UPS Shipping

From: Philip.Belben_at_powertech.co.uk <(Philip.Belben_at_powertech.co.uk)>
Date: Wed Oct 15 13:28:57 1997

> Has anyone else had to deal with the new UPS guidelines? Our shipping
> counter has introduced new guidelines for shipping computers. Any
> computer must be double boxed and packed in 4" of foam. Ok fine. But you
> can't use peanuts. Oh, and if it's a computer that works, it will be
> unpacked, tested, repacked then shipped. If it doesn't work it will be
> returned to you. Good luck.

Ouch! But I've not heard of UPS (apart from as an abbreviation for
Uninterruptible Power Supply). Is this a shipping company, a regulatory
body or something else?

> I see the point if they were checking $500 laptops or more. Most stuff I
> ship is valued at $30 or less. But there are no limits on value for this
> procedure. I figured it was worth the chance of paying a $30 claim for
> them not to go through all that. But all computer products and possibly
> all electronic products will be inspected.

Brilliant! What if I'm not a hacker? My computer breaks down. I ship
it to the manufacturer for repair. Oh dear, it's just been returned to
me - they can't ship it because it failed on test...

> On top of this, all computer parts like keyboards, etc must be packed
> individually and shipped individually. Nothing like 2x, 3x,
> 4x...shipping costs. So much for those lots of extra parts.

Splendid! What about the IBM System/23 that fails diagnostics if the
printer isn't connected (although this can be bypassed)? What if I do
ship the keyboard separately for some obscure machine? How are they
going to test it then? Will they even know which keyboard belongs to
which computer? Not easy to tell at a glance (say) a PS/2 keyboard from
an RS/6000 one (don't ask how I found that out!)

> I think I'll be writing "household goods" or "books" on my shipments
> from now on. Either that or start sending my stuff there for the "$5
> testing special"!

Basically this sounds like some well-meaning bureaucrat making rules
before thinking through the implications. How about "computer parts"
for a shipment description, though? It's accurate for a computer, an
incomplete computer, a broken computer or a box of computers...

Philip.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Philip Belben <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

   Das Feuer brennt, das Feuer nennt die Luft sein Schwesterelement -
 und frisst sie doch (samt dem Ozon)! Das ist die Liebe, lieber Sohn.

Poem by Christian Morgenstern - Message by Philip.Belben_at_powertech.co.uk
Received on Wed Oct 15 1997 - 13:28:57 BST