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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | So the 1121 that I sold got there today and the headstock was broken. I called Fed Ex, but it is Sunday in most of the world. The guy emailed me a claim form, but he screwed it up. So I have never done this before, so I am at a loss. The guy told me to check back when them main office is open...
But, What a Waste!
This is what it looked like Before...
 
And After... Jack opened the box and case and well... Mountainmanjack sent me these, and he ain't a happy camper!
  
So anyone who's been through this let me know... Like, how am I supposed to find the Proof of Value for a 35 year-old guitar? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Did you insure it?
and how about a picture of the damaged case?
That damage could not occur without the case being busted up pretty good.
and the shipping box would most likely show signs of damage.
Maybe the buyer picked it up and dropped it and is trying to hold you responsible for his f*&k up! |
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| was the guitar shipped tuned and at concert pitch?
that looks like a classic airline break, when the guitar and case are slapped flat hard, or knocked over with some momentum, if the headstock is not completely immobilized in the case...like wrapping bubble wrap or batting around it, this is what can happen.
the older necks also had a much higher rake angle at the hs/nut back then, which also may have contributed, as well as the age and previous stress cracks and years of pressure/tension.
but it does look like the guitar and carton were slapped down face first, and mass, inertia, and tension took it from there.
Glenn |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I loosened the strings. It had a t-shirt rag in the case so it would not flop-around. (Free cleaning cloth enclosed) Then I put it in a guitar box, with one of those pieces of cardboard with a hole in it to keep the case from moving too much... And put some styrofoam blocks in there for good measure!
I'm figgering that they must have dropped it. And I'm pissed. I am going through the motions. I gave a money-back guarantee in the listing...
But (insert swear here)!!
If I was just gonna lose a guitar and the money, I coulda just went down to Pioneer square, or down the hall, and Gave It Away! At least I woulda got some satisfaction.
The guy on the phone was saying that I need some kind of proof of value. "Well Dude, it cost $565... 35 years ago! You could buy a motorcycle for that much back then!"
I ship stuff just in the case all the time, no problem. (At least then they KNOW it is a guitar!
So I boxed this one up, and... |
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Location: SoCal | Important that the recipient save the shipping box and material. The before and after pictures are important.
As to value, primary value is what you, the seller, sold to the buyer. That, in most cases, affixes the value.
As long as this doesn't exceed the insurance, there is indication of mis-handling (damage to box, case, etc.), you should be all right.
If needed, I am sure you can get a quote from Kim or John as to replacement of the neck.
Hard to relax until the weekday...hopefully, all will be well. |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Tony Calman:
Important that the recipient save the shipping box and material. The before and after pictures are important. Absolutely! Otherwise, "...improper packaging has been determined to be the cause for the damage..." |
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Location: south east Michigan | The neck is wrapped.
The guitar is in a hard shell case.
The case is in a cushioned box.
.
.
Some baggage monkey had to put a real "employee of the week" type effort to break the neck like that.
I hate "after" pictures like that.
And Fed-Ex has enjoyed a good reputation here. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Just My .02, I ALWAYS take pictures of the guitar in stages as it is being packed, just to prove how well it was done in case this crops up. OMA, I'm with Stephen on this one. Either the new owner dropped it, or that thing had to take a real whack to do that. |
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Location: Scotland | On a more positive note, that kind of break is usually easy and relatively inexpensive to repair, and if it's done right it'll be stable and look fine. It's a dIY job if you have the right adhesive and clamps. So refund the guy, put in your insurance claim fit it and re-sell it stating there's a repaired headstock break. It's a major pain, but all is not lost. Yet. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | great excuse to put a wideneck on it... |
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Location: Maple Shade, NJ. | Man, that sucks,....I'm seriously thinking of just takin a ride to CT. and drop the legend off. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by stephent28:
That damage could not occur without the case being busted up pretty good. I'd have to disagree with you there.
Rule #1: Loosen strings
Rule #2: HEAPS of packing around headstock. I don't think just a tee shirt fits the bill, IMHO. (scrunched up newspaper - lots of it - works better than bubble wrap. Cram in as much as will fit.)
Drop a guitar case from a great height and if it lands flat will show no damage to the packing materials or the HSC, but the precious cargo is, well... see above.
I feel for ya, OMA. WE know you're not a jerk.
Hey, your customer got a free t shirt. He's got no right to complain. :D |
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Location: ms | Thats the most common place for a guitar to be damaged when shipping. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Is it just me or does the headstock look like it has a crack already in the "before" photo?
Ditto other responses, strings need to be loosened and headstock completely secured.
Ironically, NO major manufacturer that I know of does this. They just tune them to pitch and throw them in the case. No extra packing material in the box. You would think they would know best, but I'm not so sure.
Dave |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Took me about 5 weeks, altogether, with UPS, about 6 years ago. Nasty process, and they WILL cast aspersions on your character & competence.
NO PRISONERS!!! |
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Location: Whitecourt, Ab | Tough one OMA,I wonder if a "completed auction" history on e-barf (as you call it) would work as proof of value?
I second what Paul T says...a bit of Gorilla glue and you have an awesome campfire gitter. And funds towards future GAS from ins. if all goes well. Good luck |
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Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Tupperware:
Is it just me or does the headstock look like it has a crack already in the "before" photo?
When it was in for some warranty work about 10 years ago the luthier put a patch on it before it broke because that's know to be a very weak area and it doesn't take much force for them break.
If you have an older Ovation it might be worth looking into whether or not it should have a patch installed in that area as a preventative measure.
They did a good job on mine; the patch is barely visible and it just looks like slightly thicker resin or whatever they use for the finish material. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I just talked to the guy.... He set me as a nice old guy (by his voice, and his wife's voice).
But I foresee me losing around $300 and some hair on this one, besides the world losing a nice guitar.
'Mountain-Man-Jack' was telling me what a Beautiful Guitar it was except for the break... Which just hurt my feelings even more.
"I had a guitar exactly like that, except my old one said Glen Campbell on it... That's why I bought yours"
Yeah Dave, the neck had some kind of repair there, but the previous owner claims it was there when HE got it. And I couldn't run my fingernail under any crack or nuthin'... I just figured that someone saw the finish cracks and smeared glue on the area for "Luck!" And I've had it at "full concert pitch" for a year and a half.
And Ed, when I do an eBay search I only get my guitar... I think that they only keep the listings for 60 days now. It seems that I used to be able to call-up my old guitar purchases from a year ago but not no more.
So could anyone with FedEx claims experience (or UPS, DHL) let me know...
Should I just refund his money [half my month's rent! :mad: ] and have him send the guitar back.
Or wait till they come and pick-it-up? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Did you have it insured for the full amount?
Fedex will have to go to the items location for claim information so I would not make any restitution until they have a look. Then find out who the claim will be paid to and take it from there. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I had it insured for more than the buyer paid for it, always do that.
(Insured it for as much as I think it is worth, not what I got for it :rolleyes: )
I may be a jerk, cuz I already refunded the money.
Probably about the same time as you were typing, Stephen...
FedEx customer support said that I would get the money, if anyone does.
I talked to the old guy and his wife... I'm just a softie!
He didn't pressure me about the money, I just got that annoying Old Hippie syndrome...
Something about Treating People They Way I Want To Be Treated. |
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Location: big island | good on ya, arthur. it'll all work out and lessons will be learned. (sometimes those durned lessons are painful tho'!) |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | If karma really does exist, you'll do well, Arfur. (Ya big softie!) |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Way to go Authur...you'll be able to get this repaired and either sell or keep it...I am quite sure the previous "repair" had something to do with this...playing it for a year at concert pitch would not necessarily cause it any problems: until it received a good wack in shipping!
You did the right thing! |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
I just got that annoying Old Hippie syndrome...
Something about Treating People They Way I Want To Be Treated. Amen, Brother. |
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Location: ranson,wva | authur,the 1111 balladeer i sold ed in alberta was completly severed at the head and i fixed it...to date its still holding fine...i can fix that no problme....every guitar ive shippedwas shipped tuned and none was damaged....i think it was rough handled
btw i had food poisioning for teh past week or so but im back now lol |
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Help! Fed Ex broke the Guitar I shipped... No the buyer thinks I'm a jerk!
