Shipping / Flat Rate Boxes / Packing

[BILL WZOREK]

The U S Postal Flat rate boxes are a INEXPENSIVEway to ship things.
(In my case Shocks) But NOT if you start LOOSING your SHOCKS.
Lately I have gotten Boxes in that are all mangled / partly ripped open
With very little or in one case no packing material around the shocks.

When you use this form of shipping please take a moment longer to try and pack them so that your shocks aren't LOST in shipping.

These are just suggestion when you pack them PLEASE don't use those Styrofoam peanuts They give no suport against the weight of the shocks & the Styrofoam peanuts get crushed almost to a powder form.
Next is the bubble rap a little better then the Styrofoam peanuts but still does not give enough support for the weight of the shocks I have gotten boxes with shock arms pocking out the side of the box along with bubble rap around it.

I have found the best packing is the good old news paper.
{If you have to buy a paper to do this it is still cheaper then packing paper}
Rap the news paper around each shock and put in box with all your shocks in box stuff paper in all voids then before taping cover the cover & try to shake the box if you feel the shocks moving stuff in more paper.

Now comes the taping part, I suggest the clear tape the P.O.sales ( I think it's $ 3.49 @ the counter) there is enough to do 2 complete boxes rapping 3 separate times around the width & 3 separate times around the length of the box.

Also I know they say if it packs it ships 75 lbs or under.
But to be honest you put 4 Shocks in a flat rate box thats enough it is a nice weight.

I know we do want to spend more then have to But grab a 2nd box and put the additional ( above 4) in another box.

I know the Postal Lady that delivers them to my door will be VERY HAPPY.

I know this thread got a little long but as hard as it is to find good cores I Thought the topic needed to be addresed.

SO REMEMBER THE NEXT LOST SHOCK COULD BE YOURS !!!

THANKS

BILL WZOREK

[Cecil/WV]

Good council, Bill. Not too long at all.

[Vic Piano]

Excellent advice that should pertain to shipping all parts, not just shocks.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Another thing that might help is a double thickness box. Find a box that fits inside the flat rate box or cut 6 pieces of cardboard that will form an inner lining. Them crumble up sheets of newspaper and force them in around the items to be shipped.

[ford3]

spend a little more money and buy insurance, p/o doest furnish any free, ups gives $100 free

[BILL WZOREK]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

ford3
The P. O. Includes $ 50.00 Insurance @ N/C Not enough to replace the shocks But in is there And as ford3 said a little more $$ buys Insurance.
I have never had a clam but I understand that there is a time period to wait & paper work to fill out but they do come through.

[FL&WVMIKE]

In the Flat Rates, it not going to cost you one nickel more to line inside the box, several times around, with cardboard. The rate is fixed.
MIKE

[19Fordy]

I filed a claim with the US Post Office over a lost $199 part and they paid with no problems. Thank goodness I had bought insurance. The buyer received an empty Flate Rate box that was torn open. The key is to keep all of your receipts and paperwork, plus photos of what you shipped and how you packed it. Also, if possible, get photos of how the box looked when it was received. Then submit your "Claim Forms" along with your documentation. The Post Office will also ask what the replacement cost is.

[ken ct]

Originally Posted by ford3

spend a little more money and buy insurance, p/o doest furnish any free, ups gives $100 free

PO does now $50 free. ken ct.

[Torchie]

I ship thru USPS as much as possible. Flatrate boxes as well as other off size boxes. I have found them to be the most reasonable out there and have never had a problem.
Plus I like to support the PO because if we don't it may go the way of public pay phones and the Dodo bird and where I live the mail carriers car is the only one that goes down my road everyday.LOL

[1931 flamingo]

Too bad none of the vendors sell common sense...........................

Paul in CT

[mralternator]

I ship usps flat rate box to every where including international , YES I have found that OVER wrapping and protecting and writing fragile all over the box Helps tremendously. No more problems and best rates

[Kube]

Originally Posted by BILL WZOREK

ford3
The P. O. Includes $ 50.00 Insurance @ N/C Not enough to replace the shocks But in is there And as ford3 said a little more $$ buys Insurance.
I have never had a clam but I understand that there is a time period to wait & paper work to fill out but they do come through.

Also, if it was not packed securely, your claim will not be honored.

Heck, i had a guy ship me to very rare tail lamp lens in a small flat rate box. He had placed ONE piece of paper towel around each lens.
Guess how they arrived? I guess we can't protect the idiots from themselves...

[BILL WZOREK]

Maybe there is a postal employee on here that knows.
Are the flat rate boxes sorted mechanically or by hand( which I can't believe @ this date + time ) Mechanically would explain the tough shape of the boxes that are not packed proper.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by BILL WZOREK

Maybe there is a postal employee on here that knows.
Are the flat rate boxes sorted mechanically or by hand( which I can't believe @ this date + time ) Mechanically would explain the tough shape of the boxes that are not packed proper.

Both...
I feel many folks do not understand the sheer amount of mail that must be sorted logistically negates any special treatment. I do believe a postal employee that would purposely rough up a package are the rare exception. And, once out of a human's hands, a machine does not understand if you did a thorough job of packaging or not - it handles each and every package the same as the one before and the millions thereafter.
The thought that marked "fragile" will effect kinder handling is foolish.
Realistically, there is no time allowed for special handling.
The bottom line? Package your goods very well. That in itself is your best assurance it will arrive safely.

[Cecil/WV]

Back in the '701's. I worked for a while at a publishing house and one day I took a load of bulk mail to the bulk mail center in Landover, Md. When I got there, the guys were going on break, so I had to wait a while and listen to there BS. They were talking about special handling of bulk mail. They said that they paid no attention to packages marked" fragile", but if you wanted it to be handled gently, to mark it "Bees" and they would be sure to handle with care, because one day they were throwing packages and the threw one marked 'Bees" and it busted open and the bees came out and ever since, you could be sure that they "handled bees with care"

[hotcoupe]

bill, good info. i hope you`re not posting this message in response to the package that i sent you recently.
tom

[Krylon32]

I have been using the flat rate boxs in my business since they came out. Shipped all over the world and to date have had no problems.

[Lawson Cox]

Don't overstuff a flat rate box. If you do, the PO may not take it. It must retain its original outside measurements. Don't ask me how I know.

[BILL WZOREK]

Lawson You are correct. The point I was making is to make sure there is no movement of the shocks that may Break the box.
The other thing that is nice about the flat rate box's is that they use to charge for a tracking # now it is FREE on domestic non international shipments.
for international shipping there is additional paper work required but it is not all that bad.