Re: [Leica] The Wonderful PO versus Awful UPS

["Jason Hall" <JASON@jbhall.freeserve.co.uk>]

I had a Leica R RC Control unit delivered today by ANC in the UK,
rather than ring the door bell the carrier dropped the package through
a 7ft high window onto a hard floor narrowly missing a porcelain plant
pot.  The trouble is vendors often don't pack goods well enough to
take this kind of abuse, they usually leave too much empty space in
the box for the items to rattle around.  Im glad it wasnt an M6 or a
heavy lens thrown through the open window.

As it happens I had to return the RC unit anyway, described as Mint,
it had a wrecked plug, Ffordes Photographic promised to replace it.

I also had a IIIC come back from a CLA with a dislocated pressure
plate, the repairer, a chap of good repute swore blind he had run a
film though the camera before dispatch.  I imagine it would take a
hefty shock to pop a pressure plate out.  That was Parcel Force/Royal
Mail.

Jason Hall

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve LeHuray" <icommag@toad.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2000 1:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] The Wonderful PO versus Awful UPS


> > At 05:11 PM 10/4/2000 -0400, Steve LeHuray wrote:
> >>OK. I think I know what happened. Sherry was probably in her shop
at the
> >>back of the house and did not hear the PO man knock. Usually the
PO will not
> >>just leave a package (I think that is a PO rule) whereas UPS &
FedX will
> >>after they get to know you. Sherry has a safe place on her front
porch where
> >>they leave and pick up packages. Sherry can be a little testy
about having
> >>to go to the PO to pick up things.
> >
> > Well, UPS left an $8,000 lens on my front porch one day when I was
at
> > lunch, and I live in a high-crime neighborhood.  I will not
voluntarily
> > employ that bunch of losers again -- and, yes, "signature
required" was
> > right on the tag.  They just dumped it.  FedEx is even worse --
those bozos
> > at Leica USA returned a repaired lens to me one time to a PO Box
via FedEx,
> > and it took FedEx THREE WEEKS to figure out where I was -- and I'm
in the
> > phone book, for heaven's sakes!
> >
> > Use the Post Office.  Visit the Post Office Box daily.  Avoid UPS
and FedEx
> > at all costs!  They are horrid!  (They probably are great for
Eddie Bauer
> > and Victoria's Secret, but I order from neither, alas!, so I
cannot tell.)
> >
> > Marc
>
> All I can say is that in 20 years of fairly heavy FedX, UPS usage I
have
> never had any kind of problem. And I have had good luck with the US
Post
> Office including recently sending two packages (containing Leicas)
to Japan
> via Express Mail. Each package took exactly 2 days door-to-door and
I was
> able to track the entire delivery right up to the minute of arrival
on the
> internet. Amazing.
>
> Steve
> Annapolis
>