[Elecraft] K2 4768 arrives in VP8 land (eventually)

[Chris]

Hello List,

K2 Serial number 4768 has arrived in VP8 (Falkland Islands). Inventory 
completed and building to start shortly. I've got the K2 KPA, SSB, NB, 
DSP and KAT100 modules.

I want to publicly thank Lisa Jones at Elecraft for her efforts in 
getting the kit to me. Getting anything through the mail system to the 
Falklands can be a problem and because I had ordered all the modules 
together the package was quite big and weighed in at 19Lbs. Elecraft 
usually ship smaller packages to the islands using standard 
international airmail, but in this case I decided to use DHL. This is 
where the story gets messy.

1. DHL advised Lisa that they can only send documents to the Falklands.
2. I obtain a booking form from the DHL office in Stanley and request 
the pickup from this end (seems ok)
3. Lisa confirms with DHL that is OK
4. Package collected from DHL
5. Package shown on tacking as far as Miami, then back to a depot in 
Cincinnati - then in disappears
6. Lisa chases DHL from there, I chase from here.
7. DHL unable to find the package, although they did find the label - 
keep an eye out for that serial number Elecraft!
8. DHL declare the package officially lost and I have to start the 
insurance claim process, which will take a few weeks apparently.
This has taken about 10 - 12 days so far.
9. Elecraft agree to ship a replacement package on the basis that I will 
forward the insurance money when it comes through. You won't find many 
companies offering that level of service!!!!!!!
10. I book the pickup again - DHL have promised free delivery if/when 
they get the delivery through.
11. Package collected (this is a Friday)
12. Tracking shows package has reached Miami on Sunday - so far so good.
13. Between Sunday and Tuesday the package travels between Miami and 
Cincinnati three times.
14. Get on the phone to DHL, two-pronged attack, I call the DHL office 
here and call the DHL USA help desk. Apparently Cincinnati are sending 
the package correctly to Miami, from where is should route to Santiago 
Chile, but the Miami are sending it back because they don't know which 
DHL office in the Falklands to send it to - There is only one DHL office 
in the Falklands.
15. Miami office is told to send it and it will find the correct office ;-)

DHL deliveries to the Falklands come in on Saturdays only. To make this 
flight a package has to be in Santiago by midday on Thursday. Package is 
cleared into Santiago at 10:59 - whew! made it!

Package arrived on Saturday - DHL don't do door to door here; you have 
to collect from their office on Monday, but they called me at 7pm on 
Saturday to tell me that I could collect it right away, if I wanted to! 
I was around there before they had finished putting the phone down!

Original package was shipped on 3 March - I got it on 26 March, ordinary 
mail might have been better!

Cheers
Chris VP8BKF