[LargeFormat] A new departure

[Hornford, Dave]

I use one of Compaq Canada's FedEx numbers wherever I am. Sent packages
from many places and several countries. Never had a problem - ok my
teams finance person has asked me if I know how much it costs to send
stuff FedEx. Biggest problem was from the American Airlines Admiral's
club at LAX - they called FedEx to confirm my return address and account
code - seems FedEx sticks them with the bill if the account code used is
refused.

FedEx would have one continuing difficulty and one transitory difficulty
with implementing a scan. The cost of labour and equipment and the
impact to their schedules.  These can be resolved.

The huge difficulty is analysing an intrusive scan. You ship film, my
last package had "magic markers". FedEx would need to look at and assess
the risk of contents. That part is nearly impossible.

Which brings us back to the point of common sense - what is FedEx trying
to solve. Realistically as a common carrier they do not care what you
ship, provided that the material is not "hazardous".  I recall my old
copy of 'hazardous material airline regs' being a billion pages of 5
point type. FedEx's greatest risk is that the "hazardous" material
impacts their aircraft or centres.

When you ship something across national boundaries you run into someone
who cares what the material is. (OK, some states and provinces also have
regulations) You also run into someone who has the power to stop FedEx
in its tracks and look into the box. You don't know whether they do it
with a chemical 'sniffer', high power x-ray or magic powers.

Personally, I would buy the film in Hong Kong (subject to how long you
are staying). FedEx isn't going to zap it, Hong Kong customs might if
they select that shipment to inspect.=20

Regards Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin M. Bell [mailto:newsgroups@cameracollectors.com]=20
Sent: March 7, 2002 1:30 PM
To: largeformat@f32.net
Subject: RE: [LargeFormat] A new departure


At 11:19 AM 3/7/2002, you wrote:
>You may have additional security and inspection as FedEx moves the item

>through customs into China.
>
>I don't need my own account to 'borrow' one. I receive FedEx packages=20
>regularly with the senders account codes on it.
>
>Regards Dave

No doubt, although I may have less trouble if I ship to a Hong Kong
hotel=20
before going into the mainland - all I will be doing is missing the
X-Ray=20
machines in Denver and Los Angeles.   I won't be able to eliminate=20
exposure, just reduce it as much as possible.

My point with FedEx regards a hypothetical situation.  *If* they were to

start scanning packages, it would make sense to scan packages that have
a=20
higher probability of being dangerous.  This would include, for example,

packages dropped off at a FedEx or Mail-Boxes-'R-Us type location.  It=20
would exclude a large shipper, say B&H, shipping from their own=20
location.  I would expect that you would raise red flags were you to use

B&H's FedEx number while shipping from an unrelated location.

Kevin M. Bell
www.camera-collectors.com
1-877-977-5091


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