Date:         Sun, 17 Jun 2007 09:20:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      A Saga Begins, Mystery of the Missing Norcold and FedEx
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Anyone seen a Norcold DC0040 running around on the loose around Lynnwood,
Wa.?  Well, there is one.
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, my Norcold was due to arrive this week,
FedEx said on the 19th.  Also on the way are a solar panel and controller,
PowerPole connectors, wire, Sorbothane (for vibration damping under the
Norcold).  I was ready to pick up the new (bigger) aux battery tomorrow and
the upgraded battery seperator (Surepower 1315) is already here and ready to
install.
Well, last night about 9:00 PM I checked the FedEx Website (I have the
tracking number) to make sure the Norcold was still on schedule for the
19th.  What???  FedEx says "Delivered at 6:05 PM.  Left at Front Door".
Wow! (But puzzled because I was sitting righ next to the phne at 6:05 and no
call from the front door here at my condo).  So I grabbed the hand cart (51
pound package) and headed for the front door, ready to take the crated
Norcold around the corner and set it inside the Westy for the night.  I get
to the front door and nothing there! And nothing at the back door, noting at
back or front doors of the other building in this condo complex.  Oh my,
what now?  Checked all the common spaces inside the building in case a
halpful neighbor bgought it inside for me.  Nothing.
So, to the FedEx Website for a local FedEx phone number.  No such thing,
only on 'Customer Service' number for the entire United States.  And a long
voise actuated phone tree to get to a 'person' that says she can't help and
can't provide any local number for me to call.  After I insisted she finally
took my name and number and said someone would call back, "Maybe tomorrow".
I've emailed the vendor to try to get action from that end and will now
await FedEx.
BTW, given the physical layout here (front door of building is hidden and
about 200 feet from the street) the least likley scenario is that someone
stole the large, 50+ pound package from the front door, most likely it was
delivered to the wrong address especially considering there was no attempt
to call from the front door entry system phone.

And I'm reading with great interest the threads on solar and wiring, great
info coming in.