modeling companies

cwalker3

I once saw a UPS driver throw a boxed computer monitor out the back of his truck.

Interesting thread.  IMO this kind of crap goes across the board covering all web sellers and shipping companies. Depends who is on deck at the time.

I recently ordered some pe frets from Mega Hobby and they came in a small strong cardboard box with a small balled up piece of paper and the packing slip which kept things from moving.

I honestly think that if you do not mark the box "fragile" there will be a better chance of no or lesser damage. I have done both and noticed the ones not marked have less or no damage.

Someone that works for the USPS told me that some employees, specially the seasonal help don't give a rip and just throw it as a soccer ball!

Years ago my son worked for one of the big private shippers and told me they are under time restraints when loading the packages and are rushed by supervisors.

I have noticed that USPS have greatly increased their fees while lowering their handling quality of packages, many arriving crushed, ripped, partially opened from torn corners etc.

I have a feeling it will get worse and pretty soon shipping a fragile item will be a thing of the past.

 Mega hobby

just curious, but which online hobby store was the one that you purchased from?

Spruce, those are the same gorillas. Due to the economy, they have to moonlight at USPS on the weekends.

pyrman64

According to "rumor control," which was confirmed by "the grapevine," after the American Tourister gorillas were laid off back in the late 70s, they were picked up by UPS as package handling instructors.

According to "rumor control," which was confirmed by "the grapevine," after the American Tourister gorillas were laid off back in the late 70s, they were picked up by UPS as package handling instructors.

Right !

That's why I do the " Garage Toss " test now  .If I can lift it, I throw it as hard as I can against all four walls and the floor and ceiling and check to see if everything is good to go , I ship it . Before , Well I thought " Fragile Artworks " would help . Nah Uh !     T.B.    

   P.S. Years ago , when I was heavier into model cars , I bought something from Fred's Model World in Buffalo ,N.Y . I was living in Northern California at the time . Fred not only opened the box and Mini-Bubble wrapped the model in it's plastic bags. He taped the box securely  ,Bubble wrapped it and sent it inside another box .

     I not only still have that model on the shelf-( built )- But all the extra Unbroken parts, in my parts files for cars .

I once saw a UPS driver throw a boxed computer monitor out the back of his truck. It went about 10 feet, hit the concrete dock and you could hear the glass breaking inside. When he was told that monitor was probably broken, his response was, "Oh well, insurance will cover it."  From that day on, whenever I have the choice of shippers, I always stay away from UPS.

What CN Spots said.  ^^^^^^  That's one of the main reasons I order from scalehobbiest.  Their packaging  is top notch.

On the other side of the coin, everything I've ordered from scalehobbist has come in packed like human organs.  The Vallejo paints are only plastic bottles but were wrapped in bubble wrap in a group but the Model Master stuff, which is glass, were each wrapped in bubble wrap and then bagged.  Unless the driver ran over the box, I can't see how something packed that well could arrive damaged.

The good thing about shipping model kits...   They're already in pieces.

ups people are on the worst of tight schedule  some of these guys have 40-50 stops on a truck and if they take too long  (even if it aint their fault they get reamed) i know 3  guys been with them for yrs ( money pretty good) but they all say they treated like they live in georgia and its 1825

How About This !

   When I was doing a special job for BaD Shipmodels in Arizona I had to ship some stuff to them . Packed lightly in cotton,put inside plastic balls,wrapped in bubble wrap and all that and only eight out of twenty survived the trip .They said the box showed no signs of external damage !

   U.P.S. did that ! Now, did the replacement shipment same way ( couldn't figure out any safer way to pack the 1/96 scale S.P.S.40 radar Antennas ! ) sent it U.S.P.S. 19 of twenty survived perfectly fine .

   It's a real pain when you put four to six hours soldering each of those little scudders together ( 464 parts ) only to have them destroyed ! Luckily they were insured .This shouldn't happen though !    T.B.

Well, ya know that carriers DO listen... When ya put "Fragile:Handle with care!" on a package they only throw it 10 feet instead of 20......

Boy, they really need to package well, according to how some of those express companies handle their shipments.  I have seen boxes absolutely crushed, and maybe no amount of packing would suffice.  And then, there is the story of the school girl who mailed a box containing an accelerometer via several of the express companies. G-shocks were incredible.