Shipping an amp with an ATA case

biker joe · June 12th, 2008, 10:05 PM

So not too long ago I took a gamble and won an amp on ebay that came with a flight case. I was a little surprised when I went to pick it up at the local Fedex location as the guy who went to retrieve it came back lugging (it weighs a ton) just the case with just plastic tag stuck on it. The guy was literally dragging it and said I quote, "I sure hope there's nothing breakable in there"! There was no box or other packaging other than a two zip ties to ensure that the latches didn't open. Turns out it survived the journey so I didn't complain to the guy I bought it from but I still wasn't too happy. I'm just wondering if this is a standard thing and should I not be too upset about it. Turns out now that this amp is not going to be staying with me too long, I'm actually thinking about selling the thing so I'm curious what to do about packaging. It weighs something like 80lbs. I'm guessing that it will cost well over $100 bucks to have one of the local places double box and ship the thing somewhere. I can now relate to the guy a bought it from who just stuck a tag on it and sent it on its way. But I don't want a potential buyer to be upset like I was.

robt57 · June 12th, 2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biker joe

surprised when I went to pick it up at the local Fedex location as the guy who went to retrieve it came back lugging (it weighs a ton) just the case with just plastic tag stuck on it.

That is how I sent my Flextone XL a few years back when I sold it on ebay. How else? it has to be picked up. How will that happen if it is in a box? The handle on the road case are specifically designed to be durable and carry the weight of the amp.

OH, mine had casters...

biker joe · June 12th, 2008, 10:35 PM

Yeah, I guess if it was double boxed you would probably need a dolly to move the thing. And this is just an amp head. I can't imagine what all those people with super six reverbs do? Still, I always hear about people double boxing and packing the tubes separately. Some big name stores wont even ship vintage amps anymore.

milocj · June 13th, 2008, 03:42 AM

I know that it seems odd when you see that case with a Fedex tag on it, but if you think about what a "flight case" really is a band just loads them into a semi or onto a plane to get to the next town and they surely don't box them up. They're designed to protect whatever is inside of them properly for gigging and travel.

I've purchased one guitar from a gigging pro, and one used amp flight case from a respected amp sales place and both just slapped the shipping label on the case (along with heavy zip ties through the latches) and sent them to me.

chabby · June 13th, 2008, 06:34 PM

Every amp I have bought or sold out of State was shipped in a double walled cardboard box, with foam padding around them. None have ever been damaged to my knowledge. All were rec'd and sent by UPS.

They don't need to be able to pick them up by hand. They have special hand trucks for that. Just had one dropped at my door this AM - no problem.
I shipped one last week that weighed 132LBS in a box not many (if any) people could pick up by hand due more to large dimesnsions than weight.

It was even strapped with industrial strength Zip ties. I had to build the box out of 4 large single walled boxes. Packed with combination of foam and blamkets/clothes. Packed for abuse and insured for retail cost.

June 12th, 2008, 10:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
biker joe Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 296	Shipping an amp with an ATA case So not too long ago I took a gamble and won an amp on ebay that came with a flight case. I was a little surprised when I went to pick it up at the local Fedex location as the guy who went to retrieve it came back lugging (it weighs a ton) just the case with just plastic tag stuck on it. The guy was literally dragging it and said I quote, "I sure hope there's nothing breakable in there"! There was no box or other packaging other than a two zip ties to ensure that the latches didn't open. Turns out it survived the journey so I didn't complain to the guy I bought it from but I still wasn't too happy. I'm just wondering if this is a standard thing and should I not be too upset about it. Turns out now that this amp is not going to be staying with me too long, I'm actually thinking about selling the thing so I'm curious what to do about packaging. It weighs something like 80lbs. I'm guessing that it will cost well over $100 bucks to have one of the local places double box and ship the thing somewhere. I can now relate to the guy a bought it from who just stuck a tag on it and sent it on its way. But I don't want a potential buyer to be upset like I was.

June 12th, 2008, 10:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
biker joe Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 296	Yeah, I guess if it was double boxed you would probably need a dolly to move the thing. And this is just an amp head. I can't imagine what all those people with super six reverbs do? Still, I always hear about people double boxing and packing the tubes separately. Some big name stores wont even ship vintage amps anymore.

June 13th, 2008, 03:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
milocj Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 315 3 Photos	I know that it seems odd when you see that case with a Fedex tag on it, but if you think about what a "flight case" really is a band just loads them into a semi or onto a plane to get to the next town and they surely don't box them up. They're designed to protect whatever is inside of them properly for gigging and travel. I've purchased one guitar from a gigging pro, and one used amp flight case from a respected amp sales place and both just slapped the shipping label on the case (along with heavy zip ties through the latches) and sent them to me.

June 13th, 2008, 06:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,258	Every amp I have bought or sold out of State was shipped in a double walled cardboard box, with foam padding around them. None have ever been damaged to my knowledge. All were rec'd and sent by UPS. They don't need to be able to pick them up by hand. They have special hand trucks for that. Just had one dropped at my door this AM - no problem. I shipped one last week that weighed 132LBS in a box not many (if any) people could pick up by hand due more to large dimesnsions than weight. It was even strapped with industrial strength Zip ties. I had to build the box out of 4 large single walled boxes. Packed with combination of foam and blamkets/clothes. Packed for abuse and insured for retail cost.