[Yaesu] Yaesu repair and Fed Ex

Tue May 11 14:27:40 EDT 2010

Paul is correct...

The UPS Stores are franchised arrangments.  I have one locally that I have 
had to use for large packages now and then.  I just don't have a choice as 
UPS will not arrange for pickups in my zip code and I can't always wait for 
him to stop and drop off a package so I can hand him some to take with.

I went to ship a large Motorola power supply about a week ago and got in an 
argument with the UPS Store because they said as a privately owned yet 
licensed UPS location they could not take hazardous materials.  I said what 
materials would that be??  They said the Capacitors in the power supply.  So 
I took it home, double boxed and packed it and went back the next day and 
said here is a package ready to go and they took it.  Of course they did 
because they couldn't see the item as it was boxed now.  I know this isn't 
the best way to deal with it, but I called a UPS depot where I could have 
also dropped it off and was told that the item as described was fine!   So 
it was just the UPS Store that wouldn't take it.

They also won't ship batteries, so don't try to ship AGM or Gel Cell 
batteries from a UPS Store.  Why would you want to anyway?  Well if you try 
to ship a UPS backup and it has a battery installed they will refuse that 
also.

The shipping cost is about a 10% markup at the store I use.  So on most 
packages its not that big of a deal.  Packing prices are reasonable, $15 for 
most items under 40lbs.  And they do a good job of packing at this store, so 
I guess it really makes a difference in who you deal with.  Recently I 
shipped a heavy radio and they asked if it was ok to open the cover and add 
packing around the internals to avoid vibration damage, I was surprised I 
didn't have to tell them to.  They also double padded the first box, at 
least a dozen layers of bubble wrap around it, then they put in spray in 
expanding foam in the box, that silver plastic over top of that, then 
suspended the radio in the box for a few minutes while the foam expanded, 
then another layer of plastic and more foam on top.  This made a custom foam 
surround to hold it centered.  Then they double boxed it.  The person who 
received it took pictures and was shocked at how much work it took to unpack 
it!  But it looked just as I shipped it.

That's a good option for you guys shipping these large or heavy radios, at 
least 4-6 inches of spray in foam.  It works great and its how a lot of the 
pros do it these days.  you end up with two pieces of molded foam with 
plastic sheeting which allows it to separate at the middle and also keeps 
the foam off the item of course.  But the plastic sheeting can be a bit 
abrasive so another layer of plastic or bubble wrap is also advised.

Last item I shipped in this manner weighed 48lbs, a large UHF PA out of a 
repeater.  Showed up with the box well bruised but the item looked like new 
inside.

73,

Scott

--------------------------------------------------
From: "paul glassman" <highschooldiving at yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 1:04 PM
To: <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Yaesu] Yaesu repair and Fed Ex

> dave
>   for the record, fed ex kinkos
> is owned by fed ex. the ups stores are independent franchises. they (ups 
> stores) are
> the worst at packing, customer relations and raping you over shipping
> prices. they double and triple ups rates. look up the ups store
> feedback on qth.com and read the endless nightmares of their horrible 
> packing jobs and their refusal to pay on insurance claims.
>                 best 73  paul w8jn
>
> Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax
>
> si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
>
> --- On Tue, 5/11/10, David Thompson <thompson at mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> From: David Thompson <thompson at mindspring.com>
> Subject: Re: [Yaesu] Yaesu repair and Fed Ex
> To: yaesu at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 1:14 PM
>
> I have only had two problems in shipping over the years.  In both 
> instances
> it appears that a forklift leg was rammed into the gear.
>
> The first happened back in the 1980's when I shipped a Ten Tec Triton IV 
> and
> Power supply to a ham in Texas.  I took the package to UPS and paid to 
> have
> them put the transciever in one box and the power supply in another.  The
> ham in Texas called me to say they arrived damaged.  Both boxes had holes 
> in
> them.  The transceiver had a bent in side and the power supply had a bent 
> in
> rear right at the heat sink.  As I recall the ham took my insurance info 
> and
> UPS got paid in full.  He kept the transceiver and shipped the power 
> supply
> back to me.  The power supply was bent in but fully working.  Ten Tec
> charged me a small fee and it looked like new.
>
> The second problem when I shipped a tuner to a ham near Memphis last fall.
> I had it packed at the UPS store to UPS specs (double boxed etc).  When it
> arrived there was a hole thru both boxes and the tuner meter had been
> knocked out.  I have his pictures and it appeared the meter got hit in the
> middle of the face and the front was shattered.  UPS paid me for the
> shipping, paid MFJ to repair the tuner, and shipping both ways to and from
> Memphis.
>
> For years I kept my business address at a Mail Boxes Etc (now UPS Store) 
> to
> save on shipping (a commercial address) and have someone notice any
> problems.  They would take pictures and assist with UPS and before they 
> were
> UPS store with Fed Ex and other shippers.  I got one package from Canada
> containing Geloso gear that looked terrible.  It had been shipped by 
> Canada
> Post but everything was Ok.
>
> I agree with the idea of fixing the gear yourself.  For years Yaesu would
> not ship an individual parts so I had the parts shipped to a local dealer.
> But after going through some illiness I have limited eyesight and would be
> more dangerous so I am forced to seek outside help.  Yaesu no longer
> supports most gear more than 5 years old that is not current production.
> The two local Yaesu ham repair shops now have agreements with either Icom 
> or
> Kenwood so don't want or have time to fix Yaesu.  I have found an
> independent service shop so will be finding out how good he is.  At least
> this way I can use my car and drive the gear to and from the repair shop.
>
> I have a Ten Tec tuner to restring the main inductor indicater and just 
> hope
> my eyes will allow me to do so.  The wife says she will help.  I also have
> another local who has been helping me on two of my amps.
>
> 73 Dave K4JRB
>
>
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