POLICIES | desertamplifierrepair.com

DESERT AMPLIFIER REPAIR

We strive to provide excellent customer service and the highest quality repairs possible.

GENERAL POLICIES

All repairs must have the minimum bench/estimate fee paid at the time of drop off. (see Rates page for details)
If you decline to collect the equipment within 30 days of the completion of service or decline the service you will be billed a $5 per day storage fee for up to 60 days. At the end of 60 days your equipment will be considered abandoned and within Desert Amplifier Repair’s legal rights to dispose of/or sell to recoup loss of services provided.
Once applied, storage fees can not be waived.
Any balance owed on outstanding invoices will be sent to collections. In the event it becomes necessary to enter small claims court, court fees, legal fees, and any loss of wages will be added to the amount owed.
Any equipment left past 60 days after the date of completed repair with an unpaid balance will be deemed abandoned and become property of Desert Amplifier Repair. If you decide to surrender an item for disposal you must complete and return a surrender form. Surrender forms are available by request in person during business hours, or by email at contact@desertamplifierrepair.com. Surrendering an item does not remove your responsibility to pay the minimum diagnosis fee.
Repairs with parts totaling in excess of $149.99 will require the parts be paid in full as well as any shipping charges prior to the repair, leaving the balance of labor at time of collection.
Special order Items must be paid in full prior to ordering regardless of amount. Please note that shipping costs for special order items are often not provided until after the order is placed. Any unpaid shipping costs must be paid in full at time of collection, or before mailing out.
Returned Checks and e-checks will be billed an additional $90 service fee.
We do our best at DAR to provide an accurate estimate for the cost of your repair. While we do our best to hold to this estimate, there are times when after or during the repair we discover more repairs are necessary. For example, after replacing weak/failed electrolytic capacitors in vintage amplifiers, oftentimes the new strong voltages can force other weak components to prematurely fail. If the repair amount is within 10-15% percent of the estimated repair cost, in order to maintain our schedule and expedite the repair we will likely complete the repair and adjust the final bill. If the cost is going to exceed 15% of the total estimate we will stop work and provide an additional estimate for the cost of the service. In the event you decline the additional services you will be billed for parts and labor up to the point when the repair was stopped.

WARRANTY

Every service includes Desert Amplifiers Repair’s 30 day warranty from the completion of the repair guaranteeing all labor (“Workmanship”) of installations and modifications to be free of defects. Warranty is void if amplifier is tampered with. Desert Amplifier Repair is not liable for manufacturer defects, misuse, or damages caused in travel. ALWAYS follow the manufacturers safety warnings! All sales are final, no exceptions. Many components necessary for the repair of vintage equipment are custom ordered or out of production and purchased from private sellers, for this reason it’s not possible to accept returns. We go above and beyond to do our best to test and grade NOS components prior to installation to prevent failures. NOS Components will only be used with owners consent. All other repairs are done with NEW production components.
Some new production tube manufacturers offer a warranty on an individual basis and the warranty is subject to the manufacturer’s guidelines and policies.
As an authorized service center, we honor the manufacturer’s warranty on warranty service repairs, or DAR’s printed warranty, whichever is longer.
For items covered by the Desert Amplifier Repair warranty the customer is responsible to pay all shipping costs.

SHIPPING

INCOMING SHIPMENTS

Please insure the package with your shipping provider for full replacement value.
Safely package the item(s) assuming the worst will happen. Typically this means double box.
Require signature of receipt, and once shipped, forward the tracking number so we can track the package on our end.
If it’s a warranty repair, include a clear copy of the receipt/proof of purchase.
Write the Return Authorization Number on the outside of the package: Packages without an RA # will not be accepted.
For ALL non-warranty repair service customer must include a check payable to Armentrout Amplifier Corp. for the minimum bench fee.
Please use the contact form to initiate any repair requests. You will be assigned an RA number and given the shipping address and any additional instructions.

OUTGOING SHIPMENTS

Desert Amplifier Repair’s shipping policy: It’s the customers responsibility to pay the shipping charges.
Please be advised our policy is to insure the package for full replacement value, with signature required. If you, the customer, would like to insure the item for a lower declared value you must submit your request in writing and assume all risks and liabilities. We will not falsify documentation for customs, duty fees, or tax reasons.
Your incoming box and packing material will be reused to return the item. If for any reason the packing material is deemed unfit by the shipping carrier or Desert Amplifier Repair, it will be at the customer’s expense to have the item professionally packaged for safe transit.
All Items are final taped/sealed at the shipping counter or in front of the pick up carrier after being inspected for safe transit by a shipping carrier employee. The only exception to this is small, non-breakable items and flat rate shipping boxes (example: effects pedals, pickups, and properly packaged tubes).
We are happy to use the customer’s shipping account if preffered, please let us know when contacting.
We do everything possible to get your item back to you safely, however sometimes things out of our control do happen which is why we insist on full replacement value insurance. In the event your item is damaged in shipping, you must contact us within 24 hours of receiving the package and keep all of the original packing material. Email Pictures of the packaging and the damaged item, clearly showing the damage, in addition to a detailed account of all issues so we can assist in processing the claim. Keep all packaging together and do not attempt to use the item. While the item is not our property, as the sender the claim will have to be processed through us, so we need your assistance to make the process as smooth as possible. We will keep you advised of the progress of the claim and any additional requests from the shipping provider. Once the claim is completed, any reimbursement will be sent out by check via certified mail.
NOTICE — Any refusal, decline, or lack of assistance in filing the claim will be understood that you are happy with the item and will result in termination of the claim — you will be on your own with your item as is. No further assistance from DAR in filing the claim will be given.
Desert Amplifier Repair is not liable for damages caused in shipping, you are still responsible for full payment of any repairs provided.

SERVICE CALLS

In some instances it’s not possible to bring the item into the shop, so DAR must come to you. This is the outline of policies and pricing for this service. Components/Parts are in addition to the labor costs printed below.

Service calls are billed at $90/hour with a minimum of 4 hours. If the job takes 1 minute, it will still be billed at 4 hours). The 4 hour minimum fee will be due at time of booking. 50% of the minimum booking fee will be refunded in the event that cancellation is made in writing within 48 hours prior to the scheduled service time. Less then 48 hours notice is non-refundable.
After 8 hours total (same day or multiple days), the additional hours are then billed at $120/hour.
For instances where travel exceeding 30 miles from the shop is required, the customer will be billed for travel expenses and travel time. Travel time is in addition to the minimum 4 hours and billed separately. Any incurred travel expenses will be included in the estimate/invoice.
One-way travel exceeding 4 hours of travel time or 245 miles, whichever is first, will require safe, clean, hotel accommodations and a $35/day cash food allowance at the customer’s expense. Accommodations must be agreed upon by both DAR and the client and must be booked prior to service date.
Parking: Any fees associated with parking will be added to the final invoice.
Please contact us with any specific questions regarding service calls.

PROPOSITION 65 WARNING

WARNING: Certain materials in the workshop can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov