Rant on shipping

[Oaktree]

I've never had so many packages get lost and mis directed. Actually I don't think I've ever had any packages lost and mis directed until this year.

And the person that came up with "SMART POST" should NEVER work in shipping logistics.

Actually, in theory it's a good idea, especially in rural areas where the UPS distribution center covers a large, thinly populated area. After all, the USPS by law is making deliveries in all those places anyway.
If the UPS center that distributes the pallets to the post offices did a better job it would work out a lot better.
Kind of dumb name though.

On the upside I have bought a few things through Walmart lately. They have shipped FedEx and arrival times have been good.

Trouble with Walmart.com is that it seems a lot of items are not eligible for shipping at least to my area. Not sure why. The handful of things I did order thru them came promptly though.

 

[LouNY]

Ah, for the days of Gray Hound package express.

 

[Diggin It]

They have gone up 3x in a month.!!! & 2x in 1 week.!!
I was miffed to say the least.
But it’s cheaper that driving it to Utah from SC.. THATS how I rationalize it.. lol

Buyers and sellers both gripe about shipping costs, but there is no way we could get the items for anywhere near the costs by driving.

... it seems a lot of items are not eligible for shipping at least to my area. Not sure why.

Ran into that overnight. A certain model of wall heater on the 'Zon says in bold red letters 'can't be shipped to your address', yet two big box stores have the exact same item, model/manufacturer and can ship to me without a problem.

 

[kenmbz]

Got my Fedex "delayed for weather" package today. Guess since it's not dark out.
The box was open and some packaging inside damaged, but all the items were in there.
Guess it got delayed when they had to pick up all the stuff that fell out.
Seems like the place I bought it from might be at fault here.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Ah, for the days of Gray Hound package express.

I tried to ship a QA attachment to a guy using gray hound. Put a label right on it, and it was barely under their weight limit. They wouldn’t ship it unless I boxed it, which would have put it over weight.

 

[Diggin It]

For as long as I can remember, if a package is at my local UPS terminal by 2 or 3 AM, it has gone out for delivery that day. This has held true through the mess until just the last couple of weeks.

This package was there Saturday morning, so there is no reason for it not to have gone out today. Yet it didn't.

That package just showed up a few minutes ago. Meanwhile, package #2 of the same order arrived at the local UPS terminal around 4AM today, more than enough time ot get on today's truck. Nope. So, driver has to come back tomorrow. And the next day to bring package #3 of the same order.

 

[Sigarms]

Have to laugh, thought of this thread when I receive this via mail this morning...

I placed the order Sunday night, and this morning it shows it's being shipped to me tomorrow, yet it's free freight. I checked my online invoice, standard free freight ground. My money is on I won't see it tomorrow.

 

[ljjhouser]

I read that a ship lost 40 shipping containers at the LA port. I guess the tracking email would read "your order will be delayed, but it is floating along nicely."

 

[Oaktree]

I read that a ship lost 40 shipping containers at the LA port. I guess the tracking email would read "your order will be delayed, but it is floating along nicely."

How do those containers stay on the ship, especially in rough seas? They seem to be stacked pretty high, and at least from any pictures I've seen there don't seem to be any sort of tie-downs.

 

[ljjhouser]

How do those containers stay on the ship, especially in rough seas? They seem to be stacked pretty high, and at least from any pictures I've seen there don't seem to be any sort of tie-downs.

That is a good question. And apparently they don't. Wonder how many have been lost a sea we never hear about. They must have good "lost at sea" insurance.

 

[ponytug]

How do those containers stay on the ship, especially in rough seas? They seem to be stacked pretty high, and at least from any pictures I've seen there don't seem to be any sort of tie-downs.

There are definitely tie downs. Lots and lots of them.
https://theloadstar.com/wp-content/uploads/lashing.jpg

Time for IMO to tie down the rules on how to secure containers on ever-larger ships - The Loadstar

With the debate on container weight verification concluded, attention has now turned to container lashing for the next steps in safety

theloadstar.co.uk

Containers lost overboard are a significant hazard to other vessels, and a great deal of effort goes into preventing it, starting with the manufacture of the containers themselves. Oftentimes, the cause is poor seamanship in not checking the tie downs, but sometimes the cargo itself weakens the container (acids, fire, etc.).

If you are interested, Maersk did a nice series on life on a containerized cargo ship that gives a sense of the pace and challenges. (YouTube).

All the best,

Peter

 

[JethroB]

I found refrigerated containers interesting. They are electrically powered with each container having its own compressor unit. When transported by truck a diesel generator is hung under or on the semi trailer with a power cord to the reefer unit. Once on the ship the ship’s huge generator supplies the electricity to each container.

Each container has cam locks on the corners that lock them to the trailer or ship deck, and then to each other when stacked. Tie-downs used too Like above.

 

[Sigarms]

Have to laugh, thought of this thread when I receive this via mail this morning...

View attachment 718483

I placed the order Sunday night, and this morning it shows it's being shipped to me tomorrow, yet it's free freight. I checked my online invoice, standard free freight ground. My money is on I won't see it tomorrow.

To my amazement, the package actually came in today.

Even if it left Monday morning, amazed from California to NC in 3 days regular ground. Fed Ex.

 

[Diggin It]

That package just showed up a few minutes ago. Meanwhile, package #2 of the same order arrived at the local UPS terminal around 4AM today, more than enough time ot get on today's truck. Nope. So, driver has to come back tomorrow. And the next day to bring package #3 of the same order.

Package #2 showed out for delivery at around 6AM. Pretty sure I saw the truck go by around noon, which is a normal time. There's another house down the road that gets packages, so I figured they'd go there and come back. Nope. Sometime after that, I get an email saying scheduled for delivery tomorrow.

Did the driver screw up and get too far away, then didn't want to come back?

 

[kenmbz]

I had a delivery yesterday from Amazon, got an empty, unsealed envelope.
No way it would have fit the miter box that was supposed to be in it anyway.

They want the package back, so UPS will pick it up for free today.
Second time this happened, first was a set of wrenches, same type envelope, but sealed and empty.

They made good on that one with a refund, new miter box is on the way. Maybe someone will remember to actually pack it in something first before sending!

 

[mrmikey]

.....got an empty, unsealed envelope.

Someone, my daughter I think, was telling me of a scam. Apparently this company was selling something, some type of small expensive appliance, that was hard to come by, $400 or so. They would accept the persons online payment, ship a small envelope similar to yours but have the weight as 10kg, what the real item would weigh. Inside the envelope was a pair of socks or something similar. When the person complained, the shipper would only have the paperwork that claimed 10kg so they assume that it was delivered, thru no fault of the shipper. In the shippers defense, if the weight was marked as it was, once the shipping payment was made, who would ever check.
By the time the scam was discovered, the supplier had packed up and removed it's online presence. They had good reviews, in hindsight obviously bogus, so apparently it was a well thought out scam.
This was a delivery I got awhile back, sure wish they could read......Mike

 

[goeduck]

^^ well at least they read the "lean-to" part

 

[Diggin It]

Package #2 showed out for delivery at around 6AM. Pretty sure I saw the truck go by around noon, which is a normal time. There's another house down the road that gets packages, so I figured they'd go there and come back. Nope. Sometime after that, I get an email saying scheduled for delivery tomorrow.

Did the driver screw up and get too far away, then didn't want to come back?

So, this morning, I look at emails and see one that this was delivered at 5:51PM. Go to the door and sure enough, there it is.

One item was a flat screen TV mount from "Amazon Warehouse', said to be 'like new'. Mount was OK, but there was no hardware packet included. Luckily I keep all sorts of stuff from all sorts of things, so I was able to scrounge up the few M8 screws I needed.

 

[kenmbz]

Second time in 2 weeks that Fedex package says on the truck for delivery for a few days.
No delivery date set. I guess they are playing it by ear now.

Another package with a photo book is lost, don't know who the carrier is, another one is being sent.

 

[Jstpssng]

Someone, my daughter I think, was telling me of a scam. Apparently this company was selling something, some type of small expensive appliance, that was hard to come by, $400 or so. They would accept the persons online payment, ship a small envelope similar to yours but have the weight as 10kg, what the real item would weigh. Inside the envelope was a pair of socks or something similar. When the person complained, the shipper would only have the paperwork that claimed 10kg so they assume that it was delivered, thru no fault of the shipper. In the shippers defense, if the weight was marked as it was, once the shipping payment was made, who would ever check.
By the time the scam was discovered, the supplier had packed up and removed it's online presence. They had good reviews, in hindsight obviously bogus, so apparently it was a well thought out scam.
This was a delivery I got awhile back, sure wish they could read......Mike

I once placed an order and paid for expediated delivery because I was leaving town in a few days.The package didn’t show up so I set a big Rubbermaid container on my doorstep with a sign reading”please leave package in container.”
When I got home 3 weeks later my package was setting on the doorstep right next to the box. Luckily it hadn’t rained.