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Zen shipping

Rich R

In the Zone/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
4,999
Just successfully overnighted $100K worth of fine art on Fedex. Shipped it as "blueprints", declared value $500, no insurance.

Ya just gotta have faith. Be the package, Grasshopper...:lol2
 

TT100

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Messages
4,724
January. Shipped a SCSI 8 drive raid via UPS. Dropped, damaged, claim took 9 months. Got new.

August. Shipped, in it's original container, a $70,000 broadcast VTR (video tape recorder) via UPS. Dropped, did $1600 damage, UPS refused claim as carton was "inadequate." We eat the repair cost.

If my new guitar gets here in one piece I'll likely not use UPS again.



:wow
 

Bluburst135

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
2,189
Tele-Tubby said:

August. Shipped, in it's original container, a $70,000 broadcast VTR (video tape recorder) via UPS. Dropped, did $1600 damage, UPS refused claim as carton was "inadequate." We eat the repair cost.

That's just pathetic to me......really sad :wtf
 
S

Snags

Guest
Tele-Tubby said:
January. Shipped a SCSI 8 drive raid via UPS. Dropped, damaged, claim took 9 months. Got new.

August. Shipped, in it's original container, a $70,000 broadcast VTR (video tape recorder) via UPS. Dropped, did $1600 damage, UPS refused claim as carton was "inadequate." We eat the repair cost.

If my new guitar gets here in one piece I'll likely not use UPS again.



:wow

1991. Worked for UPS loading trailers. Two Denver-bound 28 footers and a 45 footer each night. All by myself, in a five-hour shift. Minimum allowable packages handled per hour: 1200. Average package weight: 27lbs(this was when their weight limit was 75lbs). Gallons of water consumed in a five-hour shift: two, minimum. Sometimes more. Gallons pissed out that evening after work: Practically none-it was all sweated out.

Drop-kicking that package marked "musical equipment-fragile" across the bay: Priceless.


Seriously, 99% of the damaged boxes I saw when I was there were crunched when loads in the trailers shifted due to being improperly loaded and secured. When we got done loading our assigned trailers we would then unload the trailers that came in from Portland, and many of them had shifted loads, where the back ten or fifteen feet of the trailer looked like a bomb had gone off in it.
 

TT100

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Messages
4,724
Damn. Sounds like a great physical fitness program! The raid I shipped weighed about 40 lbs. The VTR 80lbs. I have to say, in all fairness, these are the only two instances out of hundreds in which I had items damaged. Those odds are acceptable but UPS's claims process is a huge aggravation.

Cheers,
 
S

Snags

Guest
lefty said:
One every three seconds? :wow

Yup, and I had to double check each zip code before I stacked each package. I have a long scar on my left elbow right now from when I fell behind and the flow overcame me. My boss taped it up tight and told me to get back out there and keep stacking, and to not bleed on the boxes.
 

willy1

New member
Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
274
Snags, I worked for UPS loading trucks in 1991-92 while I was going to school. I know what you mean about work. One thing I miss about it though is the shape I was in then. Definitely a good workout. The worst part of the job was in December, not only all the Christmas gifts, but there was a huge printing place near where I lived. They printed calendars, and a ton of them. 65-70 lbs. per box, 3 or 4 10 cube trucks full a day. I don't know how many boxes that was a day, but you felt like you got run over by one of the trucks when you were done.

-Jeff
 

the von haze

Les Paul Froum Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2001
Messages
523
Rich R said:
Just successfully overnighted $100K worth of fine art on Fedex. Shipped it as "blueprints", declared value $500, no insurance.

Ya just gotta have faith. Be the package, Grasshopper...:lol2

Who was the artist? Sounds interesting.
 

Rich R

In the Zone/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
4,999
Re: Re: Zen shipping

the von haze said:
Who was the artist? Sounds interesting.
Just several very valuable works on paper (I don't want to be more specific).
The point I wanted to make is that it's often best (IMO) to "fly under the radar"--don't draw attention to the package with heavy insurance requests, ship priority overnight, pack it yourself, etc., then send it on its way as if it is a trivial matter. The chances are overwhelming that it will arrive safely. ;)
 
S

Snags

Guest
willy1 said:
Snags, I worked for UPS loading trucks in 1991-92 while I was going to school. I know what you mean about work. One thing I miss about it though is the shape I was in then. Definitely a good workout. The worst part of the job was in December, not only all the Christmas gifts, but there was a huge printing place near where I lived. They printed calendars, and a ton of them. 65-70 lbs. per box, 3 or 4 10 cube trucks full a day. I don't know how many boxes that was a day, but you felt like you got run over by one of the trucks when you were done.

-Jeff

When I first stated as an unloader, there was one truck from hell that came in everyday with loads of nuts & bolts from Star Stainless that I will never forget. Twenty or so boxes, each the size of a shoebox, and each one right around 60 lbs. Ouch.

In the summer months, the supervisors would carry around super soakers and spray everybody down periodically.
 
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