What to ship

Pack your radio using the recommended packing guidelines. Be sure to include the following items:

1. A written description of the services you wish us to provide.  A copy of a previous email will be fine.
    
2. If a repair is needed, provide a description of the problems you are experiencing and the symptoms.
    
3. Always send your user's manual(s) with the equipment. While we have bench copies of most manuals we may not have the one for the particular version of equipment you have. For this reason, we prefer to use your manuals.  Of course, they will be returned to you, with your radio.
    
4. The power cord, if applicable. It is part of the equipment and will be needed.
    
5. Interconnect cables, if applicable. These will needed, even for realignment work.
    
6. The separate power supply, if applicable. Please contact us to see if you will need to ship the power supply.  If we have a suitable power supply in our shop and there appears to be no power supply related issues with your radio, you may not need to ship the supply.  Like you, we prefer to limit the costs by shipping only what is necessary.

How to Ship

1. Pack your radio using our suggested packing procedures, being sure to include the items listed above that apply. Note: Received packages that appear to have been improperly packed and/or are damaged will be refused and returned to you unopened.
    
2. Have a carrier pick up your package or drop it off at the carrier's approved drop off sites.  You can receive a FedEx estimate of cost to ship to us if you provide the weight of the package, its dimensions, your ZIP code, and our ZIP code (29609). We recommend FedEx and USPS because they transport heavy equipment with less damage. We have experienced significant damage problems with UPS, even when the equipment is properly packed.
    
3. Email the shipment tracking number(s) to us so we will know the arrival time at our site.
    
4. Make sure your equipment arrives UNDAMAGED. Check out our suggested packing procedures by clicking here.

When we Ship

We will use the same packing that arrived when you shipped your radio to us.  If your packing was damaged in shipment or is not appropriate, we will use new packing materials that will be as shown on your invoice.

Your radio will be insured for shipment with the carrier at 150% of replacement value.

You will receive shipping notification as well as a tracking number by email when we ship your radio back to you.

How to Pack

DO IT YOURSELF PACKING GUIDELINES

Note: Received packages that appear to have been improperly packed and/or are damaged will be refused and returned to you, unopened.

These guidelines are based on over fifteen years experience packing and shipping electronic equipment using most major domestic carriers. Proper packing is the single most important step in conducting business on the Internet, yet often receives the least attention. To assure a successful transaction closure PLEASE follow these guidelines when packing all materials to send to K4ICL.

Assumptions

A gorilla, larger than you can imagine, will throw the package at least 30 feet to another large gorilla. The second gorilla will not catch it and it will slam against the brick wall and drop to the concrete floor. 

You will have to file a damage claim if you do not DOUBLE BOX the item.  Dealing with damage claims is a REAL hassle, likely to involve much paper work and hard feelings. It  will make you very cranky.

The Reality

All shipping carriers, including the U.S. Postal Service, have automated their distribution systems, using bar codes to route packages. Your shipment will be moved through the read-and-sort process using conveyer belts. The conveyer system will drop your package from one belt to another many times, at a heights of up to 40 inches. This means that your package will experience a free fall drop(s) at some phase of being carried from your QTH to us. IF YOU DON'T PACK IT PROPERLY, IT WILL BE DAMAGED.

Insurance

Always insure the package for one and one-half times its ACTUAL REPLACEMENT VALUE.

MINIMUM Requirements

Any package  MUST be packed in such a manner that the contents of the package will not be damaged if the package is repeatedly dropped from the height of a normal shipping counter to the floor, a distance of about 40 inches or three and one half feet.

Packing Supplies you will need.

Proper packing of delicate electronic equipment  requires some forward planning. Before you secure the supplies listed below, measure the size of the equipment to be sent and calculate the box size you will need.

Good quality packing tape.
One suitable sized smaller inner box to hold your equipment after it has been wrapped in bubble wrap.
One suitable sized larger outer box at least 4 1/4 inch larger on all three dimensions than the inner box.
Thirty or forty feet of large size 24 inch wide bubble wrap material.   
One or two 4 x 8 sheet(s) of dense foam insulation board (Home Depot, etc.)
"Fragile", "This End UP", "DO NOT DROP" etc. packing stickers.
A good large felt tip pen for signage on your package if no packing stickers are available.

WARNING -- Most so-called professional packing establishments available is some areas will want to use foam peanuts when thy pack your equipment. Accept this with the understanding that you will not have the best possible packing job for your money. The proper use if bubble wrap and dense foam board is far superior to using foam peanuts when packing delicate equipment.

Step by Step Procedure to assure your equipment will get here undamaged.

1.    Place your equipment in a plastic bag or other suitable plastic cover to protect it from packing materials and moisture. Same with any extra small items, manual, accessories, etc. Remember, the vibration of a long haul  truck can completely ware the paint off a surface rubbing against packing material.

2.    Tightly wrap item in at least five layers (three to four full inches) of the large bubble wrap. There should be enough bubble wrap surrounding the item to absorb the shock of being dropped from a height of 40 inches.

3.    Place tightly  bubble wrapped equipment in suitable size cardboard "inner" box, preferably one that just fits the item with it bubble wrapping, including any accessories. Fill any spaces in the box with wadded up bubble wrap so the item fits SNUG in the box. This is done to keep the equipment from shifting within the box! DO NOT USE NEWSPAPER, FOAM PEANUTS OR ANYTHING LOOSE AND/OR CRUSHABLE.

4.    Seal the box carefully. Double tape everything. The better it is sealed, the better it will absorb the shock of being dropped. This inner box goes inside a strong outer box.

5.    Prior to placing the smaller box inside a larger strong box, place one or two sheets of foam board in and on the bottom of the large box. This is to strengthen the bottom of the two box container you are building. DO NOT USE STYROFOAM PEANUTS OR ANY OTHER LOOSE MATERIAL. Use ONLY foam sheets.

      IMPORTANT:  For LARGE HEAVY (greater than 20 lbs) items, there should be at least  two inches of dense foam sheets. This will require a larger outer box.  Note: the “pink” one-inch foam board available at Home Depot is perfect for this application.  Often slightly damaged sheets are discounted to half price.  Note: Normally, the cost of the foam board is cheaper than foam peanuts. DO NOT USE STYROFOAM PEANUTS OR ANY OTHER LOOSE MATERIAL.

6.    After placing the smaller box it the larger, place foam board on all sides and the top of  the sealed inner box. Fill all remaining space in the second box, leaving NO air space at the top. Use large bubble wrap material, not foam peanuts. The inner "first" box MUST be securely held in place so it will not shift when you shake the package,

7.    Doubles seal the second box with packing tape then over the top and bottom "lids" again. Double tape everything.

8.    IMPORTANT: place on each surface, except the bottom, stickers or signs indicating that the contents of the package is a  "FRAGILE  ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT", "THIS END UP" and "DO NOT DROP". If you fail to do this, the package WILL BE HANDLED AS IF IT WERE A BOX OF ROCKS!

9.  Place address label on top of package, completely taping over with clear packing tape.

10.  IMPORTANT: Immediately after shipping,  please forward the tracking number to K4ICL@K4ICL.com.