I just purchased an targa top from a seller on Ebay. Now I have to decide the best way to get it delivered. It is in San Francisco and I live in North Alabama. Some of you that have shipped tops and other large parts feel free to offer your advise please!! I'm just a little worried that it might get damaged.

Thanks so much!!

Joan Mc.

 

Take the worry out of the deal, leave ot up to someone like the UPS Store to box and ship. Definitely add the appropriate insurance, but then they are responsible for it arriving undamaged. They will charge for the service, but then it's their shoulders.

 

I agree - have it professionally packed and insured. Heard of too many stories of tops being damaged in shipment.

 

Find someone from CA that is going to the Cruise-In and meet them there

 

NOOOOOO...DON'T DO THIS!!!

I bought a pristine top and it was packed and shipped by UPS.

Not only did the UPS store not pack it properly, the delivery apes
used it as a step stool more than once.

It arrived cracked at both rear corners and cracked in the middle.

It was unfortunately not insured for replacement value but for purchase
price. I got my money + shipping cost back, but I would rather have had
the top.


A number of members here have had them damaged or lost bu using
UPS.

FedEx "seems" to have a better track record.

My suggestion is to have the seller build a box from several larger
boxes and soft foam cushioning (at least 6 inches thick) around the entire
edge of the top. Then use the same foam for the top and bottom and
then covered by some styrofoam. Use packing tape around the whole
packing to secure it.

Then use cardboard to build the box around it.

I would also suggest to use some expanding foam insulation (get a can
from home depot) to fill in the gaps. before sealing it up.

Do not use foam peanuts...They shift and don't really protect anything.

One of the problems with the top is that it not balanced well and tends
to fall over if put in a "top shaped box." (Long and narrow)

Make a box more cube-like and don't skimp on the packaging.

It's much better to pay way more to pack and ship than to lose the
top. Also, pay extra for insurance of replacement cost rather than
what you actually paid for it. You will be scrutinized by UPS if you
need to make a claim, so make sure you and the seller are on the
"same page" so to speak about how much you paid.

I have had two tops damaged and my buddy had one lost from UPS.


Good luck...

 

I think the only way to make sure you get it undamaged is to pick it up in person. With anybody shipping it, I think it's a roll of the dice. I've received packages ripped wide open from FedEx, complete with tire marks, and half the contents missing. UPS isn't any better, they've broken fishing rods by bending a 7' shipping tube around a corner.

If it has to be shipped, get plenty of insurance on it.

 

its a shame noone can do a decent job anymore

 

Just got one off ebay - pristine, except the monkeys dropped it somewhere along the line. Problem was the packaging - very little bubble wrap, and no protection on the corners. See above

 

Oh, jeez....It's on it's way.

Has anyone had a positive experience with shipping tops?

Maybe prayer would be very appropriate?

 

sorry - UPS lost mine. I was pissed because I finally found a good deal on a MY solid top.

No money lost, but then had to search for new top.

 

Well, you guys were right..Fedex cracked it.
Now- what to do.......?

-Joan

 

AW ****!

 

See my thread above. I went to have my new top put on by the dealer today and it appears that Fed Ex screwed it up. One corner was cracked. Whatever you do, insure the heck out of it and tell them over and over that these things are easily damaged, especially on the corners, and pray!

 

i have an extra glass top that i just bought & plan to sell. when i do sell it, i'll hand it to the buyer-----i don't even need the headache or heartache associated with half-@ssed work or loss by any shipper. will probably sell it around the time of the carlisle show since we are only 15 min from there. bub

 

SO sorry Joan...It's all in the packing and how well it's protected.

I hope you had it covered for the actual price you paid...FedEx won't
pay for anything over your actual cost, no matter what the replacement
cost is. So make sure you and the seller are on the same page.

It's up to the seller to file the claim...You are SOL if the seller won't
cooperate...Hopefully it's a CF member and honest.

Tops can be fixed and painted so you just might be OK if it's not
too bad....Take lots of pics.

Good Luck...

 

Hi George and others

Thanks so much for the reply!

If I understood Fedex correctly (I was upsest when I talked to them) they will take the top and send it back to the person I bought it from. Then he will have to negotiate with Fedex regarding who's responsible for the damage. From my standpoint it looks like they both are at fault. (It could have used a little more packaging but looks like Fedex ran clean over the box.)
That being the case I'll get my money back eventually but no top.

The other case is I suck it up and pay to have the top repaired. I got a quote already from a reputable repair shop and it seems reasonable. I'll still have paid about 1/2 what a new one would have cost. The sad part is.. it matched my car and other than the new cracks looks like it had never been used. What a bummer...)

There may be other options?

I would really like to keep the top but have Fedex pay for the damages. It was insured for more than enough to cover these costs. does anyone know if it can work this way?

Still crying....

-Joan

 

Joan...I doubt very much if fedEx will ever come and ship the top back.
It goes directly to their insurer as a claim.

They have no reson to either keep the top or send it back to the seller.
It's not cost effective to do so.
With UPS, I sent pics to the seller and he sent them to UPS.
UPS called and interviewed me without ever seeing the top.

The seller received the check, endorsed it and forwarded it to me.
The process took about 6 weeks.

As I stated earlier...I'd rather have the top because mine is Mag Red and
was a virgin top.

I think you can just keep the top and get your money back. Hopefully.

Spend the $$$ and have it repaired and painted.

And if you do, insist that they do not remove the drip guards or weather stripping
from the top...It is a bear to remove and replace. Just have them mask off the
top for painting.

Good Luck...G

 

Joan,

May I suggest you post in the Southeast Regional Section of CF that you are looking for a top and that you would like to pick it up.

There is a large # of members in the Atlanta area and I know that is an easy drive for you. Some of those GA folks will be moving up to a C6, and there will be your chance.

Good Luck !

Dave (sister in law in Birmingham)