5 Star Service.

[Sharnbrook]

Last Thursday night, July 30th, I ordered a Meade DSI Pro with AutoStar suite from B&H Photo in the USA, hoping to get it in time for Astrofest, but thinking I may have left it a bit too late. It was shipped UPS Worldwide Saver. There was a public holiday in the US last week, but on Sunday night, I got an email saying that it was ready for despatch, with a disclaimer saying if today is a Sunday or Public Holiday, it will be shipped the next working day.

"Good," I think to myself, "it should be here by mid next week, and I leave for Astrofest on Thursday, no worries!!"

TODAY Tuesday 4th, at 3pm it was delivered by courier!! That's less than 5 days, including the week end and a public holiday.

The cost was US$228, + about $60 post, or at today's rates of exchange, about A$345.

If anyone's in the market for a similar piece of gear, I can certainly recommend B&H Photo.

[pmrid]

I have a UPS story too. Bought one of the micro-sized comp0utrers - a fit-PC2 made in Israel. UPS despatch on 23rd July. In Brsbane on 31st July and there it still sits. The reason given on their tracking page is that we are in a remote location and deliveries are not made regularly. It is hard to figure since I am close enough to see the wretched skyglow from Brisbane, barely 40 nautical miles as the crow flies from Brisbane airport, on a main btumen road that trucks have to cross to go to most regional centres arround me and yet, I am too remote to be able to deliver. It took longer to get from Haifa to Brisbane than it is taking to go the last 100km.
UPS may be good at getting things from country to country but not much chop at all at delivering outside the metropolitan area.
Peter

[renormalised]

Peter, I'd make a trip into town and pick it up myself, if I were you. That's typical of postal/courier services in Oz... I think it's just a culture of being slow and uncaring that pervades a lot of things out here in Oz.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

B&H are excellent at shipping stuff. But I recommend avoiding the shop in person. Its a nightmare! Like Myer's boxing-day sale every day of the week (except shabbat of course).

[JethroB76]

Thats not UPS though is it, its AusPost inside Australia

[Sharnbrook]

Interesting comments.

I live just 19km from the CBD, and about 8km from the nearest PO and shopping centre. I sometimes buy wine over the www, and often it is couriered. However, most Courier companies won't deliver to my area, and leave it at the PO for them to deliver!!. They won't deliver either, because I'm on acreage, so a card is left in my letter box, and I have to go in to collect it. The times we live in...........don't worry about the customer, just count the cost.

pmrid (Peter), are you going to Astrofest? If you want to save yourself a trip into Bne, and you can persuade the UPS to deliver it to me, I'ld be very happy to bring it up for you. If that's any help, just send me a PM, and I'll give you my address.

[Kal]

Companies like UPS don't use the public mail system. They have their own network for transportation and delivery. You may be confusing UPS with USPS (United States Postal Service)

[pmrid]

Hi Mike and thanks for the generous offer. I won't make Astrofest this year - have to go OS for work instead. But thank you anyway.
Peter