New Lathe Shipping Concerns

[Stan Smith]

I'm ready to get a Jet 1221vs midi lathe. I currently have a Jet mini. Yesterday, I read some horror stories about damaged shipments of these lathes. One guy had to send the first 2 back and his 3rd shipment was okay. Others only had one return. I see that this lathe weighs over 130 lbs. so I can see how some UPS drivers might have difficulty getting it off the truck and so some just drop the item off the back. Right now, Amazon seems to have the best price on this lathe at $787. Since I'm a prime member, I get free shipping. I'm thinking that other sources, such as Woodcraft, would also use either UPS or Fedex. In summary, it looks like using these delivery sources might be a crap shoot as to whether the lathe will arrive undamaged. I'm not sure how much other shipping would cost but I'm thinking at least $100. I'm not sure if I want to go through the hassle of returning heavy shipments to save $100. Does anyone know a reliable delivery company that has the capability to handle this type of shipment without damage? I realize that I would have to purchase the lathe from a source that uses that company. Thanks for any suggestions/comments.

Stan

[Rich Aldrich]

I would be concerned if you were buying a Grizzly as my table saw came in strapped upside down on a skid. This was back in 2000. I dont know if they have solved their packaging issue yet. However, all of my other equipment I have had shipped without issues. In 2010, I bought a Jet 1642 EVS 1 1/2 HP lathe and the box was perfect. Most of the companies both selling and hauling are normally good. The issue is people post when there are problems and dont think about it if there arent problems. It makes it look like it is a big deal.Most of the time you will not have problems.


The jet lathe was purchased through Amazon and shipped right from the Jet warehouse. No issues with shipping or damage.

If the package is damaged, most of the time common carrier drives will allow you to investigate before signing for the equipment. In the case of my table saw, we noted the issues and I took pictures. I ended up with a new table saw top free paid by the carrier because I signed with exceptions noting the packaging damage. Grizzly shipped the new top to me before everything was settled, so in three days the saw was running with the new top.

[Keith Outten]

Honestly I doubt there is a reliable shipping company left in this entire country. There have been so many problems reported here in our Forums over the last couple years. My own experience has been terrible shipping items from my shop to customers last year I don't want to even think about shipping anything these days. Its not how well anything is crated when the shipper sticks pallet forks through the crate, drops the item or in my case drives over my plywood box with a fork lift.

I drove from, Virginia to Delaware a few months ago to pick up my new band saw. I was able to inspect it before it was loaded and I was careful transporting and unloading and now I'm glad I did.
.

[Stan Smith]

@rich

Don't get me wrong. I've had a lot of stuff shipped from Amazon that arrived in good shape. There have been very few times when they didn't do an adequate job with packing and once when I refused delivery. I bought a Jet DC and UPS driver pushed it off the back of the truck because she didn't have the strength to lower it down and I didn't get out there in time to help. The bottom was dented but I kept it anyway since doing returns is a hassle. Sometimes they have shipped Fedex Heavy and those trucks have a pallet jack on board. The heaviest thing I ever got was a Delta 8" jointer and that came with no damage as did my table saw. I'm just trying to find out if there's a way to avoid a crap shoot by getting my lathe from some place that has a competent deliverer.

[Stan Smith]

@Keith
I have driven to the truck terminal to pick stuff up with no problems. It's only UPS that I've had problems and even then it's not the driver's fault since the shipment is tossed and banged around so much before it even gets to our town. Judging from your comments, Keith, it looks like a crap shoot anyway. Sadly, I live in the boonies and there's no place for me to drive to to piick the item up. There's a Woodcraft store in Sacramento, but that's a 380 mi roundtrip, 6 hour drive. I would just as soon pay the shipping cost.

[Greg Just]

I purchased a Jet Lathe and a Jet table saw over the internet. Both were delivered via commercial carrier with a lift gate (no extra charge) and there was no damage. There were missing parts, but that was the fault of someone at the factory.

[Mark Motquin]

When my mustard monster was delivered it came by Estes trucking, driver was great, he took it off the truck with a pallet loader and pushed it up a 300 foot driveway right into the garage. Couldn't ask for better results.

[Eric Holmquist]

When my mustard monster was delivered it came by Estes trucking, driver was great, he took it off the truck with a pallet loader and pushed it up a 300 foot driveway right into the garage. Couldn't ask for better results.

I had similarly great experience with Estes when they delivered my AB

[John King]

Bought a Jet dust collector from Amazon. Arrived with dent in blower housing. Talked to Amazon representative. Struck a deal with them. Amazon reimbursed me for factory part to replace dented blower housing. I install part and toss dented part in the recycle bin. Dust collector like new. Everyone wins. I get factory new dust collector. No hassle or cost to return damaged dust collector. No shipping on replacement dust collector.

So, I would not hesitate to order equipment from Amazon. If something arrives damaged, I believe you can strike a no cost deal with them to remedy the problem. When it comes to dealing with delivery of damaged goods, I have found Amazon to be way more customer friendly than trucking/freight companies. - John

[Thom Sturgill]

Two choices - go to someone like Sears that you can drive to and have them ship to a store, or deal with a company that specialises in larger tools, they generally deal with shippers other than UPS and FEDEX. You might get either lift gate service (extra $$) or go the the depot to pick it up.

[Stan Smith]

I emailed this shipping question to Amazon customer service. They responded that for the weight of this item, they use a trucking carrier and not UPS or Fedex. They said someone from the carrier would call me and arrange a delivery date and time. I went ahead and ordered the item but chose 3-5 day shipping rather than 2-day shipping hoping that they will not ship UPS or Fedex. When the shipment gets here, probably in a week or so, I'll post again with the condition of the arrival. Thanks for all your comments.

Stan

[john snowdon]

I had similarly great experience with Estes when they delivered my AB

+1 for Estes.They have delivered 2 or 3 of my machines perfectly every time. Drivers were nice, lift gate service with delivery into my garage excellent.

[Michael Mahan]

try Enco as they use Estes or Atlas for the purchase both had free truck freight with free lift gate as well

[Rob Price]

My delta 460 came fedex no problems. I honestly think you're at the mercy of the driver who has to manually offload the package. I'd imagine it's lifted from truck to truck with jacks and dollies while in transit. I had issues with on trucking company- can't remember who- with my SawStop TS. the boxes were badly damaged, the only injury to the saw was chipped paint on the front rail. And I picked that up at the terminal. My 3520 arrived in pristine condition last month. Luck of the draw I guess.

[Stan Smith]

I agree with you, Rob. I think that luck has a lot to do with it. My experience has been that the drivers for the larger carriers provide better service than UPS or Fedex, but the big trucks also have lift gates, etc.. Also their delivery schedule may not be as crowded. I guess I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I'll get lucky and get an undamaged shipment. I'm not concerned about chipped paint, but I am about the centers not lining up. I've read that the complaints show more because the people who's stuff arrives ok write fewer reviews. That makes sense to me. My Jet 1014vs arrived with no problems, packed inside styrafoam in a strong cardboard box. I offered to get a hand truck, but the UPS guy just shouldered the package and set it in the garage (I have a short driveway). Of course the 1014 is a lot lighter than the 1221. Yeah, you can send things back, but if the package is messed up, you have to go find materials to get the item re-packaged to ship back and some times take it to a terminal somewhere. Then you have to wait again to get a replacement. I guess this is just a fact of life in buying equipment online with home delivery. Okay, I'm telling myself to just get used to it now. :)

[Jeffrey J Smith]

[QUOTE=Stan Smith; I guess this is just a fact of life in buying equipment online with home delivery. Okay, I'm telling myself to just get used to it now. :)[/QUOTE]
There's another option - buy from a local dealer, pay a little more and have them deliver and setup. Makes it their responsibility...

[Stan Smith]

I live in the boonies. There are no local dealers.

[Jeffrey J Smith]

Stan - didn't mean that to sound snarky - but where do you go to buy tools? Sacramento is a ways away, but still, when it comes to making major tool purchases I'd rather drive a bit and get what I want than depend on an online retailer that often couldn't care less about my concerns...I do but some things on line, but I guess you'd classify them more as supplies than tools.

[Dick Strauss]

A lot of these items like the Jet 1221 lathes are shipped directly from the factory. There may not be an option to pick up at the store because the store doesn't want to have the inventory or pay for the shipping.

[Stan Smith]

I really do try to buy local. We do have a Home Depot and Lowes as well as HF. I am able to find some stuff at these places, but I have been buying all my major tools, such as a table saw, online for years. I tried to buy local but they never had what I wanted. Of course they would order it and I would be charged for the shipping most of the time. None offered the option of setting the equip. up. I bought some satin wipe-on poly at OSH here. I went back to buy some gloss, but they didn't carry that so I had to drive 6 miles across town to Lowes to find it. Many times I have to go to 3 different hardware stores just to find a 90 3/4" pvc fitting. The stores carry it, but the bins are empty for that part. Being an Amazon prime member is a real advantage for me. YMMV.