Please Ship Items With SOME PADDING AND TAPE PLEASE!

[Gene]

I'm venting here because I just received a package sent through USPS from a CPF seller that contained 2 items and was received today with the top ripped open and 1 item was missing.

If folks don't know, items sent through the mail no matter what shipping methods are used, (USPS, UPS, FedEx, whatever!), are thrown around like Frizbees at distribution centers.

I can't fault the seller as he sent it in a large padded envelope but didn't pad the items or tape up the seals of the envelope.

If you can't afford a little packing material, put at least a half page of newspaper around each item and tape up the seals of the envelope! Doesn't cost much and normally the post office or whomever will supply the tape!

If this seller would have at least put some newspaper around the items, I don't think this would have happened. I filed a complaint form with my post office, (no hope of monetary recovery, just a complaint form), but I'm sure this was a case of an honest seller sending 2 fairly heavy items with no padding whatsoever.

[MrMimizu]

I hate when that happens too! I'm the reverse of that when I ship items out to people. It's always jam packed with enough padding to keep the item safe and from moving around in the box or envelope. It's also taped so well, it usually takes something sharp to get the thing open. This way, I know that what's inside will arrive as I described it.
I've received some circuit boards in padded envelopes and had to request new ones cuz they got cracked into pieces since the envelope is not rigid and doesn't protect what's inside.

[Cuso]

I always over-pack my stuff, you'd prolly have to take the afternoon off and employ a Lightsaber to open some of my packages...:D NO complains yet...

[depusm12]

I alway over pack stuff when I mail it out. You'll need a crowbar and lightsaber to open my packages.

[B@rt]

Another vote for ample padding, mail is rough... :(

I recently had some abused parcels arrive, but nothing was missing thanks to some simple newspaper. :)

For small items (mostly vials :thinking: :shrug: :p) I use padded poly envelopes, they only cost a little more, but they are tear proof. :thumbsup:

[fnmag]

+1 for adequate packaging.

[hank]

Agreed.

Almost every package I've gotten lately has had a tear or hole punched in the outside, an inch or so across.

On one of them it looked like someone had gone in through that and pulled out some LEDs by tearing holes in the packages (without pulling the stiff cardboard labels through) --- impossible to prove.

I think people are poking holes in packages to look inside -- fiberscope?

Once that's done, if they can see anything to pull out easily, while not leaving it obvious what happened -- hey, if you don't trust your postal inspectors, who can you trust?

No doubt it's inspection for our own good. I feel more secure every day.

Don't make it easy for them.

[Wattnot]

After much practice, I've become very good at packing and shipping. Some tips:

1. The box (and packing): It should be new or in new condition. If you reuse boxes and tear off some cardboard when removing the old label, or if you break through to the corrugation, you've ruined the box. UPS is especially picky with this and actually has a disclaimer in their insurance that will void a claim from a reused box. You can always say you packed it and changed your mind and tore off the old label but be careful with UPS and used boxes. If any corner is crushed, find another box. Try and find boxes just a little larger than your item. Wrap your item in bubble wrap or rest it in a bed of styrofoam peanuts so as to suspend it in the middle of the box. Cover with more peanuts. Items can be in the best box in the world but can still damage themselves if they can MOVE at all inside the box. TAKE UP ALL OF THE AIR SPACE. Boxes are eerily strong IF they are all intact (like I mentioned above) and as solid as possible (so that if you push on the center, weakest area of the box, it feels solid). If you can press your finger down and move the cardboard, down into the box space, you didn't pack it right.

2. The label: I use full sheet labels that are cut horizontally in the center. They are expensive but if you buy Office Dept brand, when on sale, it's not that bad at all. I use their "equivalent to Avery 5126" labels. These work best with all of the UPS and USPS software. It's great being able to print pre-paid labels from home like a pro. Cover or remove older labels, especially ones with barcode. If the old barcode is dark, I try and cover it with plain white sticker first (cut from the excess of your printed label). If you don't the old barcode can bleed through and get scanned by their machines. If you can't cover them, marker over the old barcode so machines won't pick it up by mistake. Don't tape over all of the label. You shouldn't have to tape over the label at all but if you do, make sure not to tape over the barcodes or other machine coding (that squiggly dot thingy) because it can not only foul up the reading machines, the post office has rules against it too.

3. Tape: Use the right kind of tape. The clear shipping tape is available everywhere (Wal-Mart, etc.). Tape is happiest when it's sticking to itself. Go around the box a couple of times and make sure to terminate the tape on itself, not near a corner, with no bubbles or other imperfections. Don't be a macho man and rip the tape apart . . . cut the tape and just flatten it out . . . stretching it will cause it to come off later. When using padded envelopes or those non-corrugated cardboard (like those Fedex overnight document mailers) be sure to neatly tape over all of the seams and corners and sides, etc. Frame that puppy but be sure not to cover the postage OR the place the postage will stick if you are taking it to the post office. Their stamps stick best to paper, not slick tape.

4. Insurance and tracking: In my opinion (which is also shared by most of the carriers) the shipper is responsible for the item until it reaches the buyer. If you order something from Sears catalog and it doesn't make it to you, but Sears said they mailed it, would you let it go? Of course not. Well it's the same for you, as a shipper. Insurance might be a pain and a wasted expense most of the time but if you are dealing with a stranger, protect yourself by protecting the item. Even if the insurance doesn't fully cover the value of the item, it's still something. Insurance companies don't like paying claims so having insurance makes someone in the shipping chain care just a little bit more (usually after the fact). If a seller makes you pay extra for insurance, just pay it. But if insurance is not mentioned or offered, the item must reach you for the transaction to be complete. If you ship something and the recipient says there is a problem, TELL THEM TO SAVE THE BOX AND PACKING MATERIAL! This is important. The carrier will ask for this and that is usually the extent of the receiver's involvment. The shipper is usually the person tasked with filing the claim and following up and will also be the one to receive the money.

Other tips:

A cheap way to return something is to REFUSE IT. You can refuse a package, even a few days later, AS LONG AS IT HAS NOT BEEN OPENED. It goes back with no cost to you and no extra cost to the shipper. This of course is only useful if the buyer makes this decision during the transit but it can come in handy. All major carriers, to the best of my knowledge, have the same policy for package refusals.

RMA: This is connected to package refusals. It stands for "return merchandise authorization." A company protects itself from legal problems by not accepting unsolicited packages. Lets say you sent a light back to company A because you were pissed and didn't want it. If company A accepts and opens it, they are stuck with it and have to jump through several legal hoops to get out of being now in debt with you, or pay to ship it back to you. The RMA allows the receiving department to verify PRIOR to opening the package, that they are supposed to be getting that package. Be sure to follow all RMA instructions, which usually amount to writing a number on the box. I like using a Sharpie or other thin black or blue marker. Funny RMA story . . . I once sent a year old vacuum cleaner back to the manufacturer because it was the second one I owned in a short time that failed. I made up a phony RMA and wrote it on the box to get past the shipping department and stick the item to them. I had a note in there telling them I was sick of dealing with their crap and suggested they put it somewhere special. They sent me a new one. Of course this can only work a few times!

Hope that helped! The main thing to remember is to use a box in good condition and eat up ALL of the air space in the box. If you do this you could stand on the box or throw it with full force against a brick wall and usually not damage what's inside.

WN:tinfoil:

[MARNAV1]

+1. I recently won an Ebay auction, 3 pipe wrenches. 18,14,12 in Rigid cast iron wrenches. For some reason the seller just stuck em in the box loose, no tape newspaper or anything. Luckily they made it but the box had holes on both ends and one wrench handle was sticking out. DUH! Talk about stupid! Then another seller sent some wrenches (I'm a tool nut!) in a triangular UPS box and they would have survived the slow boat to China. Go figure. :thinking:

[Illum_the_nation]

I've recieved a laundry machine component that came in with a box that looks basically like this
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/microfire_k500r.htm

keep in mind that year was a dry season, the only possible way a two layered cardboard box would be wet through is to dump it in a lake then reseal it:green:

thankfully most of the packages from members here have been well padded...including some overkill ones [P1-CE inside a 11-1/2 shoebox, I almost tossed the light out with the newspaper:green:]

[RAF_Groundcrew]

I do a lot of buying and selling on ebay, so I see both sides....

Nothing that I have ever sent has failed to arrive intact.... I even sent a Beswick (china) horse figurine to Australia, and it arrived perfectly OK !

I bought and received a pro-spec Canon SLR body from Ireland, and I couldn't believe how badly it was packed, just put into a box, with some bits of styrofoam sheet, that weren't even held in place by tape, I'm amazed it arrive still working.

I always overpack ! Even on the annual FREE light giveaway, I pack each item, then pack the overall envelope/box with adequate bubble wrap or foam to ensure safe delivery.

There's no real excuse for not packing properly, materials are cheap, much cheaper than compensation, or your reputation.

[Gene]

If the gentleman would have just wrapped crumpled newspaper around the items or taped the seal, the missing item wouldn't have come out of the envelope. These were fairly heavy items and you could tell that the missing item had literally burst out of the envelope after being thrown.

Years ago, I used to be a custom knife collector over on BladeForums. My favorite shipping story is that I once bought a custom folder and the seller actually shipped it in a standard #10 mailing envelope! That's right, put it in a #10 envelope, licked the flap and mailed it with no padding, nothing!

I couldn't believe it but it actually got to me! Needless to say, the handle scales of the knife were severely cracked from shipment.

[BillBond]

It is amazing how poorly most people pack items they ship.

I just received a $300 item that was thrown in a box that was three times
too big without any kind of padding.

One time I received a rare bayonet that was sticking out of the box about 5 inches.
I emailed the seller and he said it was not his fault because he had
the guy at the counter of the post office pack it for him.

[shreknow91]

This reminds me of a package I recieved thru ebay

If i remember correctly, it was packed in 6 ziplock bags of various sizes, 3 padded envelopes, and all of that in 4 boxes...:ooo:

Talk about friggen overkill


all of that for a "rare" german figurine thingy that was butt ugly, but unfortunatly the customer demanded a replacement when the ear(the freakin' EAR!!!!!) got a microscopic chip in the top.....:shakehead

[HEY HEY ITS HENDO]

I received this package this afternoon .......
What was in it?, ............very expensive intruder alarm components ....
who sent it? .............A security specialist :sigh:

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/385/dsc00307sd7.jpg

[DonShock]

I feel your pain, 2 of the three times I have had people send me "things" in in a plain white envelope, I have gotten nothing but an empty envelope. Each time there's a nice neat hole in the end of the envelope where the rollers of the automated machinery ripped the item right out. You can usually see the black rubber tracks they leave as they squeeze it out.

[skalomax]

I've done this a couple of times.

Sorry folks. :mecry:

[kitelights]

Wattnot, excellent post - you and I think alike about shipping.

Liability in shipping seems to be the elephant in the room that is not addressed on CPF. Liability is normally the responsibility of the shipper. Your example of buying something from Sears is a good one. However, the responsibility issue seems to have been turned around on CPF as on eBay.

I still believe that anyone selling for profit should shoulder the responsibility for an item to arrive and in good shape. But, if the seller has a disclaimer and offers insurance as an option, the risk then falls on the buyer.

I have a personal risk amount of $20-30, depending on the item of which I'm willing to take a risk without insurance. If it's an item that I want insured and insurance isn't offered, I include the extra for insurance with my PP and a note to that effect.

Like you, I pack items with the expectation that they will be thrown and mishandled, regardless of who shoulders the responsibility. It's the golden rule attitude and I think that it says much about the seller.

I'd like to add a major suggestion for everyone that ships often - get an ATG gun (Adhesive Transfer Appicator). They are widely available on eBay for scrapbooks, picture albums, etc. They dispense a gummy two sided tape that remains pliable until you prress two sides together and then it forms a permanent bond.

I recycle bubble mailers and no matter what shape the flap is in from being opened, the ATG creates a secure seal.

It's also great for labels. I don't have to buy expensive adhesive labels to print for shipping and postage. I use standard paper on a laser printer and the ATG. No tape is necessary, although I still use some tape around the edges of an irregularly shaped bubble mailer just for extra neatness and security.

Once you use an ATG, you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.

[Tempest UK]

I've been very lucky with the packaging of items I have received from CPFMP sellers. Everything has arrived in the UK (usually from the US) intact and undamaged and with a good amount of padding.

cy should definitely win the safe packaging award :p Everything I've received from him has been almost bullet-proof. Good stuff :o

Regards,
Tempest

[NightLED]

Please leave a jeer for sellers who don't take care in shipping so future buyers can be more aware from buying from the seller.

[Tekno_Cowboy]

After a couple of mistakes on my part, I learned my lesson in shipping. I now go for major overkill.

1. Wrap item in bubble wrap.
2. Put item in heavy duty garbage bag (outdoors work type, very thick), and tie shut.
3. Fill a box with a minimum 2cm space on every side of item partway with packing peanuts.
4. Place item in box, surround with packing peanuts. Fill large gaps with foam or air cushions.
5. Seal box with Hot Glue or Adhesive, then with string-reinforced packing tape.
6. Place box in a bigger box, minimum 2cm clearance on all sides, completely surround with shredded newspaper(packed, but not too tight)
7. Seal in the same manner as inner box, but also add plastic string-reinforced tape over all seams.
8. Attatch Label (sticky backed thermal printed) and cover with sticky side of cold laminating plastic(glossy).

Had a problem with 1 post office due to the laminated label, but typically I've had no trouble.

[GenEric808]

I always use bubble wrap and if it's shipped in a box, I always use peanuts or crumpled newspaper to keep the item from moving around. When I ship in a large envelope, I always use bubble wrap and use packing tape along all sides of the envelope to reduce the chance of ripping.