[Hallicrafters] All Shipping Has Risk, No Exceptions!

[Glen Zook]

Although I no longer use UPS unless the other person
insists (UPS has been destroying even triple boxed and
wooden crated items), there is one thing with them
concerning the "not properly packed" syndrome.

For about the past 2 years, at least in this part of
the country, UPS has been requiring all boxes
presented at their service counters to be opened and
examined for "proper" packing.  In fact, an employee
who does not open and examine any boxes is subject to
immediate termination.  Now, do these employees
actually open and inspect every box.  Of course not. 
But, when the box is opened and UPS inspects the
contents, they have legally accepted responsibility
that the box was properly packed.  Since the employee
can be terminated for not opening the box, none of
them will admit that they did not check the packing. 
Therefore, when UPS starts the "not properly packed"
thing, all it takes is a "reminder" that they accepted
the packing by inspection.  At that point, the UPS
customer service person will suddenly get very
cooperative.  However, if you do not point this out,
they can be very determined not to settle the claim in
your favor.

UPS has had, for the past 3 or 4 years, a severe
problem with their personnel ("read" union problems)
and those employees are not usually the most concerned
with your shipment.  The local delivery drivers range
from extremely good to extremely bad.  I have been
fortunate that most of my drivers have been in the
extremely good category.

Another problem with UPS is that in some distribution
centers that there is a severe vibration source that
damages the contents even if the box is not dropped. 
The Mesquite, Texas, (Dallas area) center is among the
worst for this.  This is why I stopped using UPS about
this time last year even though I had been using them
for over 30 years.  I now use FedEx ground.  They are
a little bit cheaper and, so far, have been handling
both incoming and outgoing shipments in a better
manner than UPS.  I have received some very poorly
packed items that came through without a scratch.  I
cannot say the same thing for UPS.

Of course, FedEx and the others can loose a box.  They
can damage a box.  No one is perfect.

But, if you do know how to pack, and also know the
"ins and outs" of the system, you can normally get
better than average service.

Glen, K9STH

=====
Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.attbi.com/~k9sth
http://home.attbi.com/~zcomco

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More
http://faith.yahoo.com