2700mm rail

[bonesbr549]

I went into a local store to buy the rail today and to my disapointment they did not have one.  I wanted to buy the rail local since I wanted to be able to put eyes on it to make sure since it's going to be a long one, that is not warped or damaged prior to taking it home. 

I have a question for Bob Marino or others(I mentioned Bob because I just ordered the paralle guids and they showed up fast and in good shape).  Have any of you had issues shipping the longer rails to have them arrive beat and banged up?  I'm ordering the lr32 and the 1400mm rail for that system.  I have the TS55 and the  rail  I purchased (55") came in a cardboard box that is pretty sturdy and I keep it for it's storage in the shop.

I mean I know people order the rails on line all the time, but I really would hate farting with the damaged stuff to return it, because UPS will just leave it at my door, so I will not be able to refuse if it appears damaged.  Am I worried over nothing?

 

[peter halle]

My long rail came in a container that had wooden sides and ends.  The top and bottom were tempered hardboard stapled to the wood.  I still use that to transport my rail.

 

[Corwin]

If you are getting the long rail to break down sheet goods, I highly recommend that you get the 3000mm rail rather than the 2700mm one.  But, there are several threads that cover this issue...

I don't own a 2700mm rail, but my 3000mm and 2424mm rails both came packaged as Peter has described above.  And both arrived in perfect shape.  Shorter rails are shipped in the cardboard containers.  I did have one 1900mm rail arrive shaped like a banana and my dealer had to replace that rail.  There really is no guarantee that any shipment from any vendor will arrive without damages.

 

[ajones]

I will be buying a long rail myself soon and this has been worrying me also,would not want the trouble of faffing around with a damaged rail,but the way you discribe the packing sound as if its not a issue.

 

[Bob Marino]

 
Festool packages their longer rail (95" and up) in Masonite on top and bottom and wood on the sides. It's heavy and very well protected. The shorter rails come in the cardboard box, and to be perfectly honest, is certainly not as well protected. UPS (from the pickup to the conveyor belts to the truck) can be brutal at times and a certain percentage can and does get damaged. Luckily, it is a small percentage, annoying though it is.

  Bob

 

[image132]

My long rail came in a container that had wooden sides and ends.  The top and bottom were tempered hardboard stapled to the wood.  I still use that to transport my rail.

The wood they use is very good. Having ordered a long one myself let me tell you it won't be a problem with the way they packaged it. I actually laughed because the Pine they used on the sides is actually of a better grade then the Pine we buy at our local wood shop. So I broke it down, pulled the pins out and kept the pine to use. Thank you Festool

Oh and the rail was in perfect condition.

 

[Corwin]

My long rail came in a container that had wooden sides and ends.  The top and bottom were tempered hardboard stapled to the wood.  I still use that to transport my rail.

The wood they use is very good. Having ordered a long one myself let me tell you it won't be a problem with the way they packaged it. I actually laughed because the Pine they used on the sides is actually of a better grade then the Pine we buy at our local wood shop. So I broke it down, pulled the pins out and kept the pine to use. Thank you Festool

Oh and the rail was in perfect condition.

If you don't need to use the pine elsewhere, as Chris has done, I would recommend that you try to carefully remove the staples while you unpack your new rail such that you can leave the box intact for rail storage.  Just a suggestion.

 

[Sean7a]

My long rail came in a container that had wooden sides and ends.  The top and bottom were tempered hardboard stapled to the wood.  I still use that to transport my rail.

Peter makes a great point, keep that box guys, you can use it for a long time.  It's simple, well designed and is a great way to protect your investment.

In regards to us dealers having issues with rails arriving dinged up I can say that it is less than 1% of my rail shipments that I have a problem with.  Don't know if it's MY UPS guy, buuut I've been pleasantly surprised.  Fes put sometime into making sure these puppies are well taken care of in transit, and they are.

 

[image132]

My long rail came in a container that had wooden sides and ends.  The top and bottom were tempered hardboard stapled to the wood.  I still use that to transport my rail.

The wood they use is very good. Having ordered a long one myself let me tell you it won't be a problem with the way they packaged it. I actually laughed because the Pine they used on the sides is actually of a better grade then the Pine we buy at our local wood shop. So I broke it down, pulled the pins out and kept the pine to use. Thank you Festool

Oh and the rail was in perfect condition.

If you don't need to use the pine elsewhere, as Chris has done, I would recommend that you try to carefully remove the staples while you unpack your new rail such that you can leave the box intact for rail storage.  Just a suggestion.

Yeah you see I don't move that rail around much so I mounted it on the wall (Some time in the future I will start a thread about my workshop and show you guys ) I don't know about you but I found that those staples are really hard to remove.
With that packaging I would find it hard to believe that someone could mess up the rail. I would think it would be pretty safe.

 

[bonesbr549]

 
Festool packages their longer rail (95" and up) in Masonite on top and bottom and wood on the sides. It's heavy and very well protected. The shorter rails come in the cardboard box, and to be perfectly honest, is certainly not as well protected. UPS (from the pickup to the conveyor belts to the truck) can be brutal at times and a certain percentage can and does get damaged. Luckily, it is a small percentage, annoying though it is.

  Bob

Thanks Bob and all that replied.  Order just placed.  We'll see how it goes.  (no shipping $$) Thanks Bob. 

 

[bonesbr549]

Dang worst fear realized.  Well the rail arrived today and it was damaged in shipping and I was not here to reject it the UPS guy just left it at the garage door.  Left a note for Bob.   What a bummer of a way to start the week-end.

[attachimg=#]

 

[tbellemare]

All guide rails are difficult to ship successfully.

I feel for both you and Bob...

Tom

 

[Bob Marino]

Yes, disappointing for all. What gets me, besides the customer disappointment in receiving a damaged product, Lords knows the costs (nonreimbursable) and extra work and aggravation for all involved, is the driver leaving an obviously damaged piece of equipment, without any type of paperwork at the customer's home, for the customer to start to sort things out.
But a bit of a lesson for me today. My UPS driver pulled in front of my house as she was delivering 3 boxes to me; 1 large, 2 small. I asked her how things were going. She said "haven't you heard, UPS is cutting back routes, asking drivers to carry more load". This was said as she was coming from the front of the truck to the back door, where I was waiting. As she was walking to the truck's back door, she was walking over, not around, but over a large box on the floor. And dealers and customers alike are almost helpless to the whims and work habits of the drivers.
  Bob

 

[NVA_WW]

A friend's dad works for UPS.  His dad does not use UPS for shipping.  Isn't that ironic?

 

[ajones]

what a Pain.........So what happens now?, who pays is it Bob? or the carrier? what happens to the damaged rail?

 

[ward]

Yes, disappointing for all. What gets me, besides the customer disappointment in receiving a damaged product, Lords knows the costs (nonreimbursable) and extra work and aggravation for all involved, is the driver leaving an obviously damaged piece of equipment, without any type of paperwork at the customer's home, for the customer to start to sort things out.
But a bit of a lesson for me today. My UPS driver pulled in front of my house as she was delivering 3 boxes to me; 1 large, 2 small. I asked her how things were going. She said "haven't you heard, UPS is cutting back routes, asking drivers to carry more load". This was said as she was coming from the front of the truck to the back door, where I was waiting. As she was walking to the truck's back door, she was walking over, not around, but over a large box on the floor. And dealers and customers alike are almost helpless to the whims and work habits of the drivers.
  Bob

I think this is a very serious issue that dealers and clients need to face. It's clear that the factory packaging on some items is grossly insufficient for the realities of even domestic, much less international shipping. Some items clearly need to be re~packed and eventually the customer is going to pay for it. Either up front as an option with explanation, Ideally a value added commodity by better dealers, or the other way with frustration and finger pointing and more losses for everyone. A laminate kick, or panels for the tables  or some such would likely imho. . .

 

[image132]

Yes, disappointing for all. What gets me, besides the customer disappointment in receiving a damaged product, Lords knows the costs (nonreimbursable) and extra work and aggravation for all involved, is the driver leaving an obviously damaged piece of equipment, without any type of paperwork at the customer's home, for the customer to start to sort things out.
But a bit of a lesson for me today. My UPS driver pulled in front of my house as she was delivering 3 boxes to me; 1 large, 2 small. I asked her how things were going. She said "haven't you heard, UPS is cutting back routes, asking drivers to carry more load". This was said as she was coming from the front of the truck to the back door, where I was waiting. As she was walking to the truck's back door, she was walking over, not around, but over a large box on the floor. And dealers and customers alike are almost helpless to the whims and work habits of the drivers.
 Bob

I think this is a very serious issue that dealers and clients need to face. It's clear that the factory packaging on some items is grossly insufficient for the realities of even domestic, much less international shipping. Some items clearly need to be re~packed and eventually the customer is going to pay for it. Either up front as an option with explanation, Ideally a value added commodity by better dealers, or the other way with frustration and finger pointing and more losses for everyone. A laminate kick, or panels for the tables  or some such would likely imho. . .

No, I think the packaging is fine. I ordered a 2400 rail it was not damaged at all. As far as I am aware that counts as international shipping yes? I will say one thing though looking at the condition of the packaging that bonesbr549 (Sorry I don't know your name) posted is horribly damaged compared to the packaging that I received. Like I said everything was so well kept that I could reuse the wood even.

However I looked at the sticker on the packaging that I had got and it was sent by DHL. I don't have much experience with couriers so I don't know if DHL are better than UPS. Another thing is that it got shipped to my dealers shop where I picked it up not my house, so maybe they just shoved it in with the normal rout the guy makes to my dealers shop.

 

[mouppe]

DHL is part of Deutsche Post. Like Festool, I am sensing a German quality theme here.

Richard.

 

[Bob Marino]

Yes, disappointing for all. What gets me, besides the customer disappointment in receiving a damaged product, Lords knows the costs (nonreimbursable) and extra work and aggravation for all involved, is the driver leaving an obviously damaged piece of equipment, without any type of paperwork at the customer's home, for the customer to start to sort things out.
But a bit of a lesson for me today. My UPS driver pulled in front of my house as she was delivering 3 boxes to me; 1 large, 2 small. I asked her how things were going. She said "haven't you heard, UPS is cutting back routes, asking drivers to carry more load". This was said as she was coming from the front of the truck to the back door, where I was waiting. As she was walking to the truck's back door, she was walking over, not around, but over a large box on the floor. And dealers and customers alike are almost helpless to the whims and work habits of the drivers.
  Bob

I think this is a very serious issue that dealers and clients need to face. It's clear that the factory packaging on some items is grossly insufficient for the realities of even domestic, much less international shipping. Some items clearly need to be re~packed and eventually the customer is going to pay for it. Either up front as an option with explanation, Ideally a value added commodity by better dealers, or the other way with frustration and finger pointing and more losses for everyone. A laminate kick, or panels for the tables  or some such would likely imho. . .

  Ward,

Good points, especially regarding the smaller rails that are shipped in carboard boxes with some cardboard reinforcements. Everyone, including Festool,  is looking into supplemental or different packaging for the shorter rails (75" and shorter), but the 2700 comes in masonite and wood; pretty tough.

Bob

 

[jonny round boy]

Is the rail bent?

For me, the damage just looks superficial. If it were mine I'm sure I'd be pretty miffed too, but at the end of the day it's a functional item, a tool, not a piece of artwork.

If it is just a bit of superficial damage, then you might have to just accept that it's scuffed & move on. I'm sure Bob would be happy to send you a new edge strip to replace the damaged one. Eventually with a rail that long, you're going to ding it on one end yourself while turning it round anyway. Now, you won't feel as bad when that happens...

Sure, you could argue that you bought a new item, and that's what you want but isn't what you've got. If you insisted on having it replaced, then that would cause huge issues for Bob, and to some extent you too. Whatever the outcome of a complaint, UPS won't pay up for their mistake, it will be an innocent party (Bob) that loses out.

As I said above, if I were in your shoes I might see things differently, but as an impartial observer I think the best outcome would just be for you & Bob to come to some arrangement about it - I'm thinking a new edge strip & maybe some small accessory to compensate.

Of course if the rail is bent, then that's a different story & you'll have no option but to reject it...