Damaged kits in shipping?

[Jon Cole]

GMA (Good Morning America) just showed the results of a test done to test the three big US shippers for package handling and damage. They compared FedEx, UPS, and the USPS by shipping packages with motion sensing software from NYC to California, then to Texas, then back to NYC. Guess who was the most gentle with your package?

The answer surprised me. The USPS had the least damage!

They also showed several YouTube videos of shippers tossing, flipping, and outright throwing packages! What if you stick a “FRAGILE†label on your package? The quantity of impacts actually increased!

They suggest using good quality boxes that have never been previously damaged or deformed; pack contents tightly; use insurance each time; and… take a photo of the contents before packing, and again when it is in the box, before sealing.

Because model builders often ship kits, I thought this would be of some help. More peanuts, anyone?

[Matt LeBlanc]

Thanks for the info!!!

[highway]

More peanuts, anyone?

Or bubble wrap?!?!

[Rob Z]

Definately don't want to ship UPS out of Cleve. I know first hand that if it say's FRAGILE on it, that means, through it harder...

[Jon Cole]

From what I saw of the videos, the employees are still trying to decide if "FRAGILE" means "shoot hoops", "go for the long bomb", or "home run!"

[slantasaurus]

Anyone remember the old Samsonite suitcase commercials where they put it in a cage with a gorilla ??? UPS uses that as a training film........

[DanielG]

I get stuff that goes through all the major shippers and local handlers as well and sometimes two or three hands before it gets to me and I can honestly say that I have not had a problem that could not be traced back to improper packing by the sender. I am not saying that packages do not get rough treatment but that is to be expected so pack accordingly. I get packages shipped across north america overnight so you know speed is what counts, not easy handling!

[Aaronw]

Most of the time I have no problem with my packages, but a couple months ago I made a fairly large order from 3 shops (working 160+ hours of overtime in 3 weeks tends to make me order kits). All three boxes looked like they had ridden in the trunk of a demolition derby loser on the way to my house, there were actually a few holes punched in the sturdy cardboard boxes. One came by UPS, the other two USPS. I'm guessing the UPS van collided with the USPS truck on the way to my house. Luckily the kits inside were fine, although a couple of the boxes were a bit squooshed. I rarely have any trouble so I found it odd to have all of them arrive like that from totally different areas of the country.

[highway]

One came by UPS, the other two USPS. I'm guessing the UPS van collided with the USPS truck on the way to my house.

No, the UPS driver was jealous the boxes brought by the mailman looked so nice, he thought "I know what brown can do for the USPS!"

[Jon Cole]

Most of the time I have no problem with my packages, but a couple months ago I made a fairly large order from 3 shops (working 160+ hours of overtime in 3 weeks tends to make me order kits). All three boxes looked like they had ridden in the trunk of a demolition derby loser on the way to my house, there were actually a few holes punched in the sturdy cardboard boxes. One came by UPS, the other two USPS. I'm guessing the UPS van collided with the USPS truck on the way to my house. Luckily the kits inside were fine, although a couple of the boxes were a bit squooshed. I rarely have any trouble so I found it odd to have all of them arrive like that from totally different areas of the country.

In fact, the photos of that collision have surfaced...

BTW,here is the link to the ABC News story...

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/black-friday-shipping-company-careful-holiday-packages/story?id=12244017

Edited November 28, 2010 by Jon Cole

[Ben]

I have seen many times, UPS guys throwing packages around in the back of the trucks as they "rearrange" them! We used to have a UPS driver that would bring packages to our shop. He would try to carry all of them at once and if one would fall, he would kick it as he walked to the parts room!

Then there's the senders who, even though you pay them good money for shipping, place the kit box inside a cardboard box that's juuuuust big enough, with no packing material to protect the kit! Any damage the outer box receives goes right to the kit box! There really are some idiots out there!!!!

[MikeMc]

I ran a wholesale hardware supply shipping department after driving truck for the same company. I know how drivers move cartons,also how poorly packed cartons put in a slopply packed truck get crushed. I also order from tower hobbies...they do know how to pack and ship..never in 100s of orders was anything damaged...good packing solves this..

Edited November 30, 2010 by Stasch

[Jon Cole]

Years ago I won an E-Bay bid on a kit from Hong Kong. Instead of packing the kit in a shipping box, it arrived wrapped in paper! I was amazed that the kit was not damaged! I never bid on a kit from overseas since.

[TheCat]

My personal experience: UPS is the worse. They are not helpful at all and have no clue of the location of the package except of what you (seeing the tracking info) already know. I had a package coming to me from MA to NJ... and would you believe that the package went from MA to PA then to NJ? That was a waste of time and money (gasoline money).

Never had a problem with FedEX. I called them once to see why a package was not shipping that day and the person was very kind and gave me exactly the what, where and why information. They knew where the package was at and in what truck. They are the best in my book.

USPS is reliable as well. Not great on tracking info, but dependable.

The best way to insure that your packages don't get damaged or damaged really bad would be over-night, Next-Day or Two days. Of course these methods of shipping are more expensive, but worth it. Anything less, you are risking too many people handling the package and damaging the product.

Just my two cents.

[Aaronw]

i've had a few orders from Tower hobbies come with the kits crammed in a too small box after two times of that mess i don't really want to find out if third times the charm or 3 strikes and i'm out.

Weird, mine have always come with an almost equal volume of airbags, I don't think anything short of a plane crash could damage the contents. I have made many orders from them.

Your orders must get packed at 4:56pm Friday afternoon.

[CAL]

Years ago I won an E-Bay bid on a kit from Hong Kong. Instead of packing the kit in a shipping box, it arrived wrapped in paper! I was amazed that the kit was not damaged! I never bid on a kit from overseas since.

Me too, paid extra for "outter box," which really wasnt even a box.

somehow, the kit was undamaged.

IIRC this one came from overseas as well.

Nevertheless, I am not surprised about USPS, I have also had the least amount of box damage from USPS.

UPS, on the other hand, has been complete horrible, the worst. FED EX isn't so bad, but they are very expensive.