[Elecraft] OT: Package shippers

Wed Apr 26 14:46:27 EDT 2017

-----Original Message-----
From: Erik Basilier [mailto:ebasilier at cox.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 11:43 AM
To: 'Rick Tavan' <rick at tavan.com>
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] OT: Package shippers

In the past I have used UPS extensively, but recently they refused to ship
my expensive tube amplifier, in its original packing materials, unless I
would pay them to re-pack in their own, new packing materials. I was told
that their new policy is that, unless the insured value is less than $100,
the customer must pay for new packing materials, provided and packed by UPS.
Even before the extra packing expense, their price was much higher than
FedEx.

Regarding FedEx, I had one bad experience years ago, when they delivered a
package to a large apartment complex across the street, instead of to my
single family house. Since then, I have been using them many times for bulky
items, always successfully. 

I agree that USPS has an excellent record of delivering packages undamaged.
For small packages they are also great on price, but not so much for bigger
items.

73,
Erik K7TV

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick
Tavan
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 11:14 AM
To: Ken G Kopp <kengkopp at gmail.com>
Cc: Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: Package shippers

The radio world seems to be converging on your opinion, Ken. Almost all
packages I've received in the past few years have come via UPS and I use it
myself for my occasional outbound shipments. That being said, there is a
disturbing relationship between UPS and USPS: In some rural areas, and maybe
elsewhere, UPS can hand off a package for ultimate delivery by USPS.
Seems reasonable except that the two providers have different conditions of
carriage. UPS agrees to deliver to a home doorstep while USPS requires that
a home have an official USPS mailbox which they use when able. If USPS
delivers a package too large for the mailbox, then they will deliver to the
doorstep. However, if there is no mailbox, USPS will not deliver any package
of any size. They return the package to the sender, no notice to or recourse
for the intended recipient. UPS and mail-order shippers don't disclose this
occasional glitch (at least I've not seen it) so both shippers and
recipients get screwed. Moral of the story: If you don't have a mailbox,
don't order packages that will be shipped by UPS. Better, use someone else's
delivery address that has a mailbox. If you have a PO box, some US Post
Offices will accept courier packages addressed to their own street address
with an appended box number. But the shipper must specify that street
address because UPS will not deliver to a PO Box explicitly!
Catch 22.

73,

/Rick N6XI

On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Ken G Kopp <kengkopp at gmail.com> wrote:

> I suspect for each of us our view of shippers will vary widel.
>
> While certainly not a "large" shipper, Rose (Elecraft Covers) ships a 
> number of packages a week, with many going to foreign destinations.
>
> She -always- ships via the USPS and mostly via Priority Mail.
> In almost ten years she's had one package go astray, and that was due 
> to me typing a wrong ZIP code.  A Priority Mail package will reach any 
> US destination in no more then three days.
>
> FedEx is absolutely terrible!  One fat envelope of legal papers from 
> our bank was left on the driveway, laying in two inches of water.
> Another was tossed over a fence into the yard.  Yet another was 
> dropped near the BACK door of the house.  Didn't find it until a trace 
> was instituted for the "missing" delivery.
>
> When we order fabric, webbing, Velcro supplies, the vendor is told in 
> no uncertain terms if the order is sent vis FedEx it will be the last 
> one they get.  A gawd awful company! (:-)
>
> FedEx problems may stem from their use of non-company contract drivers 
> in their trucks ... at least in this area.
>
> UPS is OK in our view ... all of Rose's orders are shipped via UPS or 
> the USPS.
>
> Trivia:  A case shipped to Istanbul via USPS Airmail was delivered in 
> Turkey in -five- days!!
>
> FWIW ...
>
> 73!
>
> Ken - K0PP
> ElecraftCovers at gmail.com
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-- 

Rick Tavan
Truckee, CA
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