Kenwood: New $4000 radio shipped like a ragdoll

[AK9R]

While that takes away my concern of a damaged radio, the outer box is still the retail box with the Kenwood branding and model number printed on.

I've never purchased a new Kenwood HF radio so I don't know how they are shipped (other than what I found in the service manual). If it's like Icom, the inner box is the "show box" and has more printing. My IC-7610 came double boxed. But, there was foam blocking between the inner and outer boxes.

 

[vagrant]

You noted concerns about damage during shipping that you continually encounter. Are you able to drive to the radio shop and transport it yourself? Perhaps a train ride and a taxi? I’m fine with shipping, but a buddy drives over 200 miles to pick up his amateur radios. Forget overnight, that’s same day pickup.

My Kenwood radios were double boxed and the inner box was always marked Kenwood along with the model number of the radio.

 

[McCarthy84]

You noted concerns about damage during shipping that you continually encounter. Are you able to drive to the radio shop and transport it yourself? Perhaps a train ride and a taxi? I’m fine with shipping, but a buddy drives over 200 miles to pick up his amateur radios. Forget overnight, that’s same day pickup.

My Kenwood radios were double boxed and the inner box was always marked Kenwood along with the model number of the radio.

At this point I'll wait till Tuesday since its already on the way, and the radio in the dirty and damaged retail box gets picked up on the same day.

I would have picked up the radio with any day round trip but the other retailer here in Florida was sold out with a waiting time of over one months. The one I ordered comes from Ohio, so that's more like a 3 day trip and too much.

I'll find out if this one has the branding on the inner box. I just watched an unboxing video on YouTube, it that one only showed the top of the inner box, and it was all plain.

 

[WB5UOM]

Ok, I may have missed something, and if Im mistaken, Im certain I will be informed by the masses.
The op said we he got the shipment the box was damaged, and attached some pictures, along with some kind of circuit board with some kind of something going on with it.
But then, the op comes back and says he did not open the box.
And the op says he did not know KENWOOD utilizes double boxing, and says he stuck his finger in the hole in the outer bix and can feel the inner box,so maybe there isnt damage
(which kinda says he really did not open it)
And now the op is not happy because the outter shipping box is damaged and he cam not use IT down the road to sell the item later.

So what is the picture of whatever circuit board that is...if its not from the radio that was apparently never unpacked from TWO boxes and checked?

 

[SA4MDN]

Ok, I may have missed something, and if Im mistaken, Im certain I will be informed by the masses.
The op said we he got the shipment the box was damaged, and attached some pictures, along with some kind of circuit board with some kind of something going on with it.
But then, the op comes back and says he did not open the box.
And the op says he did not know KENWOOD utilizes double boxing, and says he stuck his finger in the hole in the outer bix and can feel the inner box,so maybe there isnt damage
(which kinda says he really did not open it)
And now the op is not happy because the outter shipping box is damaged and he cam not use IT down the road to sell the item later.

So what is the picture of whatever circuit board that is...if its not from the radio that was apparently never unpacked from TWO boxes and checked?

Not to hard if you read it and understand, the photo is an example of the work he has done in the past on damaged boards.

 

[WB5UOM]

oh, well ok thanks for that SA4MDM.

 

[scan18]

Not to hard if you read it and understand, the photo is an example of the work he has done in the past on damaged boards.

Not to go off on a tangent, but my boss at work does this to me all the time. Someone will send an email to both of us and he won’t take the time to read it thoroughly and then comes to me asking for an explanation of what the sender meant. It’s the “I’m the boss and I don’t feel like taking the time to fully read and comprehend, so I’ll ask others to do it for me” attitude.

 

[McCarthy84]

oh, well ok thanks for that SA4MDM.

I repair electronics from shipping damages every day. The box doesn't even have to be compromised, a drop on a flat side is enough to cause hair line cracks in PCBs, and those often cause a ripped internal trace months or even years later, due to thermal expansion when the device is turned on, or the PCB soaking up humidity over time and related bending, or just another random bump.

Repairing those ripped pads and traces is a niche skill. These PCBs have up to 14 layers of traces. It needs a strong microscope and very fine soldering skills, to restore them.

Most customers don't understand this cause, they just show up with a nonworking device and ask for a repair.

Especially devices with daughter-boards show this problem due to the increased impact leverage on the connector and the part of the PCB that sits in the connector.

Hence any shipping box of a heavy electronic device, that actually shows damage, is a red flag, no matter what. The assumption that the device will be fine if there is no visible impact on the case of the device, is entirety false. The internals are much more fragile than the metal or plastic case around it.

For example. the shown repair of a cracked PCB on a graphics card costs $300 - $400, and only makes sense for newer high-end models with a MSRP of $1000 to $8000. In this field we do have most schematics. Good luck finding somebody willing to repair a rare radio from Kenwood without schematics. So even if I would accept the first delivery with damages to the box and the assumption that I can repair it down the road if needed, is highly questionable without schematics.

 

[vagrant]

With a month or so wait, I would have just ordered it for pickup. I would then study for the Tech, General and Extra as well as confirm passing using online tests. (You can typically take all three license tests during the same session) Then get your FRN from the FCC. Then there's the timing on when testing is available and then the wait for your license to show in the database. Technician won't really allow you to stretch your HF legs, but the General license will. At least study and test for that.

I don't understand the hurry up and wait to operate, but we're all different. Have fun!

P.S. I just took a look and my Kenwood 480 inner box has the name and model number on all sides and the top. I don't have my 590 anymore, but I almost positive it also had printing on all sides and the top. I would be surprised if the 890S wasn't also labeled like that on the inner box, but that doesn't matter anymore. Just more data for someone to read later if they stumble on this thread using a search.

 

[WB5UOM]

And just for the record...the inner box is the retail box, that is what they would hand you if you picked it up in the store. I have both inner and shipping boxes for my 890.
And, you could have refused the shipment from the carrier,since the damage to the outer box was likely their issue.
And the rant that DXe improperly packed it us a bit unfounded now that you know it is double boxed.
I understand you are perceptive about things with your work, but you blamed DXe for what the carrier did. Should have been refused on delivery, and alot less stress for you AND DXe.
imho

 

[MTS2000des]

At the end of the day, the onus is on the SHIPPER to file any claim with their contracted carrier, and the SHIPPER has to make whole the BUYER. If they sent a second radio and it arrives in good shape, the case is CLOSED as far is the BUYER is concerned and the SHIPPER gets to subjugate the claim to their contracted carrier for damage. If they insured it, they should be able to recover their insured value provided it was boxed properly. Not the BUYER's problem to bear.

 

[McCarthy84]

And just for the record...the inner box is the retail box, that is what they would hand you if you picked it up in the store. I have both inner and shipping boxes for my 890.
And, you could have refused the shipment from the carrier,since the damage to the outer box was likely their issue.
And the rant that DXe improperly packed it us a bit unfounded now that you know it is double boxed.
I understand you are perceptive about things with your work, but you blamed DXe for what the carrier did. Should have been refused on delivery, and alot less stress for you AND DXe.
imho

The shipment was dropped off, no signature, which is crazy for an order of this value, hence no way to refuse.

The guys shipping those units at Summit Racing clearly didn't know that this was double boxed to begin with, they boxed all other items, and none of the DXe employees told me that either.

All I saw was a damaged, smashed and dirty retail box with the Kenwood branding and model number clearly visible on the box, just a shipping label plastered over it.

Which is yet another issue, because it invites for theft, throughout the entire shipping process, to the point of the box sitting in-front of my house with the street being 25 feet away. It only takes one worker at UPS to look up the model number on the phone and find out that they could get away with a $4300 device.

Also, I have been in the retail and wholesale online business since the mid 90s. My company has sold and shipped product worth 8 figures, world wide. Electronics repair is something I do on the side. You DO NOT ship expensive products in their retail box - period. This is not accepted anywhere and will cause issues with customers, as well as theft, on a very regular basis.

 

[MTS2000des]

Again, the ONUS IS ON THE SHIPPER to properly pack to carriers' specifications and insure to actual value. SHIPPER has to specify signature/restricted delivery, and SHIPPER is on the hook until item received and signed for. If that didn't happen, than shipper will learn or not.

 

[McCarthy84]

Again, the ONUS IS ON THE SHIPPER to properly pack to carriers' specifications and insure to actual value. SHIPPER has to specify signature/restricted delivery, and SHIPPER is on the hook until item received and signed for. If that didn't happen, than shipper will learn or not.

My point exactly. The shipper - aka DX Engineering - screwed this up from A to Z. Summit Racing is the parent company of DX Engineering.

- They should have boxed it like they do with all other items shipped.
- They should have required signature.
- They should have sent off the replacement before the UPS cut off time, as they promised to do 3 times.
- They should have refunded my over-night shipping charge because they didn't get it out in time.

Plenty of reason to "rant", as WB5UOM claimed this to be.

 

[MTS2000des]

I don't suffer fools. I get it, you got a damaged item. Same exact thing happened to me years ago with Best Buy. Bought a Sony A/V receiver online and had it shipped to my house (same/next day). It was shipped in it's factory box with nothing else. Guess what, it was dropped and the entire back panel was bent inward, the top was buckled, and was clearly damaged. I took it up to my local Best Buy and said REFUND. They didn't know why all some bum did was slap a UPS label on the box and toss it out the door. Bought the same unit from Crutchfield and they shipped it from Virginia double boxed with 4" of peanuts on each side.

DXE probably could have been more reachable, and not making excuses, par for the course with today's lack of customer service. But they did ship you a replacement. Hopefully their $4500 lesson they packed it right. After all, their lack of proper packing will be a loss for them to write off for some bum being USPS level lazy and not proper packing of a high dollar item.

As far as not getting a signature, Motorola has shipped me $100,000 worth of APX NEXT radios via FedEX ground with no signature.

 

[W4AXW]

Also, I have been in the retail and wholesale online business since the mid 90s.

If so, this can't be the first time you've run across this type of issue. We get it, you're pissed about it. Don't blame you. Sounds like DXE made it right ASAP, but it doesn't meet with your schedule. It happens sometimes. None of this makes DXE any less of a very reputable company. Obviously, DXE doesn't ship haphazardly each time or they wouldn't be around for long. And no one can control what happens during shipping, it's a crapshoot every time. 'Nuff said yet??