steve
06-17-2003, 12:40 PM
Guys,
Some of us sell on Ebay and shipping globally. Some of us don't. This is for those that don't ship very often or need some suggestions. Recently I have recieved some horribly packed parts. When you don't pack well, 1)you WILL not be able to collect insurance and 2)you may be tying up the item and the funds for quite a while when waiting for the NO verdict. 3)You also cause damage to some very nice parts at times and thats a real shame as well and may very well irritate the buyer.
Props or heavy items ---Send a prop in a prop box with a threaded rod bolted to a pc of plywood large enough so that the edges don't contact the box on any side. Use popcorn or any packing to keep the box shape. Or use a plastic prop box and have it returned to you. I have seen very expensive props sticking their little noses thru the side of boxes this past week, some packed with nothing more then shredded paper and not even bolted down, just flopping around in there!
Popcorn , shredded paper, etc will not protect a heavy or sharp item . Flywheels, heads, airhorns, etc must not be allowed to contact each other or move. Or if the above are not available, what works well for heavy fragile items is 1"-2" blue or pink styrofoam sheets cut and wedged into a thick box inside a cardboard box and positioned so the item cannot move OR carpet padding also works well. We send heavy glass tube based amplifiers internationally and they live with this kind of packing.
The object must not be able to move or it will damage itself.
If you send items via OOOPS ( UPS ) then I suggest tossing the box out into your yard as a test procedure before shipping it. Seriously !!!!!!!!!!!!! If you cannot cause the item to move around in the box or you can't damage it by dropping it, then they won't either and vice versa.
Cowels, plastic parts, painted parts---wrap them in stretch wrap or garbage bags before putting packing material around them. Once scratched, these are very difficult to repair let me tell you.
ECU's and electronic items---try to find some PINK bubble wrap or sheet. If these items aquire a static charge they can be permanantly damaged. Generally pink or green are the non static types.
Powerheads, blocks, etc-- ---You may find that shipping these on a pallet or crating them is cheaper and safer. Freightquote.com is an excellent source for low rates. Be sure to secure the item so it cannot move. Rope will usually stretch and loosen. Use stretchwrap, tape or bands. OR you may want to bolt the item down. Be sure to cover any easily damaged items on it. Crating is the safest. Fragile stickers on everything and be sure to track things! I once had a Priority envelope take 13 days to travel 200 miles in my own state!
Finding supplies---USPS will send you free boxes and their Priority tape is the best stuff I have every used. They will send lables as well.
For packing materials-- --have your wife check with beauty shops, health food stores, nic nack stores. They throw the stuff out all the time. Carpet stores will save padding scraps for you as well. Believe me guys this is worth the effort and will eliminate headaches later. Newspapers will sell end rolls for $5 generally as well.
I'm sure there are others with some good suggestions as well, but I have several items that I just recieved that are either junk or close to it because of inappropriate packing not the handling. Combine that with having OOOPS send it and you have a disaster. Avoid the noid I say. ;)
Some of us sell on Ebay and shipping globally. Some of us don't. This is for those that don't ship very often or need some suggestions. Recently I have recieved some horribly packed parts. When you don't pack well, 1)you WILL not be able to collect insurance and 2)you may be tying up the item and the funds for quite a while when waiting for the NO verdict. 3)You also cause damage to some very nice parts at times and thats a real shame as well and may very well irritate the buyer.
Props or heavy items ---Send a prop in a prop box with a threaded rod bolted to a pc of plywood large enough so that the edges don't contact the box on any side. Use popcorn or any packing to keep the box shape. Or use a plastic prop box and have it returned to you. I have seen very expensive props sticking their little noses thru the side of boxes this past week, some packed with nothing more then shredded paper and not even bolted down, just flopping around in there!
Popcorn , shredded paper, etc will not protect a heavy or sharp item . Flywheels, heads, airhorns, etc must not be allowed to contact each other or move. Or if the above are not available, what works well for heavy fragile items is 1"-2" blue or pink styrofoam sheets cut and wedged into a thick box inside a cardboard box and positioned so the item cannot move OR carpet padding also works well. We send heavy glass tube based amplifiers internationally and they live with this kind of packing.
The object must not be able to move or it will damage itself.
If you send items via OOOPS ( UPS ) then I suggest tossing the box out into your yard as a test procedure before shipping it. Seriously !!!!!!!!!!!!! If you cannot cause the item to move around in the box or you can't damage it by dropping it, then they won't either and vice versa.
Cowels, plastic parts, painted parts---wrap them in stretch wrap or garbage bags before putting packing material around them. Once scratched, these are very difficult to repair let me tell you.
ECU's and electronic items---try to find some PINK bubble wrap or sheet. If these items aquire a static charge they can be permanantly damaged. Generally pink or green are the non static types.
Powerheads, blocks, etc-- ---You may find that shipping these on a pallet or crating them is cheaper and safer. Freightquote.com is an excellent source for low rates. Be sure to secure the item so it cannot move. Rope will usually stretch and loosen. Use stretchwrap, tape or bands. OR you may want to bolt the item down. Be sure to cover any easily damaged items on it. Crating is the safest. Fragile stickers on everything and be sure to track things! I once had a Priority envelope take 13 days to travel 200 miles in my own state!
Finding supplies---USPS will send you free boxes and their Priority tape is the best stuff I have every used. They will send lables as well.
For packing materials-- --have your wife check with beauty shops, health food stores, nic nack stores. They throw the stuff out all the time. Carpet stores will save padding scraps for you as well. Believe me guys this is worth the effort and will eliminate headaches later. Newspapers will sell end rolls for $5 generally as well.
I'm sure there are others with some good suggestions as well, but I have several items that I just recieved that are either junk or close to it because of inappropriate packing not the handling. Combine that with having OOOPS send it and you have a disaster. Avoid the noid I say. ;)