowers the value of the instrument even if a perfect repair is done. You can prove this very easily with a written appraisal from someone like myself or any other legitimate business that deals in vintage guitars. I helped the buyer on the 14K guitar recover 11K and keep the instrument. Why should you or anyone be stuck with a wrecked/repaired guitar of lesser value?

I will never claim to be an expert on the supernatural unexplained dark art of ‘insurance’ however I will pass on this tiny nugget in case it helps anyone –

When I purchased my guitar inventory “rider” * I specifically asked over and over about this kind of situation. “When is the instrument mine?” I asked. “When does my insurance coverage start exactly during purchasing or selling something on eBay?”

The answer was: when the money changes hands. I hope I never have to test that theory but that’s what USAA said. If I paid for something and it is damaged (or lost) in shipment I am covered for the replacement value.
Of course trying to determine what the "replacement value" is, is another story.

* USAA doesn’t actually call them ‘riders’ anymore.

Well,

I'm testing my theory for the first time!

Let's see how it goes!