dont want to use up any/all the great s2g minds -
but i do have a thought question --asking for opinions --

look at skippys 5350 nightmare thread --and assume that murphys law can attack any of us-

in his case --they both broke his grail- and copped out on his insurance

ok -would you guys pay an EXTRA $20/25 to to have a good double box packing AND--

NO HASSLE GUARANTEED insurance
on a very expensive RARE grail ?

slam-dunk YES !!
----------------------

wish my question was THAT easy

what about just a $50 box -????????
lets say 'normal good member packing' and insurance was $25 --
so we have a $75 delivered box-

what if its smashed an worthless when it arrives ??
-and then your insurance claim is a multi-month IFFY (at best) ordeal--
suddenly -- your good $75 deal --is a mini horror show-

now WHO wants to ever pay $20 MORE !!
like $45 for shipping your $50 box -

for the grand total of $95 --
you box WILL be 100% insured.

is all that extra $20 worth it ??

Said it before, I'll say it again, I figure shipping into what the box is worth to me.

So an extra $20. for a box to show up no damaged, absolutely worth it.

Ira I would of gave $100 more for my Orbex to show up not damaged.

I don't know how people ship these boxes for 20-25 $$$ It cost me that much almost in just bubble wrap and tape, and any box(s) I may need that I don't have. I normally charge $30-$50 depending on size of box and weight. Sometimes I break even, sometimes I lose a few dollars - so be it.

Johnny

thanks for your opinion johnny --
i agree --
hope many members will also contribute thier opinions --

at first thought -- its SEEMS absolutely a ridiculous over-kill to spend $45 to ship a $50 box !!!

Not to start anything here...but i just went through a SMASHED box incident myself this week that was horribly packed...i say BAN shipping the big heavy/cheaply made boomboxes (especially the big BLACK boxes) altogether...those should be pick ups only...and all other smaller boxes, you must INSIST all boxes should be double boxed with the appropriate packaging materials and labels...no matter how much it costs. It doesn't make sense paying TOP dollar for a grail...then trying to get the cheapest shipping available...and i can HONESTLY say, that i personally would pay the $200-$300 for NEXT DAY shipping delivery for a $800+ grail...much less chance of damage and easier to make an insurance claim when the big shipping price has been paid.

I made a thread in 07" with my old gsbadbmr account...here's the link below:

http://stereo2go.com/eve/forum...121041805#1121041805

-gsbadbmr

interesting old thread, gordie ---
grails are always worth whatever we can do to protect them-
-----------------------------
thinking much more about the more common dilemma of our regular -- 'everyday nice box'

like - say we are pretty sure we can win a decent panny 5150 ( a few cosmetic issues) for just $50 --

that box is an average medium size --and somewhat heavy --
so we expect to get a $25 s/h quote

instead --he says he will double box it and guarantee the insurance for $45

yikes !!! we just turned a nice $50 box into a $95 box --

whats our decision ????

Speaking for myself, I would walk away - unless the boombox can be resold at a later date at a price to recoup the extra amount.

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
interesting old thread, gordie ---
grails are always worth whatever we can do to protect them-
-----------------------------
thinking much more about the more common dilemma of our regular -- 'everyday nice box'

like - say we are pretty sure we can win a decent panny 5150 ( a few cosmetic issues) for just $50 --

that box is an average medium size --and somewhat heavy --
so we expect to get a $25 s/h quote

instead --he says he will double box it and guarantee the insurance for $45

yikes !!! we just turned a nice $50 box into a $95 box --

whats our decision ????

The decision would be...how MUCH do you REALLY want that box, and what condition do you REALLY want it to arrive in

For me it's not about the price really...it's more about getting a box to it's destination safely and un-damaged instead of losing it through the postal service. I've had my share of damaged boxes and it kills me each and everytime. At least if the box has been properly packaged, and double boxed and it arrived damaged at least you KNOW you gave it a fighting chance.

I will say it again and again...you DON'T ship BIG cheap BLACK boxes...the power transformer is just too damn heavy to stay mounted on the cheap brittle platic mounts...it still may have a chance of survival...but 1 HARD hit in transit and it's game over...you'll end up with a big DOA chicklets box

-gsbadbmr

I factor all costs into any boombox purchase before I decide if it's worth it, an extra $20 may make the difference between buying or walking away. In the case of an $800 M90 in nice shape you bet I would pay the extra $20 but in the case of an average condition 5150 for $50 it might not be worth it to me.

The smaller cheaper boxes usually don't get damaged - they are easy to handle. It's the huge heavy grails that are bubble-wrapped and double-boxed - those are the primary candidates to be dropped or kicked around - due to the size of the package. Sometimes I think that not using any packaging at all would be more beneficial - Fedex people would see the boombox and won't throw it on the floor, as they would normally do with all the boxes.

sad but true, vladi

thanks for these cool opinions , so far-
---------------------

how bad $$ we really want the 'average' condition 5150 --sure has no right or wrong type answers -

like if we want it for $75 , at some risk-
then do we also want it for $95 at no risk ?
---------------

also -- if the seller quotes parcel post for only $15 !!!
is that a signal thats he is a kind and generous sort ??

or a moron with no care or idea of how to pack and insure a classic box?

I agree, But dont have to worry with Ira he bubble wraps it nice and tight double boxes with peanuts .

you get stung for import tax over here with high insurance values etc . . anything, even a gift over £32 here gets import tax if it has come from outside the E.U. for example I got charged £80 import tax on my 975 from japan.

"i say BAN shipping the big heavy/cheaply made boomboxes"

!!!!Gordie!!!!

That puts me out of the market for most of them then!!!

From my perspective I HAVE to get them shipped,.... and a LOT further too! Quite a few grail radios just weren't sold in Australia and if I didn't have this place I wouldn't have my RISING or TRC-931 to begin with.

I've pretty much gotten 90% of my radios shipped off ebay, including my JC-2000 and Conion C-100. I think the Australian postal system is a bit less harsh on their package treatment than it's u.s counterpart though, I've not experienced any horrible breakages yet, or even box damage beyond the odd dent on the edges/corner, sometimes in very questionable packing too (Frantically touches every surface of nearby wood available).

But getting back on topic, I always offer the seller more money to pack a radio correctly. Usually $10-20, depending where it is. I stress that I'm a collector and always prefer to pay extra to further guarantee it gets to me in one piece.

I always say to myself that if it's a radio I realllly want, I'll pay as much cash as I can possibly afford to win it and then get it here in one piece. I also try and get 3 piece boxes shipped in two boxes, one for the speakers and one for the centre unit's, reducing the size of the box and the amount volume/momentum it generates.

But it depends on the box, and how badly I want it, but truth be told I very, very, rarely bid unless I'm genuinely wanton for it.

Sorry for going on, but that's my perspective from the australian point of view.



Rock On.

Unless I'm buying a boombox from a member here, I don't think I'd ever offer to pay more for better shipping. I would imagine that quite a few, not all, eBay sellers would see that as "extra" money and not pack the item any better than they would have in the first place.

For a good box, yes i would pay more for better packing and shipping. FOr a box i dont care about or one that i just wanted to check out and it was cheap? naaa.

quote:

I agree, But dont have to worry with Ira he bubble wraps it nice and tight double boxes with peanuts .

Man I feel ripped off when I got a box from Ira, Ira jumped out of the box holding the unit. Scared the crap out of me.

How is that for shipping! LOL



I joke.

hey --speaking of $$$$$ expensive packing --

one of the many terrific boxes i got from erniejade --came in a custom made --VERY heavy wooden crate

if he had charged for all the extra shipping weight and then the wood, screws and hard , careful labor involved --
that could have been an easy $100 extra !!

(worth it)

i agree with fatdog above, extra money doesn't guarantee it goes for better packing, some people either don't understand packing or don't care...

i have paid $40.00 to ship a $30.00 box and guess what I got.

.50 worth of bubble wrap and a single layer of cardboard anyway.

all comes down to sellers integrity and intelligence and can't pay for those!