Re: [Cameramakers] Oil \ lubricant

2002-10-10 Thread Robert Mueller

Dear Peter,

When I last checked the USPS prices they were a bit over $18.00 for the 
first pound on a package with air even a little cheaper than surface.  The 
small packet rate is lower and for  a bit of oil maybe first class is the 
best choice.  Actually, you probably have little motivation to go for the 
parcel post rate because you probably can get by without insurance.  Thus 
you can keep the shipping below the pain threshold!  At least if you do not 
loose control  (for example, if they routinely used insured methods and you 
don't ask, well, its $18.00+)

There is a rate calculator for USPS on the Internet.  I have printed data, 
and they don't always agree, and what happens at the post office is again 
different, but you do get some orientation!

Bob



At 01:50 10.10.02 +0100, you wrote:
On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 13:32:37 +0200, you wrote:

 I discovered you wouild be buying in the USA; I suggest that you try a
 local source.  There are two good reasons, or more!
 
 1)  You avoid the USPS (United States Postal Service)/Consignia (Former
 Royal Mail) customs scandal.  Besides the postage for overseas shipment
 you can easily be hit with an additional (semi-secret) charge of about 20
 Euro for clearing the  package through customs.  This comes into play for
 goods value exceeding about 45 Euro (and the value can be assessed as the
 sum of goods plus postage, as is the case here, in Germany.  I don't know
 about the UK way of calculating.)  Consignia then gets the package to you
 using local (to you) contractors who are sometimes terrible, though in the
 UK they may handle the delivery themselves.  In fact, the arrangement
 seems to cover much of the continent with Consignia as the prime
 contractor with whom the USPS deals.  In addition, USPS  is slow for air
 mail (often, though not always) and too slow to believe for surface mail
 (2 months is not uncommon and less than a month is rare.)  And they do not
 give you bargain rates for the poor service!
 2)  Payment is easier  inside the UK (for you!)
 Two companies I know are Shesto and Walsh.  Walsh was in London (near
 Farringdon Station, the old clockmaking district on Clerkenwell) but at
 least part of their operations have been moved.  I believe both companies
 have WWW sites.  You might also look for Cousins.
 
 Bob
 
Hi Bob,

My understanding is that you only pay duty on items costing more than
£19.00. I've bought things from the US under this amount without
problems in the past. The oil I've just ordered only comes to a few US
dollars. Airmail postage can't be too much as the say they charge only
what it costs them. The company takes online orders with a Credit
Card.

Peter
 
 Peter Jones wrote:
 
  On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 03:59:22 +0100, you wrote:
 
  Hi.
  
  I have a Canon AE1 which has developed the famous Canon Squeak
  associated with the mirror return. I have the information to fix the
  problem, but was wondering if any one can suggest a source for the
  very  light oil required ?
  
  I should add that I live in London in the UK.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Peter
  -- --
  
  To answer my own question - I just found this site which seems to have
  just the thing: http://shorinternational.com/WatchOilGrease.htm
  Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  London NW6
  
  ___
  Cameramakers mailing list
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
  
 
  -- --
 
  Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  London NW6
 
  ___
  Cameramakers mailing list
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
 
 ___
 Cameramakers mailing list
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
 

-- --

Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
London NW6

___
Cameramakers mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers


___
Cameramakers mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers



Re: [Cameramakers] Oil \ lubricant

2002-10-10 Thread Peter Jones

On Thu, 10 Oct 2002 11:54:39 +0200, you wrote:

Dear Peter,

When I last checked the USPS prices they were a bit over $18.00 for the 
first pound on a package with air even a little cheaper than surface.  The 
small packet rate is lower and for  a bit of oil maybe first class is the 
best choice.  Actually, you probably have little motivation to go for the 
parcel post rate because you probably can get by without insurance.  Thus 
you can keep the shipping below the pain threshold!  At least if you do not 
loose control  (for example, if they routinely used insured methods and you 
don't ask, well, its $18.00+)

There is a rate calculator for USPS on the Internet.  I have printed data, 
and they don't always agree, and what happens at the post office is again 
different, but you do get some orientation!

Bob


Hi Bob,

USPS pricing structure does seem rather odd. I tend to find myself
having to explain to some  Americans which service to ask for or use.
It makes the UK postal system look a model of common sense -
surprising really.

Peter


At 01:50 10.10.02 +0100, you wrote:
On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 13:32:37 +0200, you wrote:

 I discovered you wouild be buying in the USA; I suggest that you try a
 local source.  There are two good reasons, or more!
 
 1)  You avoid the USPS (United States Postal Service)/Consignia (Former
 Royal Mail) customs scandal.  Besides the postage for overseas shipment
 you can easily be hit with an additional (semi-secret) charge of about 20
 Euro for clearing the  package through customs.  This comes into play for
 goods value exceeding about 45 Euro (and the value can be assessed as the
 sum of goods plus postage, as is the case here, in Germany.  I don't know
 about the UK way of calculating.)  Consignia then gets the package to you
 using local (to you) contractors who are sometimes terrible, though in the
 UK they may handle the delivery themselves.  In fact, the arrangement
 seems to cover much of the continent with Consignia as the prime
 contractor with whom the USPS deals.  In addition, USPS  is slow for air
 mail (often, though not always) and too slow to believe for surface mail
 (2 months is not uncommon and less than a month is rare.)  And they do not
 give you bargain rates for the poor service!
 2)  Payment is easier  inside the UK (for you!)
 Two companies I know are Shesto and Walsh.  Walsh was in London (near
 Farringdon Station, the old clockmaking district on Clerkenwell) but at
 least part of their operations have been moved.  I believe both companies
 have WWW sites.  You might also look for Cousins.
 
 Bob
 
Hi Bob,

My understanding is that you only pay duty on items costing more than
£19.00. I've bought things from the US under this amount without
problems in the past. The oil I've just ordered only comes to a few US
dollars. Airmail postage can't be too much as the say they charge only
what it costs them. The company takes online orders with a Credit
Card.

Peter
 
 Peter Jones wrote:
 
  On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 03:59:22 +0100, you wrote:
 
  Hi.
  
  I have a Canon AE1 which has developed the famous Canon Squeak
  associated with the mirror return. I have the information to fix the
  problem, but was wondering if any one can suggest a source for the
  very  light oil required ?
  
  I should add that I live in London in the UK.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Peter
  -- --
  
  To answer my own question - I just found this site which seems to have
  just the thing: http://shorinternational.com/WatchOilGrease.htm
  Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  London NW6
  
  ___
  Cameramakers mailing list
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
  
 
  -- --
 
  Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  London NW6
 
  ___
  Cameramakers mailing list
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
 
 ___
 Cameramakers mailing list
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
 

-- --

Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
London NW6

___
Cameramakers mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers


___
Cameramakers mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers


-- --

Peter Jones[EMAIL PROTECTED]
London NW6

___
Cameramakers mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers



Re: [Cameramakers] Oil \ lubricant

2002-10-10 Thread Robert Mueller

Dear Peter,

You may not detect it but I am an American who has been in Europe for a 
couple decades now.  I have little respect for the USPS.  There was a time 
when it was a proud and effective organisation as seen by the user; today 
it is an imitation of a private company which combines the worst features 
of a government organisation and a commercial operation.  I sometimes say 
that if we offered it to a third world country the insult would be so l 
large diplomatic relations would be broken off.  I am sad to say I am not 
all that impressed by the British Post office these days,  though I have 
heard it looks very good when serving inside the UK.  From outside it  I am 
afraid it does not look so hot.  I once spent some time in Japan and 
thought highly of their post office and Germany's is normally good, but 
what is interesting is service between these two countries.  They may be 
far apart but mail travels in about four days from where it is deposited to 
the door of the receiver.   When I have mailed a post card from London to 
friends back here, 10 days later after I arrived home the post card was 
still not here.  This has improved in recent years but is no model, 
especially when you consider it takes only 10 hours to drive, including the 
ferry crossing.  This over 10 day trip was called Air Mail!  Last year I 
spent a fair amount of time trying to learn why it took two months for the 
BPO to return a letter to my bank which had mover across the street.  The 
address was no longer valid so it was sent back, but very slowly.  Each 
phone call to Royal Mail customer service brought a promise of a response 
after the reason was checked, and each response was none at all.  On the 
next call I learned the file was just closed again and the promise scrapped.

The German post office is more efficient but it cheats!  The EU has hit 
them over the head for refusing to eliminate a subsidy of package post by 
excessive prices on letter post.  Finally enough threats did stop the 
cheating but only because there is an activist in Brussels.

Good luck with your order.  (One thing I do from time to time is buy 
insurance.  It gives a handle on tracking a package.  There is now a 
service allowing you to trace the travels of your package for a small fee. 
The trouble is that I think these are only available for the high priced 
class of postage and I doubt whether it is worth the bother or cost for a 
bottle of oil.  Also, I can not remember ever loosing a package.  It just 
takes forever from time to time and damage is too frequent for my taste, 
but most things do arrive.)

Bob


At 20:33 10.10.02 +0100, you wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2002 11:54:39 +0200, you wrote:

 Dear Peter,
 
 When I last checked the USPS prices they were a bit over $18.00 for the
 first pound on a package with air even a little cheaper than surface.  The
 small packet rate is lower and for  a bit of oil maybe first class is the
 best choice.  Actually, you probably have little motivation to go for the
 parcel post rate because you probably can get by without insurance.  Thus
 you can keep the shipping below the pain threshold!  At least if you do not
 loose control  (for example, if they routinely used insured methods and you
 don't ask, well, its $18.00+)
 
 There is a rate calculator for USPS on the Internet.  I have printed data,
 and they don't always agree, and what happens at the post office is again
 different, but you do get some orientation!
 
 Bob
 
 
Hi Bob,

USPS pricing structure does seem rather odd. I tend to find myself
having to explain to some  Americans which service to ask for or use.
It makes the UK postal system look a model of common sense -
surprising really.

Peter

 
 At 01:50 10.10.02 +0100, you wrote:
 On Wed, 09 Oct 2002 13:32:37 +0200, you wrote:
 
  I discovered you wouild be buying in the USA; I suggest that you try a
  local source.  There are two good reasons, or more!
  
  1)  You avoid the USPS (United States Postal Service)/Consignia (Former
  Royal Mail) customs scandal.  Besides the postage for overseas shipment
  you can easily be hit with an additional (semi-secret) charge of about 20
  Euro for clearing the  package through customs.  This comes into play for
  goods value exceeding about 45 Euro (and the value can be assessed as the
  sum of goods plus postage, as is the case here, in Germany.  I don't know
  about the UK way of calculating.)  Consignia then gets the package to you
  using local (to you) contractors who are sometimes terrible, though 
 in the
  UK they may handle the delivery themselves.  In fact, the arrangement
  seems to cover much of the continent with Consignia as the prime
  contractor with whom the USPS deals.  In addition, USPS  is slow for air
  mail (often, though not always) and too slow to believe for surface mail
  (2 months is not uncommon and less than a month is rare.)  And they 
 do not
  give you bargain rates for the poor service!
  2)  Payment is easier