Eleanora Eden on sun 15 jan 06
I signed up for in-house label-making with UPS which required, here
at least, that I sign up to be billed for shipments rather than
paying per shipment. I thought, great.
Then it turned out that they billed WEEKLY! If you didn't pay their
bill within about 2 days you were in arrears. And they split the
charges among the bills, one week you would get billed for the
shipping part of the package charge and the next week for the pick-up
part of the charge, so that it was very arduous to find out how much
had been paid per package.
If you have a business manager and a big volume of packages maybe
that is fine, but for me it was way beyond reasonable. I cancelled
the service immediately, although they didn't make cancelling easy
either.
Around here there is a $4 surcharge for getting a package picked up.
I coordinate package sending with other errands in Brattleboro 25
miles away where there is a regular UPS counter. For me that is the
most reasonable way to go. They know me there and are confident that
my packages are well-packed. I also think that they are opening all
ceramics shipments these days. But I also know as I have been told
that they cancelled service for many potters who didn't pack
properly, so I am just happy they are willing to keep working with me.
The computer down at their counter has me in their data base so I
just sign on and type in the addressees etc, and the label prints
right there.
Recently I have been shipping with Fed Ex when going to Keene NH was
more convenient as they have their counter on that route. But I sent
an express pkg right before x-mas to a customer and the pitcher
arrived cracked in a strange way and the whole process has been
fraught with difficulties. I have no idea if my claim will be
honored and for the first time ever I am looking at taking a loss on
an item due to shipping damage. I haven't had a claim with UPS for
quite some years (I double box and the outer box is a bit under
compression, I really do a good job packing)but they always did pay.
Anybody else have experience with damaged Fed Ex shipments? I just
put in the claim this week.
One more aspect: on this occasion the recipient wanted to just send
the package back to me himself so he wouldn't have to be involved in
a claim. I had to point out to him that if he had done that my
standing to put in a claim would evaporate. Make sure your customer
knows this if such a situation arises. The required system is that
the recipient contact the shipper and get the packaging and item
inspected. When I ship UPS I have a little piece of paper I put into
the package which says:
"If there is any damage please call local UPS office or 800-222-8333
and save all packaging until inspected by UPS."
Lastly, I make a habit of not shipping anything between Thanksgiving
and Christmas. I really didn't want to do that shipment and I should
have followed my better judgment.
Eleanora
>Rikki, you did pay more for this service from UPS.
>You paid extra to have your boxes picked up and you paid
>more for the service of talking to a person on the phone and
>having them, not you, print the shipping labels.
>No judgment here - if you are happy, great.
>But, again, the cheapest way to ship via UPS is go to their
>website and enter your information and print your own labels.
>Then, you can drop off your packages at any UPS agent
>location or hand them to a UPS driver.
>
>David Hendley
>Old Farmhouse Pottery
>david@farmpots.com
>http://www.farmpots.com
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>>I recently shipped 5 large boxes via UPS. It was a set of dinnerware going
>>to the DinnerWork show in Louisville. I phoned UPS and they guided me
>>through their process.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sun 15 jan 06
Hi Eleanora,
Insurance, with any shipper, be it the USPS, UPS, Fed-Ex or whomever, is
usually somehing one pays for on behalf of whoever owns the item.
If one sends an item to someone who has purchased it, one is sending them
their property, and, if one insures it, one is insuring it as a courtesy to
them, for them.
Now, the benificiary could be a non owner, and often these matters are
vague.
I have collected on damaged or lost items I had shipped to a purchaser, and
of course it was up to me then to convey the remuneration to them as I
pleased, which of course I did, but then again, who would do anything about
it if I did not?
It is technically their problem, or for them to deal with, if the item is
lost or damaged in transit...if the insurance is taken out on their behalf.
Now, as for me, I have never stuck by that, and, if loss or damage has
occurred, I took it upon myself to get the matter settled...and of course to
see to it that the recipient was satisfied with the outcome. Usually this
meant that I merely replaced or re-embursed them out of my own pocket, and,
sometimes, if the claim was settled, then I got re-embursed.
Almost no one will insure fragile items against breakage in transit, because
it is simply too problematic for them to determine abstractly, how well the
item was packaged...or, for that matter, if it was even in tact WHEN
packaged....where, they will be accomidating if the item is lost.
Hi-Dollar fragile items are the one exception I would make to patronizing
these mini-mall clip joint packaging-shipping places. If they pack it, and
it gets broken in transit, u-s-u-a-l-l-y their relationship with UPS or
Fed-Ex will enable them to collect the insurance claim, where a private
person is likely to have difficulties.
Bear in mind, from the point of view of a shipper, someone could ship a
broken itel to someone else or to a co-conspirator, and then filke claim for
damages, too...so...
For an 'average' sized Ceramic 'Pitcher' ( one and a half or two quart ), I
would say the second, outer Box would have needed to be eighteen inches, by
eighteen inches by twenty four inches high and no less, and larger even
would be better...with padding of course between it and the inner Box, and
the Pitcher cradled in three or four inches of soft Foam Rubber in the inner
Box.
Otherwise, one is tempting fate indeed...
If the packaging can not protect an item from say falling off of a roof onto
concrete, it is a gamble as to whether it will in fact protect the item from
the vicissitudes of transit and processing...or, sooner or later, there will
be some fall or collision which will make for remourse unless it IS packaged
with this criteria in mind.
So, likely, if you pursue your damage claim, they will send a representative
to the recipient's home to examine the item and the packaging, and...it will
go from there. And, they will either say that they do not insure Ceramic
items anyway, or, as well, that you did not package it adequately.
They do not like to admit that parcels do on fact fall 20 feet down onto
concrete from conveyor belt processing mis-haps, or, similarly, have that
parcels may possibly have heavy things fall onto them from whatever heights.
At any rate, shipping Ceramic items, or when larger or more delicate than
'Mugs' say, we best bear in mind that it is a calculated risk, or, to
package them to almost aburd degrees of foam rubber and ample double boxing.
But no matter, it is a calculated risk we need to be prepared to lose once
in a while.
Of course, serious double boxing is maybe not the pleasure or pass-time one
would necessarily welcome, especially if one is doping it as a courtesy for
little or no recompense...or having to do it often.
Anyway...
Just a few thoughts...
Best wishes!
Good luck...!
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eleanora Eden"
> I signed up for in-house label-making with UPS which required, here
> at least, that I sign up to be billed for shipments rather than
> paying per shipment. I thought, great.
>
> Then it turned out that they billed WEEKLY! If you didn't pay their
> bill within about 2 days you were in arrears. And they split the
> charges among the bills, one week you would get billed for the
> shipping part of the package charge and the next week for the pick-up
> part of the charge, so that it was very arduous to find out how much
> had been paid per package.
>
> If you have a business manager and a big volume of packages maybe
> that is fine, but for me it was way beyond reasonable. I cancelled
> the service immediately, although they didn't make cancelling easy
> either.
>
> Around here there is a $4 surcharge for getting a package picked up.
> I coordinate package sending with other errands in Brattleboro 25
> miles away where there is a regular UPS counter. For me that is the
> most reasonable way to go. They know me there and are confident that
> my packages are well-packed. I also think that they are opening all
> ceramics shipments these days. But I also know as I have been told
> that they cancelled service for many potters who didn't pack
> properly, so I am just happy they are willing to keep working with me.
>
> The computer down at their counter has me in their data base so I
> just sign on and type in the addressees etc, and the label prints
> right there.
>
> Recently I have been shipping with Fed Ex when going to Keene NH was
> more convenient as they have their counter on that route. But I sent
> an express pkg right before x-mas to a customer and the pitcher
> arrived cracked in a strange way and the whole process has been
> fraught with difficulties. I have no idea if my claim will be
> honored and for the first time ever I am looking at taking a loss on
> an item due to shipping damage. I haven't had a claim with UPS for
> quite some years (I double box and the outer box is a bit under
> compression, I really do a good job packing)but they always did pay.
>
> Anybody else have experience with damaged Fed Ex shipments? I just
> put in the claim this week.
>
> One more aspect: on this occasion the recipient wanted to just send
> the package back to me himself so he wouldn't have to be involved in
> a claim. I had to point out to him that if he had done that my
> standing to put in a claim would evaporate. Make sure your customer
> knows this if such a situation arises. The required system is that
> the recipient contact the shipper and get the packaging and item
> inspected. When I ship UPS I have a little piece of paper I put into
> the package which says:
>
> "If there is any damage please call local UPS office or 800-222-8333
> and save all packaging until inspected by UPS."
>
> Lastly, I make a habit of not shipping anything between Thanksgiving
> and Christmas. I really didn't want to do that shipment and I should
> have followed my better judgment.
>
> Eleanora
>
>
>
>
>
> >Rikki, you did pay more for this service from UPS.
> >You paid extra to have your boxes picked up and you paid
> >more for the service of talking to a person on the phone and
> >having them, not you, print the shipping labels.
> >No judgment here - if you are happy, great.
> >But, again, the cheapest way to ship via UPS is go to their
> >website and enter your information and print your own labels.
> >Then, you can drop off your packages at any UPS agent
> >location or hand them to a UPS driver.
> >
> >David Hendley
> >Old Farmhouse Pottery
> >david@farmpots.com
> >http://www.farmpots.com
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >>I recently shipped 5 large boxes via UPS. It was a set of dinnerware
going
> >>to the DinnerWork show in Louisville. I phoned UPS and they guided me
> >>through their process.
> >
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
> >Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> >You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> >settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> >Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> >melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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