Need sled case

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Guido,

 

Case looks very sexy, but one thing I noticed. Your gimbal cut out is so precise that you have to return the gimbal to the same location on the post when you put your sled to bed. Not a huge deal, but something I've always avoided by providing a much longer spot for the gimbal yoke to rest. Just make sure the foam in area is high enough that the foam from the top lid holds it captive when closed.

 

So, A&J has received my sled case back & they have declared it totaled. They are as freaked out as I am. They are forcing UPS to pay for a new case and FedEx (hee, hee) it to me overnight. They said it looked as if someone intentionally destroyed it by poking lots of holes into it! Just plain weird......

 

I'd add that the first time I received it and actually signed for it and took it inside, the damage was very minimal. Truth be told, if it were on my dime I may have lived with the damage until the case was in LA next because it was only a small crack (maybe an inch long). If there had been any contents, they would have been fine, but A&J rep Steven Zuch insisted on coming by my house, picking up the case and shipping it back for repair (all on them/UPS). After all, it was brand new.

 

Like I posted before, the damage was so obvious the second time around, I refused delivery and never looked onside. The fact that A&J wanted to build a new one says a lot though. Again, I suspect any sled inside would have survived though.

 

Conclusions???? If my gear were inside, I'd never send it UPS ground. I suspect the added weight of the sled (and no cardboard on it to hide its contents) would have caused more delicate handling, but who knows.

 

I'll report when the new case arrives because I feel it is very important to let the community know how a company deals with a situation after you have had a public go at them. Definite tip of the cap to Steven Zuch (New York A&J rep) for amazing service.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

The conclusion to the case story....

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...ost&p=22276

[Lawrence Karman]

Charles,

 

PRO lists their sled case for a scant $350 (http://www.pro-gpi.com/price.htm). Having just spent way more than twice that on a new custom A&J sled case (PRO's is too short for my rig), it seems like a great deal. Funny thing about my situation is that UPS has destroyed my case twice while being delivered to me from A&J! So, I've yet to use it and I'm beginning to question both UPS and A&J. The second time they delivered it (both times ground), I was home and watched the UPS driver bring it up my stoop. I could see lots of holes in the cardboard A&J had wrapped it in. I look in the very first hole to see splintered wood. I tell the driver to take it back and explain this is the second time this has happened. She replies, "they need to wrap it better." I tell her it is a shipping case and the cardboard is to prevent cosmetic scratches only. She replies "they need to wrap it better." I repeat that it is a shipping case. She says, "not a very good one."

 

Hmmmmm. Left me wondering, but there must be a reason virtually every US rental house uses A&J. To A&J's credit, they have dealt with UPS and are making every effort to make things right. I'm demanding they return it to me via air next time since I've paid for the case in full and been without it for a ridiculous amount of time. Also, it seems UPS ground is just too much for these legendary cases.

 

My wife and I were talking about her recent missing UPS shipment and I told her of your problems with UPS damaging your cases. As I am always wrong, she told me that UPS advises all shipments to be wrapped in at least 2"s of packing materiel inside the box. I replied this is a shipping case! and went to their web site to check. Damn it she was right again. Why do I even try? Here is an excerpt from their web site:

 

"Each item should be surrounded by at least two inches (5 cm) of cushioning and be placed at least two inches (5 cm) away from the walls of the box. This will protect your items from product-against-product damage and shield them from the shock and vibration that can be conducted from the exterior of the box to its contents in transit."

 

 

It would seem that A&J will have a hard time recouping their costs if they only shipped that case in a cardboard box without padding. By the way, A&J could easily replace the broken panel only, not the whole case. I've had it done more times than I would care to remember.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Lawrence,

 

The first time they did just replace a panel. Second time, there were multiple areas of damage and they didn't want to wait for UPS.

 

As for you and your wife's debate, you are both right. Yes, most items need to be wrapped, but A&J cases are certified shipping cases and meet all requirements set out by the industry. In other words, UPS does not have the right to destroy said case and that is why we can send them (without cardboard) and insurance needs to cover them. So, UPS will end up paying A&J for the case.

 

That is the way it was explained to me anyway.

[Rob Vuona SOC]

BTW,how do you like my Nexuscase?!

=======================================================

 

Hey that case is awesome, are they available for customization here in the US. ?

 

RobVski@aol.com

310-993-0667

[nealnorton]

I have switched to Tamrac Strongbox cases (642/644/646) for all my gear. I first bought one to carry my Preston FIZ, then liked it so much I went to the Tamrac strongbox of various sizes for everything except the sled and arm/vest.

 

The Tamrac 660 works perfectly for my arm/vest. The Tamrac 661 is perfect for my sled.

 

These have proven to be great cases. Much easier to travel with and also to organize the equipment.

 

After years of ATA cases and then (much better) roto molded cases like the Thermodyne, I am very happy with the Tamrac cases.

 

Also, I found a light and inexpensive cart called the "Rock N Roller" R12 that works very well for me. They even sell a top shelf for this cart for very little $$$.

 

Best to All.

 

Neal Norton