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Shipping damage on MC2205 bought through ebay

Don't send the amp back. It is up to the sender to contact UPS or he Mailboxes store to file a claim. Though you paid for it, you did not contract with anyone for the shipping, so you are out of the loop. Once the claim is filed, it is between the sender/Mailboxes and UPS and you are not involved other than UPS will contact you to make arrangements to pick up the amp. You do not repackage, or anything. My guess is that UPS will deny the claim due to poor packing and the fight will be between the seller and the Mailboxes store. Unfortunately, it will be you who is out the money, unless you have an honorable seller. Good luck.
 
Couldn't tell by the pics you posted, but I wouldn't be surprised the faceplate glass already had "issues" prior to crunch time. Not uncommon for the paint to be peeling around the controls - especially the headphone jack.

I'd give it a good close check with the mark one eyeball looking for anything other than cosmetic damage, especially bent control shafts and such that could compromise operation. If it still works and sounds good (other than maybe a raspy control - it's old enough to need a good clean anyway), AND depending on whether you think you got a good deal on it otherwise, I'd suggest getting hold of McIntosh and see what they'd want for a replacement faceplate. Maybe a frame, but I'm sure you could straighten the old one out. Keeping in mind that you probably won't get all your money back, and you'd probably end up eating the return shipping, you may be pleasantly surprised at the final cost of just fixing it. From there, all depends on whether you can live with a few scratches and dings and whether you ever plan to flip it. I plan to be buried with mine. <G>

Maybe you can even make a deal with the original seller to do a partial refund to cover the cost of the parts? Worth exploring. Installing a new glass isn't really all that difficult if you take your time.

There's also the option of finding or building a case for it. You don't necessarily need to use the original panalock hardware to get good results.

http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, NY 13903-2699
(P) (607) 723-3512
(800) 538-6576
(F) (607) 724-0549
 
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Melsmcintosh said:
Yes, I understand the refund policies. The seller agreed to a refund through PayPal as soon as he gets the unit back. Does anyone know how long it takes UPS to process claims such as this?
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Assuming you have the seller's pledge to refund your money upon return of the amp- through email communication (preferably ebay's messaging system) you should be fine. Return the amp to him as he requested- then it's his baby to sort out if and when he can. Whether he is successful in filing a claim against UPS will then become irrelevant as far as you're concerned.

You have little to fear as far as getting your money returned from the seller: Ebay is highly aggressive in safeguarding the purchaser's interests and will debit the seller's PayPal account and credit your's for the sale amount should he fail to uphold his end.

You should thoroughly document the damage to the amp (ie: photos) prior to return as well as any precautions you have taken to ensure no further damage occurs, and of course the shipping receipt(s).

From everything that's been said so far, it doesn't sound like you should have any difficulty. If the seller has solid transaction/feedback history, so much the better.

**When you return the amp, you should absolutely ship it a proper McIntosh carton available from Audio Classics NOT the stuff Mailboxes used. Advise the seller that it would be in best interest to have A/C send you one at his expense. That way his own case against UPS will be strengthened.
 
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Thats a bummer dude, I recently purchased a MC2505 from a guy in Seattle off of cl(turns out he was all so selling on the bay) But when he told me he was going ship via ups I cringed from the horror stories I have herd. Then he told me that he was going to double box. I actually received the amp in the condition noted in the pics. Bottom line it all starts with a good packing job. I would like to think things can be safetly handled but for some reason the just can't be so we as sellers just need to go out of our way to make sure packages are packaged properly.

I hope the best for you sometimes it just might be easier to get it fixed(if you plan on getting buried with it), then to shipping back and messing around with a refund and all that jazz.
 
62caddy said:
Assuming you have the seller's pledge to refund your money upon return of the amp- through email communication (preferably ebay's messaging system) you should be fine. Return the amp to him as he requested- then it's his baby to sort out if and when he can. Whether he is successful in filing a claim against UPS will then become irrelevant as far as you're concerned.

You have little to fear as far as getting your money returned from the seller: Ebay is highly aggressive in safeguarding the purchaser's interests and will debit the seller's PayPal account and credit your's for the sale amount should he fail to uphold his end.

You should thoroughly document the damage to the amp (ie: photos) prior to return as well as any precautions you have taken to ensure no further damage occurs, and of course the shipping receipt(s).

From everything that's been said so far, it doesn't sound like you should have any difficulty. If the seller has solid transaction/feedback history, so much the better.

**When you return the amp, you should absolutely ship it a proper McIntosh carton available from Audio Classics NOT the stuff Mailboxes used. Advise the seller that it would be in best interest to have A/C send you one at his expense. That way his own case against UPS will be strengthened.
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Here's my progress so far:
1) contacted the seller through ebay email and informed him of the damages.
2) Received a response email within an hour saying they were regretful of the problem and will resolve ASAP.
3) received a call within the next hour from the Mailbox etc office and stated that they are filling a claim with UPS for the damages and UPS will contact them, or me, can't remember, about a time for them to come by my house to inspect the wreckage and to take it with them.
4) Seller emailed me to call him.
5) Called the seller, he was very sympathetic about the situation and explained that he made extra effort to ship through this company to get it to me right without damage because of the weight and delicate nature of the instrument.
(even though he ignored the shipping instructions I gave for securing the amp on a plywood board and double box). He stated that I will be refunded through paypal once he receives the amp back from UPS.
He requested pictures of the shipping box and amp which I sent.

So what I think is next is just as he explained, wait for UPS to take away the amp and ship it back to either the seller or the packer, wait for seller to refund the money by PayPal.
I'm thinking of emailing the seller to verify our discussion and get it in writing that he will refund.
I don't want to file a claim with ebay until I need to but I run into this time limit thing quoted on their website:

"If 7 days have passed since you opened the case, and the seller still hasn't resolved the problem, we recommend that you escalate the case to eBay Customer Support. eBay will review the case and may provide a refund of the purchase price plus original shipping."

I know this will take longer than 7 days to resolve to my satisfaction!

I'll keep posting as things go on to for those who may have this experience in the future.
 
duder1982 said:
Thats a bummer dude, I recently purchased a MC2505 from a guy in Seattle off of cl(turns out he was all so selling on the bay) But when he told me he was going ship via ups I cringed from the horror stories I have herd. Then he told me that he was going to double box. I actually received the amp in the condition noted in the pics. Bottom line it all starts with a good packing job. I would like to think things can be safetly handled but for some reason the just can't be so we as sellers just need to go out of our way to make sure packages are packaged properly.

I hope the best for you sometimes it just might be easier to get it fixed(if you plan on getting buried with it), then to shipping back and messing around with a refund and all that jazz.
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Thanks for your support.
This is the 1st time I've encountered this type of situation. Before I've worked with ebay sellers receiving a C-28, MX130, and MC2002 all with separate cases without incident. But this things a monster! If the front plate wasn't bent I would consider a settlement of some sort. I listened to amp though headphones and it sounded sweet....
 
1) Never use UPS
2) IF the Mc2205 is covered by UPS after their inspection, it will not go back to Mailboxes or the seller - it will be sent to a UPS salvage depot and they will send a check to the seller.
3) This process takes sometimes a month or longer, so once the amp leaves your hands ask for your money back.
4) Remember, PAYPAL only has a 45-day claims period. After this period, you will not get your money. So, I would ask for your money once it leaves your possession (because either way, you will not be getting the amp back, the seller will or it will go to the salvage depot to be auctioned and bid on by electronics resellers).
5) At this point it is a bummer but let it go and get another.
6) Once again, never use UPS.

Remember it is all fine and nice, but there is going to be a lot of finger pointing between the seller, UPS, to Mailboxes who packed it, and they all won't claim responsibility and blame it on the other party. Unfortunately, it is all three of the above parties fault and problem.

1) UPS - It is their problem because they don't care
2) Mailboxes - A so-called professional packing place that has no clue what kind of shifting a 90 lb amp can do in transit
3) The seller for not listening to you
 
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UPS once lost a tire and wheel packed and shipped by a UPS store and refused the claim on that. The seller paid for a new (very expensive BBS) wheel out of his pocket. We both learned that those UPS stores are independent.
 
UPS and FEDEX are really truely not equiped to handle packages over 50 lbs....why they thought they could raise their wt. limits and not equip their truck with lift gates is beyond me.

Mac always shipped these amps by truck freight, later strapped to a pallet and I never in over 30 years had a broken glass.
 
And, reading all of this is yet another reason not to ship my 2205’s by any carrier. I have a pair of 2205’s, cosmetically mint, but need to go to Terry for complete upgrade, will probably end up driving to his place one day, do I have a choice?

Vahe
 
I recently bought a MC2105 from a dealer in Portland who packed it using the wood base method and double boxed it. Just an outstanding job of packing which resulted in a perfect amp being received. I would have died of a heart attack if I would unpacked it and saw what you saw. I'm waiting on a C29 from Tom Manley who said the mint unit still had the original McIntosh shipping boxes so that gives me some peace of mind.
 
Otherwise known as a "pp" or "number one" ... which unfortunately can result in a pile of "number two" showing up on your doorstep.

Like I say ... ya takes your chances.
 
Fix it to a board and saran wrap it ...

No really - I used to work for the post office and once we had a birthday cake come thru like that ... everybody got a big kick out of it and treated it with loving care ...

Realistically, I'd say the best bet would be to use a hard shell instrument case that fits. You'd still want to attach the unit to a board, and attach that to the case. I'd also line the inside with Tyvek or some such, as there's no guarantee it won't get rained on somewhere along the way. I'd also PROMINENTLY display the total weight on the case, as you don't want to surprise whoever gets the chore of having to lift the thing. That's when they get dropped.

Or something like this ...

143396_2_1


http://www.ebags.com/product/travel...=10000138&couponid=86786467&sourceID=PRICGRAB

This assUmes cost is no object. Things ain't cheap. Then again, I can see a market in bartertown for a custom fit amp shipping case once you're done with it.
 
Hey! There you go! :banana:

Instead of shipping it, just buy a plane ticket and take it along as baggage!

Of course it would take 6 people to help you get it in the overhead bin...:D
 
vahe said:
And, reading all of this is yet another reason not to ship my 2205’s by any carrier. I have a pair of 2205’s, cosmetically mint, but need to go to Terry for complete upgrade, will probably end up driving to his place one day, do I have a choice?

Vahe
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Honestly, with a McIntosh packing box from Mc or Audioclassics, you're essentially fine regardless of the carrier.

Cost of boxes $55-ish a piece plus about $200 per amp for round trip to Knoxville. So, roughly $500 for shipping alone (plus DeWickt's fees).
 
...
Honestly, with a McIntosh packing box from Mc or Audioclassics, you're essentially fine regardless of the carrier.
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I agree! McIntosh and Audio Classics routinely ship by UPS...:yes:

...
 
Final Follow up:
The seller refunded the total amount including shipping even before UPS picked up the amp. Kudos to the seller in this regard. He was always responsive to my concerns. Hope others will have such a positive outcome.
I packed the amp up in the original box and UPS picked up at my doorstep.
It's just sad that a beautiful amp had to get ruined.
Good luck to all if they encounter the ebay UPS/packing curse.
Just for future reference, it's best provide a McIntosh shipping box to the seller. That way you know you'll get unit in one piece.
 
Melsmcintosh said:
Just for future reference, it's best provide a McIntosh shipping box to the seller. That way you know you'll get unit in one piece.
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Yep....... just received my MR65A in fine shape. Had the boxes sent out to WI from Audio Classics. Is the only way to go.
 
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