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Quick - will Fedex, UPS etc competently pack large speakers?

Any way you could pay the seller extra to properly box the speakers for shipment? I've sold two sets of speakers, and a subwoofer, and all made it to their destination safely. Admittedly, I had the original boxes, and then double boxed them, with HD rigid foam insulation on all sides, top and bottom. But I took the time to do it properly, and it worked out perfectly.

Another option would be to reach out to the AK community. Maybe a fellow enthusiast lives near your seller, and could (for a fee) assist with boxing the speakers properly.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed. All the foam insulation, double boxing and "Fragile" stickers will protect a speaker from a fork lift fork, or being dropped from a height onto a concrete floor.

Good luck. I know how it is to look for a particular speaker for months/years, and then finally find them, but they are 100s or 1000s of miles away.:sigh:
 
With the holiday season coming up, try looking for an AK someone driving the right direction... even if they don't get all the way to you, at least it's a shorter drive. Plus, you'll get out from between your headphones and meet some folks! :)

Chip
 
SoCal Sam said:
However, paying the carrier to pack the item means the inevitable damage claim will be a slam dunk.
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that's not even true, unfortunately. UPS even gives the UPS Stores the runaround on insurance claims! this is second-hand knowledge originally from the lips of a UPS Store manager.
 
I have no idea if either are even in business anymore but I have had good luck freighting by both Roadway, and Yellow Freight.
 
I called a local (local to the seller) FedEx location. They say they can pack the speakers with styrofoam sheets all around but they can't build endcaps like OEM speaker boxes usually come with, that hold the speakers so that the fronts don't touch the box.

I'm thinking maybe I should ship them with foam all around, with the grills on as sacrificial armor to protect the drivers, and plan on replacing the grills of they break, or using them without grills? Or I could repair the grills with superglue if they only break in one or two places. I've done that before.

By the way, the speakers are located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, so is anybody here from around there? or passing by and heading to the east coast (DC area)?
 
riker1384 said:
I called a local (local to the seller) FedEx location. They say they can pack the speakers with styrofoam sheets all around but they can't build endcaps like OEM speaker boxes usually come with, that hold the speakers so that the fronts don't touch the box.

I'm thinking maybe I should ship them with foam all around, with the grills on as sacrificial armor to protect the drivers, and plan on replacing the grills of they break, or using them without grills? Or I could repair the grills with superglue if they only break in one or two places. I've done that before.

By the way, the speakers are located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, so is anybody here from around there? or passing by and heading to the east coast (DC area)?
Click to expand...

Foam is no good. It compresses too easily such that the cabinet may contact the box. Your best bet is to pack it like new furniture. I source all my packing materials from furniture stores. I find and re-use styrofoam sheets and large bubble bubble wrap. They know best so why do anything differently?
 
Well, they're on the way, packed with sheets of styrofoam. The shipper (it was a local place) assured me many times that he'd shipped speakers before and they'll be fine. We'll see. I really want these speakers, they're Energy Connoisseur C-9s to go with my system of C-3's and C-1's. If I have to replace one grill or woofer or something I can live with that. I just hope they don't come with the cabinets or all the drivers smashed.
 
Well, let's hope for the best...however, the best answer to your question was "NO". The second best was "no" again, and the third was have them palletized.

I purchased Vandersteen 1's in their original boxes from a "shipper who knows how to ship large speakers." Unfortunately he had no hand in the delivery. UPS made sure they didn't arrive in one piece. I learned my lesson the hard way.

Seriously, hope they make it unscathed. But as someone who has done purchasing for a maintenance/engineering department at a food manufacturer for almost 20 years, with total purchases at times nearing $50,000/month, the odds are against you receiving used merchandise from a third party packer and a fourth party shipper.
 
They arrived. One speaker looks OK and works. The other was dropped on its corner. There's a very small dent to the cabinet (I can live with it) and the tweeter broke off and fell inside the cabinet. The woofers appear OK but I didn't test it. I want to open it up but the shipper said I should let UPS look at it first.

A replacement tweeter is available for $50+shipping, but woofers are not.

I called UPS. They want me to put it back in the packaging and they'll pick it up tomorrow for inspection. I'm a little worried about giving it back to them. Are they going to do more damage to it? And I doubt they have anyone who knows speakers and can figure out if there is more damage aside from the tweeter. I should probably open it up tonight.

I'm almost wondering if I should just buy a tweeter and not bother with the claim and letting UPS get their mitts on these again.

I've seen this type of damage before, in a pair of B&W DM601. They had a tweeter where the faceplate was plastic. The diaphragm was glued to the faceplate, and the motor screwed on to the faceplace, so the weight of the motor was supported by a thin plastic plate. I suspect this case is similar although I haven't opened the speaker yet.
 
I asked the Fedex desk about claims on their packing. They said the claim is a slam dunk. They pay replacement cost. Not sure if they let you keep the damaged item.
 
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