DIDGUSTED with Blackstone Labs!

[Gary - K7GLD]

I've been involved in a rather lengthy extended oil drain "test", using Delo 15/40 - I have a related thread elsewhere on this board - and sent Blackstone Labs my latest oil sample at 13,000 miles nearly a month ago...



Since so much time has passed, I called them this morning to verify the status of my sample, and they show NO record of having it! :{



I realize they (and I!) may be victims of a postal failure in delivery, but this incident combined with their typically SLOOOoooow turnaround of sample results, and an analysis cost that is nearly double what some others charge, pretty much takes them off my list as a reliable source for my analysis business!



This loss of my sample greatly compromises my testing - I can't replace that lost sample, and now can only wait until I hit the next point in my testing, which would probably be sometime in the spring, at 20,000 miles - but if I switch analysis outfits, those test results would not be reliably consistent with what I have so far obtained - so I'll probably just scrap the test bit and start over... #@$%! #@$%!



DAMMIT anyway, 6 months and 15,000 miles of testing down the drain! #@$%!

 

[Headshot zod]

Thats too bad. I actually went there and did a mini tour of the place and had them take a sample from me. They seemed competent enough. I think they do about 300 samples a day.

 

[Boomer II]

I'd back up my samples when dealing with any shipping service. Good advice for the next run anyway.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Well, I normally prefer to take my oil samples shortly after swapping out the element in my Frantz bypass filter, since part of my test relates to the efficiency and benefits of that filter - so since the next element change is coming up fairly soon, maybe I can take another sample then with about 15,000 miles on the oil, and send it to CAT for their analysis - one of my earlier analysis was done by them, so I would only be off-mileage by a couple of thousand miles, and better than waiting for the 20,000 mile mark.

 

[MLimpert]

Sorry to hear that... I live in Fort Wayne (About 15 minutes from blackstone) , and have actually toured their facility. They have always gotten me the results from samples I dropped off within 24 hours. They really seem like a nice bunch of people. I would bet there was a problem in the mail system. Maybe using another shipper such as UPS with tracking capability would be worthwhile in the future.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

What was evem MORE damning on Blackstone's part, was the fact that I had E-mailed them middle of last week about the status of my sample, and they didn't even bother to get back to me on that E-mail - that's why I had to call them on the phone this morning...

 

[PRyker]

Gary,



Interesting... I am having the EXACT same problem with Oil Analyzers (I bought the sample kit through Amsoil). I sent my sample away close to a month ago and I have heard nothing. Your post actually reminded me to email and call them.



How do you send the sample? I got a postage paid little bottle from Amsoil that I place another bottle and a small card I fill out in. Maybe post office lost it?



I actually was thinking about going with Blackstone because I saw someone post (maybe you) about what seemed to be innacurate test results. Keep us posted on this.



Phil

 

[Tony T.]

I sent Blackstone my first ever oil sample at 20K miles on 8/16/04 an they never received it to this date according to the emails they have sent me back.



I told them in a email I was going to send one more at 25K miles an if it didn't make it to them I would not be bothering them any more.



Maybe it was the postal service fault, but it was the first thing I ever had lost in the mail.



My work place use's Cat an I may go ahead an use them anyway.





Tony

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"How do you send the sample? I got a postage paid little bottle from Amsoil that I place another bottle and a small card I fill out in. Maybe post office lost it?"



Pretty much the same, except the Blackstone sample bottles are not prepaid postage... I figure there was a chance the Post Office screwed up - but doesn't excuse Blackstone's failure to even respond to my Email inquiry about the sample, I have sent them plenty of samples in the past... .



The sample bottle was well marked, including my return address, hopefully it could still show up at their office - I'd be glad to even get it back, and resend it...

 

[Gauthier]

I've used Blackstone for three tests, and each time the sample was sent on a Monday morning from south Louisiana. In all three cases, I received the results that same week on Thursday.

 

[Tony T.]

I used their little black container they sent me, an paid the I think $1. 52 postage. They said it is rare one ever gets lost in the mail. Only could happen to me! "no it happened to Gary"



Just kidding Gary I'm really still p. o. 'ed it didn't get there



Tony

 

[bpenrod]

I have used them for three or four samples and have been impressed. Always a quick turnaround and always good results!

 

[catoiler]

Gary,Don't feel bad I send in about 60 samples a month and Company wide about 3000 samples a month to Castrol and you would not belive how many they screw up!They are on a 3 day turn around with us and if we get them back in 2 weeks it is a surprise!I don't recall how many lost samples we have but it is more than it should be. All ours are sent Fed Ex so we know they get there. It would be a good idea to take 2 samples just for this reason.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Normal circumstances, a lost sample is no big deal, simply resample and start over - but in this case, in the middle of a long-term test, it's VERY annoying!



BUT, I'll only be off by 2000 miles, and since I already have an initial baseline test from CAT for comparison as part of this experiment, only a minor inconvenience - but yeah, from here on out, DUPLICATE samples!

 

[bgilbert]

Sounds like we should pay for the delivery confirmation-tracking numbers, and insurance on the sample. But yes, this would increase the money put into the sample for Blackstones already high dollar analysis. I've used them for a few samples, no problems. I'd like to find a less costly analysis <$20+$1. 52... .

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Miracle of miracles - someone at Blackstone woke up, found my sample, and I got the results via Email yesterday!



The results of that analysis are over in my extended oil drain test thread...



By the way, after the apparent problem with Blackstone, I ordered 3 prepaid oil sample kits from CAT - the cost for ALL THREE was $40 delivered to my door - about $13 per test!

 

[Tony T.]

Maybe mine will show up during spring cleaning, it probably rolled in behind the soda machine covered with lint an old chewing gum. I'm going to hold my breath until they find it, that will show' em. :-laf



Glad yours showed up Gary.



Tony

 

[MichaelAnderson]

sending oil in the mail, prohibted by usps ntxt

sending oil in the mail prohibited by usps.

 

[PRyker]

Heh,



After I read this post I went to my email and strangely enough... . I also have an email with my sample results. OAI "found it". WAAHHOOO... I got a "2" on silicone. Hey Gary, guess my synthetics and aFe progaurd are better than your dino oil and K&N... .



Just kidding...



Phil

 

[VicR]

sending oil in the mail prohibited by usps.

I wondered about this too, but the PO said as long as its a 'consumer quantity' (read small quanitity I guess), has a flash point of over 200', and is double packaged, its fine. Apparently depending on the flash point some oils are restricted to surface only, and some are a no-go.



-Vic