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 / voicemail.
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 and on High Value Goods page.
Opening the instrument & removing circuit boards
If you get stuck at any stage, please ask for help
1 – unplug the mains!
2 – open the instrument – see the info I send you.
3 – make sketches or take photos so you’ll know how to replace everything correctly.
4 – unplug connectors – follow the info I send you but email me if unsure.
5 – remove any screws which need removing – note which screw went where!
6 – remove the board from its fixings – see info I send you – take it slowly and don’t get cross!!
I usually send you photos and good instructions.
Packing
Use a good, strong box – large enough that the board isn’t a tight fit and deep enough that it won’t get crushed. Put the board in a paper envelope or wrap it in a sheet of paper.
Then loosely wrap it in plenty bubble-wrap – just enough to stop it moving around in the box.
Don’t use a Jiffy Bag – or even several Jiffy Bags – this is NOT enough protection!
Please include 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 but it can cost a lot more.
NOTE – a courier shipment is much 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.
Simple and cheapest method …
Put a very low value on the goods like 5 dollars or euros.
Don’t put a value of zero – see NOTES below.
Send by normal postal service and don’t add insurance.
The insurance amount might be seen as the value of the goods or be added to it.
U.K. Customs will charge Import Duty if the value is above their threshold.
I have to pay their charge to get your shipment released from Customs.
The payment can not be reclaimed so will be added to the cost of your repair.
U.K. Customs don’t charge Import Duty if the total value is below their threshold.
I don’t know their threshold amount but a lower value means less Import Duty to pay.
Notes
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!
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.
Commercial Invoice – typical questions
Not in any particular order ….
Shipper/Exporter – this is you, so put your name and address here.
Ship To (or Consignee) – this is me, so put my name and address here.
Sold To – leave this blank – you are not selling me your circuit board.
Export reference/Invoice number/Purchase Order Number – leave anything like this blank.
Reason for Export – put something like “faulty circuit board being sent to UK for repair and return”.
– don’t put “GIFT” because it isn’t a gift.
Country of Export – this is your Country.
Country of Manufacture – you could put “unknown” here but if it’s a Technics piano it was manufactured in Japan, so put Japan here.
Country of ultimate destination – this is where you are sending it, so put UK here.
Description of Goods – put “faulty circuit board from Technics digital piano being sent to UK for repair and return”.
When returning a board overseas
Several years ago I was able to insure the goods for e.g. 600 GBP and put the value on the Customs Invoice as 5 GBP. Also the shipping cost and any insured amount were not shown on the Customs Invoice. This was great because it meant that the customer had to pay little or no Import Duty/Taxes.
Customs rules have changed …
Now, if a board is lost or damaged in transit to you, it is not possible for me to make an insurance claim for more than the stated Customs value. This is a pain because if I insure the board for a reasonable amount, you would almost certainly have to pay Import Duty/Taxes. I don’t know your Import charges but over here it would cost me 20% of the Customs value which could be a lot of money!
Unless you tell me otherwise, I will not insure the shipment and will put the value as 5 GBP so you should have to pay little or no Import Duty/Taxes.
Why 600 GBP? … I used to insure Technics main boards for 600 GBP because to get another board I would have to buy (and probably have to travel to collect) another piano, scrap it for the parts I need, get rid of all the unwanted parts (like the bulky cabinet and stand), do all the reflow work or corrosion clean-up on the board from the piano I’d bought, test it, pack it, then arrange and pay for shipping again.
High value goods
If you are unhappy about putting a low value on the goods please see my High Value Goods page.
My address – I will give you my address if you want to send me something for repair.
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