This is my first time becoming part of discussion here on the GTA Forum. We here at Predator International use the GTA Forum to learn from and listen to you the airgunners of the world. We feel a vendor should not try and promote their goods here but listen to airgunners as to your needs, likes and dislikes. This forum is like "airgun university" for us!It was brought to our attention the recent conversation about some damaged JSB Pellets that were received by a Forum participant. Since pellets are our only business this subject was near and dear to our hearts! Let me say that JSB and Predator want to provide only the finest quality pellets available. Each pellet manufactured by JSB in the CZ is hand reviewed by one of over 20 QC specialist prior to going into a foam lined tin. It takes months to train these QC people to review each pellet under magnification. All pellets are made on "old school" slower volume machines that offer the best consistency in size and weight as is possible. They use only the highest quality lead available and take their time throughout the manufacturing process (thus more out of stocks than most manufacturers).Now comes the adventure! Each tin is placed in sleeves of 5 or 10 tins based on the tin size and then the carton sleeves are placed within much thicker than industry average corrugated shipping cartons. The cases are placed on solid heavy wooden pallets and then placed in a sea container. Each pallet is metal bound and separated by 8" x 8" beams to hold each pallet in place. The average weight of each pallets is 2500 pounds The container then ships from Bohumin CZ to Bremerhaven Germany via a semi truck. The container is off load and sits in a shipyard until a ship is available then load onto a massive container ship. The transport of the container on the truck and then onto the ship is always a mystery. One angry longshoreman and "dang"! We always hope for a nice smooth sea shipment then on to Houston where it is unloaded. The container then moves around the port and eventually gets placed another truck flat bed then onto a rail car going to Chicago! From their it transfers to a train heading for Denver! Once in Denver it is off loaded to a truck then to us here in Littleton, CO. We unload the container and place it on metal racks in our warehouse. We inspect each case for any sign of damage and if there is some the case is opened and the tins inspected inside and out. Stage one is now complete!Now we ship to many terrific and outstanding wholesale customers. Most are shipped on pallets direct to their warehouse. Again we loaded them on pallets metal band them and ship them on common carrier trucks or UPS/Fedex to our wholesale customers. They in turn inspect each carton as they arrive and hopefully all is still intact! Then they ship to you via USPS, UPS, Fedex etc. and I can tell you each one takes their time and makes a huge effort to make sure the tins they ship to you are well protected and secure. I can tell you horror story after story of how these cartons are treated. It is not just JSB Pellets that get this "carefree" treatment but all pellets. Because pellets are heavy and metal the assumption is are that they are indestructible! The pallets, cases and cartons are heavy so any force needed to move, drop and toss the container is used! As airgunners know, pellets are as delicate as eggs a finger squeeze, a drop of the tin or even the pellet can easily deform the pellet. The weight of the tin dropped on a soft surface with no tin damage can create damage from with in the tin just by the sheer weight of the pellets.So bottom line all pellet manufacturers do their best to ensure you receive their pellets in the best of condition, but after being moved and handled by literally dozens of people forklifts, trains, ships and trucks there is always a chance of some damage, but rest assured, the pellets left in the best possible condition possible. We always suggest that you contact the supplier you purchased your pellets from and let them know of a problem. The vast majority of our customers will stand behind their sales and want you to have an excellent purchase and use experience. So to those that receive their pellets in perfect condition and those few that receive some damaged pellets, please understand every effort by your pellet manufacturer and retail and online supplier has been made to get you that one perfect shot!Yours truly,Dick DixonPredator International, Inc.303-761-1236
Quote from: wimpanzee on September 20, 2016, 09:13:50 AMWe have to consider we are sending small, delicate pieces of soft lead over thousands of miles in a variety of vehicles, and dozens of hands - all for a few dollars or free. Not every package will arrive unscathed.Since these came out of a nearly perfect metal tin with foam padding on the top and bottom inside the tin I seriously doubt that the problem occurred during the thousands of miles. I suspect it happened in the factory.
We have to consider we are sending small, delicate pieces of soft lead over thousands of miles in a variety of vehicles, and dozens of hands - all for a few dollars or free. Not every package will arrive unscathed.
That is not good Who did you purchase them from?Recommend contacting them about it. Dave
Quote from: dcorvino on September 16, 2016, 03:56:21 PMThat is not good Who did you purchase them from?Recommend contacting them about it. DaveSent them an email 9/21 and didn't hear back. Sent another email last week and linked this thread. It appears they don't give a flip.
Just shoot them all... that way you can blame your misses on bent pellets.
Reach out to the vendor and see how things go. If nothing comes of it, I'd avoid that vendor.