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Just an ordinary day to drop off a pair of 20" ride cymbals. Just to be sure I had it all right, the night before I double checked the re-used 22" box measurements, weight, and USPS Postal Shipping calculator to be sure there were no surprises.
I've been surprised before with $45 in fees when I expected no more than $30. In this case, I expected a fee in the $27-$29 range (2 day priority - going about 250-300 miles). Full insurance value of $200 was included.
After handing it over to the Postal Clerk I was a bit surprised to hear $32.50. I just figured I must have gotten the additional insurance wrong or maybe was off 1/2" or so on the box maximum where 1 one side was bulging out a bit.
As I'm headed out I check the receipt to verify the weight.....and then notice I was gigged for a 25" box ! No way that could be. I flagged down the Clerk just as they were bringing the box to the back room.
I tell them there's a question on the shipping cost......"it can't be a 25" size." They assure me it is. It's a standard 22" box! They're still not buying my story. But remeasured it in front of me.
They point to the edge of the box and there it is "right on the 25" mark." "See" they said....25 inches. They were right. The end of tape did say 25 inches. At least they were consistent. How could you argue that??
Well I had already moved my eyes to the other side of the tape which was 2 ft away from them....and I couldn't believe what I saw. The tape's measurements began at the 3" mark.....not 0 or 1. I told them their tape
measure was "missing numbers." They looked at me like I was from Mars. "Hey, there's no numbers below 3" on your tape measure." Finally, they look at it and went completely silent. They were stunned. I think I added a few
comments like how long has this "unusual tape measure" been in use on other customers? The Postal Clerk went away to discuss the issue with a supervisor. It took about 5 minutes for them to figure out what to do.
I'd have taken stamps in trade. In the end they gave me back $3.00 cash even. Fair enough. Once back in the car I was quite amused by the whole thing. I should have taken a selfie with the Clerk and the "magic tape."
I would imagine the starting clip on this fabric tape measure was sheared off along the way and someone reattached it.....very expertly I might add. Certainly usable if you knew how to adjust for the 2" change.
I doubt it came to them new in that condition.
I've been surprised before with $45 in fees when I expected no more than $30. In this case, I expected a fee in the $27-$29 range (2 day priority - going about 250-300 miles). Full insurance value of $200 was included.
After handing it over to the Postal Clerk I was a bit surprised to hear $32.50. I just figured I must have gotten the additional insurance wrong or maybe was off 1/2" or so on the box maximum where 1 one side was bulging out a bit.
As I'm headed out I check the receipt to verify the weight.....and then notice I was gigged for a 25" box ! No way that could be. I flagged down the Clerk just as they were bringing the box to the back room.
I tell them there's a question on the shipping cost......"it can't be a 25" size." They assure me it is. It's a standard 22" box! They're still not buying my story. But remeasured it in front of me.
They point to the edge of the box and there it is "right on the 25" mark." "See" they said....25 inches. They were right. The end of tape did say 25 inches. At least they were consistent. How could you argue that??
Well I had already moved my eyes to the other side of the tape which was 2 ft away from them....and I couldn't believe what I saw. The tape's measurements began at the 3" mark.....not 0 or 1. I told them their tape
measure was "missing numbers." They looked at me like I was from Mars. "Hey, there's no numbers below 3" on your tape measure." Finally, they look at it and went completely silent. They were stunned. I think I added a few
comments like how long has this "unusual tape measure" been in use on other customers? The Postal Clerk went away to discuss the issue with a supervisor. It took about 5 minutes for them to figure out what to do.
I'd have taken stamps in trade. In the end they gave me back $3.00 cash even. Fair enough. Once back in the car I was quite amused by the whole thing. I should have taken a selfie with the Clerk and the "magic tape."
I would imagine the starting clip on this fabric tape measure was sheared off along the way and someone reattached it.....very expertly I might add. Certainly usable if you knew how to adjust for the 2" change.
I doubt it came to them new in that condition.
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There are 3 or 4 local shipping/delivery companies like this here and all are very reasonably priced.
