[csroc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Did DHL tell you this? They were pretty adamant they had no record of anything incidental on my end. It would also have to be on the Hong Kong side, since some packages came in via LA with the same packaging.

DHL, like most of the big shippers, also have a habit of avoiding responsibility as much as possible even when it is their screwup. Kingwa and Audio-gd so far seem to have a pretty much spotless record as far as I've seen.

No way to tell yet but I highly doubt Kingwa would have shipped these in those bags, somebody somewhere had to have repackaged them.

 

[ecclesand]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edselfordfong /img/forum/go_quote.gif just heard from Cherry a minute ago. She said: "We are discussing and thinking the solve methods,please give us a few time." Lousy way for them to start the day.

I got that email too. I sure hope they go after DHL for reimbursement once fault has been assigned.

At least I still have my OMZ and HA-2 to comfort me.

 

[Chu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Again do NOT ship via DHL. Ever. Anywhere. Anytime. I wouldnt even trust them to deliver a solid brick intact.

Sort of related, someone ran a project, seeing what they could ship via the USPS and what actually arrived. Their results trying to ship a brick:

Quote:

Wrapped brick. Wrapped in brown paper; posted in street corner box with same amount of postage as was strapped to unwrapped brick. Extreme weight for size made package seem suspicious. Notice of attempted delivery received, 16 days. Upon pickup at station, our mailing specialist received a plastic bag containing broken and pulverized remnants of brick. Inside was a small piece of paper with a number code on it. Our research indicates that this was some type of US Drug Enforcement Agency release slip. The clerk made our mailing specialist sign a form for receipt.

Rest of the site : link.

 

[bobsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jron /img/forum/go_quote.gif My tracking information (might help determine blame): 4/13/2009 10:55 am Shipment delivered. Strongsville, OH 10:10 am With delivery courier. Strongsville, OH 8:10 am In transit. Strongsville, OH 8:09 am Arrived at DHL facility. Strongsville, OH 4/12/2009 5:29 pm Depart Facility Wilmington, OH 1:18 pm In transit. Wilmington, OH 12:45 pm Processed at DHL Location. Wilmington, OH 11:05 am Transit through DHL facility Wilmington, OH 4:08 am Depart Facility Hong Kong - Hub, Hong Kong 3:57 am Processed at DHL Location. Hong Kong - Hub, Hong Kong 4/11/2009 6:11 am Processed at DHL Location. Hong Kong - Hub, Hong Kong 6:01 am Transit through DHL facility Hong Kong - Hub, Hong Kong 4:55 am Depart Facility Hong Kong, Hong Kong 3:24 am Processed at DHL Location. Hong Kong, Hong Kong 2:16 am Departing origin. Hong Kong, Hong Kong 4/10/2009 10:50 pm Shipment picked up Hong Kong, Hong Kong

My tracking information for my REF1 is almost identical (except mine went to NC instead of Strongville, OH), so clearly it was part of the same shipment. I will find out tomorrow if it was rebagged the same way as yours...

 

[Zanth]

Crappy! I feel sorry for all you folks receiving bagged Compasses. The unit is large and heavy enough. Mine was packaged like the earlier shots, box, bag, lots of tape and foam inserts protecting everything. Essentially I could play football (pick your version) with the package and it would remain in tact.

Kudos to Kingwa for responding in this thread and to Cherry for answering emails. With Kingwa having answered about 7 hours ago in the thread and at 3 am his time, that means if he is up and working on this already, he didn't sleep much at all. I feel sorry for him.

I also wasn't aware that the unit was being sold at or near cost. I realized there was a promo discount but dang...what a bargain then for Head-fiers getting it early and what a crappy deal for Audio-gd for having to eat the costs on return shipping, parts repair and likely full replacements for some. Just awful. I really really hope someone can track down the point of error here. If it was a DHL mistake, forklift accident or whatever, that a mass repayment can be sent to Kingwa at some point. I've never had an issue with DHL. I received my Shanling straight from China via DHL in 2 days. I returned it to them for upgrades the same way and they returned it to me within a week safe and sound. The Compass came by DHL no problem and it seems for Canadians, Canadapost, EMS and DHL are our top contenders with UPS and FedEx being WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY down the list on safe delivery methods.

Fingers crossed for all those waiting on a delivery and again, my heart really does go out for those who were waiting with much anticipation. Great that Audio-gd is so quick to remedy the situation. Customer service is a BIG problem in this industry (by that I mean audio) and to find someone willing to fix the issues promptly really wins over the hearts of customers, particularly for repeat orders.

There is are many reasons why the big names in Audio have been around for a long time, but one of the main reasons is that they offer excellent customer service.

 

[Pricklely Peete]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobsmith /img/forum/go_quote.gif My tracking information for my REF1 is almost identical (except mine went to NC instead of Strongville, OH), so clearly it was part of the same shipment. I will find out tomorrow if it was rebagged the same way as yours...

I don't think DHL have a bag big enough for the RE1 Bob.....I will be very surprised if your RE1 shows up packed in anything other than it's standard carton. I hope for your sake it arrives as it should.

Do you have an amp coming with it ?

Peete.

 

[sarathcpt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecclesand /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is on the Audio GD website now: Note: we shipping the Compass with a paper box parcel and foams , like the pix. We advice all customers while the express transfer the parcel to you, at first open the parcel and check if some things lose or shatter, if no problems, then accept the parcel. If any unit shows up in a DHL bag or badly mangled box, it's either been tampered with by Customs or has sustained major handling damage (or both). Refuse the shipment and contact us immediately and explain the reason why you refused the shipment. If you have a camera on hand at the time of delivery ask the driver to let you document the damage with a pix before he takes it back.

Thats encouraging. I am not sure if DHL guy allow us to open and inspect before signing for it (if it came in a box that is)..don't see why they shouldn't, but remember reading someone saying they won't. Anyway I will try when it makes it to here.

As of 5.35 p.m my status says 'clearance process complete in LA'.

 

[bobsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think DHL have a bag big enough for the RE1 Bob.....I will be very surprised if your RE1 shows up packed in anything other than it's standard carton. I hope for your sake it arrives as it should. Do you have an amp coming with it ?

No, just the DAC. Fingers crossed that you are right about them not putting the Ref1 in a bag.

I wonder if all of this has something to do with the way that Kingwa marks it for customs purposes. I seem to recall that someone said that theirs was marked as generic "cabling" or somesuch. Maybe DHL as a cost cutting measure is repackaging things marked a certain way to save space. Just a theory (with no basis in fact)...

 

[les_garten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobsmith /img/forum/go_quote.gif Now I am really worried. I have a REF1 inbound which DHL attempted delivery of today, but I wasn't there to sign. I am staying home tomorrow so that I can refuse delivery if it is in a bag. I shudder at the thought of what would happen to a $1390 DAC that weighs 15KG in a plastic bag...

Bob,
Got my REF1 today and it wasn't in a bag!

.

 

[DiscHead]

Here is a photo of my Compass with my name on the invoice in it's box that I just received from Cherry. I forgot to mention in my last post that my Sun and Moon OPA's didn't show up. What DHL?

 

[Skin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarathcpt /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thats encouraging. I am not sure if DHL guy allow us to open and inspect before signing for it (if it came in a box that is)..don't see why they shouldn't, but remember reading someone saying they won't. Anyway I will try when it makes it to here. As of 5.35 p.m my status says 'clearance process complete in LA'.

it will probably depend on the courier whos actually making the delivery, maybe they wont care. But technically you are correct, if you open a package you cannot then refuse delivery.

Personally though, even if they allowed you to open it and it wasnt all banged up, there could still be something broken or wrong internally, so the best play is simply to refuse delivery if it arrives bagged.

 

[ecclesand]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscHead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here is a photo of my Compass with my name on the invoice in it's box that I just received from Cherry. I forgot to mention in my last post that my Sun and Moon OPA's didn't show up. What DHL?

She sent me pics too. I didn't see my Moon HDAM, but there was a separate small box that I didn't even bother opening up so I assumed it was in there. Per my last email from Cherry, they are still discussing the problem and what to do to resolve it.

 

[Currawong]

I wouldn't be surprised if customs saw the low value it was insured for and decided to treat the gear like crap.

 

[gilency]

Too bad....I was going to order my Compass tonight. I think I will wait until this mess clears......If is not audio-gd's fault I truly feel sorry for them. Whoever's fault it is, they are interfering with trade....just what the economy needs at this point. At any rate, no Compass order tonight....

 

[dBs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscHead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here is a photo of my Compass with my name on the invoice in it's box that I just received from Cherry. I forgot to mention in my last post that my Sun and Moon OPA's didn't show up. What DHL?

Yep, mine looked almost identical to that packing. I feel for everyone whos gotten very unlucky with shipping. I KNOW that Kingwa will do right by each and every one of you by the time that this whole situation is done.

BTW, Ive finished my burning in phase with around 800 hours of burn in. After the Sun HDAM started showing the problem I knew I wouldnt be really listening to it again. Playing with the Earth+Bright now as I mentioned before. I really think that the bright setting favors HD650s and make the Earth or Moon sound excellent.

Everyone whos had trouble, itll be worth it in the end.