[TowerTalk] New Universal Aluminimum Tower Damaged During Shipping

[Ronald A.Stunden]

Take pictures and lots of them.....

At 10:09 PM 8/13/00 -0700, you wrote:

>I'm not a lawyer but.....
>
>If the damage was not obvious without totally unpacking the material then
>you have a much better case for a claim.  Don't wait around though, there is
>a limit to the amount of time you can file.  I'd be sitting on their front
>door in the morning.
>
>If they offer to repair make sure that the manufacturer approves of the
>repair or any warranty may go out the door.
>
>Gary K7FR
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Rich" <kg0us@swbell.net>
>To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
>Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 9:27 PM
>Subject: [TowerTalk] New Universal Aluminimum Tower Damaged During Shipping
>
>
> >
> > Hello Everyone,
> >
> > My new Universal 21-40 aluminum tower arrived at Watkins Motor Lines in
> > Kansas City last Friday.  A friend and I drove over there to pick it up
> > since it was nearby and also to avoid the residential drop off fee.  The
> > tower has four sections and was shipped by the manufacturer with each
> > smaller sections slid inside the larger sections with the smallest top
> > section in the middle.  The outside section of the tower was wrapped
> > length wise with clear plastic except for a band of cardboard on each
> > end.  The trust bearing and bag of bolts was taped to the z-bracing
> > along the outside section. There was a tag on the tower and a note on
> > the invoice that said "Do Not Use Fork Lift".  The whole tower only
> > weighs about 124 pounds.
> >
> > I thought I had done a good job of thoroughly inspecting the tower
> > before I left so I then signed it off and drove it home and placed it in
> > my home garage.  The next day I unwrapped the plastic and noticed that
> > behind the cardboard was a small bend in the smallest most inside
> > sections horizontal z-brace.  I thought no big deal,  I can just bend
> > that back straight.  Shortly afterwards a little further up the end of
> > the tower I cut away the paper bag, containing the nuts and bolts, that
> > was taped to the outer section of the tower only to find a piece of
> > z-bracing severely bent and the weld cracked at the main tube.  There is
> > also some distortion in the diagonal portion of the z-bracing after the
> > horizontal z-brace with the bend and cracked weld.  It should be noted
> > that when I refer to the horizontal z-brace I am referencing the bracing
> > when the tower section is in an upright position.  The horizontal
> > z-brace is also cracked in the bend as though hit by a sharp object.
> > All of this damage is on the most inside or top section of the tower and
> > was concealed by the paper bag and cardboard inside the plastic
> > wrapper.  There is strong evidence that someone during shipment
> > disregarded the note on the invoice and the tag and shoved a fork lift
> > inside the tower sections to move it during transfers.
> >
> > Do you think I am basically out of luck or can I file a damage claim to
> > replace the top section of the tower since the damage was concealed?
> >
> > I know a professional welder who specializes in aluminum welding and he
> > has a heliarc welder. He might be able to straighten the bent z-brace
> > and repair the cracked weld.  I could even have him weld another
> > aluminum rod below the z-brace damaged for added strength.  There is a
> > supplier of 6061 in my area.  I hate to resort to this after spending
> > good money for the tower only to have it damaged during shipment.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Dave Rich
> > kg0us@swbell.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> >
> >
>
>
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