[Hallicrafters] shipping by the rules

[Glen Zook]

The Mesquite, Texas (UPS "hub" for Dallas)is the hub
through which all of the shipments that I receive from
UPS has to go through.  Frankly, they can (and
probably will) "tear up an anvil".  Until just a few
years ago I used UPS exclusively for outgoing
shipments (since 1970) and recommended them for
inbound shipments.  Then, between 4 and 5 years ago
virtually everything that I was receiving came in
damaged and the majority of things that I shipped out
had damage (and I know how to pack).

At least in this area UPS states that any box shipped
from one of the UPS owned counters MUST be opened and
inspected for "proper" packing.  Failure to do so can
result in the immediate firing of the person who
accepted the package.  By opening and inspecting the
packing UPS legally takes responsibility for the
packing method.

The last time that I voluntarily shipped by UPS the
package was opened and inspected.  Then UPS "lost" the
package (their "bar code" label came off but my label
was still intact, their people can no longer actually
read a label).  After filing a claim UPS "found" the
box at their "lost package" center.  They opened the
box and then asked me if the item was what I had
shipped.  Then the box was delivered about 200 miles
from my location.  When the box arrived it was in
"shambles" and the equipment therein was destroyed.

UPS tried the "improperly packed" statement on me. 
However, I calmly reminded the national representative
of their policy to open and inspect the packing.  The
representative got "very" quiet and then said that the
UPS office in Fort Worth would have to handle the
claim.  The Fort Worth office contacted me and said
that the "paperwork" for my claim was "in the mail". 
I received the forms and about a month later UPS
telephoned me to say that they were paying $100 for my
claim.  I had to "remind" them that the package was
insured for considerably more.  Then they "discovered"
that was the case.  In a couple of weeks I did get a
cheque for the insured amount plus the cost of
shipping.

In the over 30 years that I used UPS I had only one
box damaged and that was when UPS ran a forklift
"tong" through the box.  Even then they tried the "not
properly packed" spiel.  It took a phone call to their
corporate headquarters to get that "straighten out". 
The UPS President's office had to admit that running a
forklift "tong" through a box was definitely not a
result of "improper packing".

I have had even wood crated items and triple boxed
items (with PROPER packing) come through damaged. 
What boxes make it intact the majority of the items
are shaken so badly that all sorts of hardware is
loose. 

Mouser is located on the south side of Fort Worth and
uses UPS exclusively.  The vast majority of boxes that
come the less than 50 miles are severely damaged. 
Fortunately, Mouser does pack very well and, so far,
the parts have made it OK.  That is when the package
is not opened and expensive parts removed and then the
box resealed with UPS tape.  I have had several boxes
come in opened but since the parts were inexpensive
they were all there.  Not so when expensive parts are
involved.

I ordered some parts on Monday and had a long talk
with the sales representative about the stolen parts. 
She told me that such is becoming more and more
common.  In fact, within the past week she had to
replace several missing items.  Since the boxes are
resealed with UPS tape they have been opened at either
the Fort Worth or the Mesquite hubs (probably Fort
Worth since that is the first "stop" for items shipped
by Mouser).  Mouser is investigating the possibility
that someone in their shipping department is marking
(somehow) boxes with expensive parts that are then
removed by a UPS employee.

The only thing that I have shipped by UPS within the
past 4 years is a Collins 75A-3 that the person to
whom it was going insisted on being shipped by UPS
even though I told them of the problems with the
Mesquite hub.  That person paid UPS and had them pick
up the box at my location.  When it arrived the box
was fine but the radio had been vibrated so badly that
all 4 rubber feet had come loose, quite a number of
the machine screws in the receiver were loose, and one
of the rotary switches had the hardware holding the
wafers in place come loose and the switch was
completely "out of line".

I use FedEx ground exclusively for shipping to the
contiguous 48 states and have not had a single item
damaged.  As for items shipped to me by FedEx ground I
have not had a single item damaged by FedEx including
a number of "boat anchors" that were indeed VERY
poorly packed (even a couple that just had the radio
put in a box with NO packing at all).  Also, FedEx
ground is cheaper than UPS.

Now the UPS drivers that deliver to me are fine.  They
go "out of their way" when the items are heavy or
large.  But, I cannot say the same thing for their
Mesquite, Texas, hub.  

I know that any of the delivery services can damage
things.  But it is the number of shipments that are
damaged plus how the company "handles" claims.  So
far, FedEx has been fine and UPS has been dismal for
the past going on 5 years.  Now others may have
different experiences.  But, as for the Mesquite hub
many people in the Dallas area have had problems.

Glen, K9STH


--- jeremy-ca <km1h at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:


 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jeremy-ca"

Another forum poster has tried to claim a Texas
problem. Sorry but Texas is one of my prime areas and
Ive not experienced any particular geographical
problem.

Each carrier has problems locally and with certain
employees, but the practices at UPS are geared to
cause damage, especially to sensitive >> gear.

You are entitled to that erroneous opinion.








Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com