So I sent my Sunfire Cinema Grand back to the Sunfire factory for repair. As far as I know, everything turned out fine. For $350 they claim that they pretty much got it back to factory specs, upgraded parts, etc. The people at Sunfire were very conscientious; they called when they got it, they called while they were working on it to discuss issues, and they called when they shipped it back. All in all, a good experience and recommendation for Sunfire and its products.
The bad news is with UPS (again, again, again
). I picked it up at the UPS center last night (after my wife waited around all day for the delivery, then the guy didn't ring the doorbell and just left another note). I didn't open the box at the shop, as my family was in the car and I wanted to get home. But -- now surprise -- that when I did open it, it was damaged. It looks like something hard and small pierced the box (I can fit my thumb through the hole), went through the foam and hit the case of the amp. It apparently hit it hard enought to carry through the case, knocking base plate out of alignment and warping the other side of the case as well.
Here are some pics.
Side # 1 from two angles:
01 - Side1.jpg 02 - Side1.jpg
Side # 2:
03 - Side2.jpg
The baseplate now out of alignment:
04 - Baseplate.jpg
So, I can't imagine that this happened on its trip to Sunfire (I used FedEx), and that in my three calls with them, they didn't say "hey, was this amp damaged when you sent it in? I can' screw it back together..." Also, the box and foam show evidence that would agree with the damage to the amp. Different boxes were used for each trip. Also, the Sunfire site warns that the amp needs to be packaged properly or the shippers won't honor insurance. For the trip to Sunfire, they (Sunfire) sent me an official box and foam (for free) so that I could properly pack it. They used a similar box and packaging for the return trip. I'm assuming that this type of packaging will pass as "properly packed" -- especially since they are warning us about potential problems with insurance.
Anyway, I'm just looking for opinions on others' experiences with the UPS claims service. I didn't even plug this in to my system, and I don't want to. There may or may not be latent electrical damage, and I don't care to find out. I just want to get paid out for this amp and get on with it.
I guess I'm just looking for any advice on making it through the claims process in the best possible manner for me, the guy with the broken amp. I'm afraid I'm gonna get the run around forever.
Also, I think this is also gonna be my last use of UPS. When I received my Mach5 MJ-18s, one of them was bent up around the frame. I decided to just screw it down in the IB manifold and it's been OK, even though it was clearly damaged. I just didn't want to deal with it. Then they sent me a $40 bill for customs stuff, which I think should have been built in to the cost of shipping. I paid them, minus their $25 "brokerage fee." I've seen them ship an item of mine from the east coast to Denver and then right on to Nevada, then back to Denver. They didn't ring the bell yesterday, although my wife was waiting for the box all day long. They just cannot seem to get it right, so I will from now on request any and all vendors to use someone else, anyone else. I have not had problems with FedEx, and I've had very good luck with the USPS. No more UPS.
OK. Rant done. I'm just agitated because I wanted my amp back, and, for about 20 minutes, I thought I had it.
Lemme know if you know the best way to deal with these people (and don't worry, I'll be nicer when I talk with them today...).
Thanks and have a nice day.