Glen's theory of on-line shipping.
 

The more you don't need a product to have fast delivery, the faster it will get to you, and conversely the more desperate you are for an item, the more messed up the order and the shipping and delivery will be.

Examples:

Yesterday afternoon about 3:45 or so I remembered the glass protective screen cover on my phone had a tiny hairline crack and needed to be replaced. I popped onto Amazon and ordered it. It arrived at 7:55 AM today! If it had taken a month it would not really matter. The crack is tiny, and can only be seen when the phone display is off if I catch the light just right. I can feel it with a fingernail. I could live with it if needed, but the new replacement is cheap so I ordered it.

At my last regular job we needed a bulb for our $70,000 photogrammetric film scanner. The scanner was made in Austria by a small company that Microsoft purchased the company. So the prices suddenly quadrupled. In the past the fancy bulb was $45. Now it was $200. We needed a new bulb, so we ordered two of them and had it shipped first priority, early AM delivery next day. They only had two bulbs in stock and the order was delayed, and I think the three stooges taught dumb and dumber how to process the order using a made up sign language. We never heard what happened to the order.

I finally used my "Google -foo" and found the manufacturer of that same bulb. They were $22 each. We ordered 4 and they arrived in two days. We called Microsoft back, and canceled the order, and the cred card company refunded our money.

So, if you need something and it is shipped to you, just be sure you don't really need it fast, and it is just for inventory for future use. It will arrive in no time.

I ordered a pair (2) of Kenda Executioner 26x10x12 mud tires for my ATV on September 1st. The company sent me one 26x10x12, and one 27x10x12...obviously no one looked at the inch tall block letters on the side of the tires to CONFIRM the size.

I had to wait for them to acknowledge their mistake (through Ebay), and send me a return label, and instructions. I returned the tire, and they sent me a replacement tire which was a 25x10x12. Arghhhh !

I had to wait for them to send me another return label, which I sent out on Wednesday of last week. They have sent me ANOTHER replacement tire which should show up sometime early next week, and offered me a $15 coupon for my next purchase.

I told them that should refund me the $15 because there is no way I will be ordering from them again, and that my Ebay feedback may reflect my irritation for them to explain for all to see.

Conversely, I order alot of shop supplies from ULINE at work, and am always amazed at their customer service, and lightening fast turn around on products.

If I get a P.O. approved before noon, and order it, A semi truck will be pulling into my NW Ohio shop the very next day at noon from Wisconsin, with a driver that looks like he is enjoying his job, and speaks English !

Yup

Another "proof" happend this week. Last Monday we started a ice storm in Oklahoma. Trees were sagging and limbs breaking. and I asked advice on what chain saw brand to buy.

I ordered a Chain Saw from Amazon after looking locally and finding empyt shelves and only a $1,200 chain saw. At the same time I ordered some Obenauf's Leather preservative for my snow boots, and some chain saw oil since I figured I would run out with what came with the saw.

The ice storm stopped and the sun came back. The Obenauf's and the chain saw oil came right away. I have not yet touched my shoes with the Obenauf's as it is is going to be a week of 70s so no ice or snow. The chain saw finally came after I had to use my 35+ year old dull and worn out chain saw. I am done with the tree trimming, and finally the new saw comes in. It would have been nice to have, but it is in the storage building next to the old saw awaiting the next time.

That $1200 saw .... musta been a Stihl pro saw .... made in Germany ;).

All Stihls are NOT created equal.

BTW ... Glen's shipping theory is not a theory....

It's a proven fact :D!

It was a Stihl, but not even something I would consider unless I was going to need it for my business and use it every day.

As a boy, like many little boys, I am sure at some point I wanted to be a fireman, or a policeman. I never ever considered being a lumberjack. After a few days of working as a lumberjack cutting up limbs and swinging a chain saw I realize how wise I was as kid to not want to be a lumberjack. And I still do NOT want to do that job. Like many professions, I am real happy there are professionals that do that for me.