[john1970]

To everyone AC,

I just found out today that BAX Global limits the declaration of value on speakers to only $500!  In the event that they damage or loss your shipment you will only get $500 refund.  My advice is to find a different carrier. 

Just trying to warn anyone,

John

[GHM]

The company must have started this recently. I've shipped several pairs of speakers through Bax Global. Both pair were insured for over $1500 each.

[john1970]

From my understanding this is effective as of August 10, 2006.  In the past I had speakers costing $5000/pair sent by BAX..NOT ANY MORE

A quote from BAX's Terms and Conditions (Rule 36b, section 14):

"(B) The following commodities are subject to a $500.00 maximum liability limit for loss or damage:
....
(14) Customized stereo speakers, or parts thereof, including speakers currently (or intended to be) installed on any type of motorized vehicle."

Try to convince BAX that your expensive speakers are not custom.  What was even more scary was that I spoke with two different BAX reps.  The first rep told me that I would have no problems....THE SECOND REP TOLD ME THAT ALL SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO $500!!

A shipping company that misleads you on $5000 of freight is best to be avoided in my experience.

Best,

John

[ekovalsky]

Check out Pilot Air as an alternative.  They are willing to insure for loss/destruction and also won't hassle you about picking up or delivering at a residence.  Getting any logistics company to insure a speaker against functional damage (particularly used speakers) is tricky, as they have no idea what the condition is when the merchandise is picked up.

[Hantra]

Forward Air is good too if you can pick up at an airport. 

BAX just started that crap with the low insurance.  I had some McIntosh amps shipped in and although I'm not concerned with them really breaking them, I AM concerned with the amps sitting at a BAX loading dock in plain sight from the road. 

Last time I was in there, the guy had no paperwork of any kind, and he says:

"Weech one's is yowr bawxes?"

I just point to the big McIntosh boxes, and he loads them up.  No ID, no signature. . . And then he says:

"Is thayt one yourn too?"  as he points to a bigass Sony box. 

I was appalled.  And NO I didn't take the Sony piece.  I know that's what you all were thinking.   

[ted_b]

I just posted my great shipping experience on Audiogon this past week. I ran into the same insurance issue with BAx, plus the fact that they don't pick up at anything but a legitimate busienss address anymore.  By legitimate, I mean they ask many questions about the shipment and won't pick up, say, speakers, from a business that isn't in the electronics industry...or at least that's there new goal. 

Anyway, I had bought some used gear and had a 450 lb crate with two ATC speakers (and a couple of 80 pound stands in boxes) I needed to ship from a Portand, OR self-storage facility to my home in Westlake, OH.  The speakers are worth at least $6k.  I called around to over ten different freight and moving companies, and used an online freight search firm also.  The movers were very expensive, but at least used air-ride trucks.  The freight guys were within a hundred bucks of each other, but used spring-ride trucks...ie. a rough ride.  Although the ATC speakers are somewhat battlefield-ready I didn't want to take the chance.  Anyway, a nice fellow on A-gon turned me on to Team Air (teamair.com).  They ended up picking up from the storage facility, tracked the shipment realtime, used air-ride ground transportation, and then home delivered from their terminal in Cleveland...all for hundreds less than freight and half the cost of the moving companies.  The crate arrived in perfect condition and the local guy had a lift gate and pallet jack to bring them into my garage.  Unbelievable customer support too...oh, and insured them for $6000.  They have my large item shipping business from now on.

[john1970]

Ted,

Thank you for the recommendation and detailed review.  When I orginally purchased my speakers they were shipped by BAX Ground from VMPS Audio in CA.  It is my understanding that VMPS now uses Aero Logistics for all shipping.  Aero Logistics allows for full insurance and provides both ground (5 day) and two day services from CA to MA.  The cost of the two day service is ~$400 more than the ground service.

Cheers,

John

[Eugene2]

Never ever use BAX.  My friend and I ordered speakers from VMPS.  I ordered two speakers and a sub, he ordered a full surround, both orders had subwoofers.  Both our orders came with severe damage to the boxes.  Luckily B packages these speakers extremely well.  It looked like they rammed both our orders with a forklift.  My packages had the most severe damage, one speaker had a deep dent and scratches, the other had scratches.  My friend's boxes while damaged his speakers escaped with a small dent on one of the surrounds which he did not mind.  The driver refused to deliver either set without a signature first, I was not home so my neighbor signed, he did not see the damaged boxes because they were piled on a pallet.  My friend said the driver also refused to unload the truck until he signed. 
Well to add insult to injury once I noted the damage I never moved the speakers from my garage, I called BAX and went through the claim process.  They sent an inspector to my house who verified that the damage was caused by a forklift and she said "I see this all the time."  She sent a report stating the damages and that it was definitely caused by BAX.  After a two week wait BAX sent a letter stating that the claim was denied, because the shipment was received and signed for, which indicates it arrived in satisfactory condition despite what their inspector determined.
I contacted B at VMPS, he immediately sent out a new pair of speakers through another carrier which came undamaged.  I felt bad because he had to suffer a loss of income which is not fair.  I did find a buyer for the damaged speakers which did give B partial restitution, but he still suffered a loss, due to this dishonest carrier.  What really ticks me off is the drivers refusal to deliver without a signature first and the fact that their claim inspector verified the damage was due to their mishandling.  VMPS puts a cloth bag over the speaker thick styrofoam on each side and double boxes the speakers.  What more could you ask.  Anyway that is my BAX story.

[PhilNYC]

Never ever use BAX.... Anyway that is my BAX story.

Wow, that's terrible.  On the other hand, I had about a 40% damage rate receiving shipments of Focus FS-888's from Canada (they are 46" tall, 90lbs each) using UPS, and 0% damage rate when they use BAX, so I have been inclined to use BAX even thought it is much more expensive when shipping speakers that large.

[Bill Baker]

 I receive a lot of speakers via BAX (maybe not anymore once they hear this news). My driver knows I will not sign for anything until the speakers are unloaded, unpacked and inspected. It usually takes about a half hour out of his day but now I don't even have to ask. After he brings them in the door, he stands in a corner while I inspect them.

 He use to lean on other speakers while I was inspecting but after I chewed his ass for leaving sweat puddles on very expensive speakers, he now waits in the corner by the door.

 I once had a large pair of Usher speakers show up with a hole in the box. After taking the speakers out (with teh driver waiting in the corner), we found there to be a nice hole on the cabinet. I boxed them up, declined to sign and he took them back with him.

[AB]

I just posted my great shipping experience on Audiogon this past week. I ran into the same insurance issue with BAx, plus the fact that they don't pick up at anything but a legitimate busienss address anymore.  By legitimate, I mean they ask many questions about the shipment and won't pick up, say, speakers, from a business that isn't in the electronics industry...or at least that's there new goal. 

Anyway, I had bought some used gear and had a 450 lb crate with two ATC speakers (and a couple of 80 pound stands in boxes) I needed to ship from a Portand, OR self-storage facility to my home in Westlake, OH.  The speakers are worth at least $6k.  I called around to over ten different freight and moving companies, and used an online freight search firm also.  The movers were very expensive, but at least used air-ride trucks.  The freight guys were within a hundred bucks of each other, but used spring-ride trucks...ie. a rough ride.  Although the ATC speakers are somewhat battlefield-ready I didn't want to take the chance.  Anyway, a nice fellow on A-gon turned me on to Team Air (teamair.com).  They ended up picking up from the storage facility, tracked the shipment realtime, used air-ride ground transportation, and then home delivered from their terminal in Cleveland...all for hundreds less than freight and half the cost of the moving companies.  The crate arrived in perfect condition and the local guy had a lift gate and pallet jack to bring them into my garage.  Unbelievable customer support too...oh, and insured them for $6000.  They have my large item shipping business from now on.

My vote goes to TeamAir too. They have been fantastic.

[john1970]

Bill,

You might be lucky because you are a manufacturer.  Being a customer purchasing speakers, I experienced the exact same treatment as Eugene.  The BAX delivery person would not remove the speakers from the truck without me signing.  Sounds like a scam by BAX.  As much as I dislike lawyers, it sounds like a a good class action lawsuit againsts BAX Global. 

I know that when I get the RM40s back after the rebuild (in late October) I will not sign for anything until the speakers are in my house, unpacked, and inspected for visual damage!!

NOW WE KNOW WHY THEY ONLY INSURE FOR $500!!!

Cheers,

John

[zybar]

John,

To be fair, FedEx and UPS don't let me open up the package and inspect it before signing for it.

George

[john1970]

George,

True.  However, atleast UPS and FedEx allows for full declaration value on goods that are being shipped. 

John

[zybar]

George,

True.  However, atleast UPS and FedEx allows for full declaration value on goods that are being shipped. 

John

YUP.

As you stated, no BAX Global for any of my shipping needs.

George

[PhilNYC]

George,

True.  However, atleast UPS and FedEx allows for full declaration value on goods that are being shipped. 

John

I was under the impression that Fedex only allows a $500 limit as well...?

[bubba966]

George,

True.  However, atleast UPS and FedEx allows for full declaration value on goods that are being shipped. 

John

I was under the impression that Fedex only allows a $500 limit as well...?

I think that's only for ground. If you go any of their faster methods then you can insure for more.

[James Romeyn]

I shipped a motorcycle via Atlas.  Insurance included was a certain amount per lb, in this case it worked out to about $300 for an $11k bike!  Woopee!  2 tires!