Markins + UPS = Major League suckers

[GMHY]

OK, I made a fool of myself translating "CA" by "California" when Markins' home is really CAnada...

Then the (long) shipping time makes more sense, and I better shut up and crawl back in my hole :oops:

(Story was about a nine-day shipping time from Markins' place to NY State for a lil' plate).

Kind of reminds me why I do not like to sell to Canadian customers (customs...).

Well, I still don't have my plate :rolleyes:

[bohdank]

Uh... Markins is in Canada and not CA.

Blame US Customs for any extra delay.

[robscomputer]

I can only suppose that Markins has an agreement with UPS for a flat rate for anything between 1 oz and 1 pound

UPS doesn't ship packages less than 1 pound, letter might be the exception. Everything is usually rounded to the nearest pound.

[John the Geek]

Had it just crossed the border? Sometimes they sit for days waiting on the customs paperwork to clear. I yelled at them once for a similar delay and found that was the issue.

[aebrown]

Uh... Markins is in Canada and not CA.

Blame US Customs for any extra delay.

Good point.

UPS doesn't ship packages less than 1 pound, letter might be the exception. Everything is usually rounded to the nearest pound.

Very valid.

Had it just crossed the border? Sometimes they sit for days waiting on the customs paperwork to clear. I yelled at them once for a similar delay and found that was the issue.

Exactly.



The thing is, given it crossing the border, there is paperwork that needs to be processed, and this takes time. You may see it as a tragedy that it takes something so long to go across the united states, but do remember UPS is a business. You get what you pay for. Given how much you said it was, I'm assuming it went through ground, meaning that it has to move in stops from WA to NY, depending on where UPS has it's terminals and hubs.

If it's such a problem, you can go pick it up yourself and see how long it takes you...

And I am willing to bet, if you looked at UPS's weight to price chart, the differences between one or two pounds is not that big. The reality is, just be patient. Someone is sending you a product from 2500+ miles away across international lines, if there were a way to take one package weighing in less than a pound and put it on a Boeing 757, bypassing the customs departments in the US, and make it 2500+ miles away to you in NY all while only costing 5 bucks, this world may be a better place. But this is how it works...

[GMHY]

Thanks Bohdank and robscomputer - I see my mistake - However, no offense for our Canadian friends, this is an additional reason to buy from RRS as far as possible.

[bohdank]

What's the other reason ;-)

[russ_hillis]

I won't buy from any business that ships UPS or FedEx, far too many gong shows in the past for that. Not to mention how they rape & pillage when they collect the brokerage fees.

[GMHY]

What's the other reason ;-)

Quality of the stuff!

[GMHY]

Good point.



Very valid.



Exactly.



The thing is, given it crossing the border, there is paperwork that needs to be processed, and this takes time. You may see it as a tragedy that it takes something so long to go across the united states, but do remember UPS is a business. You get what you pay for. Given how much you said it was, I'm assuming it went through ground, meaning that it has to move in stops from WA to NY, depending on where UPS has it's terminals and hubs.

If it's such a problem, you can go pick it up yourself and see how long it takes you...

And I am willing to bet, if you looked at UPS's weight to price chart, the differences between one or two pounds is not that big. The reality is, just be patient. Someone is sending you a product from 2500+ miles away across international lines, if there were a way to take one package weighing in less than a pound and put it on a Boeing 757, bypassing the customs departments in the US, and make it 2500+ miles away to you in NY all while only costing 5 bucks, this world may be a better place. But this is how it works...

I heavily edited the original post (actually deleted the story) as my anger stemmed from wrong reasons and Markins (and UPS) did not deserve that rant :o

Thanks aebrown.

[bohdank]

Quality of the stuff!

Debatable which makes the better stuff.

For all practical purposes they are about on par, imo.

Differences would be splitting hairs.

[GMHY]

Debatable which makes the better stuff.

For all practical purposes they are about on par, imo.

Differences would be splitting hairs.

Readily agree - but for US customers RRS has that lightning-fast shipment whereas Markins needs at least 9 days from Markins land to New York, for a smallish item (and no, I won't tell the story again!)

[aebrown]

I heavily edited the original post (actually deleted the story) as my anger stemmed from wrong reasons and Markins (and UPS) did not deserve that rant :o

Thanks aebrown.

Haha it's alright, we all have our moments. I've worked for FedEx for 3 years now, so I know how things work for the most part. When it comes to shipping, I always want my product as soon as possible, but know that it may not come as quick as I want it to given all the hoops, stops, and jumps a package goes through (sometimes). I look on the bright side, and think hell I don't have to drive to pick the damn thing up! Did I mention the employee discount :D

Do know that, at least with FedEx, we do our best to get the package to use as soon as possible. Trust me, I've gotten chewed out and been on the brink of being fired for forgetting one package once upon a time. Then again, like any other business they're just trying to make a profit...

Good luck on getting the plate, with my experience with UPS ground they're pretty accurate on their time scales, but sometimes do surprise with an early arrival...

[ben_r_]

Wait, so if you order from markinsamerica.com its really coming from Canada? Coulda fooled me, because I got mine very fast! Couple of days if I remember correctly.

[GMHY]

Haha it's alright, we all have our moments. I've worked for FedEx for 3 years now, so I know how things work for the most part. When it comes to shipping, I always want my product as soon as possible, but know that it may not come as quick as I want it to given all the hoops, stops, and jumps a package goes through (sometimes). I look on the bright side, and think hell I don't have to drive to pick the damn thing up! Did I mention the employee discount :D

Do know that, at least with FedEx, we do our best to get the package to use as soon as possible. Trust me, I've gotten chewed out and been on the brink of being fired for forgetting one package once upon a time. Then again, like any other business they're just trying to make a profit...

Good luck on getting the plate, with my experience with UPS ground they're pretty accurate on their time scales, but sometimes do surprise with an early arrival...

If the delay is due to longish custom formalities, I'm still surprised that they can predict the day of delivery with accuracy??
Oh well, anyway I'm not a professional waiting for some stuff for an assignment, I'll just have to wait...:)

[windpig]

RRS stuff is awesome, Markins I'l bet is on par.

[GMHY]

Wait, so if you order from markinsamerica.com its really coming from Canada? Coulda fooled me, because I got mine very fast! Couple of days if I remember correctly.

Now that you say it, I ordered another plate like maybe 6 weeks ago and I don't remember it took so long...
They might have some depot in the US, and ship from Canada only when they cannot do otherwise? I dunno.

[bohdank]

Hey, I got my M10 pretty quick but had to wait for my RRS clamp ;-)

[aebrown]

I can't say it's going to take THAT long for it to go through customs, but I would say that UPS told you the 22nd, so they're going to probably wait until it's most convenient for them to ship it. It's probably gone through customs, but they're waiting for enough packages to go a certain place; it's a better idea to fill a truck with 2000 packages going to New York as opposed to 50 packages. If that takes an extra couple of days, they still have your money lol so no harm for them...

PS- I forgot to say: BUY AMERICAN! ;) jk!

[ed rader]

RRS stuff is awesome, Markins I'l bet is on par.

if RRS made the Q3 the panning lock would actually lock :D.

ed rader

[bohdank]

LOL.... true.

[jhom]

FYI, you can buy Markins from photoproshop.com in LA and not worry about customs.

[sheawyatt]

Hey, I got my M10 pretty quick but had to wait for my RRS clamp ;-)

Exactly. I got my M-20 and plates less than 36 hours after I ordered them. Of course, the Vancouver distributor is about 3 hours away from my house, ferry trip included.

Ordering from the States is a different story, although I've never had to deal with anything like the OP. I just try to incorporate as few border crossings as possible in anything I order.

[ed rader]

Exactly. I got my M-20 and plates less than 36 hours after I ordered them. Of course, the Vancouver distributor is about 3 hours away from my house, ferry trip included.

Ordering from the States is a different story, although I've never had to deal with anything like the OP. I just try to incorporate as few border crossings as possible in anything I order.


mailing to canada can be a nightmare too. if i'm dealing with someone who may freak out over a delay i won't mail to canada.

and, BTW, it's your customs that's the problem :D.

ed rader

[bohdank]

Not if it's going to the USA :-)

[Lowner]

Markins kit is very good, quality equipment that is well designed for the job and so of course is RRS kit. The difference is in the attention to the "touchy feely" details. An RRS product needs to be on display when not in use, so passers by can admire it, pick it up and play with it.

The downside is the price.

[russ_hillis]

You know FedEx acts as it's own broker right? That means we don't get to blame bureaucrats for the slow down. Of course if the delay means not having to pay $30-$75 in brokerage fees I'd let it pass.

[rklepper]

I ordered a ballhead from them and it took 4 days to get here. I had to return it and it took 2 weeks to get to them. :(

They sent it back to me and will take 5 business days according to the UPS website.

[windpig]

if RRS made the Q3 the panning lock would actually lock :D.

ed rader
you're killing me.

[ausimo]

I am in the exact situation! I picked the cheapest shipping rate to ship to NY. I ordered on the 17th but I can't believe it's going to take more than a week to arrive! Estimated arrival is Jan 26th. Actually it's not the custom holding up..

SEATTLE, WA, US 01/19/2010 11:51 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
RICHMOND, BC, CA 01/19/2010 12:28 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
RICHMOND, BC, CA 01/18/2010 9:58 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
ANNACIS ISLAND, BC, CA 01/18/2010 9:34 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
CA 01/18/2010 5:52 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

[Jon]

I am in the exact situation! I picked the cheapest shipping rate to ship to NY. I ordered on the 17th but I can't believe it's going to take more than a week to arrive! Estimated arrival is Jan 26th. Actually it's not the custom holding up..

SEATTLE, WA, US 01/19/2010 11:51 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
RICHMOND, BC, CA 01/19/2010 12:28 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
RICHMOND, BC, CA 01/18/2010 9:58 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
ANNACIS ISLAND, BC, CA 01/18/2010 9:34 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
CA 01/18/2010 5:52 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED
Cheapest to NY will be ground, so allow at least 4 days for the truck to get there, add another if you're not near a major NY hub (like around NYC). They may even ship to a mid-continent depot and disperse from there, if I'm interpreting some of my tracking records (from all sorts of vendors) correctly.

[aebrown]

Cheapest to NY will be ground, so allow at least 4 days for the truck to get there, add another if you're not near a major NY hub (like around NYC). They may even ship to a mid-continent depot and disperse from there, if I'm interpreting some of my tracking records (from all sorts of vendors) correctly.

Always possible, it's a top down system. They'll deliver to a hub, then to a terminal, then onto a truck, and to your house. 4-6 days to go across the country, a day or two for it to get done at the hub and another day or two until it's out for delivery. This process though, can always be stalled somewhere due to whatever reason..