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.
See CONTACT page for instructions – then I can email you my address.
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!!
If you need more help I can usually send you photos and instructions.
Packing
To avoid damage to the board by static electricity, hold the board by the edges.
DO NOT WRAP THE BOARD IN ORDINARY, CLEAR BUBBLE-WRAP!
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.
USE A DEEP BOX WITH PLENTY OF PACKING ABOVE AND BELOW THE BOARD.
A board can get crushed easily in a shallow box.
Don’t use a Jiffy Bag (or even several Jiffy Bags) – it 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 your board has been tested and is working ok.
Payment is made via the international money transfer company I use at low cost.
I will send you details of how to do this when your board is ready to be returned.
Shipping method
It is up to you whether you use normal postal service or a courier.
Normal post is cheapest – a bit slower but not had any loss or damage so far.
Sending by courier is quicker and shipments are tracked all the way but it can cost a lot more.
NOTE – a courier shipment is more likely to get charged Import Duty.
NOTE – don’t book direct with a courier – it’s much cheaper to book via a shipping agent.
Important – this really is important!
Put the goods value as 5 dollars and put “no commercial value”
Don’t put a value of zero as this may mean that your goods get held by our Customs whilst they try to find out how much they’re worth. They say that everything has a value!
UK Customs don’t charge Import Duty if the total value of the shipment is below a certain amount.
Sometimes, especially with a courier shipment, the shipping cost and the insured value (if any) gets added to the goods value making the total shipment value high enough that Import Duty will be charged. If there is any Import Duty to pay, your shipment will be held in Customs until it’s been paid.
Very occasionally a courier shipment gets delivered here with no indication that any Duty was payable and then, two or three weeks later, an invoice from the courier arrives!
This requests payment of the Duty PLUS the courier’s charge for “expediting” the shipment i.e. sending it immediately instead of holding it until Duty has been paid.
In my opinion this is a very sneaky money-making ruse.
Payments like this cannot be reclaimed so unfortunately have to be added to the cost of your repair.
When returning your goods I put a low goods value and also exclude the shipping cost and any insured amount from the Customs invoice. This should mean that you get charged very little or no Import taxes when your shipment comes back into your Country.
High value goods
If you are not happy about putting such a low value on the goods then I can explain what to do.
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 3 months.
E&OE