Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ATA Flight Case?
What do you mean by "Hardwood Cases"?
What is FiberLex?
Are all orders really custom manufactured?
How long will my case last?
What will it cost?
What about taxes and duty?
How long will it take to process my order and get my cases?
What sort of guarantee comes with my case?
How do I get a quote?
My case latch broke. What do I do?
What color options do I have for my case?
How can I pay for my case?

Answers

What is an ATA Flight Case?
An ATA flight case is a reusable shipping container that has been approved for air transport by the Air Transport Association of America. The term "ATA" can be somewhat misleading however as there are many specifications put out by the ATA for reusable shipping containers. An ATA Specification 300 Category II container, for instance, is designed to have a life of only 10 trips. Big Deal cases have undergone compliance testing for ATA Specification 300 Category I, which specifies containers designed to withstand at least 100 trips. Consumers should be careful to request information on rating, testing and specifications from the manufacturer. Often products advertised as Flight Cases are Category II "short life reusable shipping containers". As well, consumers should be cautious when considering cases offered as "ATA Style Flight Cases," as the design and construction of which have likely not been tested. It is worth asking a few questions before making a purchase decision. Please see our Flight Case page for more information.

What do you mean by "Hardwood Cases"
Big Deal offers a line of Hardwood Cases for heavy duty use as is commonly seen in the entertainment industry. These cases are generally constructed of imported 3/4" 13 layer Baltic Birch plywood and reinforced with solid oak bracings. Please see our Hardwood Case page for more information.

What is FiberLex?
FiberLex is a trade name adopted by Big Deal to describe its exclusive new case design. Essentially, FiberLex is a twin-wall polycarbonate bonded to a fiberglass skin. This material is used in the panel sections of our cases and is combined with lightweight aluminum hardware. Although there is no replacement for the shear mass of our aluminum clad cases, there is call for a strong, light weight case. FiberLex answers that call with the lightest case design available today. See our FiberLex page for more information.

Are all orders really custom manufactured?
Yes.

How long will my case last?
Good question. We've been manufacturing cases for over 20 years, and as far as we know, ALL Big Deal cases are still in use.

What will it cost?
Due to the custom nature of our product this is hard to estimate. Having encountered many inferior products selling at much higher prices we are tempted to brag. Our combination of experience, manufacturer direct sales and low Canada-US currency ratios offer customers very competitive prices.

What about taxes and duty?
Canadian customers must pay 7% GST.
US customers are not subject to duty or taxes.

How long will it take to process my order and get my cases?
The usual is 10 business days from receipt of order to delivery. However, we have been known to have cases custom made and shipped across the continent in 24 hours. This usually depends on urgency and order size.

What sort of guarantee comes with my case?
We stand behind all of our work. If you have a problem we will fix it.

How do I get a quote?
Call us, E-mail or visit our Quote page and submit our Quotation Request Form.

My case latch broke. What do I do?
We have a fully stocked hardware department with all the equipment required to repair your case or replace components. We will ship parts, arrange for local repair if necessary or arrange for the return of the case to our shop. Aside from a major shipping accident, repairs and part replacements should not be an issue.

What color options do I have for my case?
Our cases can be constructed of virtually any color. Certain colors or combinations of colors may add to the cost of the case.

How can I pay for my case?
We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Payment terms can also be arranged for corporate customers as necessary and on an individual basis.