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March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Well, it has finally happened to me.
UPS just delivered a pristine box containing a glorious shiny bowl deluxe balladeer back from a 7-month refurbishment at the factory.
They did such an amazing job that I doubt it looked this good when it was brand new!
The only problem is that the headstock is completely broken off the neck!!!!!
I know some of you have gone through this before so where do I start?
I've sent an e-mail to the factory service center to inform them - what's the next step? |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Weep
Take pictures
Keep the box and all packing materials
cry a little
contact your local UPS Office and make contact once you have the Claim number.
the Shipper (Mother) initiates and processes the claim.
Sorry about that Fletch |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Pain.... |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Bummer. Major bummer.
Document everything, but since it came from the factory I'm sure you are not going to get the typical UPS runaround. Looks like it's going to be making a return trip.
But I'm sure glad it wasn't a Josh or a B12. |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Bummer. Major bummer.
Document everything, but since it came from the factory I'm sure you are not going to get the typical UPS runaround. Looks like it's going to be making a return trip.
But I'm sure glad it wasn't a Josh or a B12. Oh definitely! :eek:
So can it be repaired or am I looking at a new neck? Does that mean a new bowl too? |
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October 2005
Posts: 4075
Location: Utah | Drink tonight. That's what I'd do, locked in a room so nobody saw me cry like a baby. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Although it's a dark hour, rest assured that the MS will do her magic again!
Hang in there... |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Fletch, sorry to hear this news...as to what can be done, the factory will certainly do their best to get it fixed...but severed head-stocks are serious...
If it will make you feel any better (and it won't) my box from Stephen arrived today FedEx...the box had evidently been dropped as the box with the mint condition Peluso Ribbon Mic impaled itself on the attenuator knob of the Univalve THD amp head...broke the knob and crushed the wood box for the mic...packing was great; just can't withstand a drop from a height w/o damaging something...I will check the mic tomorrow to see if its OK and we're doing the damage claim thing as well...
Tis the season...Shipping companies gone wild...
All the best! |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | "Can it be repaired?"
Anything is possible.
Here\'s a page from Frank Ford\'s site showing a repair to a very nasty break.
He took this:
And turned it into this:
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Well that actually makes me feel a bit better!
Same type of break except for the truss rod kind of holding the pieces together on mine.
I know, I know, I need to get a camera! |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Maybe write a song along the lines of "UPS Broke My Heart (not to mention my guitar)"
Sorry to hear!!
Good Luck.
AJ |
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February 2008
Posts: 747
| Someone I know who ships a lot of stuff for his business was saying that he doesn't send anything out during the last 2 weeks of December because shipping damage goes up to about 90% for that period. |
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March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Don't know what exactly happened so I don't want to come down on UPS yet.
I mean, the shipping box is perfect, not a mark on it, and the case I used for shipping - a late model black one, not the original - is also still in perfect condition.
Ovation doesn't use much in the way of packing materials, just the cardboard forms to keep the case suspended in the center of the box, but those were undamaged also and still in place.
Not sure exactly what could cause the neck to snap like that, esp. since the neck was refinished with the rest of the guitar. Knowing the factory diligence, they would have spotted any potential problems during the refinishing.
Just one of those things I guess... |
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March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Just got an e-mail from K Keller, so the claims ball is already rolling.
Can't ask for better customer service than that!!! |
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December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "Don't know what exactly happened so I don't want to come down on UPS yet."
A complete neck snap is usually do to falling flat. Like the box was standing on its end and fell over. The weight of the tuners, velocity... etc.. It's really the only position it can fall to apply the most stress on the weakest point (the neck behind the nut). And of course, the box usually looks totally undamaged when this happens which makes it more of a shock when you open the box.
Bummer... :( |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | UPS might actually hurry this along.
You figure that Ovation ships many Thousands of items every year...
UPS won't want them taking their business elsewhere.
BTW - UPS seems to be working with the shipper of the BCR Perfect 10 that they destroyed.
It is possible that the UPS claims department has been having a change of heart.
I may have to change my opinion of them. |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
BTW - UPS seems to be working with the shipper of the BCR Perfect 10 that they destroyed Wow, that's great to hear!
And thanks for the info Miles, I can picture that happening now. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Joe Rotax:
Someone I know who ships a lot of stuff for his business was saying that he doesn't send anything out during the last 2 weeks of December because shipping damage goes up to about 90% for that period. Ay caramba! This whole thing is sort of wigging me out ... I've got one on the way that is from a private seller. I've got my fingers crossed ... |
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | OOOOH, I'mm gettin' the heebie jeebies too.
I think I'll have to wrap up the 68DB with bubble wrap in the case and wrapped around the outside of the case and insure the hell out of it before I send it to MS when I get back.
Man, I sure hope they (UPS) do you right on this! |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | OUCH! Sorry to hear Fletcher. Like mentioned above, Mother will do her thing! |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Sometimes I wish there could be an "Ovation Pony Express," where you could drive your axe so far, hand it off to a trusty member, who would drive it the next stage, hand off by hand off, until it was safely tucked in at Mother's house.
I know that it wouldn't be practical, and I realize that the thing could be damaged in transit that way, too, but at least you'd know that you'd have a reasonable chance to avoid getting your heartstrings (pun intended) wrenched right out of your chest.
Especially for one like Mike's 68--I'd feel a little queasy that the thought of something like this happening to something like that, too.
When Gertrude was spa'd a few years back, she was delivered by hand so she'd only have to be shipped one way.
--Karen |
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | I'm almost to the point of making a trip out of it :) |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Seems like many of us have something en route with fingers crossed. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I was thinking about the holiday shipping mess myself. I'm glad I don't have anything in the shipping lanes right now. I was considering sending one to the MS, but I will now wait until after the holidays. I'm pretty confident that MOST UPS handlers try not to damage guitar boxes, but during this time it's hell on wheel to get all the packages through. Good luck Fletch ... I'm sure it will work out for you ... although for now you'll have to work on getting rid of that sick feeling. |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Opted to have Keith send the MWoody BW Limited AFTER Xmas. Frenetic "Temp-Gorillas" was my fear. |
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December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | I've never had a headstock break before, so I can only imagine how bad you feel. Your Ovation brothers (and sisters) share your pain.
My older brother ships a lot of guitars and he always packs crumpled newspaper above and below the headstock in an effort to reduce the risk of this happening. He's never had a headstock broken in transit, but there's no way of knowing if the additional packing had anything to do with it. I've purchased several new guitars over the years and I've never received one with any extra packing so the manufacturers must not see a need for it. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Sorry to hear this but it can be fixed. |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Thanks for the good thoughts everyone!
I think it is the time of year that really caused it to tug on my heart strings. Being alone during the holidays can be tough sometimes and getting the big box last night just seemed perfect - I mean, there was going to be something under the tree this year after all.
To open the case, find such a beautiful instrument and only then notice the damage, well, my heart just fell.
Thanks for being there folks, it really helped to know there were others who would truly understand how I was feeling... |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Never happened to me, but fixed several. Probably stronger, and more robust, after the repair, too! It really is the instrument's Achilles Heel, though.
Need a loaner, Fletch? It could take some time, on this next turnaround. I'm just up the road, anyway. |
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March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Thanks for the offer, but I have others to play until it returns.
I really don't mind the wait, I result is always worth it. |
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March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Don't concern yourself with UPS, Kim will take care of it quickly regardless of UPS. I sent my 1858 in for a warrantee repair a while back & when I got it back the guitar was like new but the case was cracked. Kim got the ball rolling & walked me through the whole process, including promptly sending me a new case (which has a nice leather wrapped padded handle that the original didn't have) & a UPS return sticker. When my new one arrived I took out the new case, slid the broken one back in the box, slapped the sticker over the original one & the UPS guy picked it up the next day. I told Kim good luck with UPS & he said he was pretty sure it was already handled. They don't fool around with UPS. Kim said if they drag their feet he'll switch over to FedEx for a few weeks & that tunes 'em right up. One thing- do NOT give your guitar to UPS for "evaluation", you wil probably never see it again. Had that happen once with a TV.
Kim will fix it, don't worry! |
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broken headstock