Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Bye Bye DHL

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 11-10-2008, 04:13 PM:

Now we're really stuck with UPS:

http://www.dhl-usa.com/about/pr/PRDetail.asp nav=PressRoom/PressReleases&year=2008&seq=1246

Press Release

DHL EXPRESS TO FOCUS U.S. BUSINESS ON INTERNATIONAL SERVICES

Plantation, Fla. -- November 10, 2008

- Domestic-only services end January 30, 2009
- International shipping to/from U.S. remains intact
- Will reduce U.S. operating costs by over 80%
- U.S. stays an integral part of DHL's global network

DHL, the world's number one international logistics and express service provider, today announced a repositioning of its U.S. Express business. Beginning January 30, 2009, DHL's U.S. Express business will focus entirely on its international offerings and will discontinue its domestic-only air and ground services. However, the company will retain a strong international presence and capability in the U.S. going forward.

The announcement was made this morning at a press conference held in Bonn, Germany by Deutsche Post World Net, parent company of DHL U.S. Express.

"This is the right move for our U.S. Express operations given the current economic climate and for the long run," said John Mullen, Global CEO of DHL Express. "Focusing our U.S. Express efforts on what we do better than anyone else - international shipping - serves the best interests of our customers, employees and shareholders around the world."

In order to meet its financial goals, DHL U.S. Express will close its U.S. ground hubs, and reduce the number of stations from 412 to 103. This will result in an additional reduction of 9,500 U.S. jobs at DHL Express on top of the approximately 5,400 positions already reduced since January. The company will retain 3,000 to 4,000 U.S. Express employees, tailored to the needs of international express customers. These measures will allow DHL's U.S. Express business to reduce its operating costs from $5.4 billion to under $1 billion, a decrease of over 80%.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-10-2008, 05:28 PM:

quote:
Now we're really stuck with UPS:

... and that's bad, because...??

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 11-10-2008, 05:37 PM:

quote: Jack Ondracek
.. and that's bad, because...??

Well, let's say my experiences with them here have not been good.

According to the admittedly low level person I talked to, they are not going to have key access like DHL does, which can be problematic with print delivery. Recently, I had an overnight package that they wouldn't deliver during my normal hours (I'm not usually at the theatre for the early morning overnight window) so a package that they attempted to deliver on Thursday morning, I didn't get until Monday afternoon--and only through lots of angry phone calls. And lots of outright lies from the folks on the phone.

On the brightside, I clawed my way far enough up the chain to actually get a depot number and a corporate number for future use.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-10-2008, 07:32 PM:

I haven't had the problems with DHL, here in the Seattle area. Matter of fact, the past couple of years with Technicolor have been as painless as our dealings with ETS (DFS).

I can see where problems can be regionalized, though... and I hadn't thought about the key issue. That might make things "interesting".

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 11-10-2008, 10:16 PM:

Just to be clear, my problems are with UPS, not DHL.

Posted by Tyler Potts (Member # 4952) on 11-11-2008, 12:57 PM:

RANT: UPS shows up last Friday to pick up a print. We received the email the night before so I had it broken down and ready to go. Then they asked for a 2nd print but I told them it wasn't ready and I did not receive any notification to have it ready. We received an email 2 hours later informing us to have this print broken down.

Can't wait to have more UPS pick ups, more frustration.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 11-11-2008, 01:17 PM:

We were told to have Quarantine ready for pick up Friday.
We did.
It's still in my booth right now.

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 11-11-2008, 02:09 PM:

UPS will not carry orders on film that cover more than one can or box in this area!

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 11-11-2008, 06:25 PM:

Part of this story that no-one is hearing about:

1 out of 3 people who live in the town of Wilmington, Ohio work for DHL. Guess how many of them will be losing their jobs by the end of the year? Almost all of them.

I find it ironic that Technicolor's main depot is in Wilmington also. Weird how all this works.

Can we say recession?

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 11-11-2008, 07:40 PM:

Ron,

Be prepared to see a lot of film cans taped together with that silver duct tape. We have received some of them that way already from other shippers. They are very heavy and awkward to handle.

KEN

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 11-12-2008, 01:16 PM:

Oh, gee- - I wonder how long it will be before DHL
asks the government (aka: taxpayers) to bail them out?

quote: Kenneth Wuepper
Be prepared to see a lot of film cans taped together with that silver duct tape

In 'the good old days' I could refuse to move anything more than a
4-can case. Union rules. (I'm not saying I always followed that rule- -
but I had the option and I've had gotten 'dinged' if they caught me doing it)

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 11-12-2008, 02:28 PM:

quote: Jim Cassedy
I wonder how long it will be before DHL asks the government (aka: taxpayers) to bail them out?

Since it's a German company (Deutsche Post), then I guess the German government gets that honor.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-12-2008, 06:24 PM:

quote:
UPS will not carry orders on film that cover more than one can or box in this area!

That makes no sense at all. UPS has no restrictions on "number of packages they'll handle" that I've ever heard of, and we've had an account with them for over 20 years.

Where did you get that info, Ron?

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 11-13-2008, 06:39 AM:

From Paramount pictures on returns via email they send out the day before the pick up of each film.

"If the film is in one box have ready for pick up by UPS the window will be from 10 am to 2 pm. If the film is in two cans send by your regular carrier as UPS will not transport film in more than one box. If your film is in two cans please email me so I can stop the pick up."

Has UPS been used to route film in your area? In my case only for returns to Paramount --- however, they have delivered to me in the past but on film. In fact I get deliveries about 3 times a week from them but again never on film --- only pick ups for Paramount.

Again Mike I did say in my area your area may be different. You may not have a driver that refuses to just leave something with your signing his little box no matter what. I had grease up to my elbow's one day and he wouldn't leave the package until I cleaned up my hands and signed for it.

Your experiences may be Different Mike maybe they will take a key from you and leave you deliveries when you are not there. Not here you have to be in the theater to accept delivery. Maybe you have a semi secure area they are willing to leave your deliveries but not here you have to be here and sign for it. But that is in my area not yours!

Posted by Todd Leach (Member # 883) on 11-13-2008, 08:46 AM:

That's because the UPS driver only gets one tag from Paramount.

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 11-13-2008, 09:10 AM:

Todd, so hopefully with the return on Technicolor being under the original ship to tag it will not be an issue!

I still have a problem with the UPS refusing to leave poster and things in my semi secure location and insisting that I sign for everything when they throw it on the porch at a home with a sign on receipt or any other deliver requirements!!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-13-2008, 09:27 AM:

Around here you can designate another location to leave your prints. Mine are left at the Carquest store where I work. It doesn't matter whether I'm there or not.

This was not UPS's doing though -- when Deluxe sent out their letter saying YOU MUST BE AT THE THEATRE to accept prints, I just called in, said "That won't work, you must deliver to this address" and that was the end of that. So my prints come to the Roxy Theatre, c/o the Carquest store and are picked up at the same place.

As for them only handling one box per print -- Technicolor ships prints in two-cans all the time. That sounds like a Paramount or a Deluxe problem, not a UPS one.

I'm not saying UPS is perfect. I know they can be a pain in some areas, especially more-populated places. But I think a few well-placed phone calls can solve quite a few problems.

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 11-13-2008, 11:42 AM:

Mike my problem is that buy the time we get a driver trained to leave it in our drop area he is transferred and we get a brand new employee that will not violate the rules!

Actually I'm hoping that Seague will get the contract in our area! They drop off and pick up at 6:30 in the morning (usually a Thursday) I can get in and get the film built up and checked then before we even open for the Thursday shows!

I no longer have an alternate drop off as the apartment building where I use to live has new management! UPS in this location has been a pure pain in the rectal region!

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 11-13-2008, 01:10 PM:

Dennis writes, "I find it ironic that Technicolor's main depot is in Wilmington also. Weird how all this works."

It's no coincidence. When Technicolor spun up their business, they arranged a partnership with Airborne Express, and colocated their facility near Airborne's hub, in Wilmington, OH. That's also true of several other volume shippers, like PC Connection.

Ron, respectfully, I think your experiences with UPS sound very confusing, and are probably not applicable to Technicolor. I think we expect that Technicolor will negotiate special arrangements with UPS for film deliveries, just as they did with Airborne, therefore other experiences with UPS in general may not translate.

You might want to word things a bit more carefully, making more clear some of your assumptions. For instance, Paramount very rarely does any shipping themselves -- they ship through DFS. So perhaps some of your issues are with DFS using UPS. But DFS will basically use whatever carrier you want them to use. They'll happily ship FedEx, Will Call (you go and pick it up), or typically any local courier of your choice.

I'm still quite curious whether Technicolor will retain the concept of 2-hour pickup and delivery windows with UPS. I guess we will see.

--jhawk

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 11-13-2008, 01:39 PM:

John on more than one occasions Paramount pictures has, at least here, arranged for UPS to pick up prints the Friday after the close of the film and for them to be shipped wherever they (meaning Paramount) want them to be shipped.

If your experience is different then fine.

I can list 3 or 4 pictures this year that the above mentioned means has been the manner in which our films were picked up for either return to delivery to another locations. This would include but not be limited to “Iron Man”, “Kung Fu Panda” and “Indian Jones and KOTCS”.

Let me stress once again I do not say this is the way it is done at your location or any other location just that in this manner at this location. I would not argue what your experiences are for the simple fact I haven't had your experiences.

I have no idea what UPS or any other carrier will negotiate with any one on any delivery. However UPS has never before been willing to open a business and make deliveries inside that business that I am aware of and it has been mentioned by others in this thread that they refuse to have keys to businesses.

Actually I'm hoping that Technicolor choses the carrier that Deluxe uses in this area Seague they are very easy to work with: however, with that said I am well aware that this may not be your experience.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 11-13-2008, 01:48 PM:

Like I said, "very rarely." I wonder what is different about your locality. (You're sure it is Paramount and not someone else acting as their agent, typically DFS.)

And, just to be clear, there is no chance of confusion with Paramount Courier, a national courier service (they compete with Network Courier) for sameday delivery.

I think it's pretty unlikely that TES would choose your local courier service for your region. As I understand it, they want a national contract, and that means UPS or FedEx, or maaaaybe some of the other semi-national shippers (like Paramount and Network), or even possibly DHL/Danzas (DHL Global Forwarding). And they've already said it would be UPS.

--jhawk

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 11-13-2008, 01:57 PM:

You know what it was a Paramount email address so like an ass I assume that only Paramount employees use those addresses. The reality is you are 100% right I don't know if he works for them or not and I don't care! It is not material to the issue!

They send the email we have the movie ready for pick up or if it is in two cans I send him an email saying it is in two cans and we route it back the normal way.

I have played 10 paramount films this year and 7 have been routed back by UPS. Maybe 70% is rare for you but for me that is well above rare!

Then again that is my experience and what does it matter? What is the great importance of how this has routed back and why are you so obsessed on how Paramount routes back film for me? Does it in some way effect you? I doubt it!

In my opinion this discussion between us has no purpose, it is not relevant to the discussion topic.