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  #31  
Old 07-12-2012, 09:40 PM
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Noah Noah is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 937
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Going on 60 days for me. You would think that these guys, knowing how unhappy their customers are, would not use a shipping service which adds several months of delay to their customer's experience, right? Just to save a buck or two, really? Methinks if they want to salvage their customer base, they need to include priority shipping, and they need to quickly post something like a downloadable priority post label on their website for those of us who already own a half dozen of their kits. Otherwise I am going to have to return mine to Spruce, since they are "defective"...
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All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men? for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. -T.E. Lawrence
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  #32  
Old 07-13-2012, 03:03 AM
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RWoodard RWoodard is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brighton, Colorado
Posts: 393
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I sent my last analysis in around April 1st (2012). Still havent heard anything from them. I've pretty much written that sample off [and them, for that matter].

I've got a sample from my car oil change sitting on my kitchen counter [hey, I'm single! Where else would I keep an oil sample?] It will be going to Blackstone soon.
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Rod Woodard
Brighton, Colorado (CO12)
RV-3 N87CT (Thanks Chuck!)
Glasair 1RG N388DM
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F1 MkIII empennage?arrived 08/22/2018--collecting dust

Last edited by RWoodard : 07-13-2012 at 03:05 AM.
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  #33  
Old 07-13-2012, 04:28 AM
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AltonD AltonD is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dothan, Alabama
Posts: 1,487
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I just went to their new website. The new test kits now have FedEx shipping labels. If the problem really is the post office, this should resolve that problem.
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Alton DeWeese
N526RV RV7A Tip Up, IO360 180 W/Hartzel BA prop.
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  #34  
Old 07-13-2012, 06:28 AM
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rv7boy rv7boy is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austinville, Alabama
Posts: 2,458
Thumbs up Blackstone Labs Thumbs Up

I sent my sample to Blackstone last month by USPS and got my report via email in a week. I've been a satisfied customer for about seven years.
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Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
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it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
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  #35  
Old 07-13-2012, 12:09 PM
chipf chipf is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 179
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Dang. I wish I had noticed this thread on Monday, before I put the latest sample in the mail with their prepaid shipping label.

I sent my last sample in March, no word on that yet. I guess this one may get lost also.
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  #36  
Old 07-17-2012, 03:07 PM
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Jetguy Jetguy is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas, Fort Worth
Posts: 1,237
Thumbs up Oil Sample.

Ive noticed in the last year it has been getting longer and longer to get back my oil sample from Aviation labs. At OSH 2011 I stopped by their booth and talked to them about this issue. The said it was the Post office that was causing the problem. I believe them. I have a few friends that work for the PO and the moral their is really bad. So I sent my last sample in from Fort Worth Tx to Kenner LA using their box with tracking. It cost $3.50. Sent 7/9 arrived Kenner LA 7/12. Received sample results Via Email Today 7/17. If you have any old sample boxes don't use their old First Class labels and you will have much better results.
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RV12 N1212K
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  #37  
Old 08-25-2012, 06:09 AM
Dean Pichon Dean Pichon is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 532
Default I received my analysis report yesterday...

...for a sample I mailed in on May 11th. I called the lab in Kenner, LA and spoke with John Vacari. As many posters have noted, he blames the US mail system for the problem. This time, however, he informed me that Aviation Laboratories has switched to pre-paid mailing labels from Fed-Ex in lieu of those from the USPS. In addition, he has offered to send out new (Fed-Ex) labels to anyone who has purchased kits with the older USPS labels. These can be requested by calling the company. It is my understanding that the USPS labels will continue to "work" albeit with the same delivery problems so many of us are experiencing. I plan to take John up on his offer and give the lab one more chance.

Dean Pichon
Bolton, MA
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  #38  
Old 08-25-2012, 06:20 AM
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woodmanrog woodmanrog is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 774
Default Another vote for Blackstone

I've been using Blackstone for about 10 years now and have always had results within a week. With the advent of email, it is just a matter of days before I have a reply. They supply the kits at no charge. I leave a credit card on file and the cost is about $20 per sample.
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  #39  
Old 08-25-2012, 06:23 AM
Mitch757 Mitch757 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Falmouth, MA
Posts: 355
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I used the new FedEx shipping labels that I got at Oshkosh. Took 9 days to get the results back. Much better.

Mitch Garner
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  #40  
Old 08-25-2012, 06:41 AM
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Bubblehead Bubblehead is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,553
Default discussion at Oshkosh

I stopped by their booth and asked about a sample that I'd submitted in March or April. They gave the Post Office excuse and I flat called "BS". My wife has a home business and ships all kinds of packages all over the country using the Post Office and it rarely takes more than 4 days.

I told him I had even checked online to see if the analysis was posted and it was not. He called the office and someone said they had emailed me the results in June. He had the person resend the results, and I received them by email a few minutes later.

I later checked my email inbox and there was nothing there from them.

I think there are other things going on and they are using the Post Office as a scape goat. If a package shows up with the FedEX label they'll put it at the head of the line but I think they lost control of their process and won't admit it. I don't mind people make mistakes - heck, I've made hundreds of them. But I don't like people (or companies) that shift the blame onto someone else.

I send a sample to Blackstone and had results in a few days. They have my business now. I even have a couple of sampling kits from Av Labs if anyone at Hicks T67 wants them.
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