How rare is this?

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Reigningscorpios

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California
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JW IBEW
In my 20 some odd years in the trade, I have ran into this twice, and luckily always had the habit of holding onto labeled tails and mule tape used for measurement. With that said, on 2 occasions, each very similar, wire ordered for pulls have come up short due to footage misprints in the middle of a muletape run.
One imparticular was multiple motor runs of 750 Kcmil at 1000 ft. On cable tray that came up 20' short. I looked through the tape and found the numbers skipped a couple spots and then start again with an oddball number that seemed accurate and was visible when taking the measurement, so we knew there were no knots or anything.
Since I had the tape with the error, the mule tape company had to fit the bill. Very costly since they were 3 wire lol each with their own ground wrapped with aluminum protection and one sheath. Something like $50 per foot.
Has this happened to any of you? If so, what's your story.
 
I’m impressed you got them to foot the bill. How many years ago was this? Nowadays they blame it on supply chain shortage, employee shortage, remodeling the factory, or anything else as though that’s your problem. They give you a buffet of excuses and you’re supposed to pick which one it is. Most likely they have something in their warranty or whatever saying that their liability is limited to replacement of the measure tape.
 
I haven't seen a footage marking error but did have some 1500# tape that was breaking repeatedly at about 700#.

Last time I got a measurement off of pull tape it was about a 2000' run and we had hdpe conduit that had the footage also so I was able to get confirmation. But this was only #2 AL 15kv CN primary at only about $3.75 per foot so I got some extra anyway.
 
I recently replaced my old Greenlee 2500lb (small) spool of measuring tape with Ideal. I didn't specify Ideal it is what supplier sent. It was unreadable. Numbers looked reversed or were blobs of ink .An absolute mess. I brought in to supplier for them to read and issue credit. Had to order replacement from another supplier and was Greenlee but it didnt look like the old one
 
yesterlectric said:
I’m impressed you got them to foot the bill. How many years ago was this? Nowadays they blame it on supply chain shortage, employee shortage, remodeling the factory, or anything else as though that’s your problem. They give you a buffet of excuses and you’re supposed to pick which one it is. Most likely they have something in their warranty or whatever saying that their liability is limited to replacement of the measure tape.
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Well damn, umm , it was the Ethanol plant,, so it must've been,, 2008.
 
I was surprised also, but it was a MAJOR problem because there were multiple runs, each at 1000 '. Tugger was twisting a beam. Approximately 2 tons of torque per pull. At $50 a foot SOMEONE had to pay and the proof was on the tape so really they had no way out of it.
 
electrofelon said:
I haven't seen a footage marking error but did have some 1500# tape that was breaking repeatedly at about 700#.

Last time I got a measurement off of pull tape it was about a 2000' run and we had hdpe conduit that had the footage also so I was able to get confirmation. But this was only #2 AL 15kv CN primary at only about $3.75 per foot so I got some extra anyway.
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Right on.
 
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