Shipping Lenses-*Not for the faint of Heart*

[WPalank]

So after reading innumerable threads on the subject, “To code or not to code...”, I decided to jump in feet first and send all four of my babies to Leica New Jersey for “the procedure”. Although I’m pretty sure I can accomplish the same task with a black sharpie pen and a small bottle of “white out” now that Carsten has posted “the codes”.

Having never shipped anything more complicated than an argyle sweater to dear old dad for his birthday (having the salesperson box it for me), I knew I needed some advice.
So I called about 10 friends and asked them how they would package and send four priceless Leica lenses and as you might imagine, I got 10 different answers. “Send each separately!’ Nope, L-N.J. wants them all in one box. “Bubble wrap.” “Shrink-wrap.” “Lots of those styrofoam peanut thingies!” Now remember, I’m the guy that doesn’t feel comfortable bagging his own groceries at the local supermarket when the bagger goes on break to smoke a cigarette next to the dumpster.

The only thing everyone consistently mentions at the end of the conversation is, “Make sure and get the insurance!” OK. But what kind of insurance? Nobody knows! I’ll have to figure that out when I enter the UPS store the next day.
So I set about typing a polite cover letter for my lenses to Mr. and Mrs. Leica N.J.. I describe the contents of the box and what they expect from this sojourn. Think of it as an introductory application to a high-end boarding school. “I understand the price for admission per lens to be $125 each”. Also, the Leica NJ pdf states that for an extra $50 they will examine, clean and give a warranty to each of my lenses. Why not? I’m thinking of it as a “day spa” for these beauties that have worked so hard and followed me around the globe.

So I go down to my garage workshop, bubble wrap in one hand and a large roll of grey duct tape in the other (my girlfriend couldn’t remember where she put the strapping tape she borrowed the week before) and I commence to wrap and bind these guys like it’s nobody’s business. In they end they looked like these Mayan mummies from 1500 BC they had unearthed in a Discovery Channel show I watched the other night. (Only MY little mummies weren’t as pretty.) I found a suitable smallish medium box and started to pour in the styrofoam peanuts. But due to some weird electrostatic attraction for cement, they ended up all over my garage floor. (I could feel Dr. Barnack rolling in his grave.)
Having misplaced my broom (Girlfriend!) I had to settle for a hockey stick and gently sweep (OK,cram) the little guys back into the box (the peanuts NOT the lenses). Lenses on top and then more peanuts. If I had any Kevlar, I would have put that in as well.

Next day bright and early, I saunter down to the UPS store 4 blocks away, brown box held like it was the nuclear football. I state to the friendly lady that I would like to have this box shipped overnight and that “I would like the INSURANCE and it’s price schedule”. She took one look at my slightly battered box and stated, “Don’t worry sir, we cover everything up to $100 for free.” As tears completely filled my eyes, I politely asked for the manager.
As the manager planted himself in front of my box he asked me how much insurance I was interested in. I stated,”Try $11,000”. I tried to keep my voice low, but the other three
employees in the store overheard and rushed over expecting to see gold bullion. “Well then, I have to do a visual inspection of the items”. “No problem”, I stated at the same time thinking to myself, “there goes my beautiful wrapping job”. I was just glad that he had a much trouble getting the grey goo of the duct tape off his fingers as I did the night before. As he did his job, the sales lady commenced to do hers as I tried to keep an eye on the shifty manager. Who knows? He could have been trading out my pristine 28mm Elmarit-M for his beat up 35mm Nikor. The sales lady proceeded, “Name, address, sex (Yes please!)....
The manager approached and politely asked since the cargo was so valuable would I mind if he re-wrapped and re-boxed everything? “Knock yourself out”, I said. He proudly stated that he would like me to see each step of the process. What transpired there after I can only describe as a symphony. He wrapped each lens beautifully, put cardboard dividers between each lens and poured in the peanuts (only his stayed in the box). Then he put that box in another box again insulated with more peanuts. He turned my 1952 VW beetle (about the size of an oversized shoe box) into a 2006 fully loaded Hummer (about the size of a medium television box). Then for the best part, THE BILL. Cutting to the chase, $382 US for overnight delivery (he stated less people would be handling the box and less chance of theft). He kindly threw an “Extra-Fragile” sticker on the box for free!

“Ridiculous”, “outrageous”, many would say. But by the time I got home ten minutes later, I had a confirmation e-mail with tracking number. “Houston we have lift-off!”
So tonight, while all of you slumber comfortably in your beds, I will be dutifully in front of my computer monitoring my tracking number like the scientists of Cape Canaveral tracking Apollo 7 as it circled the moon. I will not rest I tell you, until I hear the fateful words tomorrow morning, “Sir, the eagle has landed!”

[guy_mancuso]

I fell off the chair and i am laughing my ass off. William that was just poetic. Insurance on that alone was 110 dollars, I hate insurance but your covered. 2nd day air would have been alot less but than there is 48 hours of pure hell waiting to get there. I have bought and sold MANY lenses and camera's and this is the part that really hurts is the UPS store.

[robbegibson]

Is your equipment insured? If it's on an inland-marine type policy, it's usually covered during shipping. All you have to do then is insure it for $500 or $1000 to keepp the box from being used as a football. Check with your individual insurance carrier -YMMV.

Robbe Gibson

[brucek]

Probably a third to half of the price was to cover the insurance. And although $382 is a lot to pay to ship four lenses imagine how you'd feel if they get damaged in shipment. Sometimes it doesn't pay to choose the lowest bid or bidder. IMHO this is one of those times. :-)

[WPalank]

Thanks, Guy. Believe it or not, I started it as a serious article and then I remembered all the little stuff that DID happen on my perilous journey!

[guy_mancuso]

I know but I have done some of the same things and it does make you chuckle or should I say gag at the price. They should get there safe and sound . Leica NJ Btw is really the best shop i ever had to deal with , folks there care about your gear. I bet right now a dozen donuts they come back looking like new. These guys take a lot of pride in there work. I just got 2 back from coding and one a repair and looks like they just came out of the box.

[gesper]

I had a similar adventure shipping my M8 back to Jersey for the upgrade. My UPS guy sent me back home to repack because to qualify for $5,000 insurance I had to have at least six inches of padding on every side of the inner box. Insured and overnight delivery set me back $138, but I wanted to be sure I made the very next shipment to Solms.

[WPalank]

Originally Posted by brucek

And although $382 is a lot to pay to ship four lenses imagine how you'd feel if they get damaged in shipment.

Yeah Bruce, you should talk. You can probably walk your lenses to the plant from Rochester.

[telyt]

UPS does play football with the packages. DAG returned an SL and SL2 to me in one box after CLA service and the box arrived here substantially crushed. The SL2 was OK but the SL had to go back to Don's camera infirmary. Don had of course insured the shippment so it ended up being UPS's problem.

[SteveF]

For the benefit of members in the forum that may need to make these shipments in the future, the economic choice is US Postal Service, REGISTERED MAIL*. It is a bit slower, but is VERY secure.

I just shipped a package w/ approx value of 20,000USD and it was delivered coast to coast in 5 days. Priority Mail, Registered and Insured to full value (20k) cost me $37.58.

If I can't make agreeable arrangements with UPS to ship my DOA M8 back to NJ, I will be sending it via registered mail.


* The package is under lock and key the entire trip, everyone that comes into contact with the package must sign in to a log book. Your package is transported in a special locked compartment in the postal vehicle. And best of all, messing with the mail is investigated by US postal inspectors and carry hefty penalties. The only down side is the extra security measures = longer delivery time. Upwards of 14 days for a coast to coast trip.

[johnkuo]

Great write up! That amount is almost enough to buy a plane ticket and drop off yourself! The thought did cross my mind as I have 6 lenses and the M8 might need RF adjustment at some point...

[ustein]

>That amount is almost enough to buy a plane ticket and drop off yourself!

Or the plane :-).


Uwe

[marknorton]

Thanks William, your account of daring-do really brightened my day. And I empathise about getting the duct tape goo off ones fingers...

[cbretteville]

William,
Thats realy funny! Thanks for the comic releaf.
- Carl

[scott kirkpatrick]

Originally Posted by WPalank

“Ridiculous”, “outrageous”, many would say. But by the time I got home ten minutes later, I had a confirmation e-mail with tracking number. “Houston we have lift-off!”
So tonight, while all of you slumber comfortably in your beds, I will be dutifully in front of my computer monitoring my tracking number like the scientists of Cape Canaveral tracking Apollo 7 as it circled the moon. I will not rest I tell you, until I hear the fateful words tomorrow morning, “Sir, the eagle has landed!”

This part of the process I can certainly identify with, following things that I have long lusted for as they go into orbit and then begin the painful process of landing, unloading, going city to city, and finally getting on the delivery truck for the last mile, which takes hours to complete.

North American control, in Colorado Springs, has tracked Santa and his sleigh from the North Pole to CONUS every Xmas for the past 50 years. Perhaps they can teach UPS a few things about reducing the agony of the wait.

scott

[Ferry Man]

William,
Thanks for brightening my day with your amusing tale.
You really must stop posting here. Take time out and write a book.
You've evidently got one in you. Superb writing.

[gogopix]

UPS? You guys own Leicas and ship UPS?

I have shipped leica and zeiss lenses to, from Germany, Australia (via Alaska!) Estonia even BROOKLYN!

all via FEDEX.

Nothing ever broken, lost

Shipped backs worth $30,000 and insured same - without nonsense of inspection (but paid for it. Clerck just asked what it was)

It is called FEDEX. Synonymous with shipping :-)

(No I don'town stock, just use almost daily in our business)

Now watch, next shipment will look like a pancake! LOL

regards

[garyp]

I always package carefully/thouroghly, but stuff almost always comes back in minimal packing

[jcbjr]

in my experience, shipping $10,000 of photo gear via fedex for next day delivery within the states is about $85, fully insured. probably a better way to go.

john

[magyarman]

I dont understand why need ship it lenses to Leica for just put it new back rink. Is job for 5 minuten with screwdrifer make on kichen teble anybody who got it ten fingers. Why Leica dont sale this 6bit rinks people who want? Better I thing pay same money oba dont scare lost ora broke some lens in post.