[Hallicrafters] Shipping -- a different view

[Barry Hauser]

Well Gerry, I have to dissent to your dissention:

You wrote:
> I just received an SX-100 in a single box which had large styrofoam 
> beams about four inches square reinforcing the (single) box.  The radio

> was wrapped in two layers of the small bubble wrap.  The remainder was 
> crammed with peanuts.
> 
> It arrived in beautiful condition, working.

That's nice, and I'm happy for you, but the keywords here are "large
styrofoam beams".  The peanuts did little to add to the equation.  In
fact, it is sometimes better to leave voids so the impact of a blow can't
be conducted to a panel or dial glass -- or control knobs and shafts.  

You also wrote:
> Over the last three years, I have received or shipped over 250 BAs 
> of various kinds.  (SX-28s, SX-42s, etc.)  The only casualty in the 
> group was a small Zenith Trans-Oceanic (solid state kind)  which was
indeed 
> woefully inadequately packed (some crumpled newspaper and some peanuts
in a 
> single box).  It did indeed shift inside and when dropped on a corner
got 
> bashed there.

Mee too -- over 250 received (there's something wrong with us, but that's
another post ;-)

I also had a tube-type Transoceanic that started out with a perfect front
plastic panel and not so on delivery.  The chassis on those is fastened
down with two screws that go in from the bottom.  They were loose and the
chassis shifted.  The control shafts did the deed.  That's anothe
important point -- make sure all screws are tight and brace any heavy
stuff, like transformers mounted with small screws, etc.
 
> However, I have received from France, Italy and GB using UPS, Emery
> World-wide, etc.  -- All have done well with things packed 
> reasonably.

Not sure what reasonably means here.  Very often we overlook "near
misses" and "lucky shots" when the gear arrives intact.  The vast
majority of my deliveries have been undamaged, though there was a lot of
luck involved as about 33% are inadequately packed.  It's a question of
percentages and probabilities.  When dealing with replaceable goods, it's
one thing.  When we're trying to preserve the irreplaceable (i.e. they
don't make 'em anymore), it's another.
> 
> Further (when one still repaired computer monitors) my information 
> systems people have shipped hundreds of computer terminals directly and

> through MBE and never had a problem.  In fact the NEC warranty folks at
one time 
> told us to drop the unit at MBE and they would handle the rest.  They
did 
> and it worked just fine!

They took a calculated loss on defective and failed units.  I've seen
many monitors shipped in original cartons and materials that arrived with
cracked cabinets.  These, TV sets and many other products are not packed
for individual shipment, but for palletization with cross stacking,
banding and/or stretch-wrap.  What you didn't see was what happened on
the other end.  Once an item like that becomes eligible for warrantee
repair or replacement, the economics go immediately into the loss column,
so the mfr. specs out the most expedient method.  It may well be that
half of them arrived damaged and cabinets were routinely replaced, if not
the whole unit.  How many came back with the same serial number?  (Or
were the serial numbers on some internal part that showed through a
window?)
> 

> Let's not get paranoid or start any grand conspiracy theories.

I dunno about conspiracy theories, tho' I theorize that there are a lot
of conspiracies going on.

However, I'm in favor of maintaining a healthy level of paranoia and
defensive packing.

Now there is such a thing as overkill with packing whereby it can
increase the chance of damage.  Some get the urge to crate things. 
Beware.  Crate building takes some skill and know-how, not the same as
cabinet building.  Also, common carriers such as UPS, Fedex, etc. do not
favor or deal with crates well.  Most crates are designed for truck
freight and are palletized or have integral skids so they are handled by
fork lift or pallet jacks all the way -- not carried or tumbled down
conveyor equipment.  A carton with plenty of the right cushioning absorbs
shock and provides a crush zone.  A crate that breaks or torques will
cause a short drop to be a major disaster.

Other than that, I advise intense fear and loathing, apprehension,
nervous sweats, palpitations and anything else that causes one to
overpack to prevent cruelty to boatanchors in transit.

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