How long to get Test Results Back?

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I've sent 2 samples in. The first time I sent it USPS Priority in the provided cylinder. It took two weeks just to get to Blackstone. The second time I took Blackstone's advice and packaged my cylinder inside a square box. Had my results in 3 days!

According to Blackstone, apparently USPS has a problem handling small round cylinders, but has no problem handling small boxes. Go figure.
 
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The postal inspector fairy delays a sample or two a year of mine. I think it's just a convenient "target of opportunity" for some person justifying their job in the war on mail terrorism. I imagine that they quarantine it for a few weeks ..and send it on.

I walk up. Hand it to them ..say "liquid. non-haz ..used motor oil". They put the stamp on it.
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btw-I've sent many samples in irregular containers (urine sample bottles in recycled peanut cans, for example) and ONLY the Blackstone cylinders have been delayed.

Oh ..one time Blackstone actually forgot to send me the report. I inquired after 3-4 weeks and the "resent it".
grin2.gif
 
My wife packed it in a box because she was afraid she would get a hassle about it. Cost $ 1.85 to send.

What does it cost by Fedex or UPS?
 
Originally Posted By: MtnMike
I've sent 2 samples in. The first time I sent it USPS Priority in the provided cylinder. It took two weeks just to get to Blackstone. The second time I took Blackstone's advice and packaged my cylinder inside a square box. Had my results in 3 days!

According to Blackstone, apparently USPS has a problem handling small round cylinders, but has no problem handling small boxes. Go figure.


I've been sending mine sealed inside the large Priority Mail Tyvek envelopes with no delays.
 
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
The postal inspector fairy delays a sample or two a year of mine. I think it's just a convenient "target of opportunity" for some person justifying their job in the war on mail terrorism. I imagine that they quarantine it for a few weeks ..and send it on.

I walk up. Hand it to them ..say "liquid. non-haz ..used motor oil". They put the stamp on it.
21.gif


btw-I've sent many samples in irregular containers (urine sample bottles in recycled peanut cans, for example) and ONLY the Blackstone cylinders have been delayed.

Oh ..one time Blackstone actually forgot to send me the report. I inquired after 3-4 weeks and the "resent it".
grin2.gif



I just got back another Blackstone report which took only 4 days. Sent USPS Priority in an unlabeled, white 4x4x4 box. Perhaps you are right and the Blackstone packaging is some sort of red flag for the postal inspectors?
 
All samples I've sent have been standard US Mail and it can take FOREVER. Sample sent 01/05/2009, analyzed 01/29/2009. I almost gave up on that one. Another sample 01/19/09, analyzed 02/06/09. Since I'm in Kalifornia I'm thinking about modifying the label to read "Greenstone" and add a caption that says something like "Green energy inside, please handle with care" and seeing if it makes it's way through the mail any quicker.
 
Originally Posted By: OrdnanceMarine
All samples I've sent have been standard US Mail and it can take FOREVER. Sample sent 01/05/2009, analyzed 01/29/2009. I almost gave up on that one. Another sample 01/19/09, analyzed 02/06/09. Since I'm in Kalifornia I'm thinking about modifying the label to read "Greenstone" and add a caption that says something like "Green energy inside, please handle with care" and seeing if it makes it's way through the mail any quicker.


LOL.gif
 
just pack the cylinder into a small 4" square box, it will cost the same as shipping the cylinder. The difference is, you wont get hassled about why it has a labs name on it and what is in it.

All of my samples have returned results in less than a week.
 
Originally Posted By: hooligan24
just pack the cylinder into a small 4" square box, it will cost the same as shipping the cylinder. The difference is, you wont get hassled about why it has a labs name on it and what is in it.

All of my samples have returned results in less than a week.


I'm going to go this route though I think I have one or two postage prepaid Blackstone containers to burn.
 
My experience has been:

Round bottles in mail 15-24 days

UPS rectangular box - 4 days

Priority mail rectangular box - 4-5 days

I think the hangup in the system is the round container. Like someone said above, just putting it in a box speeds it up.
 
Hmmmm afaik I have never really had a big delay sending the Blackstone Container..I want to say about 7 Days I have my results and that is mailing from NH
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Goose
 
I sent mine priority mail on Thursday, they emailed me the results on Monday.

The post office didn't not want to take it, but I showed them the pamphlet that came with it and they accepted it this time, they said.

Blackstone labs.
 
Just got my last one back from Blackstone. 7 days! I sent it cheapest parcel post from Canada (abt $5)
By far the fastest ever for me. I did put the container in a small box this time.
Maybe customs delays it if it an obvious sample container?
 
Mailed a dual sample by priority mail with Post Office on Weds morning. Had test results by Fri afternoon!
 
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I think first class in an envelope is about the same as priority. Last one I sent from west coast (in padded envelope mailer) via first class on a Monday at 3pm. Arrived in Indiana (blackstone) at 9:30am Wed. The key seems to be not to use round containers and don't write liquid on the outside.
 
Just over two weeks ago I put the cylinder in my oil filter box, wrapped it in brown paper, dropped it in the same mail box as always on a Sunday morning and I had my results that Friday. Definitely beats the 3+ weeks I had seen using the cylinder alone!

Oh yeah, I peeled my prepaid label off of the cylinder and stuck it to the box.
 
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