[Heathkit] shipping.. an old sore spot

[Doug Renwick]

I work a couple of shifts a week at Walmart unloading trucks.  I do this
as Walmart pays me for my workout rather than me paying for a workout in
a gym.

Packages will take a beating ... fact.  First there is the rush/push to
get the job done and the packages are just another job.  The packages
get handled many, many times from the time they leave the factory to
their arrival at a Walmart warehouse, their reloading into a truck,
their unloading at the store and transport to the sales floor or to
binning.

When unloading the trailer the packages at the top of the stack will
often fall to the floor, the packages often fall off the belt that moves
them to the warehouse, the unloaders will often throw the packages on to
the pallets for various reasons.  Fragile and up arrows markings are
sometimes respected, but it is not the rule.  There is the push to get
the job done and the unloaders don't have the time to handle each
package with care.  When you personally experience the handling you will
have a better understanding of why it does happen.

Pack your shipment well for the worst case scenario.

Doug

-----Original Message-----

Many moons ago when I was a university student working at a small
company in Rochester, NY, the EE's there were "testing" a shipping
container for their product.  Their testing consisted of dropping the
box from one foot off the floor.

Paul, our experienced systems test engineer, grabbed the container,
lifted over his head and threw it down the hallway to the horror of the
two EE's.  "That", he said, "is how it's going to be treated in the
field" 

Moral - Pack it as if the Samsonite gorilla is your shipper. 

(Sorry, Ronnie - I know this doesn't help you any. Just thought I'd
relay a funny story to add some levity.  Was it insured?)

Walt