First I want to express my high degree of satisfaction with a job done on
the rocker arm assembly for my Ferguson tractor by Rocker Arm Specialist in
California. Blaine (sp?) was great to deal with and the assembly looks like
new. He even noticed on his own that it's the same as from a TR3 except for
the pedestals.
Today I got a sticker shock and was (erroneously) somewhat distressed with
Blaine - though I had included a big note in the box, and subsequently
discussed the very problematic UPS-ripping-us-off-when-crossing-the-border
issue with him on the phone, and though we agreed that he would send it
USPS, it arrived via UPS. So my $116 rocker assembly job had a little $62
fee added to it, in typical UPS fashion. And I had to pay on the spot, even
though last time they showed up at the door (when TRF sent via UPS even
though.....never mind) they sent me a bill later. Hmmm.
Called Blaine and he explained that he had really tried; he went to the
post office (a 15 mile trek) and they didn't accept the labelling on the
box. He went again later and again it wouldn't do - yet they could not
provide him with any guidelines. Apparently the post office told him that
the US and Canada are having a little tete-a-tete about border crossing
stuff right now.........Finally he gave up and sent it UPS. When I told him
about it costing $62 (which by the way was on top of the cost of shipping)
he was pretty shocked.
So OK I have two points:
First, Roacker Arm Specialist is great to work with; they really did a good
job and did try to accommodate my shipping wishes.
Second, if indeed it is getting tougher to use the US postal service are
there alternatives other Canucks have found? I know I could have it shipped
to a US address and cross the border myself but unless it's very big ticket
or very large size it isn't worth it to lose the time it takes me to do
that.
Looking froward to ideas; I want to send him my TR3 rocker shaft next.
TIA,
Jim
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