MOTM

I wouldn't mind obligatory delivery through UPS/FEDEX/etc at all, but I
would like to be able to choose between "super turbo charged ~$25 a module
express shipping" and something a bit more in between that and USPS.
Somewhat like how Mouser handles it maybe? (If that isn't a pain to set up,
html/logistics wise).

Just my 2... Euro cents ;)

Krimo


-----Original Message-----
From: paulhaneberg [mailto:phaneber@...] 
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 12:09 AM
To: motm@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [motm] Re: *** Important Foreign Shipping Issues ***



I wanted to add my two cents to this.

I would much prefer to ship everything by UPS or FEDEX or anybody 
other than the US Postal Service.

Why is that?

Everybody else will pick up from the factory.  USPS must be taken to 
the post office.

Everybody else believes in customer service.  The USPS does not.

The last bunch of MOTM packages that were sent out by USPS required 
20 minutes to drive to and from the post office, waiting in line 
another 20 minutes, waiting for the post office person to correct 
the transaction, because they forgot the insurance the first time, 
and having to write them a second check because the first amount 
they charged did not include the insurance they had forgotten.

The USPS will not track packages unless you pay for their premium 
service.

When you contact the USPS because a package has not arrived when it 
should have, they tell you that the package will not be considered 
lost until it is missing at least a month.

In short they act as if they have a monopoly, and as if they all 
have guaranteed jobs, no matter what kind of customer service they 
provide, or how rudely they treat their customers. 

UPS and the others will get the packages there with much better 
service, although they too are subject to the delays of customs.  
There are other couriers cheaper than UPS, but generally not at the 
size and weight of MOTM packages.  Small boxes weighing 2 to 4 
pounds are not the bread and butter of most couriers.

I personally would recommend paying the few extra dollars and 
getting UPS shipment to anyone outside the US.  Your package will 
ship faster, it will get there faster, and you can track it.

The same applies to anyone who has their shipments sent to a PO Box 
in the US.  You will probably get better service if you have it sent 
to a friend's or relative's street address via UPS. 

When we ship via UPS we enter the shipment in the computer program 
provided by UPS, the label is printed automatically, and UPS is 
notified via the internet that we have a pickup waiting.  They 
usually pickup within 4 hours.  It is fast and accurate.  My 
business ships about 50,000 packages per year all over the world.  
UPS has by far the lowest error rate of any carrier we use.

Paul Haneberg







 
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