If you want to send me a Technics board for repair from outside the UK
please DO leave me your email address on my answerphone.
Sending Technics pcbs (printed circuit boards) to me for repair
More info on Technics page
Opening the instrument & removing circuit boards
If you get stuck at any stage, please ring for help
1 – unplug the mains!
2 – open the instrument – see Technics page
3 – make sketches or take photos so you’ll know how to replace everything correctly
4 – unplug connectors from the circuit board – please ring if unsure
5 – remove any screws which need removing – note which screw went where!
6 – remove the board from its fixings – see Technics page – take it slowly and don’t get cross!!
Packing
To avoid damage to the board by static electricity, hold the board only by the edges.
DO NOT WRAP THE BOARD IN ORDINARY, CLEAR BUBBLE-WRAP!
You must use something anti-static like the silvery-grey bags used for computer hard drives.
There is anti-static bubble-wrap (usually pink) but don’t use unless you know it is anti-static.
Failing that, put the board in a paper envelope or wrap in a sheet of paper.
DON’T WRAP THE BOARD IN ANYTHING ELSE FIRST!
Then use plenty of normal, clear bubble-wrap or loose-fill chips to protect it in transit.
Pack the board well – use a box large enough that the board isn’t a tight fit.
A JIFFY BAG (or even several Jiffy Bags) IS NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION!
Put in a note giving the piano model and all your contact details!
Payment
I don’t any want payment until the board is repaired and tested.
As far as I know the cheapest way to pay from outside the EU is by Paypal.
You can pay by Paypal on-line with your credit or debit card.
You will need my email address to make the payment.
I will give you this when your repair is done.
Paypal charge a fee. Please add 5% to the total price to cover this.
Shipping method
It is up to you whether you use normal postal service or a courier.
A courier like DHL or Fedex it is usually much cheaper to book through an agency.
I find an agency charges between a third and a quarter of what DHL or Fedex quote.
Important! – This really is important – put the goods value as 5 dollars or “no commercial value” or our UK Customs will charge Import Duty.
If you put a very low value on the goods, I will put a similar low value on the goods when I return them. This should mean you don’t get charged any Import taxes when your goods come back into your Country.
Very important!! DO NOT put a high value on the goods and then send them by normal post
UNLESS you want to add about 25% or more to the cost of your repair!!
Once paid, the Duty and charges are not reclaimable so I won’t pay them unless you tell me to.
If you tell me to, I will pay the Duty and charges and add these amounts to your bill.
If not, I will refuse the shipment and your parcel will be returned automatically by whichever postal service you used. This can take several weeks because “return to sender” is generally an unpaid service and so tends to use the cheapest and slowest method.
High value goods
If you are not happy about putting such a low value on the goods, there is a special procedure which MUST be followed if you are not to be charged UK Import Duty.
To save you paying UK Import Duty takes me quite some time. There is a considerable amount of paperwork to do. I make a charge of 70 GBP for doing this.
Because of the high value, it is possible that you will have to pay taxes when your goods come back into your Country. I am not able to do anything about this.
You MUST use a courier who understands this procedure. You MUST NOT use normal post!
This means the shipping charges each way will cost more.
You must make your own arrangements for insurance and shipping to me AND back to you.
If you want to put a high value on the goods please read the page “High Value Goods” and then contact me BEFORE sending your board as the procedure must be carried out correctly or it won’t work! If not carried out correctly you WILL have to pay UK Import Duty taxes and charges which cannot be reclaimed.
DISCLAIMERS
Goods here for repair are at your own risk entirely as they are not insured for any eventuality.
Goods here for repair will be sold or disposed of if there has been no word from the owner for 6 months.
MUSICAL STUFF
Most weekends I’m not repairing but out playing bass guitar with an excellent wedding, party and function band. Have a look at our website famousfiveband.com and see what you think.
Please put a link to our website as this will help us get found – thanks!
E&OE