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Free Shipping - Be Careful!

I want to let our community know that we need to be careful when making purchases and accepting “free shipping”.  Here is the story, I recently ordered a set of KT150s from TubeDepot. I was offered free shipping. I accepted it and wrongly assumed (mistake: never assume) that they would use a reliable shipping carrier to ship their expensive, fragile glass vacuum tubes. A reliable carrier to me, IMO and personal experience means either FedEx (my preference) OR UPS. Did TubeDepot do that? No! They shipped with USPS. The problem is that the tracking number isn’t working. Their is no documentation that USPS took possession of the package. While TubeDepot has a nicely written page describing USPS’ problems they still use them and this information is not readily available on their website. If I had this information at checkout I would have chosen FedEx and paid for it. I suggested to them that they should put a link to this information right on the checkout page where buyers are going to choose their shipping. I think this transparency would empower buyers to make an informed decision, take ownership of that decision, and save the vendor a lot of time with back and forth emails about where the product is and why the tracking isn’t working. Bottom line: free shipping may be bad shipping. Don’t blindly assume that the free shipping method is good. Ask the vendor who they use for free shipping before making your purchase and act accordingly. 
Ag insider logo xs@2xkingbarbuda
panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
457 posts
 
Having just finished building a new house, I've had well over 100 shipments in the last year from every carrier imaginable, from a few ounces to hundreds of pounds. My experience is that the 'last mile' carrier is the biggest variable. You may specify one carrier, only to have another actually deliver the package. Amazon may ship via their own logistics to a local hub then use USPS (weekend deliveries!), UPS, or FedEx for local delivery. Amazon, UPS, and FedEx may use independent local delivery contractors as well. Point being, any of them may be wonderful or terrible for any given delivery. Covid may be the latest 'dog ate my homework' excuse, but the fact is it has strained our entire logistics infrastructure to an unimaginable extent. It is a dancing bear - the miracle is not that it dances well, but that it dances at all.
larsman's avatar
larsman
1,785 posts
 
No love for DHL? ;-) 
sns
3,003 posts
 
Never had a single issue with DHL over many shipments over many years. I used them for all my domestic shipments when they experimented with that service in US. I have account with them, recently received email in regard to domestic shipping within US. Wonder if they're going to reenter that market? DHL best IME.
uncledemp
716 posts
 
At least eight major credit cards offer a/some cards with purchase protection. There are caveats, but it may be worth looking into if you make online purchases, etc. 

I read it in a US News and World Report article, FYI. (It has to be true, haha)
Ag insider logo xs@2x
kingbarbuda OP
514 posts
 
Here’s as update: I spoke to Michelle at TubeDepot earlier this week. Very nice and knowledgeable, as usual. While USPS has no record of my 8 matched Tung Sol KT 150s being received by them, she notes that they have been shipped. I have not received them yet. Apparently USPS’ issues are in multiple areas of the US. Just this week, our CBS Chicago evening news had a piece regarding poor security at the USPS. Something about them not keeping good enough track of keys that open mailboxes. During the winter there  were media pieces on packages piling up and not getting processed. Anyway, it may take longer than usual to receive the tubes. But if I don’t Michelle gave me confidence that she will take care of things. She also did mention that she sent my suggestions for their website to their IT people. Meanwhile, she mentioned that they are now back ordered (as of when I spoke to her) on the KT 150s. 
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