Edit: Ultimarc Shipment DELIVERED - I'm HAPPY!

[SirPeale]

I swear, there is something watching over me, making sure I don't finish this cabinet.

I bought two J-PACs from Ultimarc.  This is where his story ends.  I've been checking the DHL website for days now, and it states it will be delivered before noon today.

So I check again, and it states it was delivered.  "Great!"  I say, and hop down to my front porch, which is empty.

"Hm..." I think, and check the site again.  It states it was signed for a 'C Corbiel' who is a receptionist.  I live next to a business, and occasionally stuff gets delivered there by accident.  I check.  Nope!  No one here by that name.

I figure maybe I'll check the businesses up and down the street.  Also, no dice.  Damn!

I do find a woman by that name in the phone book, so I give her a call.  Of course she's not home!  She's at work, as a receptionist!

[Stingray]

Well this doesn't exactly inspire confidance. I ordered an IPAC almost a week ago and this is still all I get on the DHL tracking page:

No Result Found for your Query. Please Try Again.

This is the only time I've ever had anything delivered by them. I wish Ultimarc had other shipping options.

-S

[SirPeale]

No, no...that's normal.  It doesn't show in their computers for a bit.  Not sure why.  One day it wasn't there at all, the next day it was in Kentucky to bedelivered tomorrow here!

I'm confident it will show up, one way or another, but I'm impatient, dammit!

[ErikRuud]

I have ordered from Ultimarc twice.

Both times my order arrived three days(almost exactly 72 hours) later. From England to the Chicago suburbs.

Happs and Betson on the other hand took weeks and they are within 30 miles of me!

This is the first time I have heard a problem with an order from Ultimarc.

[Stingray]

I don't think either of us have any problem with Ultimarc. Both issues seem to be totally DHL related.

-S

[SirPeale]

Update: things are smoothing out.  I just got a call from DHL.  What happened was this: the delivery person accidentally grabbed my package with some others while making a delivery, but noticed as it was happening.  But it was too late in the computer, it was already noted as 'shipped.'  

I guess he went to make the delivery, and could not find the place.  I don't know why that is, there are three units in this place, and ours is right in front, with a door bell and everything.

[CitznFish]

Update: things are smoothing out.  I just got a call from DHL.  What happened was this: the delivery person accidentally grabbed my package with some others while making a delivery, but noticed as it was happening.  But it was too late in the computer, it was already noted as 'shipped.'  

I guess he went to make the delivery, and could not find the place.  I don't know why that is, there are three units in this place, and ours is right in front, with a door bell and everything.

doorbells are intimidating. maybe he got nervous and changed his mind?

[SirPeale]

Maybe.  Well, all is well, they have been delivered!

Just did a test, and everything is perfect!  The J-PAC is the bomb!

[Stingray]

Well I guess that just leaves me pacing the carpet like an expecting father.  

Glad your stuff showed up safe & sound.

-S

[Goz]

Seems to be the norm for DHL.

My latest order came into KY and was sent to FL instead of CA. They are attempting to locate the package, and assure me they will call me tomorrow night at the latest with an estimated arrival date.

It is pretty stressfull. I am awaiting my J-PAC which makes my cab functional. Been anxious to say the least.

Not Andy's fault...... DHL is the devil Bobby Bouchet.

-Goz

[DYNAGOD]

I feel your pain,
if it makes you feel better...
when i ordered my j-pac and i-pac i ordered it overnight delivery on a saturday night..
the thing didnt come for several  days and then when it did, i was never home to sign for it so ,it sat in a wharehouse for another 5 days till i could get it redirected to my work..
needless to say i paid a small fortune on overnight shipping and it took like 2 weeks to get my hands on them...
i just ordered a slik stik chrome pear p360 last week and there isnt even tracking information on it yet  


patience is not a strong point around here, after all we are all video game lovers and that makes us by defineition instant gratification junkies..

[nipsmg]

Yeah I'm not happy at all with DHL. The problem is, I think they might start making andy look bad.
I got a tracking number on Thursday. It's now tuesday.  DHL Still does not have any information on my package.  It's getting rediculous.  I really wish there was an affordable alternative that Andy could use.

I'd feel better even if I saw a "We have your package, but we're going to take our sweet ass time getting it to you" message.

*shrug*
 

--NipsMG

[DYNAGOD]

i think this has been discussed in another thread, but a  US wharehouser is what we need..
somone here in the US willing wharehouse his stock domestically. In that way when ultimarc recieves a US order, he simply forwards the invoice to the US holder who would then ship it out for him here in the US.
in that way we could truly get speedy delivery..

as you said its not ultimarc AT ALL, its DHL..

[SirPeale]

Actually, looking back, it wasn't a bad transaction altogether.  I placed the order on a Monday, had the tracking # (with the appropriate warnings about it not showing up for a few days in the system) on Wednesday.  I finally saw the tracking info on Sunday, with info for a Monday AM delivery.  Although the information in the computer got screwed up (and freaked me out) it was corrected within three hours of my initial call to DHL.

I will say I was suprised about how Andy packs his item.  I was expecting a box, not a bag with the items padded into bubble wrap.

[ErikRuud]

I guess I should have been more clear.

My orders came via DHL and I had no trouble.

It took UPS longer to ship the Happs stuff 30 miles than it did for DHL to ship from England.

[DYNAGOD]

It took UPS longer to ship the Happs stuff 30 miles than it did for DHL to ship from England.

thats pretty funny  

[SirPeale]

I guess I should have been more clear.

No, you were pretty clear there.

[Goz]

Unfortunately there is still no info for me.

I recvd my tracking # on Feb26th. Have called DHL and they cannot tell me where the package is let alone when I will get it. Today I was informed that perhaps tomorrow they will know where the package is and then they can set expectations.

DHL sucks.  There is no other way to put it.

Ultimarc needs to have a distributor in the states.

[Stingray]

March 08, 2004 18:36 London-Heathrow - UK Shipment picked up

 
March 08, 2004 18:53 London-Heathrow - UK Departing origin

 
March 08, 2004 19:33 London-Heathrow - UK Departed from DHL facility in London-Heathrow - UK

 
March 08, 2004 20:26 London-Heathrow - UK Arrived at DHL facility in London-Heathrow - UK

 
March 09, 2004 05:02 East Midlands - UK Shipment on hold

Anyone care to make a guess at what "shipment on hold" means?

-S
 

[DYNAGOD]

"Anyone care to make a guess at what "shipment on hold" means? "

 



oh! you mean that brick of heroin isnt yours  
lol

[JamesS]

I had the same thing with DHL.

It took them almost a week once they had the package.  I order stuff from Bob Roberts, I have to send him the order, get how much, get a money order mail it to him and then he mails me the items.  After he gets paid.

Bob Roberts was as fast as DHL and he uses Priority mail.

[Stingray]

Well at least this ipac is to replace a hacked keyboard. Lucky for me I haven't disassembled my CP yet. The cab is still usable, that's something.

-S

[nipsmg]

Well there were a few more things I was thinking about ordering from Andy, but with a shipping experience like this so far, I'm not sure.  Unless andy would take an extra amount in $$ to ship with another carrier, I don't think I'm going to be ordering from ultimarc again.  It sucks because it's not Andy's fault DHL Sucks, but I don't like having ANYTHING shipped through an unreliable carrier.  (I know I may be "impatient", but I'm sorry, getting a tracking number on Sat, and having NO INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM by Wednesday is rediculous. DHL SUCKS)

Andy's products, in my opinion, are the best for what I want to do.  However, Paying $12 for shipping only to have the package for all intents and purposes lost in the mail sucks :-/

I mean christ, look at stingray's experience:

March 08, 2004 18:36 London-Heathrow - UK Shipment picked up


March 08, 2004 18:53 London-Heathrow - UK Departing origin


March 08, 2004 19:33 London-Heathrow - UK Departed from DHL facility in London-Heathrow - UK


March 08, 2004 20:26 London-Heathrow - UK Arrived at DHL facility in London-Heathrow - UK


March 09, 2004 05:02 East Midlands - UK Shipment on hold

That kind of thing is rediculous.  And I know that these kind of things happen from time to time with shipping carriers. But the general concensus is that this is the norm for DHL.

grrr  

--NipsMG

[DYNAGOD]

Is anyone aware of any problems with Slik Stik?
I placed an order almost a week ago to the day and i still havent even gotten tracking information.
ive emailed their order status address
orderstatus@slikstik.com several times and ive gotten no response whatsoever...
are they on vacation, is this normal?
cause after almost a week my item apparently hasnt even shipped yet!
and these guys are only a state away from me..i could have drove there and back 7 times by now..and for that matter i could have machined the damned stainless handle myself..i just figured it would of been easier to order it made and polished..
guess i was wrong.

[SirPeale]

nipsmg: try giving them a call.

[DYNAGOD]

no phone number listed on their site.
a search on WHOIS on slikstik.com just comes back to tucows, so no leads there..
i suppose i will fax them...

[DYNAGOD]

well it appears their fax number is phoney..
it just rings//
slikstik.com is their site correct???
i havent placed an order on a bogus clone site or something?

[Stingray]

March 10, 2004 04:19 East Midlands - UK Departed from DHL facility in East Midlands - UK
 

Don't know if this means that it's actually left the UK or what. Previously the tracking info said it left Heathrow and then it said that it arrived back at Heathrow later the same day. Hopefully it's actually left the UK by now, but for all I know DHL may have just taken it out for another drive through the countryside. Well it's not still listed as "on hold" I guess that's a start.  This order was placed eight days ago.

Again, I would like to stress that I'm not blaming Ultimarc for this, but I probably won't order from them again unless they change shippers. I was going to buy an optipac too, but I think I'll live with a couple of hacked mice.

-S

[Tailgunner]

Well, since there's already a DHL bashing thread.

I ordered some stuff from Andy, waited a few days for the order to show up in DHL's tracking system before checking. Turns out they made a delivery attempt monday, and beat me to the shop by about 20 minutes. No biggie, I just cut my morning forum browsing short on tuesday so I'd arrive at work before the driver showed up. He must have done the same, as he beat me there by 20 minutes again on tuesday.  I had to make a run down to Charlotte tuesday afternoon, and called the local DHL office to get them to hold it so I can stop by and pick it up. They close at 6 PM, and I got there at 5:30, only to find out that the driver won't be back in till 7:30 and my package is still on the truck.   Figuring they've tried to deliver twice, I ask that they leave the box on the third attempt as I'd rather take the small risk that it get's stolen over having it shipped back to England if I miss the driver again.  Wendsday morning, I jump up, skip my shower, breakfast, net browsing, ect... to make sure I don't miss the delivery. At 11:00, I get a call that they pulled the box and it's sitting on the caller's desk down in Charlotte. I then make another 70 mile round trip to pick up the box.

Over all I can laugh now that I have my stuff, but the thing I don't get is the driver never left any delivery attempt notices.  If I hadn't checked myself, the box would likely be on it's way back to Andy now and I'd be flaming DHL like there's no tomorrow.

[paigeoliver]

I have been subtly suggesting to ALL the encoder makers for a couple years now that they should send stock to Bob Roberts. Mamers order a lot from Bob, and whoever ends up distributing through Bob is going to win the encoder war!

Fact is, neither ultimarc nor groovygamegear has anything that I want other than encoders. Because of this I often just hack gamepads or keyboards for simpler projects, simply because I don't want to make a separate order (and pay separate shipping) for one item.

But, Bob Roberts ALWAYS has stuff I want. If Bob had someones encoder I would have used one on every single project I have ever done, because there is always something I need to order from Bob.


Now, as far as deliveries go. I always get everything delivered to me at work. There is always someone at work, so there is never going to be a missing package, oops didn't hear the doorbell, or couldn't find your apartment, type of problem.

If you simply don't work someplace where you could get deliveries, then see if you have a friend or family member who does. If those are still no dice, then elderly relatives are a good bet, as they are almost always home, and are going to be happy to see you, even if it is just because you are picking up a package.

[nipsmg]

Well...

I've gone on bashing DHL, and it turns out it wasn't even due to DHL.  Apparently Andy had to outsource production of the VGA Breakout Cables, and the supplier took longer than expected to get them back to him, even though it's a relatively simple operation.  The order isn't in the system because it wasn't sent yet, unfortunately :-/

God, I can't wait to see what happens with the actual package lol!

I'm sure, from everyone else's experience, that I'll be bashing DHL within the next few days or so. :-/

--NipsMG

[Stingray]

Well I've got a full head of steam going on the DHL bashing this morning. I don't know if my package has left the UK or not, becuase now I can't even get the stupid DHL tracking (which is glacially slow on the best of days) to work at all now. The results page never finishes loading.

I'm off work next week and was hoping to get this all wired up then. Looks like I'll be lucky if I even have it in my hands by the time my vacation is over.  

-S

[MinerAl]

DHL flat lost something Andy sent me.

They can't find it.  They tried to deliver it twice while I was at work, and when I went to pick it up they had lost it.  It would seem, forever.

I've called and bugged them about it, but they're "still looking" 4 weeks later.

I've come to the conclusion that DHL is a POS.

[Stingray]

I've come to the conclusion that DHL is a POS.

Well their website certainly is. I've been totally unable to access it all day. Still trying every half hour or so.

-S

[Stingray]

Boy that crow sure does taste good. Guess what was just delivered?

-S

[zaphod]

The organization where I work was hounded for a long time by DHL to switch from UPS.  DHL's prices were better, they had later runs, and they generally promised the world.  Guess what?  They lasted less than two months before we had UPS back.  Take that for what it's worth.

I agree 100% with Paige's suggestion.  If Bob Roberts had the Ipacs, I guarantee I would have purchased more already.  The $12 shipping for a single 3oz I-pac is prohibitive and I don't order anything else from Andy.  Bob, on the other hand, gets an order from me at least every other month.  Throwing that I-pac into an already large order isn't going to bump shipping up much, if any.

[GGKoul]

Just letting everyone know that I received an email from Andy saying he is on Vacation until the 16th.

[SirPeale]

Just throwing this out there, but what would everyone think if I got a bunch of I-PACs and J-PACs along with buttons and other items.  It's something I've been contemplating for a while.  It would be Ultimarc's standard prices, of course.

I haven't mentioned this to Andy at all, I'm just throwing this out there.

[Stingray]

Get optipacs too and you'll be my new hero.

-S

[zaphod]

Just throwing this out there, but what would everyone think if I got a bunch of I-PACs and J-PACs along with buttons and other items.  It's something I've been contemplating for a while.  It would be Ultimarc's standard prices, of course.

No disrespect to you at all, Peale, but until Bob fails me miserably (or ends his service), he has me as a lifetime customer.