[R-390] Re: Shipping R-390s

[Barry Hauser]

Me three!  Fedex is also significantly cheaper than UPS, particularly on
heavier packages going longer distances. A heavy package going Coast to
Coast can run $20 cheaper.  They sometimes beat their scheduled delivery by
a day.  UPS never does and is sometimes a day late ("rescheduled")  Packages
seem to arive "crisper" with less signs of rough handling.  But, you can
still have damage if the thing isn't packed right.

Something to know about Fedex "Ground" vs "Home Delivery".  While rates are
about the same, there are important differences.  Home delivers Tuesday to
Saturday and there's a limit of 70 lbs.  If  you indicate "residential" as
the shipping address, their website (and shipping points) will reject
anything over 70 lbs. and/or the dimensional weight equivalent which is 108
inches -- same as UPS (1 X length plus girth -- which is 2X the sum of width
and height).  However, if you DON'T  indicate residential -- even when it is
a home address, it will go Ground with a limit of 130 lbs and delivery
Monday-Friday.  I've had plenty of "Ground" shipments come to my home -- no
problem -- including a mil power supply that was right at 130 lb. limit for
that service.

While UPS will pick up (for a one stop fee), I don't think Fedex has started
doing that for Ground yet.  You have to go to a Fedex staffed depot.  Some
"retailers" handle Fedex Ground, but may mark up the rates.

Their web site is pretty good in terms of finding the closest place that
handles Ground/Home.  There are lots of dropoff places that only handle
small express packages.

I've had as many as 4 different Fedex trucks show up in one day -- an
Express letter delivery in the AM, a "Home Delivery" truck, then a "Fedex
Ground" and way later in the evening, an unmarked cube van (probably
subcontracted or a rental) batting cleanup.

Do get the sense that widespread experience is less incidence of damage --
even allowing for the fact that they're number two with less volume.

Barry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerry Kincade" <w5kp at direcway.com>
To: "Walter Wilson" <wewilson at knology.net>; <ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com>;
<r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: [R-390] Re: Shipping R-390s


> Bingo!  Me, too.
> Jerry W5KP
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Walter Wilson" <wewilson at knology.net>
> To: <ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com>; <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 7:47 AM
> Subject: Re: [R-390] Re: Shipping R-390s
>
>
> > BTW, FedEx Ground has not damaged anything since I switched to them a
few
> > years ago.
> >
> > Walter - KK4DF
> > http://www.r-390a.us
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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