How do multiple rolls of vinyl come in from your supplier?

[Pat Whatley]

I've got a supplier I'd rather not name just yet that I buy the vast majority of my 24" vinyl from.

If I order two 24" x 50 yard rolls of vinyl from them they stack them both into a 48" long box so you've got two 20 pound boxes on each end and a little cardboard in the middle. Every order I get in the box is at a minimum ripped and taped back together by UPS. Every couple of weeks I get one that's ripped in half completely and instead of getting the two rolls I ordered I get one, my supplier ends up having to replace the other.

Is this an industry-wide issue or is my supplier just screwy?

 

[Gino]

We don't get much in the 24" length, as we get many 54" & 65" rolls, but all separate due to the weight.

However, when we got 30" groups, they still came in their respective boxes, but just all taped together. Most ever was 4 boxes of 30" x 50yds. It was heavy for the UPS guy, but then that's why he gets paid well.

 

[threeputt]

By coincidence we just received (yesterday) two 50 yard rolls of an intermediate grade vinyl in 24" width.

They came in the original company boxes, but not taped together. Two separate boxes, (1 of 2, 2 of 2). Wasn't UPS though, it was FedEx.

They are virtually perfect. (no damage)

I think with your situation the problem lies basically with the person in their shipping dept. I'd drop the company a note. Feedback is absolutely essential here.

Let them know if you haven't already that the packaging method is lacking.

 

[Fred Weiss]

We get nothing but 15" but they are generally placed side by side in their individual boxes in a larger box and usually limited to no more than 4 rolls of material. Occasionally we get them just taped together. Either way, I don't recall ever receiving a damaged box to the extent you're describing.

 

[Pat Whatley]

Let them know if you haven't already that the packaging method is lacking.

I've been mentioning it for months, and apparently others have as well. Today was the last straw, the missing vinyl just cost me a rather large window lettering job.


That's the thing Fred, I used to get them in taped side by side and never had a problem with them. For some reason they decided to switch to putting the boxes of vinyl into another box. Must me one hell of a Uline salesman over there.

 

[njshorts]

our vendors always ship in the original packaging, never had them put two boxes side by side... and we use a LOT of 24/30 oracal 651.

 

[AnotherSignManiac]

one of my suppliers ships in original packaging, the other does a box in a box thing but never doubles up

 

[gabagoo]

One of my suppliers does that too and they also stuff in all sorts of crumpled up plastic for protection. I think they just to cheap to throw it out.

In the past if I ordered lets say 5 yards of 24" whatever and 10 yards of 30" whatever, the guy would roll the 24" around the 30" by taping it and then once it got here I would have to unwind 5 yards of material to get it off the other roll.
I blew my stack when I ended up damaging some and told them, once more, i go elsewhere.......that cured it.

 

[petepaz]

We don't get much in the 24" length, as we get many 54" & 65" rolls, but all separate due to the weight.

However, when we got 30" groups, they still came in their respective boxes, but just all taped together. Most ever was 4 boxes of 30" x 50yds. It was heavy for the UPS guy, but then that's why he gets paid well.

same for us

 

[ddubia]

"If I order two 24" x 50 yard rolls of vinyl from them they stack them both into a 48" long box so you've got two 20 pound boxes on each end and a little cardboard in the middle."

We use R-Tape mask and it always come packaged like that. Nothing else does though.

 

[Si Allen]

Call the manager or whoever is in charge and lay it on him ... next time they ship like that will be your last order!

 

[SE SignSupply]

Just refuse the next delivery that looks damaged. UPS will charge them freight both ways, they will take note then...

 

[jrsc]

Why are so many people getting all these UPS deliveries? Don't your vinyl suppliers do their own delivery for most items? Our store is in a smaller town and our supplier's warehouse is 2.5 hours away and they deliver to our town 3 times a week. As little as one roll. We only get UPS if they are out of something at the local warehouse. When we do the just put labels on the original packaging. Shipping 2 boxes in one shipment cost about the same as 1 box with the same total weight of the 2 so I don't see any reason to even bother combining them.

 

[Gino]

Just refuse the next delivery that looks damaged. UPS will charge them freight both ways, they will take note then...

No, you don't wait for it to happen again and play a game. How will that strategy get your job finished on time, if you have to send it back and wait to see if they do it right again ??

Like already mentioned, you call them and alert them to their problems and be firm with them. Let them know it has happened on countless occasions and you won't tolerate it any more without repercussions. This is a problem with their company and theirs alone. There are plenty of other compnies out there that will gladly ship correctly.

 

[CentralSigns]

Mine are always good. Sometimes I get 4@30 inchers to a box and that's a handful to move around. The only time my supplier messes me is when they don't cover the rolls in plastic and they rub. I lose a little of the rolls then, it only hurts when its high end reflective. I usually get about 6-8 rolls a week that way. our supplier has a bulk deal with UPS $10 per customer and as many boxes as they order. Works out good for me especially if I order magnet or banner. TCT is awsome that way.

 

[Mike Paul]

It's a crap shoot sometimes.
What really pisses me off is when I order a roll of vinyl and it gets dropped in a box without plastic covering or core holders and shows up with scars and bent edges.

 

[ddarlak]

i pretty much just order from cowboy, never have a problem

 

[GAC05]

I don't have that problem with split rolls in the same box but I have been getting IJ35 in original 3M packing that comes in with without the plastic around the roll.
Makes me cringe as I see the postman dolly it through the rain into our shop. 180c from the same supplier comes in sealed up.

wayne k
guam usa

 

[SE SignSupply]

No, you don't wait for it to happen again and play a game. How will that strategy get your job finished on time, if you have to send it back and wait to see if they do it right again ??

Like already mentioned, you call them and alert them to their problems and be firm with them. Let them know it has happened on countless occasions and you won't tolerate it any more without repercussions. This is a problem with their company and theirs alone. There are plenty of other compnies out there that will gladly ship correctly.

If that worked the problem would have already been solved, look up a few post.

 

[Pat Whatley]

Why are so many people getting all these UPS deliveries?

Ummm...because I order 8-10 rolls a week and they are about $30 per roll less than anybody who delivers. I can order today and UPS will have it (or half of it anyway) at the shop the next day. My delivery suppliers carry, at most, two brands of vinyl. My "shipper" supplier carries 8 and almost always has the colors I need in stock. My delivery guys only come on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If I run out of a color too late Wednesday to get it on the Thursday truck I'd have to wait until the following Tuesday to get it.

Do I need to keep going?


I called them and told them the problem....again. I also called the warehouse manager, the inside sales rep and my outside sales rep. they are supposedly going to start shipping the boxes taped together.