In a message dated 10/9/03 4:33:28 PM, vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM writes:

<< And the reason he had it to you in 3 days is that you're both on the west
coast. If I
shipped you a ground order ten minutes before you placed it, it would
still be the next week by the time UPS delivered it to you. >>

Rondo,

You have to stop specifying that discounted Pack Mule Service from UPS.  The
contemporary wisdom has it that self-propelled delivery vehicles are the way
to go.  I deal with numerous vendors all who seem to be able to ship their
goods in a timely manner without priority shipping nor the necessity of tacking on
a charge for expediency.

As far as that east coast/west coast caveat goes, it no longer rings true.
For example, a group purchase shipment traversed the breath of this Great
Nation and arrived in my hands within 3 days.  I even shipped a most ungainly
package to a fellow Vanagon enthusiast in Hawaii, which is across the country from
me with a little water thrown in for good measure.  He had the package well
within a week from the time I hoisted it onto the UPS counter.  And, it arrived
in perfect condition.  I guess proper packaging has its merits.

Yesterday, I placed a phone order mid-afternoon with a vendor I use
frequently.  I know with such absolute certainty that this afternoon an UPS or FedEx
truck will stop by with my order, that I will bet any amount on it.  I also know
that the order will be complete because, as is their procedure, with each
entry the agent verified that the item was in stock.  No fuss, no muss and no
credit card number either.  They even trust me enough to send me a billing
invoice and if its paid within 10 days, hell, they'll knock off a point and a half.

Excuses, excuses and the ubiquitous, "I'm sorry" seem to have supplanted what
is simply acceptable performance.

George