EBAY

[Raphael]

A word about "insurance", or lack thereof. FedEx and UPS will not honor any damage claims over $500 for items that are packed by the seller. That was Lesson #1 that I learned 17 years ago when I started shipping music boxes. So, even if you pay for what you think is insurance, their service guides specifically exclude collectibles, antiques, "items of extraordinary value", etc. In my opinion, it's a big scam (they collect money for a service they do not provide) and I have often considered filing a class-action suit against FedEx.

On the other hand, if the UPS Store or FedEx Office store packs the item, and you pay for insurance, they will honor the claim. I have had claims in excess of $10,000 paid that way. The downside, is that it is expensive, they don't know a damn about packing our type of antiques, and claims are frequent. I stopped using this method almost entirely about 7 years ago and reverted to self-packing.


Raphael

[epigramophone]

I have never had an eBay item damaged in transit, either as a buyer or a seller, but I never sell outside the UK.

eBay enrolled me into their new Global Shipping Programme WITHOUT MY PERMISSION , but having read the small print I immediately opted out of it. They might pack the item for the seller, but they wash their hands of it in the event of a return, and as we all know they tend to side with the buyer right or wrong. Who pays their fees? The seller!

For the occasional private seller like myself, posting outside the UK is simply not worth the hassle.

[FloridaClay]

I have bought many things on eBay over the years and have only had one serious problem; a Triumph bought from someone who was supposed to be a collector and promised, in writing, that he would ship the case and mechanism separately. He didn't. How did he ship it? With the lid held on by a bungee cord and no supports inside of any kind. Of course the case was practically reduced to kindling when it arrived. And he refused to make it good.

As it turned out eBay would have made him give me a full refund had I held on to it and not started repairs, but I could not stand seeing it the way it was and was already deep into restoration.

As far as carriers go, I swore off UPS some time ago. I had a roller organ I sent out for repairs and had it packed for shipping by the UPS Store. The repairman used the same packaging to send it back to me (which I could confirm, because I watched it being packed at the UPS Store) and it arrived with the case smashed. They refused to honor the insurance claim, alleging that the packing was inadequate because the box touched a corner of the cabinet (never mind that that was because they had crushed that corner). Very short sighted. They have lost many times the amount in shipping fees that now go to other carriers and now I would not recommend them to my worst enemy, whereas before I had often recommended them.

Clay

[briankeith]

You are all right - it is the sellers not actually EBay. I ALWAYS explain how to ship a talking machine, how to secure it, double boxing, remove the small parts like the tone arm, etc. BUT some sellers are clueless in regards to the process or don't want to spend the additional time involved. The last machine was an off-brand thrown into a thin wall box wrapped in newspaper with the tone-arm strapped down with one thick rubber band. It arrived with the corner sticking out of the box badly broken in several pieces. AND I explained how I wanted it shipped and packed using USPS not UPS. It was shipped by UPS,,, DUHHHH It is the loss of the actual machine that irks me

[gramophone78]

You are all right - it is the sellers not actually EBay. I ALWAYS explain how to ship a talking machine, how to secure it, double boxing, remove the small parts like the tone arm, etc. BUT some sellers are clueless in regards to the process or don't want to spend the additional time involved. The last machine was an off-brand thrown into a thin wall box wrapped in newspaper with the tone-arm strapped down with one thick rubber band. It arrived with the corner sticking out of the box badly broken in several pieces. AND I explained how I wanted it shipped and packed using USPS not UPS. It was shipped by UPS,,, DUHHHH It is the loss of the actual machine that irks me

Reminds me of the nice lady who sold a rare Robert Johnson record on Ebay and after explaining how I wished it packed......received it in a manila envelope. It arrived just fine..... .

I'm just glad the letter carrier didn't fold the envelope in order to get through the mail slot. Maybe it's because she wrote "do not bend" on the envelope.... .

[Victrolacollector]

I will never buy a 78 record or wax cylinder on ebay, unless I know of the seller. I seen too many records shoved in a mailer.

[Victrolacollector]

A word about "insurance", or lack thereof. FedEx and UPS will not honor any damage claims over $500 for items that are packed by the seller. That was Lesson #1 that I learned 17 years ago when I started shipping music boxes. So, even if you pay for what you think is insurance, their service guides specifically exclude collectibles, antiques, "items of extraordinary value", etc. In my opinion, it's a big scam (they collect money for a service they do not provide) and I have often considered filing a class-action suit against FedEx.

On the other hand, if the UPS Store or FedEx Office store packs the item, and you pay for insurance, they will honor the claim. I have had claims in excess of $10,000 paid that way. The downside, is that it is expensive, they don't know a damn about packing our type of antiques, and claims are frequent. I stopped using this method almost entirely about 7 years ago and reverted to self-packing.


Raphael

I checked out your jukeboxes on your page. I really think those two table top 78 ones are beautiful.

[briankeith]

I love the machines I find over the pond in the UK and France / Germany but I am totally afraid of the US Customs

[NEFaurora]

"On the other hand, if the UPS Store or FedEx Office store packs the item, and you pay for insurance, they will honor the claim."

NO THEY DON'T...And THEY PACKED IT!


"UPS will not honor any damage claims over $500 for items that are packed by the seller."

I can double vouch for that..


UPS lost a package on me in 2010 that was worth around $10,000. I had to claim it as a loss because UPS will not pay up.

Do not believe anything that UPS says. They LIE.

My item was FULLY INSURED for the full amount by the way. UPS could have cared less. I was going to take them to court until I found out that that would have cost me almost as much as the loss.

Just because your item is insured literally means NOTHING.

At least the USPS stands behind their insured items. UPS DOES NOT!

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[Raphael]

Tony,

While I can't hazard a guess or comment on your specific loss and failure to be reimbursed by UPS, I can say that under normal circumstances they will indeed honor claims made for damage and/or loss if the UPS Store does the packing and shipping. I have had several claims in excess of $10,000 and they were honorored quickly and efficiently.

I continue to use the UPS Store for inbound shipments on items that I acquire from auction houses, collectors, etc. They are expensive, but it sure beats having a broken antique.

On outbound shipments I frequently opt for the palletized freight method rather than package express. A heavy Triumph or Opera, even though they will fit into boxes small enough for FedEx or UPS, will travel much more gently on a small pallet that only goes up and down on a fork lift or pallet jack. I double box everything and then construct a pallet out of ⅝" plywood, using 2 x 4's as runners underneath. Glue the cardboard box to the pallet, then strap it, and it can travel from here to anywhere safely. I've shipped to every corner of the globe and never have any damage.

Raphael