Great service that made me laugh!

[scot850]

I needed to order more of the small diode type T1 bulbs used for the switches in my P80 Volvos (Part # 560-7219). I bought 50 about 3 years ago from Mouser my usual go-to source. When I went to order them they wanted about the same (approx. $20 US) for the bulbs as last time, but then they wanted another $20 US to ship them! I asked them to confirm that yes, they are going to charge 200% MORE than last time to ship 50 bulbs you could fit on the back of a regular stamp!

Needles to say I declined th eoffer and went looking elsewhere. I found another company and their bulbs were slightly cheaper but they wanted $50 US (yes $50!!) to ship the to Canada. When I questioned this, the reply was, I only do what I am told...!).

Finally I found a company called Arrow Electronics Inc in Colorado in the US, who not only took payment in CDN$ of $20., but also shipped Internationally FREE using Fedex. Parcel got here in less than 2 days. Absolutely excellent service and price!

The funny part is the shipping box. Attached below is the shipping packaging for the 50 bulbs:

50 bulbs in foam lined box

Bulbs nicely packaged in foam lined box. This in turn was in a anti-static bag, and then packed in a box wrapped in packing paper:

Bulb box in shipping box

The bulbs are in the white box in the corner of the larger box. The packing paper is also in the shot.

It made me laugh to try to get my head around why anyone would ship those tiny bulbs in such a large box. Nuts.

Nuts it maybe, but there is no knocking the fabulous service!

Neil.

[850 LPT]

The person packing this probably had no clue what it was and how much it's worth and just wanted to play it safe, very safe apparently.

[oragex]

When I buy from US they put most of the time excellent - if exaggerated - packaging. Can't complain but surely the boxes industry must make some profits up there.

While there, speaking of buying from the US, I buy new parts for my car always from Eeuroparts: they are the only US located online store to offer the Canada Direct shipping which is free of customs/douanes/tax fees

[RickHaleParker]

They don't want the bulbs cracking when the handlers toss the package or stacks other packages on top of it. The time and money they lose processing a shipping damage claim is hundreds of times more then the cost of the extra packaging. They cannot recover that expense from the carrier. They are protecting their bottom line and keeping the customer happy ... maybe even give them a good laugh.

[scot850]

I agree with the sentiment that you can't be too safe when shipping stuff.

However, have to say was suitably impressed with shipping and service.

Generally I use FCP in the US for car parts for the Volvos. At least they give me lifetime warranty on parts whereas Volvo only gives me 1 year if I fit myself. Lifetime on parts and labour if they supply the parts at the fitting dealer.

FCP also gets the parts to me in Western Canada typically in 2 days with UPS. Yes I get hit with border charges but unless it is a low value order those are coming anyway. Their UPS shipping is actually reasonably priced.

Neil.

[abscate]

I have kept my honeymoon with FCP going since I sent them back a broken BMW PCV with a confession that I gorilla-d it putting it on and they gave me credit back. They have been responsive to the issues that have come up here too which

I do like to buy my high margin fluids from my local guy to keep them weeded and feeded. It is nice to walk in and do a core swap and compare parts without having to ship

[jvl]

Hahaha that IS great packaging.
There's a running gag in The Netherlands (and I don't mean to offend):
In the US, almost everything is bigger

[abscate]

..our hands of our leaders are much smaller...

[RickHaleParker]

In the US, almost everything is bigger

Here in the US, the Texans think everything about them is bigger. We like to remind them, if you split Alaska into two states, Texas would become the third largest state in the union.

[jvl]

Well, boys will be boys. Having some kind of competition going is always nice. As long as we can just laugh and not take it too seriously. If more people would take things a bit lighter, world would be a better place

Joost