Rant on shipping

[California]

But at half the price of 'to your door' service?

You expect Amazon to do something to save you money?

 

[California]

Maybe this was already said in this thread - Anything from Amazon, Alibaba, Ebay that says shipped from China might take months to arrive if you didn't select expedited shipping. Hopefully 'expedited' will go as air freight to make the target date. Economy shipping on the other hand is likely to get caught in the delays at the ports.

I just read there is something like 160 ships anchored off Los Angeles, the longest one there parked since September. The customary shippers have priority for unloading while a random unknown line, maybe the cheapie doing the economy shipping, can get skipped over.

Then the land side of the port is jammed with containers partly because wherever the containers are supposed to go, can't handle the recent increase in volume so they aren't ready for containers to be delivered to them. So your shipment can be delayed at a number of points before it is sent to your door. Air freight at least skips over some of these delay points.

 

[PILOON]

Just came off a Chinese web site.
LOL. special price today only, $2.50, ---shipping $98.00
The item sells at any local retail shop for (maybe) $5.99

Moral is, read all the fine print! Lots of scams out there.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ They screw up their pricing sometimes. I'd been watching a widget for a few months in the $30-50 price range. When I saw one seller show it at $13.69, I jumped on it, figuring it was a sale. Bought 2 of the 5 available to check it out hoping to buy a couple more for spares. Turned out to be fine, but when I went back, the price was $31.69, meaning it was no longer that much of a value to just have spares on the shelf.

 

[Jstpssng]

The worst part about being on hold is that they keep playing that recording telling how important my call is to them. It wouldn't be quite so bad if they would just STFU or at least play elevator music. I honestly believe they do it intentionally to get people to hang up. I'll gladly oblige if it's a vendor. When it's a doctor's office or somebody else I need to talk though, to it's pointless to leave a message and hang up since I'm as hard to get hold of as they are.
On a similar note; I'm about to leave the vet I"ve been going to since getting my first dog in 1997. Their preview keeps getting longer and longer before I can actually leave a message; last week I waited 45 seconds, left a message only to have them call back asking me to call again.
Never mind...

 

[Doughknob]

You expect Amazon to do something to save you money?

LOL. Of course not. That is what i thought.

 

[Dftodd]

Maybe this was already said in this thread - Anything from Amazon, Alibaba, Ebay that says shipped from China might take months to arrive if you didn't select expedited shipping. Hopefully 'expedited' will go as air freight to make the target date. Economy shipping on the other hand is likely to get caught in the delays at the ports.

I just read there is something like 160 ships anchored off Los Angeles, the longest one there parked since September. The customary shippers have priority for unloading while a random unknown line, maybe the cheapie doing the economy shipping, can get skipped over.

Then the land side of the port is jammed with containers partly because wherever the containers are supposed to go, can't handle the recent increase in volume so they aren't ready for containers to be delivered to them. So your shipment can be delayed at a number of points before it is sent to your door. Air freight at least skips over some of these delay points.

Had a piece of equipment down at work for over 6 weeks. All I needed was a water pump for the engine.

The only one in the states was in Louisiana, just as that hurricane was hitting Local Cummins dealer called down to that location and it was already sold.

It had a promise date of getting shipped as of October 11th. That was the day it was scheduled to get loaded on the barge in Shanghai. Mind you this was the middle of September when I ordered the the water pump.

Water pump made it in November 2nd and I was finally able to get the unit back up and running.

 

[Oaktree]

Amazon does that here (northern California). UPS stores, a few grocery stores, college bookstores are listed as alternate destinations generally to arrive one day earlier than to your home.

Hub lockers they call them. I've seen that option on some, but not all orders. I've tried it a couple times...great for something you're ordering as a gift and don't want them to know. Downside is they'll only hold it for a couple of days, if you haven't picked it up in that time it gets sent back.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not quite what the OP had in mind but I had a small item I wanted for $6. Shipping was an extra $17 which I can understand, it costs them money to handle things whatever the cost. So I added a roll of vacuum seal bags to the order... that brought the shipping up to $39.

Luckily I can get the bags for less money almost anywhere else, and free shipping to boot; and the jug caps are something I wanted rather than need, so will go without.

 

[California]

... a water pump for the engine.
... promise date of getting shipped as of October 11th.
... made it in November 2nd

Similar here, I won brake shoes for my Yanmar YM186 on an Ebay auction. Then got a message they didn't have any to ship. I can't find them anywhere.

Apparently a huge shipment of Yanmar third-party parts just arrived, very delayed, and there are suddenly lots of auctions - but none include these shoes.

Anybody know - are there still places that will bond on new lining if you send in brake shoes?

This isn't critical yet. The linings are still there, paper thin. But I want to reline before I gouge the drums.

 

[newbury]

Well as the guy in this thread that gets the green OP hash -
It look like Christmas "delivery" (or non delivery) period is here. Wife ordered some stuff to be delivered from Walmart. Was told it would be here Monday, 8 November.
We are in a quiet suburb on 1/3 acre lot. Our driveway is barely long enough to get my Ford van in with another 8 feet to the street sidewalk. Then it's another 25 feet to the front porch.
At 19:48 (7:48 PM) today on 7 Nov. a car pulls up to our mailbox, occupant gets out, sets a package down halfway between the van and the sidewalk, guy couldn't even walk the other 30 feet to put it in front of our door. Silent delivery, no honk or nock.
All caught on hidden cameras.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I ordered something last week. Fedex moved it about 20 miles to another city last Friday, where its still sitting according to tracking.

 

[Doofy]

I've just resigned myself to "Get it when I get it". No use fretting or getting stressed out.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I was surprised to see my package on the porch tonight, since last nights fedex update said it was in TN

 

[BravoXray]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but for the last tear or so, everything I have ordered, has either come on time, or earlier than originally estimated. Ordered some exhaust manifolds out of CT on Monday, they arrived today.

 

[Diggin It]

I just ordered a $10 wrench off the Bay place. Got an offer for a $6 Square Trade plan to protect against spills and breakdowns.

 

[ponytug]

I just ordered a $10 wrench off the Bay place. Got an offer for a $6 Square Trade plan to protect against spills and breakdowns.

What if I offer you an insurance for $5?...

I am also amused at what I get offer insurance on. I bought some hand lotion recently and got an offer...

 

[kenmbz]

So not shipping, but related.
We got a box with someone elses item, and it seems they got ours.
Place was nice and sent a new one overnight, and then ANother one a few days later.
So now two returns to do...

 

[California]

So not shipping, but related.
We got a box with someone else's item, and it seems they got ours.
Place was nice and sent a new one overnight, and then Another one a few days later.
So now two returns to do...

Amazon? They say if you didn't order it, keep it.

We received a nice coffee maker simultaneous with a separate order of Tylenol or something. The coffeemaker shipping label was to us, but showed 1 oz weight. Maybe somebody put a duplicate Tylenol shipping label on the coffeemaker. The label showed delivery by Amazon van, so no tracking information was available. I spent some time researching how to return it and found nothing beyond 'keep it'.

 

[PILOON]

Recently there have been complaints re shipping.
Tracked items claim 'delivered' but are not, well they are but to a local depot that you have to guess where and when.
Seems the driver simply quits @ 5:00 and dumps whatever is left in his van at the local depot.
Would be different had he left a note at your door but then he was never near your home.
Guess they don't get paid for overtime.

In my area Canada Post is the most reliable, heck I've seen her walk packages to the front door.
UPS, well your lucky if they dump it by the trash bin and often I see deliveries tied onto the trash bins. Just hope you get there prior to a trash pickup.

With Canad Post I discovered that I could sign a waiver to allow the postie to sign on my behalf. Sure saves that trip to the local post office to collect a parcel or registered mail.