Wanna smash a CRT? Let Australia Post do it.

[Bob Parker]

Hi again,
I've taken apart a DSE Q1803 CRO to confirm why there was no trace
on the screen after it was sent through Australia Post, packed in its
own padded carton, inside an Australia Post carton with more padding,
marked 'Fragile'.
These photos tell the story:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt1.JPG
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt2.JPG

Australia Post has said that the packing was adequate, but because
there was no external evidence of damage to the carton or CRO,
obviously their handling had nothing to do with it.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman said Australia Post conducted an
adequate investigation into my complaint and has followed all the
rules, so too bad.
This isn't the first time I've had electronic stuff damaged by
being violently thrown around by Australia Post. I've even heard of
them wrecking a cast iron 1927 sewing machine.
If you want to send something which is the slightest bit fragile,
Australia Post are not the people to trust with it.

Bob

 

[Trevor Wilson]

Hi again,
I've taken apart a DSE Q1803 CRO to confirm why there was no trace
on the screen after it was sent through Australia Post, packed in its
own padded carton, inside an Australia Post carton with more padding,
marked 'Fragile'.
These photos tell the story:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt1.JPG
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt2.JPG

Australia Post has said that the packing was adequate, but because
there was no external evidence of damage to the carton or CRO,
obviously their handling had nothing to do with it.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman said Australia Post conducted an
adequate investigation into my complaint and has followed all the
rules, so too bad.
This isn't the first time I've had electronic stuff damaged by
being violently thrown around by Australia Post. I've even heard of
them wrecking a cast iron 1927 sewing machine.
If you want to send something which is the slightest bit fragile,
Australia Post are not the people to trust with it.

**Australia Post is bad. However, if you REALLY want a truly appalling
freight company, you could use TNT. They have managed to destroy some very
sturdily constructed products (along with similarly sturdily constructed
packaging). By comparison, I have found Australia Post to be quite
reasonable.

 

[Mark Harriss]

Hi again,
I've taken apart a DSE Q1803 CRO to confirm why there was no trace
on the screen after it was sent through Australia Post, packed in its
own padded carton, inside an Australia Post carton with more padding,
marked 'Fragile'.
These photos tell the story:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt1.JPG
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt2.JPG

Australia Post has said that the packing was adequate, but because
there was no external evidence of damage to the carton or CRO,
obviously their handling had nothing to do with it.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman said Australia Post conducted an
adequate investigation into my complaint and has followed all the
rules, so too bad.
This isn't the first time I've had electronic stuff damaged by
being violently thrown around by Australia Post. I've even heard of
them wrecking a cast iron 1927 sewing machine.
If you want to send something which is the slightest bit fragile,
Australia Post are not the people to trust with it.

Bob

They advised me that my parcel would have to survive a minimum 2
metre drop onto a concrete floor as the parcels often fall off the
end of the conveyor when the staff don't get to the parcel in time.

A guy I know swears that they empty steel bins full of parcels into
the back of trucks using a forklift type machine.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Hi again,
I've taken apart a DSE Q1803 CRO to confirm why there was no trace
on the screen after it was sent through Australia Post, packed in its
own padded carton, inside an Australia Post carton with more padding,
marked 'Fragile'.
These photos tell the story:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt1.JPG
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt2.JPG

Australia Post has said that the packing was adequate, but because
there was no external evidence of damage to the carton or CRO,
obviously their handling had nothing to do with it.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman said Australia Post conducted an
adequate investigation into my complaint and has followed all the
rules, so too bad.
This isn't the first time I've had electronic stuff damaged by
being violently thrown around by Australia Post. I've even heard of
them wrecking a cast iron 1927 sewing machine.

The morons at Australia Post are too stupid to understand that an
article the size of a Reader's Digest can easily fit through an
opening the size of a Silicon Chip mag. It seems that nobody bothered
to screen these idiots with a square-peg-in-a-round-hole IQ test. As
for shipping damage, the mistake you made was to identify it as
fragile.

What bugs me is that no carrier will accept responsibility for the
goods they are paid to carry. The law expects *you* to insure yourself
against *their* negligence.

If you want to send something which is the slightest bit fragile,
Australia Post are not the people to trust with it.

Bob

Based on my negative experiences with Australia Post, and with various
couriers, especially TNT, I can't recommend any carrier. There are too
many thieves, too many idiots, and too many lazy and malicious
bastards.

- Franc Zabkar

 

[The Real Andy]

On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 10:40:54 +1000, Franc Zabkar

Based on my negative experiences with Australia Post, and with various
couriers, especially TNT, I can't recommend any carrier. There are too
many thieves, too many idiots, and too many lazy and malicious
bastards.

- Franc Zabkar

Based on my experiences of doing contract jobs for transport/freight
companies I can assure you they are all the same. When you have
minimum wage, drug smoking casual staff driving the forklifts and
throwing the parcels around you are bound to get damage. Its for this
reason that you can make shitloads of money doing maintenance and
selling replacement parts to these companies!!!

Also based on my experiences of doing contract work, customs are by
far the worst of the lot.

At the end of the day, if you want compensation then buy insurance.
Unfrtunatly there is not much more you can do.


BTW: The worst I have seen is DHL, Toll Ipec. Australia post use a lot
of contracters, and that is where the problems lie. The auspost mail
handling facilities are actually fairly good.

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi again,
I've taken apart a DSE Q1803 CRO to confirm why there was no trace
on the screen after it was sent through Australia Post, packed in its
own padded carton, inside an Australia Post carton with more padding,
marked 'Fragile'.
These photos tell the story:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt1.JPG
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt2.JPG

Australia Post has said that the packing was adequate, but because
there was no external evidence of damage to the carton or CRO,
obviously their handling had nothing to do with it.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman said Australia Post conducted an
adequate investigation into my complaint and has followed all the
rules, so too bad.
This isn't the first time I've had electronic stuff damaged by
being violently thrown around by Australia Post. I've even heard of
them wrecking a cast iron 1927 sewing machine.
If you want to send something which is the slightest bit fragile,
Australia Post are not the people to trust with it.

Bob

Someone has to come out with a good story I guess.
I've shipped hundreds of fragile electronic items through Australia
post, never had a single problem.

On the lost/stolen side of things, I've shipped thousands of items
through Aust Post and never had a single one gone missing.

I've probably jinxed myself now right?

Dave

 

[Phil Allison]

"Bob Parker"

These photos tell the story:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/crt1.JPG

** Was the CRO set to you ( from DSE) or by you ?

IOW - how do you know when the damage happened.


BTW

Is there any indication on that label of where the CRT was made?

I see a lot of Chinese made valves with fractures in the glass where no
impact has occurred.




........ Phil

 

[Bob Parker]

** Was the CRO set to you ( from DSE) or by you ?

IOW - how do you know when the damage happened.


BTW

Is there any indication on that label of where the CRT was made?

I see a lot of Chinese made valves with fractures in the glass where no
impact has occurred.




....... Phil

G'day Phil,
A mate of mine happened to have one he'd used a little bit then
didn't need again, so I bought it off him. It was working fine for
months before he carefully packed it up and sent it to me by
registered post which automatically has insurance up to $100.
It looks like the electron gun assembly flexed sideways and
fractured the glass where two of the electron gun supports touch it.
Yeah, the CRT's a Chinese-made 8SJ31J which seems to be a fairly
common type. I'll see if I can find a replacement.
I'm gunna put the whole story including correspondence between me
and Aust Post and the Ombudsperson on my website when I get the
chance.

Bob

 

[Phil Allison]

"Bob Parker"
Phil Allison

G'day Phil,

A mate of mine happened to have one he'd used a little bit then
didn't need again, so I bought it off him.

** So was that David ( aka "quietguy" ) from Kalgoorlie ?

Its a long trip from there to Sydney.

It looks like the electron gun assembly flexed sideways and
fractured the glass where two of the electron gun supports touch it.

** Very hard to believe that is the result of a fall impact with zero damage
to the packaging or scope.

The electron gun has SFA mass and is supported and centred by internal
metal springs.

Yeah, the CRT's a Chinese-made 8SJ31J which seems to be a fairly
common type. I'll see if I can find a replacement.

** A new scope may well be cheaper.

Last CRO tube a purchased ( a spare for my BWD 821) cost over $ 400.

I'm gunna put the whole story including correspondence between me
and Aust Post and the Ombudsperson on my website when I get the
chance.

** Have you asked the folk at DSE if they have had a similar experience ?

Maybe those Chinese tubes are prone to this.




........ Phil

 

[Bob Parker]

Someone has to come out with a good story I guess.
I've shipped hundreds of fragile electronic items through Australia
post, never had a single problem.

On the lost/stolen side of things, I've shipped thousands of items
through Aust Post and never had a single one gone missing.

I've probably jinxed myself now right?

Dave

Obviously you haven't been marking your packages "Fragile"!

Bob

 

[atec 77]

Obviously you haven't been marking your packages "Fragile"!

Bob

I guess he didn't want them to become more of a target ?

 

[Alan Rutlidge]

**Australia Post is bad. However, if you REALLY want a truly appalling
freight company, you could use TNT. They have managed to destroy some very
sturdily constructed products (along with similarly sturdily constructed
packaging). By comparison, I have found Australia Post to be quite
reasonable.

I'll second that. TNT managed to break an ME850 amplifier carefully packed
in its own custom made pinewood box with styrofoam inserts. Not only that,
but what should have arrived the next day only took a week to get here.
Yes, TNT ...when it absolutely positively has to get there broken (and
late) - call TNT....

Cheers,
Alan

 

[The Real Andy]

I'll second that. TNT managed to break an ME850 amplifier carefully packed
in its own custom made pinewood box with styrofoam inserts. Not only that,
but what should have arrived the next day only took a week to get here.
Yes, TNT ...when it absolutely positively has to get there broken (and
late) - call TNT....

Cheers,
Alan

A lot of shipments we used to take from taiwan had built in breakage
detectors attached to the parcel. It was a small liquid filled glass
tube. If it was broken, the goods inside were assumed damaged and not
accepted.

 

[Bob Parker]

A lot of shipments we used to take from taiwan had built in breakage
detectors attached to the parcel. It was a small liquid filled glass
tube. If it was broken, the goods inside were assumed damaged and not
accepted.

That's what everyone sending things through Aussie Post should use.
But of course they'd just say the breakage detector was already broken
when it was posted & deny all responsibility like they did with this
CRO.

Bob

 

[Bob Parker]

** So was that David ( aka "quietguy" ) from Kalgoorlie ?

Its a long trip from there to Sydney.

You're thinking of someone else. This is an old workmate from back
when I was in Telecom, who lives in southern NSW now.

** Very hard to believe that is the result of a fall impact with zero damage
to the packaging or scope.

The electron gun has SFA mass and is supported and centred by internal
metal springs.

Yeh, I agree. It's not clear exactly where the glass initially
broke, because 'the atmosphere has done the work' and blown quite a
lot of the fragments inside the envelope. It looks like it happened
under two of the gun support springs. There's a full size closeup
photo at http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/DSC01949.JPG
Maybe the envelope contacted the inside of the shield, or just
failed by itself as you said, when it got mechanically jolted. The
glass is pretty thin.
There's no sign at all that the CRO's been dropped etc before my
mate packed it up and posted it. No pushed-up feet, dents or anything.

Last CRO tube a purchased ( a spare for my BWD 821) cost over $ 400.

Pricey little devils, aren't they?

** Have you asked the folk at DSE if they have had a similar experience ?

Maybe those Chinese tubes are prone to this.

I'm making enquiries to see if they have any spares, but I don't
think they will.


Cheers
Bob

 

[Trevor Wilson]

"Bob Parker"
Phil Allison


** So was that David ( aka "quietguy" ) from Kalgoorlie ?

Its a long trip from there to Sydney.




** Very hard to believe that is the result of a fall impact with zero
damage to the packaging or scope.

The electron gun has SFA mass and is supported and centred by internal
metal springs.




** A new scope may well be cheaper.

Last CRO tube a purchased ( a spare for my BWD 821) cost over $ 400.

**Jeez, I wish you'd asked. I have a brand new one (tube), boxed (in
original packaging) and ready to go. GE-MOV branded. I have an 821 'scope
too. It's not working right now, but I'll get around to sorting it out one
day. Nice thing, being real dual beam (not dual trace) and all. Big coil of
coax for a delay line inside. I've got a spare delayed sweep plug in and a
diff amp somewhere too. I seem to recall that the delayed sweep is buggered
though.

 

[Phil Allison]

"Trevor Wilson"

Phil Allison


**Jeez, I wish you'd asked. I have a brand new one (tube), boxed (in
original packaging) and ready to go. GE-MOV branded. I have an 821 'scope
too. It's not working right now, but I'll get around to sorting it out one
day. Nice thing, being real dual beam (not dual trace) and all. Big coil
of coax for a delay line inside. I've got a spare delayed sweep plug in
and a diff amp somewhere too. I seem to recall that the delayed sweep is
buggered though.

** Wrong CRO - TW.

The CRT in the BWD 821 is a " 140CGB31" by Matsushita.

8 x 10 internal graticule, mesh PDA type.

My BWD 821 was bought new in August 1985.

It is 50 MHz, dual trace.

I also have the similar BWD 824 as a spare.





....... Phil

 

[Trevor Wilson]

"Trevor Wilson"





** Wrong CRO - TW.

The CRT in the BWD 821 is a " 140CGB31" by Matsushita.

**Mea culpa. I was thinking BWD 521.

8 x 10 internal graticule, mesh PDA type.

**The 521 had no internal cratcule, but was, of course, a PDA tube.

My BWD 821 was bought new in August 1985.

It is 50 MHz, dual trace.

**The 521 is a 30MHz device.

I also have the similar BWD 824 as a spare.

**I stopped using my BWD when I bought my first Tektronix. The BWD was nice,
because it can be serviced economically.

 

[Bob Parker]

**Mea culpa. I was thinking BWD 521.

I've got a 521 with the dual beam CRT. The poor old thing's got
drifting components right through it and the rotary switches keep
developing tin whiskers.
CRT has always had internal leakage between the guns, so changing
the brightness on one affects the other (yes, I've measured the
leakage right at the CRT's pins).

If anyone wants this CRO with differential vertical amps, I think
I'd give it away...


Bob

 

[atec 77]

I've got a 521 with the dual beam CRT. The poor old thing's got
drifting components right through it and the rotary switches keep
developing tin whiskers.
CRT has always had internal leakage between the guns, so changing
the brightness on one affects the other (yes, I've measured the
leakage right at the CRT's pins).

If anyone wants this CRO with differential vertical amps, I think
I'd give it away...


Bob

Location ?