Shipping Damage question

[webbhead13]

Hey guys,
who makes the claim for a guitar damaged during shipping?
I just got a cracked headstock

Bill

[WAR IN D]

The person who shipped the guitar must start the claim process...

Unfortunately, I recently discovered this myself even though the recipient didn't want me to bother with the process..

RSB has to be one of the coolest people I've had the fortune to deal with in a guitar transaction and I still owe him bigtime for that screwup...

[webbhead13]

Thanks War!!
this guy want to send me the info for me to do it >
I didnt think it worked like that.

thanks
Bill

[WAR IN D]

Yeah, if he shipped it.. then he's got to start the process, make the call, show the proper paperwork, etc...

They will eventually get around to coming by your place to inspect the box, contents, etc.. So, don't throw any of that stuff away.. Keep everything until it's resolved and get ready for a fight..

The feeling I got when I talked to them about that Stagey I sent RSB was that they pretty much didn't act too enthusiastic about wanting to help. But who knows, you might get lucky.

[webbhead13]

Thanks again,
I hope the seller is willing to help,
he kinda seems like he want to put it off on me to handle.

Bill

[RockStringBender]

Bill:

Use the 'concealed damage' description when you and the seller contact the shipper.

Be aware that they will only cover 1/4 of the declared and insured amount, if it's insured. They don't tell you that when you declare value but it's in the fine print.

They will try to run this around until you give up. If you used PP I would get something going there when the time limit gets to where you can initiate. They have some level of protection, but never went there with them so I don't know if they will do the right thing or run you around and say the shipping damage is not part of their protection policy.

Be patient and don't get your hopes too high. Possible to ask for a refund from the seller if it gets hairy but he would need to be righteous to do it if he sent a one piece axe that showed in two pieces, as he's a damaged party also.

This sucks and I hope it gets worked out in your favor.


Stephen- That Stagemaster ROCKS big-time and it's one of the best players I've got. It fits me perfectly and I'd rather have it with a little TLC needs than to not have it at all.

I appreciate you wanting to go to bat on that one, but as we discussed in private, I am totally satisfied with that baby. She'll be one of the last ones I would ever let go of. Tone, super fast neck and gunslinger weight, mojo and action.

That one was a find and I thank you for passing to me bro

[webbhead13]

Bob,
thanks for the info.
I have emailed the seller and at first seemed really cool about it but his second email had a different tone,if you know what I mean.
The guitar isnt broken and is playeble it just has a crack in the headstock along a glue joint that is under all the tuners! so if it gets worse I couold lose all the tuners.

the packaging left a little to be desired,to say the least He shipped it in a bass case that he just stuffed wit hnewspaper and some bubble wrap around the guitar. the case was just wrapped in brown wrapping paper NO BOX!!! just a paper wrap with 1 or 2 sheet of buble wrap around it. as soon as I saw the package I thought it was going to be worse! Its not a high dollar guitar to start with so I might just try to shoot some glue in the crack and clamp it

Thnaks for the replies guys

bill

[ShredisLife]

Hey guys,
who makes the claim for a guitar damaged during shipping?
I just got a cracked headstock

Bill

Oh no!!! What guitar got the headstock broken??!

[Johnny Drama]

Did you pay using paypal? If you did, you can always place a claim with them as "item not as described", with the explanation of "item broken" if the seller does not respond in a positive way. If you used Paypal, you'll get all of your money back, regardless of the claim outcome. It's the seller's responsibility to make sure the item arrives to the buyer in non-broken condition.

[webbhead13]

Alex,
After parting with the pacer i had seperation anxiety and found a guitar like the very first one I ever owned
Not a real collectors piece but its cool to beat on.
Its a Dean Z signature
its a strat body with a "jacksonish" headstock
and a nasty ass Kahler.

But the headstock cracked on this damn glue joint right under the tuners. running the length of the headstock.

So dont worry No kramers were hurt


JD, thanks .. I did pay with PP so if the guy doesnt want to work with me I might go that route.

Bill

[Tourpicx]

Did you pay using paypal? If you did, you can always place a claim with them as "item not as described", with the explanation of "item broken" if the seller does not respond in a positive way. If you used Paypal, you'll get all of your money back, regardless of the claim outcome. It's the seller's responsibility to make sure the item arrives to the buyer in non-broken condition.

Actually that is not exactly true. Paypal does not guarantee a refund except for "Item not received" claims. I've been using Paypal for 7 yrs now and had a few claims as "item not as described" and Paypal did nothing...no refund. Paypal will say you need to ship back to seller for seller to issue a refund...but if the seller does not want to cooperate and/or not an honest seller...the buyer is stuck. Going through the shipping insurance would be the best route to take in this situation.

[TommysGs]

I have had the unfortunate experience in opening a package and finding a broken head stock more than once.
I my self don't even mess with it anymore. I contact the seller and inform them that the guitar was damaged in shipping and I will be returning it for a full refund.

After the third time you loose some patience with it.
I always ask the seller to package carefully and to add extra protection inside the case to protect the head stock from breaking.

The down side can be that the seller will not refund the shipping costs as they are not obligated to do that.

On one guitar I gave the seller a choice of a return for full refund or a partial refund to cover the costs/time in dealing with the repair.
You have to weigh that against the value of what you are dealing with.
On another The pawn shop in Florida that sold me a Sustainer on Ebay said they would pay for a replacement neck. So I bought one on Ebay and Emailed them the auction close and they said that it was to much money and they would only refund me $40. Great after I bought a neck for $180.
so after some exchanges they finally gave me a refund of $100.

As far as turning in a claim to the shipping company it is the responsability of the shipper/seller to make a claim as they are the one that took out the policy. Not you.
You can not file a claim if you wanted to.
Judging from the description of the packaging job the shipping company is going to claim that the package was not properly packed to it is not thier fault. (That is thier first line of defence)
That ussually puts an end to the claim.

Thatis why I just demand a full refund rather than mess with it. I bought a guitar for $1500 and recieved it with a broken head stock. although it cost me $80 in shipping costs I cut my losses there rather than to keep the guitar and have it be worth $300 after the repair.
This was a gibson SG with the natural red stained finish that you can see the wood grain thru so it was not going to be able to be repaired with out everyone knowing it was repaired. Reduring the guitar useless.
So I figured better to loose $80 instead of a thousand.

If the seller has any kind of scrupples he will take it back and refund all of your costs.
That is what I would shoot for.
Unfortunately nice guys finnish last in buisness deals because the other guy will exployte your kindness.

[pel666]

Man I feel your pain! Sounds like it can be repaired though.....a friend of mine had that happen, he claimed it with the insurance of his mom telling them the guiter was on the stand and her jacket caught it and the guitar came down...presto, full payback (and I fixed the old neck). Not fully legit, but he had been paying insurance for 20 years and never claimed anything....

Doesn't anyone know how to proper package these days???

[Johnny Drama]

Actually that is not exactly true. Paypal does not guarantee a refund except for "Item not received" claims. I've been using Paypal for 7 yrs now and had a few claims as "item not as described" and Paypal did nothing...no refund. Paypal will say you need to ship back to seller for seller to issue a refund...but if the seller does not want to cooperate and/or not an honest seller...the buyer is stuck. Going through the shipping insurance would be the best route to take in this situation.

It's worked for me a number of times. You have the option of choosing to send back for a full refund, or to accept a partial refund. The money is frozen out of the seller's account when the claim is filed. If the seller doesn't respond, you get refunded. Things can get ties up if it's a lesser issue, but a broken item is usually going to be decided in the buyer's favor. Most everything about Paypal is set up in the buyer's favor.

I agree, going through the shipper to have the insurance claim is the best way, but the Paypal claim is always an option.

[webbhead13]

The Seller INSISTS I have to start the claim and wants to send me the postage info. How do I handle this? He says hes had to do this a few times....Maybe he could just start packin' them better

[TommysGs]

You can not make the claim. You are not the shipping company's customer.
Sounds like he is trying to weasle out on you.
If I were you I would demand that he take a return for refund or give you a partial refund of at least $100.

That is bull shrimp on his part.
He is just hoping that you go away because he doesn't want to deal with it.

It is his problem, not yours.
don't let him make it your problem.

He is not in a position to demand or insist anything.
Ask him simply if he is going to make it right or if you have to make merchandise not acceptable claims though Ebay and Paypal.
That is exactly why there are buyer protections in the Ebay system. They can't help you unless you submit a claim.
To Ebay, not the shipping company.

One of the guitar's that I recieved from UPS, I called them to find out how I submit a claim for shipping damage.
They told me I can not submit a claim.
The shipper (The shipping company's customer) has to submit the claim.
Once the shipper has submitted a claim UPS would send a representative out to inspect the damage and packaging.

If the guy has been through this before, he knows this and is trying to play on your willingness to something about it hoping you just go away.

You have to stick up for yourself or accept the loss yourself because you want to avoid any hassles.
Sometimes it is worth it to just eat it.

For me F^*k it. I already ate to much and I stick up for myself. You should do the same.

[Tourpicx]

I've never dealt with an insurance claim with UPS but I know with the USPS Postal Service the person who paid for the insurance (the buyer) is the one responsible to make a claim. I made a claim with the Postal Service on a damaged headstock from a nice magenta Barrington Tele guitar I bought a year or so ago. That was a sweet guitar...such a shame. Anyway, it was a real hassle but I finally received a check from them after about 2-3 weeks of filing the claim.

Sounds like the seller is being really difficult. Hope in the end it all works out for you.

[RockStringBender]

Tommy is right on. You cannot initiate and they will not talk to you either. If this dick with ears documented that he has had damaged issues before with an email save that for your claim with ebay and PP. You will get ONE shot (in narrative format so make sure you can paste all of the emails, if any into your claim) at convincing them that this guy knowingly packaged with disregard and that you politely asked for him to make a claim, then you (your next step IMO) ask(ed) him nicely to return your funds less shipping and when he tells you to pound sand make sure that ebay and PP see's in your claim that you did your best, acted in a proper manner, and just ran into an ass that has no regard for his (and ebay's) customers. You will need to wait a couple of weeks before your item number allows you to post a complaint and be ready with that first shot because the seller will get last word and let ebay/pp arbitrate of he will choose to fight and you will most likely NEVER getanother shot at making your case as they will let you know the outcome of their finding, but will give no info on why they approve or deny your claim, nor any info on what the seller's story to them was.

Last thing is to prepare a nice feedback comment like

"this bozo packs unprofessionally and would not pursue claim- STAY AWAY"

If you get a negative back from him you can reply right under his on your board and I would post the same response as in your feedback to him (i.e. this is a dick with ears- BEWARE EBAYERS, BEWARE!!!!)

If this goes way sour we can get LTD to craft a couple dozen witty and very sharp email submissions and the forum can take turns sending him one every day for the rest of his life.

[webbhead13]

Thanks again guys,
I am waiting to hear back from him.
I have saved all his emails and will do like you say Bob!

Thanks everyone!

Bill

[RockStringBender]

Where is the break at? Does it look like it's repairable without sending it to an Axe Dr?

Hope it works out, and if it doesn't that you can move on without that feeling bro.

[webbhead13]

Bob,
Its a crack in the headstock about 1/2 inch below the high "E" that runs about 2 inches and its following a glue joint so if it goes all the tuners are gone! I'm not sure if I could glue and clamp it but since it is already a glue joint Ithink it would be a easy fix for a DR.

[NightRider]

just hope if you do have to go thru pp.... that he didn't take his money out.....

[pel666]

Tell him you will start an Ebay dispute....

That has helped with me once or twice with unwilling sellers....

[webbhead13]

Well heres the scoop!
The Usps say that they will cover the cost of the guitar,But they keep the guitar,So either I give up the guitar or try to get the head fixed out of my pocket!
The seller was right in this case it was me who had to do the leg work, he just sent me the info so I had it all to present to them when I went in!

anybody know a good place to get a cracked neck fixed???? CHEAP

Bill

[Tourpicx]

Well heres the scoop!
The Usps say that they will cover the cost of the guitar,But they keep the guitar,So either I give up the guitar or try to get the head fixed out of my pocket!
The seller was right in this case it was me who had to do the leg work, he just sent me the info so I had it all to present to them when I went in!

anybody know a good place to get a cracked neck fixed???? CHEAP

Bill

Well, I'm glad to be right once in awhile.

I'd only trust a certified luthier to fix a cracked neck. I know someone that does really good work but they are backlogged with work for a few months.