MGREPTILES Trouble with shipment

[sig1980]

Still wondering about shipping

Matt,
I realize that when you said you shipped the package on the 11th and that I should get it in two days that was just an ESTIMATE on your part so I did not hold you to the 13th as a delivery date. The problem I have is:
I have entered the number you provided as a tracking number for USPS everyday since you provided it and get a response stating "item not found".
Is there a problem with USPS or with the shipping?

 

[kmurphy]

I believe that tracking numbers don't show up on the USPS website until it is out for delivery or received at destination post office. It certainly is not as reliable as UPS or FedEx tracking.

 

[Cat_72]

Kevin is correct, I have had that happen with many packages shipped by USPS, no actual information shows up on the tracking until it hits my post office, and goes out for delivery. The only good it really does you is to show that it was delivered, really. Kind of pointless if you ask me, but that's the USPS.

 

[MGReptiles]

Thats correct, it will not show any information(usually) until it is delivered. Yes it does suck, thats why I hae to switch, to common a problem..

 

[Chameleon Company]

Matt,
Not sure what you meant by:

... it does suck, thats why I hate to switch, to common a problem..

The experience of most of us in using the major carriers such as UPS, Fedex, DHL, etc, is that they do not share in the common problems familiar to the USPS. I can't see customers objecting to the possible $1 higher cost in return for all the predictability of say a UPS over USPS. You should be able to enroll in daily pickup, and I would merely find out which of the carriers has the best local operation for you. At least with UPS, once you establish a business account with daily pick-up, the program you get (soon to be UPS 9.0) is hugely convenient and simple.

 

[Scott Ashton]

Matt,
Not sure what you meant by:


The experience of most of us in using the major carriers such as UPS, Fedex, DHL, etc, is that they do not share in the common problems familiar to the USPS. I can't see customers objecting to the possible $1 higher cost in return for all the predictability of say a UPS over USPS. You should be able to enroll in daily pickup, and I would merely find out which of the carriers has the best local operation for you. At least with UPS, once you establish a business account with daily pick-up, the program you get (soon to be UPS 9.0) is hugely convenient and simple.

I believe it wasn't "hate" but "have".

Not sure what happened with the quote feature in your post, but the original says "hae", not hate.

 

[kmurphy]

I believe it wasn't "hate" but "have".

I agree, shows why you should proof read your posts. The rest of Jim's post though can be taken without the quote and still be good advice.

 

[Chameleon Company]

Hey ! Call it my twisted mind, but I corrected (or made more incorrect) the misspelling from hae to hate. I'm not always on top of spell check either, but this time it added to my misunderstanding. On the upside, I do not think you will be disappointed with the switch Matt. My only advice would be that while it is my impression that the Big-3 are all similar in overall performance (there are some differences), that the single biggest difference to you may be the drivers who have the respective routes. Having one that is consistent, flexible to your needs, isn't afraid of your dog, and gives you their cell-phone number could make your life much easier.

 

[Jim O]

Thats correct, it will not show any information(usually) until it is delivered. Yes it does suck, thats why I hae to switch, to common a problem..

Matt,

A daily pick up account with UPS for your type of business is probably the best way to go. If I recall correctly, from when I had one, they debited the charges monthly from my bank account in exchange for a better rate or a lower monthly fee. It was quite a number of years back, when I was a "Power Seller" on ebay and shipped far fewer packages than you do currently. You should be able to set up such an account in a day or two. Then you will have their excellent software which prints labels and automatically generates tracking numbers. You can also set it up so that when you transmit your data online to UPS they will email your customer a tracking number automatically. As you revamp your website, you can allow your customers to easily upgrade shipping to overnight, or 2 day, or whatever they choose, with the default being ground. Orders that come in from the website that have a higher priority shipping can be marked at a higher priority as they come in so you know that you need to fill them right away, etc.

 

[sig1980]

Package arrived

You were all correct and I wanted to inform everyone that the package arrived today. I have never used the tracking site from USPS and am used to DHL, etc that show when the package leaves each site. There were no adjustments to shipping etc, but I got what I paid for and that was all I had asked for.

 

[MGReptiles]

Matt,

A daily pick up account with UPS for your type of business is probably the best way to go. If I recall correctly, from when I had one, they debited the charges monthly from my bank account in exchange for a better rate or a lower monthly fee. It was quite a number of years back, when I was a "Power Seller" on ebay and shipped far fewer packages than you do currently. You should be able to set up such an account in a day or two. Then you will have their excellent software which prints labels and automatically generates tracking numbers. You can also set it up so that when you transmit your data online to UPS they will email your customer a tracking number automatically. As you revamp your website, you can allow your customers to easily upgrade shipping to overnight, or 2 day, or whatever they choose, with the default being ground. Orders that come in from the website that have a higher priority shipping can be marked at a higher priority as they come in so you know that you need to fill them right away, etc.

Your right there, UPS will probably be for me as Fedex dosent seem to run alot here as I am in the boonies. On my new site I hope to have it wher eyou can log into your account on the site and check the status of the order right there on the site. I have refund your shipping as well Shawn, thank for your business and sorry for the confusion, delay and problems..

 

[crotalusadamanteus]

I have refund your shipping as well Shawn, thank for your business and sorry for the confusion, delay and problems..

Good man! Nice to see a happy ending.

Rick

 

[sig1980]

Shipping refunded

Just to keep everyone apprised, I received a credit to my PayPal account from Matt for the shipping charges.

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Matt, as a consumer of products that is supplied by MGReptiles and of your competitors that also supply the reptile industry with the much needed products offered, I would prefer to purchase them at a fair competitive price. I find it troubling that I may have no longer been able to do so, if you were able to control the market.

Quoting [email protected]:

> Hey Dennis,
> Hope this email is finding you well! I hope you dont find this email
> in poor taste but I wanted to ask you a question. I remember when I
> started selling themrostats both of us were selling them for 85
> shipped for a wired unit. Now that reptile basics came on the seen I
> have lowered my pricing.. If your selling units at this price then I
> would be more than happy to raise my prices back to where they SHOULD
> be.. I dont like to undercut anyone is the reason I am asking and
> honstly I cant stand the dude from Reptile basics..lol..Let me know
> and talk to ya soon,
> -Matt
>
>
>
> Thank you for considering MG Reptiles for your reptile needs. Your
> business is truly appricated! Please feel free to call Matt @
> 304-836-5147. Thank you and God Bless,
> -MG

[email protected] wrote: Matt,

Not only is it in poor taste, it is price fixing and illegal. Knowing
what I do
for a living, it amazes me you would propose something like this. And
to be perfectly blunt, I am still quite pissed at you.

I still remember the two wired Johnsons you bought from me and then
requested to
return them a couple of days later saying they were not what you were looking
for. Luckly for me, I was out of town and by the time I saw your request, you
had changed your mind and kept them. That part doesn't bother me. The kicker
was you offering them for sale a month later saying they were the best
thing to
come along for the reptile industry. See, that gave me the impression you
ordered them only to see them first hand and how they are wired so you could
sell them yourself. Now, I have no problem with competion what so ever but for
you to attempt to use me like that, and almost subject me to a financial loss,
(can't sell a returned product as new,) is unacceptable.

Dennis Thomas

Matt, I am somewhat concerned about this as well. Regardless of your intentions, the consumer losses. What's happening here Matt? What happen to going the extra mile for your customer?

Price fixing is an agreement between business competitors selling the same product or service regarding its pricing. In general, it is an agreement intended to ultimately push the price of a product as high as possible, leading to profits for all the sellers. Price-fixing can also involve any agreement to fix, peg, discount or stabilize prices. The principal feature is any agreement on price, whether express or implied. For the buyer, meanwhile, the practice results in a phenomenon similar to price gouging.

Methods of price fixing can include selling at a common target price; setting a common "minimum" price; buying the product from a supplier at a specified "maximum" price; adhering to a price book or list price; engagement in cooperative price advertising; standardizing financial credit terms offered to purchasers; using uniform trade-in allowances; limiting discounts; discontinuing a free service or fixing the price of one component of an overall service; adhering uniformly to previously-announced prices and terms of sale; establishing uniform costs and markups; imposing mandatory surcharges; purposefully reducing output or sales; or purposefully sharing or "pooling" markets, territories, or customers.

Price-fixing (also referred to as price controlling) in the United States and Canada

In the United States, price fixing can be prosecuted as a criminal felony offence under section 1 of the Sherman Act. In Canada, it is an indictable criminal offence under section 45 of the Competition Act. Bid rigging is considered a form of price fixing and is illegal in both the United States (s.1 Sherman Act) and Canada (s.47 Competition Act). In the United States, agreements to fix, raise, lower, stabilize, or otherwise set a price are illegal per se.[1] It does not matter if the price agreed upon is reasonable or for a good or altruistic cause; or if the agreement is explicit and formal or unspoken and tacit. In the United States, price-fixing also includes agreements to hold prices the same, discount prices (even if based on financial need or income), set credit terms, agree on a price schedule or scale, adopt a common formula to figure prices, banning price advertising, or agreeing to adhere to prices that one announces. [2] Although price fixing usually means sellers agreeing on price, it can also include agreements among buyers to fix the price at which they will buy products.

Under American law, exchanging prices among competitors can also violate the antitrust laws. This includes exchanging prices with either the intent to fix prices or if the exchange affects the prices individual competitors set. Proof that competitors have shared prices can be used as part of the evidence of an illegal price fixing agreement. [3] Experts generally advise that competitors avoid even the appearance of agreeing on price. [4]

Under U.S. law, price fixing is only illegal if it is intentional and comes about via communication or agreement between firms or individuals. It is not illegal for a firm to copy the price movements of a de facto market leader called price leadership, which has been seen to be the case in markets for breakfast cereals and cigarettes. But informal agreements or unspoken agreements to fix price also can violate the antitrust laws. The price-fixing laws apply to industries and professionals, for-profit concerns and non-profits and charities. [5] The United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division and United States Federal Trade Commission are responsible for enforcing federal price fixing laws; see also Sherman Antitrust Act. The Department of Justice handles both criminal and civil cases. As of 2004 under US law corporations may be fined up to $100 million for criminal price fixing; individuals can be charged and sentenced to prison sentences of up to 10 years for price-fixing violations. The Federal Trade Commission can prosecute firms for price fixing as a civil matter. Many State Attorneys General also bring antitrust cases and have antitrust offices, such as Virginia, New York, and California. Private individuals or organizations can bring their own lawsuits for triple damages for antitrust violations and also recover attorneys fees. [6].

You tried to conspire to raise and fix the price of a product I use. I don't appreciate it.

 

[MGReptiles]

Your right I am a scumbag..lol.. I was emailing Dennis as a Man and honestly do not see him as that anylonger. I was worried I was costing him sales, excuse me for caring about someone I hoenstly respected in this hobby! Some of the people in this hobby are really begenning to sicken me, if you dont like the way I do things, dont order! You all ike to play little behind the curtian games and I dont care anymore.. I have pleantly of customers tat are perfectly happy and will continue to be perfectly happy.. I will not post anything else here.. I am already sueing one forum and a few of its members because of this type of thing.. I sat and watched Dennis send PM's back and forth to Rich and then to You Dennis, which I dont have any respect for any longer btw, realy sad that drown men(supposed) act like 4th graders and "pass notes".. Get a life... Back to work for me

 

[jglass38]

Dennis, that should go in its own thread so everyone can see what's going on. Fantastic!

 

[MGReptiles]

Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:05:41 -0800 (PST)
From: [email protected] View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Johnson Controls and Rancos
To: [email protected]
Are you kidding me?? Sorry but this is not price fixing, I was trying to let you know I was not trying to undercut you! Inever used your thermostats to see how they are wired, a drunk monkey could wire them, I read the freakin instructions and actually had an eletriction/HVAC tech show me how to do it correctly. Its just amazing that when your trying to be nice to someone they spit in your face.. Your one upstanding person.

 

[MGReptiles]

Dont forget the rest little Thomas....

 

[DThomas]

I sat and watched Dennis send PM's back and forth to Rich and then to You Dennis, which I dont have any respect for any longer btw, realy sad that drown men(supposed) act like 4th graders and "pass notes".. Get a life... Back to work for me

I'll let my words in the email speak for themselves. And yes, I did PM Dennis Hultman about this to ask his opinion and to post this if he chose to so I did not look like you and Reptile Basics.

The PM's between Rich and I were for a completely different matter. It was actually about the thread and the illegal shipping of hots through the USPS.

Not going to get into a pissing match. I own my words and they are here for everyone to see.

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Dennis, that should go in its own thread so everyone can see what's going on. Fantastic!

I don’t find it fantastic. I found it disappointing enough to post that I disagree with the act. That's my point of view and that is all.