Amazon item arrives in badly damaged box

[Muse]

On July 14 I ordered this at Amazon.com:

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB-GM Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable (Analog & USB)

It's $129.00 everywhere. I looked. All the retailers are selling it for exactly that. You can't get it cheaper on Ebay. I figured go with Amazon because their return policy seems pretty iron clad, just in case there's a problem.

Before ordering, I looked at the reviews at Amazon ordered by most recent. One posted on July 11, 2020 said this:

Very important! Choose SHIP IN AMAZON PACKAGING for better protection!
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2020
Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Ok I forgot to choose ‘ship in amazon packagin’. Received and the original box was totally damage, opened up and find that the turntable cover was cracked, luckily that the turntable is working normally.

I didn't know about Amazon packaging, but on that recommendation I asked for it, a free order tweak on the payment page. It arrived today, and the outer box is ordinary cardboard and looks just fine. But opening the package I find that the item's box (which was wrapped in clear plastic) shows damage indicative of extremely rough treatment (see pictures below). That only happens if some kind of accident happened. I have to wonder if my experience here is related to that of the quoted customer above. Maybe the same accident that fucked up his fucked up mine. IMO merchandise like this should not be sold as new but can be evaluated by professional staff and sold as refurbished.

I plan to use this to play records to record radio shows, we are WFH now at my college radio station. I want this thing to be 100% AOK. Should I just call Amazon and demand a replacement?

 

[Muse]

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSB-GM Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable (Analog & USB)

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP60XUSB-GM-Automatic-Belt-Drive-Hi-Fidelity/dp/B07MZXQC1T/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=Audio-Technica%2BAT-LP60XUSB-GM%2BFully%2BAutomatic%2BBelt-Drive%2BStereo%2BTurntable%2B(Analog%2B%26%2BUSB)&qid=1595190135&sr=8-9&th=1

 

[balloonshark]

It shouldn't be any problem getting a refund and/or replacement. Make sure they give you a return label since it's clearly their fault.

 

[kt]

I recommend you just return it if you're concerned about damage for peace of mind. Damaged packaging is one of their pre-populated reasons for return and that looked pretty damaged to me.

 

[lxskllr]

If it was me, I'd open it and inspect. I might even accept a cracked cover if everything worked correctly, but I'm loathe to make returns. It adds hassle that totally negates buying online.

 

[esquared]

It shouldn't be any problem getting a refund and/or replacement. Make sure they give you a return label since it's clearly their fault.

Amazon replacements are easy. I've had to do a few over the years and its hassle-free.
Just request a replacement online from your order

 

[balloonshark]

Amazon replacements are easy. I've had to do a few over the years and its hassle-free.
Just request a replacement online from your order

Do you know if they give you a return label when doing the return without chatting or calling?

 

[sdifox]

Just chat with csr and they'll give you a return label. No biggie.

 

[esquared]

Do you know if they give you a return label when doing the return without chatting or calling?

IIRC, you can specify return from your account and they will send you a link for a return label that you print.
I think you have 30 days to return your item and if you requested a placement, they will ship you a new one.

It's been a few years since I requested replacement so I don't know if they changed anything.

 

[Muadib]

Yeah, Amazon will take care of you. Return it and ask for a replacement.

 

[BoomerD]

Is the product damaged...or just the box?

 

[purbeast0]

I've exchanged/returned tons of stuff with Amazon. It's super easy. Hit them up on chat and it will be taken care of with ease. And they may even give you some credit or a free extra month of prime for the hassle. I've had that done tons of times.

I'm also not sure how they tried to pull a fast one on you.

 

[Maxima1]

IMO merchandise like this should not be sold as new but can be evaluated by professional staff and sold as refurbished.

Yes, Amazon does that. You've noticed "Sold by Amazon Warehouse", right? A lot of times it'll say something like "Packaging damaged". It probably accidentally got labeled as new in the system. I've had Amazon sell me the wrong color shoes, so wouldn't be surprised a mishap like that happened here. You can easily go to chat and get it solved on the spot.

 

[LikeLinus]

How exactly did Amazon "pull a fast one" on you?

 

[deadlyapp]

If I returned every package that had a damaged box I'd never own anything.

As long as the actual product isn't damaged and works fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[UsandThem]

Error 404: Fast one not found.

 

[WelshBloke]

The whole point of the packaging is that it absorbes any damage rather than the contents getting damaged.
Is the turntable ok?

 

[rh71]

I'm not shy about Amazon returns (items not as expected), but I do order frequently too (63 orders in last 6 months). In this case, I'd open and inspect for actual damage before returning. No damage, I'll keep it.

 

[balloonshark]

There is no way I would accept any new electronics product that arrived in a box that damaged. Plus a human had to place the damaged box into another shipping box which should have never happened. It should have been inspected and sold as used/like new with damaged packaging if the turntable looked fine.

 

[MtnMan]

There are those that would complain if the shipping label was put on a little crooked...

 

[Muse]

How exactly did Amazon "pull a fast one" on you?

Well, new merchandise should not obviously have grossly damaged packaging. If you buy off ebay, they are obviously obligated to make clear to the buyer if the packaging is damaged in that kind of way. I don't believe it's Amazon's policy to ship merchandise like they shipped me. Therefore I deduce that someone decided to just ship this and hope the customer wouldn't complain. THAT person tried to pull a fast one. Is that clear?

 

[Muse]

I'm not shy about Amazon returns (items not as expected), but I do order frequently too (63 orders in last 6 months). In this case, I'd open and inspect for actual damage before returning. No damage, I'll keep it.

Sometimes damage isn't evident. That box experience a severe crunching. This is delicate electro/mechanical equipment. If it were a monitor, I'd return it, I did just that over a year ago when Walmart shipped me. I didn't open it, just brought it to the store. Yes, that was a hassle. I'm quite glad I brought it back because the monitor I did settle on is superior, a different brand... That is incidental, however I feel/think that something like a monitor or a turntable should not show signs of having been treated roughly.

No damage, keep it? How do I know if it's damaged or not? A cursory inspection is not sufficient proof, and I am not capable of a thorough examination and testing procedure.

 

[Muse]

There is no way I would accept any new electronics product that arrived in a box that damaged. Plus a human had to place the damaged box into another shipping box which should have never happened. It should have been inspected and sold as used/like new with damaged packaging if the turntable looked fine.

balloonshark gets it! Thank you!

I suppose it's possible that it wasn't obvious that it was damaged, that is by the warehouse person who packaged it (however, that box did suffer some injury and someone blew it off, probably some hot-shot asshole forklift driver!). I cut away the clear plastic bag that was sealed around the box. Of course, I wasn't looking for damage when I did that. I just wanted to get the box out of the plastic bag. Well, the exact history of how this happened doesn't matter.

I am wondering one thing. I am quite confident Amazon will provide a shipping label. I'll very likely have a delivery service pick up the item, I'm SIP at home. Hopefully, they won't insist on USPS... well, maybe they pick up too, I don't know. Anyway, I'm wondering if Amazon will cross ship. If not, I could order from B&H for the same price and I'm don't imagine they would send me a damaged item. Also, the fact that an Amazon customer who posted a review of this item on July 11 and had his box likewise damaged (and his TT cover WAS cracked) has me concerned that there's a bunch of damaged TT's that Amazon is currently shipping. Two seems like something of an alarming coincidence. If I go with B&H, I'm much less likely to get a TT that's had a traumatic past.

Even if Amazon will cross ship (saving me time) I'm thinking the smarter thing to do is just return for refund (as long as Amazon will permit that) and order from a different retailer (I'm thinking B&H, from whom I've ordered a few times before).

In early 2019 when I got a 40" monitor shipped to me in a damaged box (which I returned unopened) I resolved to never order another monitor delivered to my house. I subsequently bought a couple 43" monitors at my local Costco warehouse, brought them home in my car. I'd do the same with this TT but we're in an out of control pandemic right now and I'm not doing that. But I at least want a delivered TT shipped to me in a box that doesn't look like it's been in a car wreck.

 

[LikeLinus]

Have you opened it to see if there is any actual damage? If you start an exchange, they will ship the new product to you and give you 30 days to return the other one. Really, you should just contact Amazon instead of posting in a forum about it.

 

[Viper GTS]

You are wildly overthinking this. Open it up, if it works as expected keep it. If it is damaged Amazon will make it right.

While I'll admit I cringe a bit when stuff shows up with internal boxes damaged I also realize that it's in Amazon's best interest to minimize packaging to the point that maximizes profit.

Fragile things shipped in floppy bags etc annoy me but in 20 years of Amazon purchases I've had maybe $200 worth of damage. That's basically zero considering what I have spent.

Viper GTS