Hemelsblauw
93290
1299
38
Dec 8, 2017 7:42 AM
Hemelsblauw
93290
1299
38
kayakninjas
What I learned working at the UPS Store: bubble wrap, 2 inches of packing peanuts on all sides, then a sturdy box. Never had a problem.
KatsDiscoBall
Write shipping addy on box on a note card, TAPE OVER IT. Lucky to get this at all. /a/xhxN3
frankbrodie
I worked for Parcelforce for years. A FRAGILE sticker just basically means "Please throw underhand.." to the sorting staff.
noptic
Because there are fragile stickers on everything including fucking shirts.
dderpington126
UPS has a 200 LB Bursting test standard too, and 2 inches on every side of fragile items (ESPECIALLY if you are declaring >$100.)
Nocapes2
I'm a loader at UPS and can testify to all of that. Pissy employees are also a factor
Hemelsblauw
@BlazinDays: it seemed to me that more people could use your excellent advice.
DavidFrostbite
Worked in ship/rec. If you would't sit on it, don't ship it.
noptic
At DHL we left space at the top and tossed tiny packages up there. One tiny package contained a massive metal part. I ninja killed a box.
rdrofdrgnz
As a FedExererererer, this. Alllllways this.
Mizopoad
Packing peanuts are bad for the environment. Use something recyclable instead please.
Elminst
The biodegradable ones made from corn starch are good. Not sure the costs involved. Bonus; they're edible! (mostly)
brkaprgn8
1st thing my UPS hubs said when he knew I was doing this, "Ship USPS"..
NoctisArbiter
Not better at all. I work at a bulk mail facility and there's little difference between basketball and our sorting method.
pyrotica
I work for amazon can confirm if you wouldn't roll it down a staircase it shouldn't be shipped.
carrionstorm
I drive a tractor trailer and can confirm that trailer bounces like tigger on coke. Plus all the sick backflips I do
TheMysteriousBanana
Amazon delivery brother/sister - where you at?!
pyrotica
Dla9
TheMysteriousBanana
DLA8!!!
pyrotica
Nice!
Tsunamix
How I ship glass: bubble wrap, then in box with balls of newspaper. Then pack THAT box in another with 1-2" on all sides, and more newspaper
WhatzitTooya
I always pack stuff like someone is going to throw it across the room and against the wall.
LayingDaPipe
^This. I cannot stress this enough. People act like if they pack with newspaper and put a fragile sticker on the box it will be ok.
kittyanya
My great uncle used Polish fudge instead of packing peanuts for the dolls he made and bought. Worked great, oddly, and no melting.
Clayman8
My first reflex was to look at the battery...damn it
BorkLocutus
Soviet Russia had shipping boxes made of plywood. I wonder why we don't have these instead of cardboard.
RandomAbscessMemories
We do have those, but wood is way heavier than plywood, so it's much more expensive.
marsgoose
That's still a thing if you don't mind paying for shipping the heavy box. It's used for fragile valuables.
Promethianfire
Double boxing, yo. One box inside another with 2" if peanuts between them.
anunadulteratedmadman
This would be overkill for almost everything, but good advice for glass / ceramics / etc.
pobody
It's good for sensitive electronics.
vexecutioner
This is a nice thing to help those who don't ship a lot. Great post.
Hemelsblauw
Thanx :)
brotherblue
Posted pint glasses from UK to Aus without breaking. Can confirm this method is great
eastcoastninja
I just shipped wine via the USPS recently. ...from reading this, I'm really surprised that it made it.
DirkNurple
Single bottles are safe. Multi packs can break.
rykinpoe
Some of the best packing I have seen was for returning a defective projector (DOA). First the box was much bigger than it needed to be. 1/?
rykinpoe
Secondly it had what I can best describe as two thick plastic trampolines inside of it that sandwiched the projector between them. 2/3
rykinpoe
There was probably 5 inches of clearance between the projector and the box on all six sides. 3/3
benadrylbumblebutt
in case your friend was also wondering if packing peanuts are peanuts you just put in the package:
Hemelsblauw
:D I thought he meant real peanuts.
ZircZZ
Sturdy box? check. Bubble wrap? check. Taped up like mad? check. I'm probably good.
IThinkYouGotAFineBrainJack
Did you remember to put the shipment in the box though?
ZircZZ
Damn...I knew I forgot something...:)
poorwhitetrash
But I put a “fragile” sticker on it!
IllusivePanda
"Fragile? What is that, Itallian?"
poorwhitetrash
It’s French for crush harder
PissedoffMechanic
I worked at a railyard that dealt with shipping containers (lots of UPS). Can tell you those containers don’t get treated gently.
Boulderfistkimmay
I'm sending some custom glassware for Secret Santa so these tips are great!
LucidAftermath
It's not always the brown trucks.... I've had about 15 packages delivered over the last 2 days, once from 5 different people in 1 day.
Techniix
Kind of relevant... except I'm trying to send to the Philippines and am worried my package won't make it based on things I've read.. :(
Hemelsblauw
Have you send it already?
Techniix
Not yet. Still trying to find the best option.
Hemelsblauw
Good luck then! Better advice than above I can't give you. But a lot of packages do arrive safely.
DirkNurple
I spent 8 years at UPS. Message me with shipping questions? If you wouldn’t throw it, don’t mail it.
Unidentifed
Waiting for a package for a week stuck in destination scan. Why does this happen :(
Alimana
I used to unload trailers at UPS, I had to pull down the "walls" of packages crashing to the floor. If you can't throw it, don't ship it.
DirkNurple
This. This is how it’s done. If you’re good you can pull most of it onto the belt, but it’s always a damn mess.
StaalTheNotQuiteSoUndefeatedAnymoreButNevermind
Would be interesting to see you do a post.
ibrokemyselflmao
Got a facebook memory reminder a few mins ago of my 1st day on the job getting my finger crushed pin the rollers. Had to hide it
theFBIGuyWatchingyou
Have the Amazon trailers nearly killed you too?
smokescreen1030
No it's when the unload dumps a bag of smalls inside a tire and you gotta deal with it on a moving belt. That's the killer.
DirkNurple
Fucking small sort fuckers. Our facility didn’t allow tires on the belts.
DirkNurple
I left in 2011. Didn’t have those then.
MasterBaitin
Damn, we old
lesteros
amazons use trailes for combat? Are the like charriots?
[deleted]
[deleted]
theFBIGuyWatchingyou
They put 50lb package on the top row. It nearly knocked me out
[deleted]
[deleted]
theFBIGuyWatchingyou
You irregular offload guys are the real MVPs
DirkNurple
Don’t feel bad. I once bent down for a package and a fiberglass ladder fell off the top of the wall and hit me directly in the ear.
theFBIGuyWatchingyou
Off to the small sort with you
wolfenhaven
So no to sending bottles of alcohol?
[deleted]
[deleted]
wolfenhaven
Excellent, just making sure so I don't fuck up secret santa this year
DirkNurple
I can’t stress this enough: if you wouldn’t give it a solid throw/slide across your garage floor don’t mail it.
wolfenhaven
My garage floor is padded but I will make plenty sure it is well packed and heed all the advice I can get
crazyyarn
You might also want to check if it's legal to ship alcohol from your state. It isn't in WI of all places.
AgentNarnia
I work at UPS in WI and we get alcohol all the time...
crazyyarn
From what the local breweries told me, Sprecher, Lakefront, and MKE Brewery, it is illegal. Though wine for some reason is okay.
wolfenhaven
Did not think of this. Turns out it is illegal to use USPS to ship alcohol.
merlinious
But you CAN mail "grape juice"