Re: RC: Re: UPS/shipping

[Lynne Glazer <lynne@glazer.org>]

At 7:51 PM -0700 7/30/00, Bob Keeffe wrote:
>I received a new saddle by UPS a couple of years back.  It wasn't packed all
>that great plus the box was severely damaged.  After opening and inspecting
>the 'goods' all seemed perfect and that was that.  After reading all this
>mail in regards to UPS/shipping nightmares I will certainly take better/more
>precautions when receiving and accepting a damaged looking box.
>Thanks for all the insight.
>Jeannie
>AG, Ca.
>

We're constantly shipping RP saddles around the country using UPS, 
and to other parts of the world using other carriers, and are careful 
to tape all seams, use sturdy boxes, and use good quality shipping 
tape.

My brother owns a large postal and shipping equipment firm, and I've 
learned about how poorly most low volume shippers package their 
stuff--like using a box exactly the size/shape of the item they are 
shipping--where is the room for shock absorbtion and protection from 
direct impact in that?

There's gonna be errors on the shipper's part--I compare it to 
airline luggage handling.  UPS completely lost a shipment of saddles 
once--not on their tracking system, completely missing, yet they'd 
issued a tracking number to the shipper.  It showed up mysteriously 
on Saturday on the recipient's doorstep, while we were at the 
Prineville ride.

One time I got a box that was completely open on top--the tape had 
been split, yet all the contents were intact.

With a damaged-looking box, I take digital photos before opening.

A word to the wise--watch out for the Mailbox Etc.-type places, that 
they don't grandly overestimate the weight if you use them as your 
shipping agent.  One time a woman got charged 42 pounds for a saddle 
that was 22 lbs. (Took digital photos of THAT box on a scale, so she 
could get a refund.)

And of course planning appropriate lead times for shipments, which 
will sometimes go awry in spite of proper planning--I remember 
standing in the local UPS depot, jumping up and down, waiting for my 
1st place, top ten and divisional ride awards *the day of rider 
check-in*, because of the UPS strike.  And the 24 GUs I'd ordered for 
myself which had sat on a hot dock for weeks in transit.  yuck, ick.

Lynne
(NRR flyers went out Monday-holler if you desired, but didn't receive one)
-- 
Ontario, California    http://www.lynnesite.com
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Norco Riverdance Ride (PS) 9/2/00
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