UPS Shipping - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

15 Oct 1997

...
  Has anyone else had to deal with the new UPS
guidelines? Our shipping 
 counter has introduced new guidelines for shipping computers. Any 
 computer must be double boxed and packed in 4" of foam. Ok fine. But you 
 can't use peanuts. Oh, and if it's a computer that works, it will be 
 unpacked, tested, repacked then shipped. If it doesn't work it will be 
 returned to you. Good luck. 
Ouch!  But I've not heard of UPS (apart from as an abbreviation for 
Uninterruptible Power Supply).  Is this a shipping company, a regulatory 
body or something else?

...
  I see the point if they were checking $500 laptops or
more. Most stuff I 
 ship is valued at $30 or less. But there are no limits on value for this 
 procedure. I figured it was worth the chance of paying a $30 claim for 
 them not to go through all that. But all computer products and possibly 
 all electronic products will be inspected. 
Brilliant!  What if I'm not a hacker?  My computer breaks down.  I ship 
it to the manufacturer for repair.  Oh dear, it's just been returned to 
me - they can't ship it because it failed on test...

...
  On top of this, all computer parts like keyboards, etc
must be packed 
 individually and shipped individually. Nothing like 2x, 3x, 
 4x...shipping costs. So much for those lots of extra parts. 
Splendid!  What about the IBM System/23 that fails diagnostics if the 
printer isn't connected (although this can be bypassed)?  What if I do 
ship the keyboard separately for some obscure machine?  How are they 
going to test it then?  Will they even know which keyboard belongs to 
which computer?  Not easy to tell at a glance (say) a PS/2 keyboard from 
an RS/6000 one (don't ask how I found that out!)

...
  I think I'll be writing "household
goods" or "books" on my shipments 
 from now on. Either that or start sending my stuff there for the "$5 
 testing special"! 
Basically this sounds like some well-meaning bureaucrat making rules 
before thinking through the implications.  How about "computer parts" 
for a shipment description, though?  It's accurate for a computer, an 
incomplete computer, a broken computer or a box of computers...

Philip.

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Philip  Belben
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   Das Feuer brennt, das Feuer nennt die Luft sein Schwesterelement -
 und frisst sie doch (samt dem Ozon)!  Das ist die Liebe, lieber Sohn.

Poem by Christian Morgenstern - Message by Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk