Logistics and model trains.....????

Hi Dave,

I have a B.S. in transportation and Logistics.  The reason your packages travel so much has to do with factors other than the costs of the extra miles.  It all started with Fedx.  Its actually cheaper, faster and more efficient to ship all packages to a central location, sort everything and then send them onto their destination.  This is so due to economy of scale, cheaper land and building costs at the central location.  These "hubs" also are located near less trafficked railroad and air hubs usually making the shipping company the dominate player for the railroad and airport facilities in their area giving them priority.  These hubs are usually located where taxes and labor costs are cheaper.  Lastly, as these hubs are huge facilities , the companies usually can negotiate great tax breaks and infrastructure improvements. Hope this was helpful.

I see that E---- Global Shipping Programs for Canadians (this also includes Canadain Customs and Sales Taxes, everything first goes to a Kentucky warehouse. From there it starts  its long trek to western Canada

I flew extensively for work from the mid 70s through the 90s, and it was not uncommon for luggage to "vacation" somewhere other then where I was. A carryon with a essentials was the solution. I have had winter-weight suits vacation in Hawaii while I'm working in New York. So goes logistics, I expect the suits where as unhappy as me.

Yes, I track packages and it is sometimes amazing where they go.  On the other hand, they stuff gets here quickly.  I've hard stuff i order the M.B. Klein, and just pay regular shipping rates for, arrive within 26 hours, and I routinely get stuff from nearly everyone in two or three days, max.    

Thanks for the reply.

My real job was a senior Analyst for a big bank. I am old school in that I learned the job via OJT and not a degree. I still have a hard time seeing my package being driven within miles of my house only to stop 6 hours later and immediately be turned around the opposite direction. Maybe it's like my wife accuses me of......over analyzing it!!!!

Lee......it's not the amount of time the trip takes as much as the path taken!!! Just seems odd to me at times.....but as I get older many things don't make sense!!

"I still have a hard time seeing my package being driven within miles of my house only to stop 6 hours later and immediately be turned around the opposite direction. Maybe it's like my wife accuses me of......over analyzing it!!! It's not the amount of time the trip takes as much as the path taken!!! Just seems odd to me at times.....but as I get older many things don't make sense!!" 

I agree. However, as I tried to illustrate in my previous post, a more direct routing approach is no guarantee of efficient delivery. With a hub, one gets all the crap in one place, then sorts it out, I practice approach myself when dealing with my crap. With the "hub" concept, when things are lost, at least they are lost in the same place.

AMCDave, I get what you are saying.  But, does it really matter how far your package goes if that makes it get there faster?  I know that doesn't seem to make any sense.   The important thing is that it arrives intact and not smashed to bits from all that handling.

Rick

I shipped a medium box of trains from Scottsdale AZ to central PA.  First the box went to California before it went east.  It took about 6 days, and this was Parcel Post!  I think you are over analyzing, think of something else; like when is MTH going to update their website for ordering parts!

Just be glad you got your package........

Being that my stuff spends their lives in my basement, I don't begrudge them seeing the some of world before they're delivered.

Rusty

FINALLY!!! An explanation I understand!!!!