"Remain Calm and Build the Plane" - Shipping Damage - Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers2024-03-28T16:46:35Zhttps://zenith.aero/forum/topics/remain-calm-and-build-the-plane-shipping-damage?xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFormer shipping industry guy…tag:zenith.aero,2020-11-30:2606393:Comment:7825552020-11-30T14:33:15.650ZPatrick Hoythttps://zenith.aero/profile/PatrickHoyt
<p>Former shipping industry guy here (many years ago, multiple companies). You'd be shocked at some of the stuff that happens in sorting facilities and on loading docks. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Ramming/shoving/dragging heavy freight with a forklift is standard practice, which no doubt is how your crate got damaged. It's not just your crate, it's all the other stuff that is rammed into it. All that matters (to the guys on the loading dock) is getting the stuff loaded and out the…</p>
<p>Former shipping industry guy here (many years ago, multiple companies). You'd be shocked at some of the stuff that happens in sorting facilities and on loading docks. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Ramming/shoving/dragging heavy freight with a forklift is standard practice, which no doubt is how your crate got damaged. It's not just your crate, it's all the other stuff that is rammed into it. All that matters (to the guys on the loading dock) is getting the stuff loaded and out the door.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Forklift "spearing" sometimes happens. That can be pretty bad. Once saw where four metal drums of hazmat (strapped to a wooden pallet) got "speared" by a forklift. Down the road it went.......</p>
<p></p> Good points Bob. Indeed, the…tag:zenith.aero,2020-11-30:2606393:Comment:7824482020-11-30T05:49:31.087ZTim Joneshttps://zenith.aero/profile/TimJones532
<p>Good points Bob. Indeed, the $$$$$ of added shipping charges with the multiple sub kit approach really gets ones attention after a while. The shipping charges from Mexico to the Pacific NW were just shy of $1000 for the fuselage and controls kit that I just received.</p>
<p></p>
<p>One benefit of the subcomponent approach in my case was that had I ordered the BIG BOX several years ago, I may have missed out on the pre-drilled longerons and pre-cut angles in the new fuselage kits. I am just…</p>
<p>Good points Bob. Indeed, the $$$$$ of added shipping charges with the multiple sub kit approach really gets ones attention after a while. The shipping charges from Mexico to the Pacific NW were just shy of $1000 for the fuselage and controls kit that I just received.</p>
<p></p>
<p>One benefit of the subcomponent approach in my case was that had I ordered the BIG BOX several years ago, I may have missed out on the pre-drilled longerons and pre-cut angles in the new fuselage kits. I am just starting out on the bottom fuselage assembly, but it is very obvious that this is a huge timesaver. </p>
<p></p>
<p>I do think, however, that for future builders contemplating the BIG BOX vs multiple smaller subcomponent kits, one has to weigh the challenge of part management but with access to the full parts set vs the fewer parts to manage, but with significant additional freight costs and some issues about not having all the parts you may want to examine or install when you feel you need them. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Tim</p> Ouch. Glad to hear everything…tag:zenith.aero,2020-11-30:2606393:Comment:7821302020-11-30T03:16:49.751ZBob Johnsonhttps://zenith.aero/profile/BobJohnson
<p>Ouch. Glad to hear everything's OK.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like you, I ordered the individual kits, and fortunately Estes Freight delivered them in excellent condition every time. Also like you, if I had to do it again I wouldn't do it that way.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'd still order the rudder kit first to get a feel for the kit and acquire the minimum number of tools. I still think ordering the horizontal tail/elevator kit second like I did is OK, because it's not that expensive to ship, is relatively…</p>
<p>Ouch. Glad to hear everything's OK.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like you, I ordered the individual kits, and fortunately Estes Freight delivered them in excellent condition every time. Also like you, if I had to do it again I wouldn't do it that way.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'd still order the rudder kit first to get a feel for the kit and acquire the minimum number of tools. I still think ordering the horizontal tail/elevator kit second like I did is OK, because it's not that expensive to ship, is relatively self-contained, yet is involved enough to give one some idea of how involved a full build will be.</p>
<p></p>
<p>However, knowing what I know now, I'd then order the rest of the kit in full, less the tail kits already received. I would have saved a few thousands in shipping and crating fees. Furthermore, as I eventually found out, the rest of the component kits overlap. To finish the fuselage kit there are parts of the wing kit you really need, to finish the wing kit it helps to have the fuselage kit complete to a certain stage, and there's parts of the finishing kit that you really need to complete both. At least that's what I ran into, and why I ordered everything eventually and now have various plane parts scattered around the garage, shed, living room and a bedroom.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like you, I was very impressed with the excellent job Zenith Aircraft did building and packing my crates.</p> Experienced some damage to ou…tag:zenith.aero,2020-11-28:2606393:Comment:7811902020-11-28T20:43:50.437ZLoren Warnerhttps://zenith.aero/profile/LorenWarner
<p>Experienced some damage to ours as well a few years ago, and Zenith didn't hesitate to replace missing or damaged parts, at no cost to me.</p>
<p>Experienced some damage to ours as well a few years ago, and Zenith didn't hesitate to replace missing or damaged parts, at no cost to me.</p> I'm convinced also they can'…tag:zenith.aero,2020-11-28:2606393:Comment:7809422020-11-28T14:06:08.367ZJohn Austinhttps://zenith.aero/profile/JohnLAustin
<p><em> I'm convinced also they can't read English!</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>They can read ... they just don't care! :<(</p>
<p></p>
<p>The solution: a regional delivery company out of Chattanooga delivered my big-screen TV in pristine condition. I told the delivery man how relieved I was it arrived OK since previously, DHL had <em>crushed</em> a big-screen TV I ordered, <em>crushed</em> the replacement, and finally got it right the third time! </p>
<p></p>
<p>He said it was not a problem at…</p>
<p><em> I'm convinced also they can't read English!</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>They can read ... they just don't care! :<(</p>
<p></p>
<p>The solution: a regional delivery company out of Chattanooga delivered my big-screen TV in pristine condition. I told the delivery man how relieved I was it arrived OK since previously, DHL had <em>crushed</em> a big-screen TV I ordered, <em>crushed</em> the replacement, and finally got it right the third time! </p>
<p></p>
<p>He said it was not a problem at his company: if anyone handling any carton or crate marked "fragile" damaged the item, they immediately were terminated. Problem solved!</p>
<p></p>
<p>John</p>
<p>N750A</p> I had an almost exact crate d…tag:zenith.aero,2020-11-27:2606393:Comment:7805142020-11-27T22:16:51.691ZNorm Neulshttps://zenith.aero/profile/NormNeuls
<p>I had an almost exact crate damage situation a few years ago when having parts and skins shipped from Zenith. The shipping crew at Zenith do a great job in constructing sturdy crates but the trucking outfit fork lift operators can tear up the working parts of an anvil. I'm convinced also they can't read English!</p>
<p>I had an almost exact crate damage situation a few years ago when having parts and skins shipped from Zenith. The shipping crew at Zenith do a great job in constructing sturdy crates but the trucking outfit fork lift operators can tear up the working parts of an anvil. I'm convinced also they can't read English!</p>