Does Shipping Film Make You Crazy Nervous ?

DF · Sep 22, 2021

So, I got me 4 rolls of Ektachrome that have to go out-of-state to be processed, and this time around, I will NOT go with the Post Office for it took forever the last time.
Hmm, guess I'll try Fed-Ex. 'Never tried them, nor UPS - always Post Office.
O.K. at Fed-Ex, front counter had some kind of training day for newbies as they were all cluelessly looking at each other, haggling, second guessing, while glancing back at the instructor. 'Give'm a chance' I kept telling myself, as I waited and waited till something told me to just get the he_ _ out'a there, these are all your Summertime color shots and G_d forbid if.........
So I darted across the parking lot to UPS. No waiting there, but again, a young newbie whom I got jitters because he didn't even put the sticker on the small box but set it aside next to other outgoing packages. 'Is this right' I wonder. He then asked me what's in the package - it's standard now. I said "film". I then inquired about x-rays and all that and his supervisor said I could request a "Do Not X-Ray".
Anyhow, tracking indicated my pack should've gotten there yesterday 9/20, but now it says it's arrival won't be untill this Friday 9/24.
Should I be worried...??

cramej · Sep 22, 2021

I always use priority mail for my film. Never had a mishap. There are lots of shipping delays right now so I wouldn't worry.

guangong · Sep 22, 2021

USPS has collapsed, using the Chinese virus as an excuse. A package eventually delivered to me took three days travel time from California to Jersey City, but over two weeks to cover about 50 miles. I used to use USPS, but if mail is important, I use Fed Ex. I have found them very helpful.
As far as being questioned about contents of package, this is common in today’s environment, although I doubt that terrorists would answer in the affirmative.
In short, I have never had a problem shipping film.

Nodda Duma · Sep 22, 2021

I ship dry plates to customers just about every day. In the States they go USPS Priority. To retailers FedEx ground. Outside the US they go DHL or Priority International.

In the States, Priority shipments get to their destination in 1-3 days except during holiday shopping season Nov 15th to about Jan 30th where that extends to 1-3 weeks.

I’ve had 7 total damaged shipments out of *thousands* of shipments per year. Most of those from French customs.

Alan9940 · Sep 22, 2021

I always ship film USPS Priority Mail. I've never had an instance of it not arriving, but, unlike stated above, many times I have had the trek take longer than the 1-3 days stated by the PO.

Nodda Duma · Sep 22, 2021

To be fair, mail flies out of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to everywhere in the US, and internationally out of Boston, so being so near major postal hubs definitely cuts down ship time.

Patrick Robert James · Sep 22, 2021

If you are really concerned then send it registered mail.

wiltw · Sep 22, 2021

guangong said:
USPS has collapsed, using the Chinese virus as an excuse. A package eventually delivered to me took three days travel time from California to Jersey City, but over two weeks to cover about 50 miles. I used to use USPS, but if mail is important, I use Fed Ex. I have found them very helpful.
As far as being questioned about contents of package, this is common in today’s environment, although I doubt that terrorists would answer in the affirmative.
In short, I have never had a problem shipping film.

No, not that as an excuse. A DELIBERATE slowdown caused by removal of equipment from all over the country, at the orders of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy during the adminstration before the current one.
https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/12/21/frank-defilippo-dejoy-to-the-world-your-mail-wont-come/

He just formalized making it even worse in recent months.
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-postal-service-slow-first-class-mail-deliveries-dejoy-cuts-2021-8

"While acknowledging 'some uncomfortable changes', DeJoy defended the plan earlier on Friday at a board of governors meeting, saying it makes a commitment to deliver to 'every address in the nation, six days a week, and strives for financial sustainability.'"

No joy with DeJoy running USPS (US Postal Slowdown)

logan2z · Sep 22, 2021

As others have mentioned, shipping has become crazy slow.

It recently took over a week for some processed film of mine to get from a lab in LA to the SF Bay Area via FedEx Ground. Under normal circumstances it takes two days. A recent BH order took two weeks to get to me, also via FedEx Ground. That's twice as long as usual. I've seen similar delays when using UPS and USPS.

Unfortunately this seems to be the new normal, just be patient.

Duceman · Sep 22, 2021

As of late, I have had shipments delayed. But as of yet, USPS has never lost any package of mine, either sending or receiving.

However, as they say, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Maybe ship two packages of two rolls each? What are the odds both packages are irretrievably lost?

BrianShaw · Sep 22, 2021

I always use USPS, generally with the "free mailing envelope" provided by the film processing company. That offers tracking, which sometimes is good/accurate/current and sometimes isn't. Never ever had film go astray. Some has gone to unexpected locations as it made the journey but always got to the final destination in a reasonable amount of time.

The anticipated arrival dates are almost always bogus. More often than not the actual delivery beats the projected date day.

Regarding the date change... I've seen that too. I believe the latest projection as it's probably based on more current information than the initial projection. Nothing to worry about. Most important is knowing that they have the package and are working on moving it to the destination. Look at the tracking details as that might reveal why the date changed. In the past, for me, it has been storms/flooding and misdirection of the package that seemed to cause significant changes in projected delivery.

DF · Sep 22, 2021

Registered Mail / Priority are more expensive.
Mine's going to the Upper Peninsula Michigan.
Tracking indicates it's back in Illinois after being in Grand Rapids. Up through Wisconsin or through Mainland Michigan than across the water ??

flavio81 · Sep 22, 2021

I have used USPS many times but i don't like it. In japan a shipping using FedEx International Priority or DHL costs about the same price (or less!) than the same item shipped with USPS Intl' Priority from the US. And it's far faster.

mshchem · Sep 22, 2021

USPS Priority Mail is a very reliable service. Small box. Timing is as much of where you mail from as anything. FedEx handles a lot of USPS Priority shipments, not overnight but usually unsmashed. I don't think anyone uses X-rays. If there's a question the package is opened.

faberryman · Sep 22, 2021

If you are really concerned about your film being lost or damaged in the mail, you might want to consider processing at home.

mwdake · Sep 22, 2021

I have used USPS lots and never had any problems except one weird shipment a few years ago.

I sold a few small Jobo items to a gentleman in a small town somewhere in British Columbia.
I live in the Tampa area and shipped USPS small package.
It set off via Atlanta and New York then Toronto and seemed to stop there. A few days later it was back on the move but now in Miami.
Then it went to Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver and finally to the recipient.
Seems the folks in Toronto said you can't send this way up the east coast so rather than sending across Canada they sent it all the way back to to cross the US then up the west coast into Canada.

It would have been good to get airlines miles for that one.

flavio81 · Sep 22, 2021

mshchem said:
USPS Priority Mail is a very reliable service.

mwdake said:
I have used USPS lots and never had any problems .

I forgot to mention that i'm outside the USA. My point of view is the one of an international buyer.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 22, 2021

Patrick Robert James said:
If you are really concerned then send it registered mail.

When I bought our house eight years ago, a registered letter we sent to the seller's lawyer took three weeks from Queens in NYC to Long Island less than 50 miles away. It got misplaced by them somewhere along the route. I've been told you have better luck with regular mail. Maybe it has to do with their special handling that sidetracks and delays registered and certified mail.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 22, 2021

I send my film by mail for development from NJ to CA all the time. They send it back the same way.

Does Shipping Film Make You Crazy Nervous ?

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