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  #41  
Old 08-25-2012, 07:30 AM
dmaib's Avatar
dmaib dmaib is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New Smyrna Beach, FL
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Interesting that the Blackstone pre-printed USPS labels work like a charm but the Aviation Labs USPS labels don't. I agree that Aviation Labs has some other problem that they are attempting to push off on the Post Office.

I am a long time happy Blackstone customer.
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RV-10 N380DM
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"In '69 I was 21, and I called the road my own"
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  #42  
Old 08-26-2012, 07:10 PM
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Jeff Vaughan Jeff Vaughan is offline
 
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Location: West Chester, Pa
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I have used Aviation LABs for my last 6 samples.
I sent each sample to them vis UPS. Not USPS.
I received my analisys within one week of shipment each time.

I am in the packaging business (30 years)and I ship all over the US.

Due to past experiences we only ship via Fed Ex or UPS. No USPS

Some areas of the country do not experience delays in USPS shipments but may experience extremely bad service and delays.

If you want prompt service ship Fed Ex or UPS
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RV 12 N237VW ELSA
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  #43  
Old 08-26-2012, 08:25 PM
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dmaib dmaib is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Vaughan View Post
I have used Aviation LABs for my last 6 samples.
I sent each sample to them vis UPS. Not USPS.
I received my analisys within one week of shipment each time.

I am in the packaging business (30 years)and I ship all over the US.

Due to past experiences we only ship via Fed Ex or UPS. No USPS

Some areas of the country do not experience delays in USPS shipments but may experience extremely bad service and delays.

If you want prompt service ship Fed Ex or UPS
I think the problem was that Aviation Labs was sending pre-paid USPS labels with the kit, so naturally, that is what everyone used. It sounds like maybe they have switched to Fed Ex. I pretty much switched to USPS when I was building my airplane and getting lots of shipments. Never had any problems with Fed Ex or UPS, but have had consistently great service with USPS at prices that are usually good. The kits I got from Blackstone had pre-paid USPS shipping labels and I have always received my report within a week or so. I also disposed of a shotgun collection that belonged to my late father-in-law and found that shipping long guns through USPS is much easier and less costly than Fed Ex or UPS.
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RV-10 N380DM
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VAF Paid 1/21/2020

"In '69 I was 21, and I called the road my own"
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  #44  
Old 08-27-2012, 09:18 AM
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kevinh kevinh is offline
 
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Location: San Mateo, CA
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I too have had problems with Av Labs. So I just ordered one of the blackstone kits, I also asked them to look at this thread and see if they had any comments. Here's the reply I received:

Quote:
Hi Kevin, Thanks for the heads up on the thread. I was going to post but I'm not a pilot and I didn't know the answers to the "prove you're not a spambot" questions!

It's true that the post office can take a while. Sometimes we'll get tubs of mail that are all from California, or all from Texas, so I know they sometimes hold on to samples until they get a batch to send through. But it's not a chronic problem, or it shouldn't be. It's fairly rare for the post office to take several months to deliver a sample. Tracking samples is the best way to go because then you can tell for sure whether it's the post office or the lab that's slowing you down.

Sincerely,

Kristin Huff
Blackstone Labs
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Last edited by kevinh : 08-27-2012 at 12:12 PM.
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  #45  
Old 08-27-2012, 12:02 PM
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Louise Hose Louise Hose is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton, Nevada --- A34
Posts: 1,464
Default Same USPS distribution center?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaib View Post
Interesting that the Blackstone pre-printed USPS labels work like a charm but the Aviation Labs USPS labels don't. I agree that Aviation Labs has some other problem that they are attempting to push off on the Post Office.
Is Blackstone in southwest Louisiana? If not, I don't think the difference you cite means anything. I've had my last two samples with Aviation Labs take many months to come back and I've been skeptical of the post office excuse. But, I talked with them at Oshkosh and I have to admit that I believe it might just be a problem with the USPS in their region. A.L. said they have been regularly working with the IG on the issue. If that is all true, and I think it may be, I hope the IG nails some civil servants who clearly aren't doing their jobs. A.L. gave me a UPS (or Fed Ex?) label for my last, remaining kit. If I get prompt service the next time, I'll probably stick with them. If there is one more unreasonable delay, they'll have loss my business.
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  #46  
Old 08-27-2012, 12:37 PM
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airguy airguy is offline
 
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Today makes 10 weeks since I sent my last sample to Aviation Labs, without a report. It is the last sample I will be sending them. This coming weekend I'll be changing oil again and it's going to Blackstone.
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N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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  #47  
Old 08-27-2012, 01:15 PM
BillC BillC is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ramona, Ca
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Early June I sent my sample to AL. After about 4 weeks and after watching this thread for some time I decided to give them a call to get a status report. When I called they said that the report had been emailed out almost two weeks prior. They re-sent the report and within an hour I had it. I don't remember getting any previous email from them but perhaps my spam filter took it out. Anyway I would give them a call before giving up on them. It might just be something simple.

YMMV - Bill
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  #48  
Old 08-27-2012, 03:35 PM
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AltonD AltonD is offline
 
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Location: Dothan, Alabama
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I sent them an email asking what was up. They guy called me on my cell and explained. I got the new labels from AvLab. My results were returned within 10 days. If you call them, they will send you the new labels. I asked for and received two labels (I have one box left).
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?The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.?

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  #49  
Old 08-27-2012, 09:01 PM
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Noah Noah is offline
 
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Location: Rhode Island
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Well, I finally got my results yesterday 14 weeks after sending it. They said they received the sample a month ago (4 wks to process??). I had a long telephone discussion with their top guy about 6 weeks ago and discussed this thread. He was well aware of it. I invited him to personally sign onto VAF and comment on the problems they are having and what they intended to do to resolve them. At that time, he said they had abandoned USPS and were using a more reliable shipper (Fedex IIRC). When I asked what they were doing with people like me who had bought a half dozen kits with USPS labels, he said they would charge $4 to "upgrade" the kits to the new shipping service. I did not think this was a fair deal and said so. It appears that they have changed their tune, I received the following email from them today:

Hi Noah,

I became aware of a post on the VAF blog that questioned the delivery of your analysis kits. Please accept our apologies on behalf of the USPS ? the delays are frustrating and we have no reason not to perform your oil analysis. There have been multiple closings with distribution and processing centers in the Louisiana area, particularly New Orleans.

To combat these delays, in March we introduced a program that includes Fedex Smart Post labels in our oil analysis kits. This is a dependable, traceable delivery to our lab ? averaging 5-7 days to reach our lab.

If you have any remaining kits in stock I would like upgrade the shipping in those kits @ no charge.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best regards,

Danny Trader
Customer Service Representative

5401 Mitchelldale, Ste B6
Houston, TX 77092
Ph. 713-864-6677
Fx. 713-864-6990
www.avlab.com

I haven't decided what I am going to do yet.
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Highest Regards,

Noah F, RV-7A

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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  #50  
Old 08-28-2012, 09:04 PM
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flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
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Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
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Default what makes an 'Aviation' Lab? oil & bearings aren't unique

I sent my last sample to a nearby lab. ....Post office got it there in one day.
got the e-mailed results the next day!
BTA labs ( Kamloops BC, $15-20 pre-paid kit, one-way mail label.) does analysis on million-dollar mining equipment, and is there on the phone if I have a question about a result.
Surely many small labs have pretty decent equipment to assess the oil in our Lycosaurs ( even semi-sythetic etc. is not new to them!)
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