Receiving Express Shipments. When shipment is offered for delivery by the express com How Offered for Delivery by the Express Company. pany, it should be accompanied by sheet duly filled in at the office of the company. On this sheet will appear the description of the shipment, whether a box or package, the weight, where the shipment is from, your name, and the amount of charges, if any; or "Pd," if express charges were prepaid when shipment was made. The amount of the charges, if any, will appear at the left of the space intended for your signature. If shipment has been carried by more than one company, the charges assessed by each company should appear on delivery sheet. Excessive Express Should you think the charges are excessive, you should inquire from the expressman the rate from the point from which shipment was made. The weight of the shipment should show on the express sheet, and also on the package. Having the rate and the weight of the shipment, by referring to the graduated tables on pages 46-48, you can readily ascertain if the charges are correct. If you find that the charges are excessive, the matter should be adjusted with the express driver or at the office. If shipment has been carried by more than one express company, the rules regarding charges explained on page 14 will apply. Express Charges "Collect" when It frequently occurs through mistake that charges will be entered on the express company's sheet for collection, notwithstanding that the Shipment is Marked shipment is plainly marked "Prepaid." If the charges on the shipment have been prepaid by the shipper, the shipment will bear the "paid label" of the express company forwarding, thus: "Prepaid." Form 245 If this package is way-billed COLLECT, return this label, as expense. If this label is on the shipment, it shows conclusively that the charges were prepaid by the shipper, and the party receiving the shipment if residing within the limits of free delivery, is not called upon to pay any further charges. It is the duty of the expressman who makes the delivery of the shipment to request that the wrapper of the package or the cover of the box showing the paid mark of the forwarding express company, and also the shipper's name and address, be given to him; in other words, he is supposed to take the paid mark in place of any money for charges. Express Shipments Received in Damaged Condition. Great care should be exercised in receiving shipments from the express companies in a damaged condition. If the shipment is offered in a damaged condition, cover broken, box split open, wrapper torn, or package crushed, or in any manner which would lead you to expect that the contents of the package are not in good condition, you should always give your receipt for the shipment under the "Bad Order" notation, noting on the express company's receipt the nature of the "Bad Order." It is quite often the case that while a shipment may appear to be damaged, the contents will be found in good order. It is well, however, to give your receipt in "Bad Order," and in the event of any damage to the contents of the shipment, you are justified in entering a claim with the express company for the amount of such damage. It is the custom with some express offices to send an inspector to accomplish the delivery of shipments Delivery Effected by received in a damaged condition. The inthe Express Com- spector will request that the shipment be pany's Inspector. opened in his presence, and the contents examined and checked out. In this way the inspector is able to note the condition in which the shipment was delivered, and in the event of damage or loss, your claim will receive prompt attention. In the event of shipment being offered for delivery “"C. O. D." (collect on delivery), the package or box Express Shipments will be plainly marked "C. O. D." The C. O. D. how Markedamount of the bill will be marked on the and Delivered. shipment, and also whether return charges are to be collected or otherwise. Markings should show as follows: "C. O. D. $13.13, and return charges." The shipment should be accompanied by a regular express company's delivery sheet duly written up at the office, and also a regular bill from the shipper. This bill should show the articles that are in the shipment, together with the prices, and should be duly receipted by the shipper. This bill should also state as to whether return charges are to be collected from the party to whom the goods are shipped. In the event of shipment not stating regarding the collecting of return charges, you will be justified in refusing to pay them, provided you are called upon by the express company to do so. Should the shipper fail to receipt the bill for the goods in the shipment, the expressman will do so. He will receipt in the name of the express company making the delivery, and a bill so receipted can not be collected by the shipper a second time. C. O. D. Shipment with Privilege of Examination. When a "C. O. D." shipment is marked "Allow Examination," the party to whom shipment is made is at liberty to examine the goods. If for any reason the goods are not satisfactory, you are at liberty to refuse to accept the shipment. It is then the duty of express company's employee to take the goods back to the office. A notice will be sent to the shipper, stating that the shipment has been refused, and giving the reasons. The shipment will be held at the express office, subject to instructions from the shipper regarding its disposition. All the regular express companies in the large cities have prescribed limits for the delivery of express Boundary Limits for shipments. Shipments within the limits the Delivery of Ship- as prescribed will be delivered by the regments by the Regu- ular express companies without extra lar Companies. charge for such delivery. Should you reside outside the limit as stated, your shipment, when received by the express company, will be held at the "On Hand" (O. H.) office. When a shipment is so held by the express company, you will receive a postal notice notifying you that there is a shipment held for you at the office, giving you the street and number of such office. The postal notice will inform you of the amount of charges due, if any, or "Paid," if there are no charges. If shipment is "C. O. D.," the amount of charges for collection will be stated. Upon receiving such notice, it is your duty to call at the express office, and sign for and receive shipment. If it is not convenient, or you do not care to call at the express office, you are at liberty to have your local expressman call for you. If you send him, be sure and give him a written order on the express company requesting that your shipment be delivered to the bearer. Be sure and give him the postal notice, and also state on the order that the shipment is coming from a certain place. He will receipt for your shipment, and pay the charges, if any. It sometimes develops that a friend will ship you a package and fail to notify you that he has done so; in this event it will be impossible for you to state that you are expecting a shipment from a certain place. Under these circumstances you will be obliged to call at the express office in person for your shipment. If the shipment is of a valuable nature, you will have to be identified before delivery is made to you. Manufacturers and merchants will find the form on page 42 a handy and accurate method of recording the receipt of express shipments. These forms may be of any size which may be deemed advisable to accommodate the Receipts of Express requirements of the business. |