Hi Café Friends,
I’m seeking some feedback and advice on an issue I’m having with a 2019 Kelley A-V-5 mandolin, a beautiful looking instrument. I sold it to a wonderful person in Massachusetts, and when it arrived we were both heartbroken to see that the neck had dislodged completely from the body. It was packed very securely, sitting tightly in its case, with bubble wrap around the case and foam lining in the heavy duty shipping box labelled FRAGILE that MandoMutt used when they sent it to me.
The thing is that I have had many instruments shipped to me in Australia, and I’ve shipped many instruments back to the US, and this is the first time this has ever happened. As you can see from the photos, and confirmed by Skip Kelley, “the joint is a V joint, similar to a violin, only much deeper and LOCKED in place by drilling from the back, into the neck block and neck, and then, gluing in dowels.” If it was indeed “locked in place”, how could the neck dislodge during shipping, even if dropped during transit?
I’d appreciate any insights, knowledge and experience about what might have caused the neck to dislodge from the body. Do you have experience with the strength of a V Joint, glued in place with dowels? Are there more sturdy joints used in A model mandolins? What should I be telling UPS in my claim with them? Even though I’m the 2nd owner, is there an potential warranty? Really appreciate the community’s input on this situation.
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