[Elecraft] OT: UPS Rates - Editorial Comment

[David Yarnes]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim's mail" <jamesgood at dfwonline.net>
To: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>; <K2TK at att.net>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 10:26 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: UPS Rates - Editorial Comment


.  I contacted the maker and they gave authorization to return it via
> FedEx for repair or replacement.  I paid a little extra (I forgot how 
> much) for a tracking number for the item going to the maker.  They sent me 
> a tracking number on a replacement unit they were sending to replace the 
> one sent in.  FedEx reported that the item had been received by the local 
> terminal and had been placed on a truck for delivery.  Three weeks later 
> it still was not delivered.  I had to ask the maker of the unit to file a 
> claim with the carrier (FedEx) in order to finally get a replacement unit 
> delivered.  For that reason, FedEx is nowhere near the top three in terms 
> of carriers that would be selected if I had to ship any item for whatever 
> reason.
>
> Of course, YMMV.
> Jim  KD5VXH


Jim and All,

Well, I think this happens a good bit, but it certainly is the exception 
rather than the rule considering the volume of packages that are shipped 
every day--it's probably millions.

I used to live in Memphis, which is FedEx headquarters.  My neighbor two 
doors down was the head of FedEx IT (info technology).  On my 40th birthday, 
my wife threw a little neighborhood party for me, and my FedEx neighbor was 
one of the attendees.  His name is Jim Barksdale.  This was 1981.  I 
remember that a bunch of us were sipping toddies in the kitchen, and Jim had 
our undivided attention while he explained his latest project which is how 
FedEx was going to be able to track packages using satellites!  I think 
FedEx was the first to do this, but I may be wrong.  Initially the tracking 
was more rudimentary, but now they can keep tabs on things with those little 
hand-held devices they have.  I think it's pretty amazing myself.

By the way, Jim went on to bigger and better things.  Later he was president 
of FedEx, and after that he got entrepeneurial, including starting a company 
called Netscape!

Dave W7AQK