Which 'Shipping carrier provides the best overall
For large items, I've had great success with Team Air. http://www.teamair.com/index_ie.php No nonsense, (very) organized air carrier. My shipment was delivered super fast and in perfect order. Plus, they were about 30% less than the next nearest bid. |
In an "Oh, BTW" addendum... Sending items by air these days requires being recognized as a frequent air shipper, if one decides to use resources other than UPS or FE. Pilot, Team Air, etc. require minimal amounts of shipping occurances, say 3 or 4 shippments using their services via air cargo (which is higher than air shipping using passenger planes), or an affidavit provided by the FAA indicating you as not being a threat. Getting in touch with the FAA agency rep at the local airport and getting the form filled out and turned in is the best way to that end. The FAA app includes a background check too which is also a super idea. Team Air didn't follow up at all on my requests but Pilot did allow me the alternative. BTW #2 Pilot doesn't have planes... they merely broker the air transportation requirements as to time sensitivity which means land vehicles could be employed depending on the distance being traversed. They use flyers like "Kitty Hawk" etc. Be advised that some issue may be realized as translation of the post 911 security measures aren't always devined the same way by different airports. That exact thing happend during my last episode of shippnig via Air. One area airport saw things one way, and the other end saw them differently, posing some delays to the timelyness of the contracted delivery. Pilot took care of all of that, informing me along the way what was happening, and what they were doing about it as part of their service I suppose. I never requested them to do that. IMO it's worth the steps needed to become a 'known air shipper', for cost savings on the transportation end and the greater variety of 'brokers/shippers' then available, as passenger planes can then be used, again, saving time and money. Lastly, one noteworthy item is a pretty obscure one... I experienced some residual re-breakin time with even well run in components, after using "air shipping'. Paul Marks of Thor Audio had mentioned that to me on one ocasion referring to his available "upgrades" or "re-warrantied items" on his equipment which included return air freight. He said to expect some residual re-run in time due primarily to the components being exsposed to the pressure diffs encountered during ascents and descents to and from high altitudes as cargo is not usually enclosed in a stable, and pressurized compartment. Regardless if an upgrade or simple inspection for warranty were done. This was apparently the case with a pair of amps (not Thor Audio) which I recently had flown across country overnight. Nearly two weeks of limited or imtermittant use and several re-biasing events were necessary for them to perform well. they are now fine and holding bias pretty darn well with no drifts greater than one point from normal. The sound has also become far more natural and involving. Paul might just be onto something there. So parting the clouds to get an item out of "perhaps" harms way from those encountered by trucking or trains, has it's own hurdles, advantages, and shhort comings as well. For my money, I'll look to the airways first for my shipping and receiving efforts. Past that I'll crate the expensive and delicate things... and pray. No method, container, or carrier is exempt from adverse events or failure. Though less handling, and shortened time frames for transport seem to indicate some added assurances. IMO |
UPS is known as OOPS! Just received a McIntosh tuner via UPS from Oregon to Wisconsin. It was packed by a professional packager, double boxed, bubble wrapped, styrofoam, extra cardboard, etc. It arrived completely smashed. The glass McIntosh faceplate was literally in shards. The tuner knob was pushed into the front of the tuner completely destroying the tuner pod module. Internal and external damage I estimate at around 800.00. This package had to have been dropped from a good height. The packaging was of the highest order. A friend of mine worked for UPS at night loading trucks. He told me that he knew employees that would see how far they could throw packages just to pass the boredom of working all night. My friend had no reason to make this up. I will never use UPS (OOPS) again. |
