joe & lisa cecere on thu 20 may 99
Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County , New
Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week =
my
husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted =22 NO =
POTTERY
will be shipped by UPS=22 They were opening all the packages to see if =
people
were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping =
expenses
are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
gather to revolt=21=21=21=21
Frank Gaydos on fri 21 may 99
Lisa,
I just shipped four Terracotta Platters via UPS on Monday. No problem. It
may be your local shipper.
Frank Gaydos
------------------------------------------------original
message----------------------------------------
a large sign was posted " NO POTTERY
will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if
people
were sneaking ceramics in the packages.
David & Diane Chen on fri 21 may 99
I'm curious if anyone has used RPS? My dog food comes via them and the
boxes are never damaged and they are much faster (both issues were of a
concern when I was using UPS). I know RPS isn't as large as UPS but it may
be worth looking into.
Diane
Rainy yeah! Massachusetts (tired of watering my flowers)
Dave Eickholt on fri 21 may 99
Hi Joe and LIsa ,
Have exprienced UPS and ship my pottery insured though the US post office,
they only break and occasional piece unlike ups, they cost about the same and
are very easy to use, I would recommened giveing them a try. Dave
Wint & Marla Harris on fri 21 may 99
----------
From: joe & lisa cecere[SMTP:cecere@monmouth.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 1999 8:06 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: UPS..has some NERVE!!
I know I'm spoiled by our local post office, but what about USPS??
Check with your Postmaster. There are some attractive shipping
plans available through them and we've had very good success with
our shipments. In fact, once I learned better packing techniques,
we've never had a loss (knock wood!!) BTW, our shipments are
usually glass, but the pottery shipments are increasing!
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County , New
Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week my
husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO POTTERY
will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if people
were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping expenses
are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
gather to revolt!!!!
Kathi LeSueur on fri 21 may 99
If you are shipping lots of pottery you should get an account with UPS. They
will come out and inspect your shipping methods and then allow you to ship
pottery. People who have accounts usually know how to pack to reduce, if not
eliminate, breakage. But people who walk through the front door often have no
idea what they are doing, don't pack adequately, and then expect UPS to pay
for the loss. Losses are higher for ceramics than anything.
An alternative is to take things to a mail box store and have them pack and
ship your work. You can charge a packing fee and use your time for something
more productive. I know a number of potters who do this.
Kathi LeSueur
t.askeen@att.net on sat 22 may 99
If you want to revolt, use Priority Mail at the Post
Office. It's the same price for up to two pounds no
matter where you ship ($3.00). What UPS wanted to ship
a package to Alaska ($25.00) was $3.00 at the Post
Office.
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County , New
> Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
> that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week my
> husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO POTTERY
> will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if people
> were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping expenses
> are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
> gather to revolt!!!!
Kenneth J. Nowicki on sat 22 may 99
Oh my God... if what you say is true about the sign at UPS... this is pure
bullsh** by UPS! Let's find out if this is true, get all the facts, then if
it is, organize ourselves and let us be heard. They can't single us out like
this, simply can't
By the way, I've never had one pot break in a UPS shipment, but then I
carefully wrap my pieces in bubble wrap, pack in styro peanuts, and box up...
then... that box goes into an huge box with other small boxes packed
similarly and more styro-peanuts are packed around those smaller boxes.
"Double-boxing" seems to be the way to go for my work anyways. I can't
imagine UPS not allowing us to ship pottery if it's packed correctly... this
sounds ludicrous.
Ken Nowicki
RakuArtist@aol.com
"Here in the San Fernando Valley where overcast skies are cooling a Southern
California morning"
Thonas C. Curran on sat 22 may 99
Joe and Lisa, I can't speak for your UPS, but around here pottery is
accepted as long as it is double boxed (and doesn't rattle around). For
years I have nipped the question in the bud by putting "double boxed"
along with description on receipt I give the clerk. Probably your UPS
station has been burned too often by carelessly wrapped packages which
their clerks accepted, and now they are being choosy after paying out
too many claims on broken merchandise. I would quietly speak to manager
when things are not hectic and explain that you wrap carefully and have
never had a problem (if that is the case, of course). See if that gets
you anywhere. If not, write UPS corporate headquarters and ask for
definite policy concerning pottery and other breakable wares. Good
luck...cnc
Debra Wills on sat 22 may 99
Wow, I never have any problems...w/ UPS. They say we are to box everything
(pottery) in 2 boxes...Do you know how many boxes I'd be shipping???LOL I
ship lots of Angels & I just can't expect the shops to pay for shipping on
way too many boxes...so what I do..I don't double box..I insure over $100 if
its say 300 or so...just to make sure the box doesn't get lost!...I tell
them I've been shipping for along time & know what they want..but, basically
I cover the breakage myself. I've had very few things break, using bubble
wrap & then wrapping in newspaper, peanuts, etc. I know we hate to
lie...but, this is getting out-of-control....maybe you could go to another
office??? We only have 1 here...But, if you're double-boxing I don't see
what their problem is!!!!
Debra
Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County , New
Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week =
my
husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted =22 NO =
POTTERY
will be shipped by UPS=22 They were opening all the packages to see if =
people
were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping =
expenses
are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
gather to revolt=21=21=21=21
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
dave morrison on sat 22 may 99
i ship all my pots via ups and have never had a problem. most often they
dont even ask what is in the box, only how much i wish to insure it for. if
i do tell them it is ceramics i always tell them it's double
packed....(packed in one box with paper shreds, then packed in another box
with shreds as well). they have never seemed concerned. ??? dave.
-----Original Message-----
From: joe & lisa cecere
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Thursday, May 20, 1999 8:07 AM
Subject: UPS..has some NERVE!!
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County ,
New
>Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the
point
>that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week
my
>husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO
POTTERY
>will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if
people
>were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping
expenses
>are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
>gather to revolt!!!!
>
susanford on sat 22 may 99
Has anyone tried Airborne? I believe their prices are
competitive with UPS.
Susan
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> The post office will not work because of their size limitations.
>
>
---
Susan K. Ford
Norman, Oklahoma
http://www.clueless.norman.ok.us/sf/rerhome.htm
fox hollow on sat 22 may 99
If, in fact, UPS refuses to ship pottery it will be serious for all of us. I am
extremely careful when I ship. Each piece is packed in its own box. These are
then packed in a larger box with 2" of packing around the total perimeter, NOT
PEANUTS which shift. Egg containers or fruit packing containers are a couple of
good buffers. I pack my plates in pizza boxes. I can't remember when I have ha
any breakage. UPS does have a corner on the market and, it seems to me, can be
"uppity" about their rules.
joe & lisa cecere wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County , New
> Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
> that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week my
> husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO POTTERY
> will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if people
> were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping expenses
> are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
> gather to revolt!!!!
Jeff Lawrence on sat 22 may 99
Joe and Lisa Cecere had a UPS problem:
>Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County , New
>Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
>that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week my
>husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO POTTERY
>will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if people
>were sneaking ceramics in the packages.
You may be able to pull rank if your packaging is up to their standards.
Speak to the local head and ask them about the UPS package testing service.
Pack some pots you don't care about in the same manner you usually pack
your pots. Send it to the UPS testing facility for drop tests. Mine passed
and I ship UPS every day. Of course, maybe the testing is only available to
pickup accounts.
I think their standards dictate double boxing (1.5" separation between
boxes) or foam in place packing (needs 3/4" between ware and box wall). I
do the latter, but the machine and foam ain't cheap. If you have some time
to kill, call their packing experts and prepare to hear more than most
people care to hear about packaging.
Good luck, and don't give up on UPS.
Best,
Jeff
Jeff Lawrence Sun Dagger Design
jml@sundagger.com Rt. 3 Box 220
www.sundagger.com Espanola, NM 87532
vox 505-753-5913 fax 505-753-8074
Mike Gordon on sat 22 may 99
Hi,
I shipped a vase to a customer in L.A. insured it told them it was
fragile. This was a approved UPS shipper! The Manager decided to TRIPPLE
wrap it in bubble wrap and pop corn. Three boxe one inside another. It
arrived with a puncture in one side and obviously broken.UPS refused to
pay the insurance, the customer in LA had a sister who was a lawyer. Six
months later, lots of hrs. by everyones lawyers, they paid! Mike
Tom Wirt on sat 22 may 99
Before you flame UPS, you need to check out where this policy is coming
from.
We ship almost daily, under our business name. We have had NO problem with
UPS. If a local depot has posted this, it certainly has not come from the
home office. UPS will take essentially anything IF it is properly
packed.....a topic that has been well worn on the list. If you think
there's a local problem, I'd call 1-800-PICK-UPS and talk to them or arrange
for an on-site pickup.
I'd be willing to bet that the sign/policy is aimed at individuals who come
in with their priceless vase and little packing and then value the thing at
an exorbitant value on insurance. Can you blame UPS for trying to avoid
this?
If you as a regular shipper haven't signed up for UPS's on call or daily
pickup service, you may be missing a bet. It costs a few bucks, but the
quality of service and ease of use is well worth it. And the online Office
software is now excellent. I can address, and prepare 20 boxes for shipment
in 10-15 minutes. Now if I could get packing down to that.
UPS DOES require quality packing, and, if you experience too many claims
will either require you to test your packaging at their Dallas center (their
cost) or will ship for you but not allow claims.
Tom Wirt
>>Subject: UPS..has some NERVE!!
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in >Monmouth County ,
New
Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the point
that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week
my
husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO POTTERY
will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if
people
were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping
expenses
are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money.<<<<<
Kathi LeSueur on sat 22 may 99
In a message dated 5/21/99 10:24:57 AM, you wrote:
>I'm curious if anyone has used RPS? My dog food comes via them and the
>boxes are never damaged and they are much faster (both issues were of a
>concern when I was using UPS). I know RPS isn't as large as UPS but it may
>be worth looking into.
I've used RPS. Their rates are identical to UPS. When UPS ups their rates so
does RPS. I found that they are about the same in terms of service as UPS but
they are cheaper to go some out of continental US places. I don't think they
are really an alternative.
Kathi LeSueur
Papillon on sat 22 may 99
When local UPS branches find that claims for a certain insured item
are submitted more and more frequently, they often disallow whatever that
item is. So if you (and other people) have insured pottery and have found
broken items on arrival, UPS loses money. And it may not be their fault.
The earlier suggestion about a UPS account is a good one -- as a mailroom
manager, I have found that they are much more approachable and easier to work
with once we had an account and scheduled pickups.
The suggestion to try shipping via the postal service is also excellent. A
Consumer Reports study found that USPS was much gentler on packages in
general and their ship time was good. Definitely worth considering. I'd
advise you to avoid FedEx -- their handling is rougher than UPS or USPS,
and like you said, they are pricey.
Depending on where you are and how far you are shipping, regional delivery
people can be helpful and cheap. For instance, I am in MN. When sending just
about anything to WI, MN, MI, and parts of SD and IA, I use Spee-Dee.
Lower volume, smaller company, less automated, excellent results -- for a
price that's lower than UPS or USPS could ever dream of being (but only
when you start an account).
Good luck!
@-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->--- @-->---
Lisa M. L. Dryer
Carleton College "We do not pray not to be tempted,
dryerl@carleton.edu.nospam but not to be conquered."
djanaba@mindless.com.spamfree -Origen
http://www.student.carleton.edu/d/dryerl
Susan Goldstein on sat 22 may 99
The post office will not work because of their size limitations.
Susan Fox Hirschmann on sun 23 may 99
In a message dated 5/22/99 8:12:57 AM EST, t.askeen@att.net writes:
<< > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Has anyone encountered this problem....the main UPS in Monmouth County ,
New
> Jersey has always given me a hard time with shipping my work. To the
point
> that I almost lie..say what it is...but, not what it's made of. Last week
my
> husband was there to ship a shirt...and a large sign was posted " NO
POTTERY
> will be shipped by UPS" They were opening all the packages to see if
people
> were sneaking ceramics in the packages. If this is so...my shipping
expenses
> are going to sky rocket...as FedX is much more money. We may all have to
> gather to revolt!!!!
>>
When i first established an "account" with them in the mid 80's, they sent a
sales rep to my studio, to check my packing methods, and actually asked me to
have a box for them to sample (not sure if they dropped off a 10 story
building and then opened it up to see if it broke!)
Once i passed their "TEST"---they agreed to handle my work, which is largely
clay and fiber, so you can imagine the packing methodology going on here.
I am pleased with their pick up service, and record of delivery time, and
since then, have rarely had a problem with them.
Perhaps you need to convince them that YOU KNOW HOW TO package pottery for
shipping. I recommend you speak to your UPS local sales rep about that.
good luck! For size and price, I do think UPS the best out there! give it
another try!
susan fox hirschmann
art pottery
annandale, virginia
doug shea on sun 23 may 99
In my cursed day job, I deal with UPS and RPS every day. If you
are sending more than 1 box, I wouldn't use RPS. I'm almost always
missing at least one box in multiple box shipments. Sometimes it can be
up to a week before the last box shows up.
Jim Shea
Arturo M Devitalis on sun 23 may 99
I found Postal Service to be less expensive and less hassel...never had a
piece broken, but chk the allowable max size & weight first..might have
to pack differently.
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Kenneth D. Westfall on sun 23 may 99
Seems like many people do not understand the reasoning behind UPS's double
boxing and adequate packing requirement. A large portion of the package
handling by UPS is on conveyors which can and do have as much as a four
foot drop between one conveyor and the next. So if your package can not
withstand being dropped from four foot up on to a solid floor don't blame
UPS for the breakage. The US Postal Service is no better at handling
packages then UPS and is far more likely to lose them than, unless you ship
registered mail. UPS does mark each package with a tracking number and in
most cases can tell you where the package is at any given moment. Each
time a package travels threw one hub to the next the or loaded on a truck,
the tracking number is scanned in by the use of bar code which registers it
location. US Postal Service couldn't tell you where a parcel post package
is if there life depended on it. How many time have you hear of a compleat
truck load of UPS packages being found 30 years later. US Postal Service
has been in the news papers more than ones on old mail being found. As far
as shipping ceramics, we sure have not heard anything about it being
refused by UPS. With the tons of commercial china being shipped I doubt
UPS could afford to refuse it. If there is a problem with claims on
ceramics, UPS is the one that inspects and decide if the packing is
adequate themselves. Don't you think they would just require stricter
packing regulation to cover it.
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
ken tighe on mon 24 may 99
UPS differs from other shippers in it's unrelenting committment to PPH
(packages per hour). Supervisors rise and fall on this number. Loaders
and drivers live and die, quit, resign, end up in rubber rooms over this
number. Breakage is, of course, important to them but it falls a distant
second to PPH. They pay a lot of lip service to proper handling but you
can't have both. A forty foot trailer crammed floor to ceiling with
packages is unloaded by a single employee in less than an hour. Frequently
there is a supervisor at the mouth of the trailer timing the unloading.
Believe me, this task cannot be accomplished without standing on packages
marked "fragile," without throwing packages around in an inappropriate
fashion. Throughout the loading and unloading process the ideal of "proper
handling" must give way to "packages per hour." Take it from me-- when
something breaks, there is always an employee to blame. I spent 9 years in
the UPS Gulag. Ship USPS. Ken
>Seems like many people do not understand the reasoning behind UPS's double
>boxing and adequate packing requirement. A large portion of the package
>handling by UPS is on conveyors which can and do have as much as a four
>foot drop between one conveyor and the next. So if your package can not
>withstand being dropped from four foot up on to a solid floor don't blame
>UPS for the breakage. The US Postal Service is no better at handling
>packages then UPS and is far more likely to lose them than, unless you ship
>registered mail. UPS does mark each package with a tracking number and in
>most cases can tell you where the package is at any given moment. Each
>time a package travels threw one hub to the next the or loaded on a truck,
>the tracking number is scanned in by the use of bar code which registers it
>location. US Postal Service couldn't tell you where a parcel post package
>is if there life depended on it. How many time have you hear of a compleat
>truck load of UPS packages being found 30 years later. US Postal Service
>has been in the news papers more than ones on old mail being found. As far
>as shipping ceramics, we sure have not heard anything about it being
>refused by UPS. With the tons of commercial china being shipped I doubt
>UPS could afford to refuse it. If there is a problem with claims on
>ceramics, UPS is the one that inspects and decide if the packing is
>adequate themselves. Don't you think they would just require stricter
>packing regulation to cover it.
>Kenneth D. Westfall
>Pine Hill Pottery
>R.D. #2 Box 6AA
>Harrisville, WV 26362
>pinehill@ruralnet.org
>http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
Eileen Streeter on tue 25 may 99
i have used priority mail... uspo.... and they have managed to lose two
items inthere wonderful preprinted containers... and the few times the
packages have arrived... that two day delivery was missed by at least 10
days.... or more... if you send anything this way... always
insure.... and ask to have delivery verified... all cost extra...
i still have a check somewhere that i sent priority... and note that
i have never had any problems with ups....
good luck
eileen
Bruce Girrell on tue 25 may 99
Just thought I'd toss in the experience I gained while working at UPS while
going to college (close to 30(!) years ago).
I tell people that if they want things to survive shipping, they should pack
things so that they can be dropped ten feet onto concrete and be stepped on
by a 200 pound man.
Here is the reason why. When a truck is fully loaded, packages that are near
the top of the load have often shifted during shipment and are leaning
against the door. When the workers open the door on the trailer, some of the
packages drop from the top of the truck to the concrete floor of the work
area. If the truck hasn't been carefully stacked, it's an avalanche of
packages. From the top of the truck to the floor is about ten feet, hence
the first requirement.
The second requirement should be fairly obvious. Sometimes a worker loses
his balance or is simply careless and steps on a package.
Maybe it _shouldn't_ be that way, but that's the way it is.
Pack things so that they *can't move* inside the box during shipping. It
does no good to pour 20 gallons of packing peanuts into a box if the item is
going to shift down through them to the bottom of the box during shipping.
Finally, breakage is simply going to happen sometimes. When the hydraulic
cylinder being shipped to a farmer in Kansas lands end-wise on top of the
box containing your pot, there is almost no reasonable packing that will
adequately protect the pot. That is what insurance is for.
Do the double-boxing. Have a talk with the UPS district manager. Buy
insurance.
Bruce "still can recite the zip codes for western Pennsylvania" Girrell
Tom Wirt on wed 26 may 99
> UPS differs from other shippers in it's unrelenting committment to PPH
> Believe me, this task cannot be accomplished without standing on packages
> marked "fragile," without throwing packages around in an inappropriate
> fashion. Throughout the loading and unloading process the ideal of
"proper
> handling" must give way to "packages per hour." Take it from me-- when
> something breaks, there is always an employee to blame. I spent 9 years in
> the UPS Gulag. Ship USPS. Ken
Ken...I understand the stress placed upon the UPS employee for PPH. And
maybe the USPS is an alternative. But right now, few post offices will let
you bring parcels to the loading dock where there ius equipment to handle
them.
I just finished packing 5 boxes (with multiple boxes inside) weighing from
32 lbs to 68 lbs. I will now pull up the UPS software, click on the
customer names, enter the weight and click process. When all the address
labels are printed out, I will stick them on the boxes. I will have clicked
send the End of Day which will go directly to UPS.
At any moment from 7pm tonight on, I can click on their website and know
just about exactly where that package is.
And if something breaks, the account will call UPS, I'll have a claims form
here by fax within an hour and payment will be received within a couple of
weeks.
With the post office, I have to carry each box to the window in the post
office, I will have NO idea where it is during shipment (without paying
extra), they won't take many boxes because of size or weight and if
something breaks, it will take 2 to 3 weeks to wait for them to process a
claim and many weeks to receive payment (we're 8 weeks out on a claim right
now with no idea of when or if it will be cleared).
Ken, it may be a tough company to work for, but as other have noted on this
list, there's nothing that compares. Apparently they make the mistake of
not telling the employees just how important they are to us as small
business people. We take every opportunity we can to tell our driver.
Tom Wirt
This subject has been beaten to death again.
Dale A. Neese on wed 26 may 99
I still use UPS for most of my shipping. When you do your own packing you
must take every possible means to see that it is double boxed and secure.
But even so I still leave the box open for the UPS employee to inspect. Then
they tape it up. If I print FRAGILE on the box the UPS person marks it off
and tells me that they don't have a fragile program. If a person unloading
sees FRAGILE it means that they throw it under-handed instead of
over -handed.....
It takes a lot of valuable time that could be used in the studio to hunt for
the proper boxes and packing material. On large orders I have trusted
Mailboxes ETC. to do my packing and shipping. I just drop the work off and
they take care of everything. The customer who bought several large pieces
agreed to ship C.O.D. It was a breeze not having to search for packing for a
22 inch platter.
Dale Tex
Gail Phillips on wed 26 may 99
Kenneth -
Even though I left my job with the good ol' USPS a few months ago, statements
like yours still agitate and aggravate. When, praytell, did you hear of an
entire truckload of parcels being found 30 years later? Occasional letters and
parcels do get lost, damaged, or delayed, some for an unforgivable length of
time, but considering the volume of mail handled by the post office daily,
their success rate is very, very good. Price-Waterhouse does a daily audit of
external first class delivery success, and the numbers consistently come in
over the 90-percentile mark, most above the 95. As far as the tracking issue
is concerned, well, guess what? The post office recently implemented a
tracking service, a la barcoded label, which only costs 35 cents more to use.
Yes, the post office uses conveyor belt sortation and other automated equipment
to expedite delivery - they have to, if they hope to be at all competitive in
today's shipping market. They have recognized this, and are taking many steps
to improve customer service and efficiency. Unfortunately, the uninformed
customer still insists on mailing things inappropriately, i.e., placing objects
in common envelopes, or using a plain cardboard gift box instead of a
corrugated shipping box. This results in much of the damage for which the post
office must take the blame. So, if you don't know the whole story, please
watch what you have to say.
- Gail Phillips
former USPS mail handler, clerk, and electronic technician.
Kenneth D. Westfall wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Seems like many people do not understand the reasoning behind UPS's double
> boxing and adequate packing requirement. A large portion of the package
> handling by UPS is on conveyors which can and do have as much as a four
> foot drop between one conveyor and the next. So if your package can not
> withstand being dropped from four foot up on to a solid floor don't blame
> UPS for the breakage. The US Postal Service is no better at handling
> packages then UPS and is far more likely to lose them than, unless you ship
> registered mail. UPS does mark each package with a tracking number and in
> most cases can tell you where the package is at any given moment. Each
> time a package travels threw one hub to the next the or loaded on a truck,
> the tracking number is scanned in by the use of bar code which registers it
> location. US Postal Service couldn't tell you where a parcel post package
> is if there life depended on it. How many time have you hear of a compleat
> truck load of UPS packages being found 30 years later. US Postal Service
> has been in the news papers more than ones on old mail being found. As far
> as shipping ceramics, we sure have not heard anything about it being
> refused by UPS. With the tons of commercial china being shipped I doubt
> UPS could afford to refuse it. If there is a problem with claims on
> ceramics, UPS is the one that inspects and decide if the packing is
> adequate themselves. Don't you think they would just require stricter
> packing regulation to cover it.
> Kenneth D. Westfall
> Pine Hill Pottery
> R.D. #2 Box 6AA
> Harrisville, WV 26362
> pinehill@ruralnet.org
> http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
Kenneth D. Westfall on thu 27 may 99
Gee Gail
You sound just like most of the postal works I have talked to,
including a few I consider my friends. They all get agitate and aggravate
at the mere vocalization of displeasure with the USPS.
Yes the way I wrote my statement it appears that I was saying the USPS
had lost a truck loads of mail, but they have lost bundles and bags of it.
UPS doesn't haul letters only parcels by the truck load so I couldn't say
"when was the last time you heard of UPS losing bundles or bags of
parcels." As for 30 years I don't remember when I hear the article on CNN
or some other large new company, but I was guessing some what about the day
being in the last 10 years. The mail that was lost was from World War 2 so
I figured I was safe in saying 30 years. Now if the lost of mail was
incorrect I am sorry I was only repeating what was on national TV news.
I personally would never use any other carrier than the USPS for
letters. As you pointed out though you have to pay extra for every thing
when it comes to parcels. i.e. (insurance, tracking) so I prefer UPS. It
is fine that USPS is smart enough to use conveyor, so does UPS. I was just
pointing out if you don't pack it right nothing will make it threw
unbroken, and some time that doesn't make any difference. That why you
have insurance on the package!
On a personal experience, a package sent parcel post by USPS was sent to
me from Columbus OH. It took two week to get here and it managed to ride
to Harrisburg PA, Clarksburg, WV , Pullman WV, Burnt House WV, then to
Tanner WV and finally to me in Harrisville, WV. The last four post offices
are my county and Harrisville is the larges post office of them all. If
the Post mistress of Tanner had not know me personally I still would not
have the box. The box was correctly addressed with my name, route, city
and Zip + four, so you see I have my reasons to doubt the USPS could every
find a lost package. I am also proud to say that only here could I receive
a letter that just had my name on it, no zip, no town. So please don't
take it so personal when this is a public forum, we all do make mistakes.
Most of us are not professional writer so we do not always express your
thoughts correctly in writing as I'm sure you can tell.
P.S. Yes I know this is a personaly directed e-mail to you Gail!
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
Gail Phillips on sun 30 may 99
Kenneth -
It is okay, no offense taken, especially since I don't work there anymore. My
husband does, though, and he just told me that the mail that you refer to from
WWII was not lost by the USPS for 30 years, but was not sent by the party who
possessed the letters for 30 years. A returning vet was given letters by his
friends who were continuing in their duty overseas, with the idea that he would
mail them. Unfortunately, he forgot, and put them away, only to find them 30
years later in his attic. OOPS. Yes, parcel post is slow, it is the slowest
method of sending a parcel. Priority mail is much quicker, and from what I
have seen on the inside, is probably much safer, too. It is worth the extra
money to use that service. I wish you much luck in all of your shipping
escapades, no matter who you use! Take care!
- Gail
Kenneth D. Westfall wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Gee Gail
> You sound just like most of the postal works I have talked to,
> including a few I consider my friends. They all get agitate and aggravate
> at the mere vocalization of displeasure with the USPS.
> Yes the way I wrote my statement it appears that I was saying the USPS
> had lost a truck loads of mail, but they have lost bundles and bags of it.
> UPS doesn't haul letters only parcels by the truck load so I couldn't say
> "when was the last time you heard of UPS losing bundles or bags of
> parcels." As for 30 years I don't remember when I hear the article on CNN
> or some other large new company, but I was guessing some what about the day
> being in the last 10 years. The mail that was lost was from World War 2 so
> I figured I was safe in saying 30 years. Now if the lost of mail was
> incorrect I am sorry I was only repeating what was on national TV news.
> I personally would never use any other carrier than the USPS for
> letters. As you pointed out though you have to pay extra for every thing
> when it comes to parcels. i.e. (insurance, tracking) so I prefer UPS. It
> is fine that USPS is smart enough to use conveyor, so does UPS. I was just
> pointing out if you don't pack it right nothing will make it threw
> unbroken, and some time that doesn't make any difference. That why you
> have insurance on the package!
> On a personal experience, a package sent parcel post by USPS was sent to
> me from Columbus OH. It took two week to get here and it managed to ride
> to Harrisburg PA, Clarksburg, WV , Pullman WV, Burnt House WV, then to
> Tanner WV and finally to me in Harrisville, WV. The last four post offices
> are my county and Harrisville is the larges post office of them all. If
> the Post mistress of Tanner had not know me personally I still would not
> have the box. The box was correctly addressed with my name, route, city
> and Zip + four, so you see I have my reasons to doubt the USPS could every
> find a lost package. I am also proud to say that only here could I receive
> a letter that just had my name on it, no zip, no town. So please don't
> take it so personal when this is a public forum, we all do make mistakes.
> Most of us are not professional writer so we do not always express your
> thoughts correctly in writing as I'm sure you can tell.
> P.S. Yes I know this is a personaly directed e-mail to you Gail!
> Kenneth D. Westfall
> Pine Hill Pottery
> R.D. #2 Box 6AA
> Harrisville, WV 26362
> pinehill@ruralnet.org
> http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
| |
|
