Amazon rant...

[D&D]

Fed Ex operates the same as UPS does but with independent contractors who own multiple trucks and employ drivers instead of like UPS where the drivers are employees of the company. Again, I know as one of my good friends manages a 60 truck fleet contracted to Fed-Ex.

Addtionally, Fed-Ex contract drivers aren't union.

An Amazon van just left my place. The driver (female, very nice) when asked, was happy to say she is part-time and glad the holidays are here because she will be working at least 6/12 hour days.

 

[Yander]

So she can stay afloat in this wonderful economy.

 

[California]

No shipping issue here (at my home in town). A package that routing shows departed Texas on Saturday arrived a day early, delivered together with a second package scheduled for today (Tuesday). My experience at the ranch is similar but plus one day, because they go to local USPS for rural delivery. No complaints.

Also Amazon - What arrived early was Inetub FC wire, discounted as 'Used, Very Good', $11.70. As I noted over on WeldingSite it arrived in excellent condition, the wire is flawless and the shink-wrap around it is still sealed. I've had good luck with this top grade of discounted customer returns or beat-up packaging. Lesser grades discounted more, not so much.

 

[California]

So she can stay afloat in this wonderful economy.

Working for Bezos doesn't sound like fun.

 

[5030]

So she can stay afloat in this wonderful economy.

I was thinking the same thing. Key words 'Wonderful Economy'

I find it's not wonderful and getting worse pretty quickly Probably works more than one job to stay afloat. Obviously a lot of people are in that boat today.

Read on....

The church up town has a 'donation cabinet' set up in their outside alcove and she has been donating canned food like Dak canned hams and canned soup and for Thanksgiving she made up dinners with canned stuff and fixings and stuff they could prepare like box stuffing mix and she made up 25 'dinners' The stuff always gets picked up. We are hospitable people and we both believe in helping the needy and we can afford it, it's tight for us, but not that tight...yet.

Besides, I had an excellent year with the fab and welding shop despite the economy, I'm turning down work all the time and 99% of my work is by word of mouth. I don't advertise at all. They come to me because it's done right the first time and I don't gouge any of the, either. What I do, I do because for me, it's not work, but enjoyment.

Just ordered a new CNC plasma table that will come after the first of the year. The business made more than enough revenue to pay for it in full so I ordered it. Value added for it and I'll start cutting parts for myself as well as customers. I may get into making metal signage as well, who knows. Already quoted a big cut job and I don't even have the machine yet and I'll have to learn how to use it as well. All computer driven with conversational programming using their software. Very similar to my 3 axis Bridgeport Versa-Trak so the 'learning curve' should be pretty short, I hope. Need to line up a steel sheet supplier yet and a pipe supplier as I also bought their pipe cutting hardware and software. My old standby supplier folded, sign of the times I guess.

The farming (growing and selling hay) wasn't so good but if the weather don't cooperate, nothing I can do to alleviate that. I'm 100% dependent on Mother Nature to get a good crop and sell it and this year, Mother Nature and me didn't mesh very well. In fact my second cut got rained on more than once which caused me extra work tedding and raking it numerous times. I still baled and sold it because all hay was tough here this year but I had to reduce the price because of that. Fair is fair and what is right is right and I operate my fab and welding business the same way.

I never realized that there were folks up town that were 'up against it', but obviously there are. The up town' is always well kept and neat with nice homes.. I was very taken back by the amount of people who take the stuff.. It's always empty and we are constantly donating..

She is doing the same thing for Christmas as well, 25 Christmas dinners and adding candy canes for the kids.

The canned hams are real popular. She went to Gordon's Foods and bought a full case last week and candidly I like them as well. Been doing juice in cans as well. Anything that don't need refrigeration is game for us.

Makes us feel good as well, knowing that people get the stuff, don't know who they are and really don't care, but we try do do our part to help them out. Like I said, we can afford it so we do it.

Better than donating to some online 'cause' where a goodly part of your donation goes not to the needy, but to the org to cover their salaries. The way we are doing it. 100% goes to where it's needed and I'm sure greatly appreciated.

Guess I'm paving my road to Heaven and getting right with the Lord. I've done some bad things in the past I'm not proud of but I want to make sure I go to the right place, which most likely far off with my ongoing cancer issues and I'm old too.

One thing about having potentially terminal cancer is, it changes your perspectives on life and your attitudes 100%. I'm an entirely a different person than I was 7 years ago. Everything about my attitude and outlook on life in general has changed and for the good I might add..

I wish everyone on here even the ones I have on ignore, a blessed holiday season and a joyous Christmas and everyone needs to understand that none of us are here forever so think about what you do or say because in the end, you won't be here to make amends for your actions or words.

 

[scootr]

5030, I got nuthing to add to that. You certainly are living right. May God bless and a long life to you. Those uptown folks could learn a thing or 2 about how to treat each other.
I nearly killed myself off once or twice. It will change your perspective if your heart and eyes are open.

 

[5030]

I quit judging people a while ago. Everyone has their vices but helping out the needy like we are is a feel good thing for us. We also donate food and supplies to the local no kill animal shelter. Animals need help too, especially the abandoned ones. Where our Aussie Shephard came from and after 2 years, he's finally quit having nightmares. Animal's have feelings just like people do. Besides, he rules the roost now. Great pup and we are more than happy to have him. We want him to live a comfortable life. Wish we could adopt them all actually. Why we have 10 cats in the house. All strays and all appreciative of where they are now, well appreciative as cats can be...lol Got them outside too and they all get fed and cared for with exception.

 

[MattB4]

I quit judging people a while ago. ...

I haven't. I judge you to be a decent person based on your posts.

 

[5030]

I'm not always. At my age and with the life experiences I have, I don't suffer fools very well and sometimes I let that out on here and it irks posters when I plainly tell them to 'read the manual' or approach an issue with the least expensive means. Some comments on here (and on the other few forums I belong to, people don't use common sense and then get ruffled when I state the obvious and posters on here (new ones at least) don't ever use the search feature. Lots of threads on here addressing their issues, if they only looked.

Been here a long time and I always use the search feature if I have an issue with something and I usually find an answer with that and don't post a thread when the answer is already in the 'Boss' server.

 

[MattB4]

I'm not always. ...

Bad people can do good and good people can do bad. Does not change what they are basically.

 

[5030]

Today is the 'day of reckoning' with Amazon. Have numerous packages showing 'out for delivery' We shall see if they show up or if I get an empty package like I did earlier this week. I will say Amazon was courteous and refunded my payment to my credit card, no hassle at all, other than I had an issue understanding the 'agent' on the phone. Her English was horrible, must have been in India or somewhere offshore.

Actually had an Amazon delivery last night at 8pm for my wife and the delivery drives was very pleasant as well and didn't throw it in the yard either. handed it to my wife and the pup went out and he scruffled his fur, which he likes. he's very friendly and likes people in general even though he looks the mean part. He's not. Total milk toast pup. Give him a scruffle or a biscuit and he's your buddy for life' Biggest issue with him is he wants to get in the delivery truck and go for a ride. He loves riding in a car or truck. Looks out the window all the time.

 

[California]

Amazon rant on a nationwide scale!

The comments following this article show the whole USPS system is strangled by the contract (terms not disclosed!) that delivers Amazon before first class mail.

USPS Prioritizes Amazon Over Mail

A story in the Washington Post titled A rural post office was told to prioritize Amazon packages. Chaos ensued. tells the story of how the USPS in the small town of Bemidji MN, was ordered to deliver Amazon packages before US mail. (The story is behind...

www.dailykos.com

 

[5030]

Interesting read and explains a lot to me at least. Been out in the shop running the TIG welder and guess what... No Amazon yet... NADA even though it shows everything out for delivery...

Will update as it progresses....

 

[two_bit_score]

Guess I'm paving my road to Heaven and getting right with the Lord. I've done some bad things in the past I'm not proud of but I want to make sure I go to the right place, which most likely far off with my ongoing cancer issues and I'm old too.

Please prayerfully consider if it’s really possible for anyone to do enough good to outweigh the bad and get into Heaven. I’m just thankful that my Savior has already paid that price and all I had to do was accept it. Merry Christmas!

 

[lman]

An Amazon van just left my place. The driver (female, very nice) when asked, was happy to say she is part-time and glad the holidays are here because she will be working at least 6/12 hour days.

Wow, I wonder what her full time job is?

 

[scootr]

Amazon prices are not always the cheapest. Google a product to see if there is a better deal ~ if you can wait for conventional delivery

 

[ultrarunner]

Amazon for work is satisfactory...

UPS first out or overnight by 8:30 has not been good since the strike.

Had a patient prepped for surgery with lens by 8:30 am and it arrived 5 minutes before 11am and as anyone knows overnight am comes at a steep price but consequences to delivery company are few...

 

[mrmikey]

Amazon prices are not always the cheapest

They're shifty too. Priced a watch at Costco last week, regular $180 on sale for $140. I looked on Amazon, same regular price as Costco's sale price. I was undecide and there was only one day left on Costco's sale but I figure, mehh, it's the regular price on Amazon so I was in no rush. Waited 'till a day after the sale ended to finally make up my mind.
Yup, the Amazon price went up to the regular price of $180 at Costco. I didn't buy it.

 

[5030]

Please prayerfully consider if it’s really possible for anyone to do enough good to outweigh the bad and get into Heaven. I’m just thankful that my Savior has already paid that price and all I had to do was accept it. Merry Christmas!

Thank you and merry Christmas to you as well. Had a bad night last night. Comes with the territory I guess, I deal with it, all I can do.

 

[5030]

They're shifty too. Priced a watch at Costco last week, regular $180 on sale for $140. I looked on Amazon, same regular price as Costco's sale price. I was undecide and there was only one day left on Costco's sale but I figure, mehh, it's the regular price on Amazon so I was in no rush. Waited 'till a day after the sale ended to finally make up my mind.
Yup, the Amazon price went up to the regular price of $180 at Costco. I didn't buy it.

My wife comparison shops everything, always and a lot of times the local brick and mortar stores are less. They are in business to make money but you are 100% correct, the online retailers play games.

Have not gotten anything from Amazon yet, Everything shows delivery today, we shall see. Showed delivery yesterday and they changed it. None of the stuff is life or death, just Christmas presents for my wife and for myself. My greatest fear is another open and empty package, that would really fry my eggs. Also, they must be short on delivery trucks or maybe they won't start as it's been unseasonably cold here and the delivery my wife got the other night at 8PM was from them but in a what looked to be a private vehicle, a van with no markings on the outside and like I said, the driver and I presume an employee was very courteous and handed my wife the package, that is highly unusual around here.

In this society we live in, being rude seems to be the norm today, guess people figure it's ok today. I get that everywhere I go including on the highway where getting cut off or flipped off seems to be SOP with a lot of people. Not me and not my wife certainly. People for the most part today all are in a hurry. I'm not and I know full well my end date is coming and soon so I like to 'smell the roses along the way'.