UPS-Proof Packing

[Mike Feher]

Ed -

The problem with your packing method, if you described it correctly, is that
you did not allow for any reduction in forces from the outside to the
inside. There was no cushioning effect. The Styrofoam pieces are great and I
use them a lot, but not to minimize force transmissibility. Bubble wrap,
peanuts, shredded paper, are all good for that and are a must. Double box
with lots of cushioning around the item and the second box and use the
Styrofoam for added rigidity and knob, etc.., protection. I also always wrap
my item entirely in plastic wrap. This prevents it from getting scratched by
other packing materials of from peanuts finding themselves into the item
which are then a pain to get rid of. Also, always place supporting pieces
inside the item as needed to keep items where they belong in case they do
encounter forces that were not adequately minimized by the other packing
materials. Never just wrap a radio in bubble wrap and put it in a box of
peanuts and expect it to survive. Good luck & 73 - Mike



Mike B. Feher, N4FS
89 Arnold Blvd.
Howell NJ, 07731
(732) 901-9193


----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Greeley" <etgreeley at worldnet.att.net>
To: <BOATANCHORS at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 11:51 PM
Subject: Re: UPS-Proof Packing


> Good evening, Ron,
>
> For openers, there's no such thing as "UPS-Proof Packing"! Ya pays yer
> money and ya takes yer chances - unfortunately.
>
> Example: A couple of years ago I shipped a Tektronix 7603 scope
> mainframe half-way across the country. I custom-built a wooden crate for
> it, and cushioned the scope inside the crate with three inches of
> styrofoam insulation board all around, leaving no voids between the
> crate and the scope.  That's six thicknesses of the stuff, since it's
> 1/2 inch thick. "Great job" I sez to myself, "that's as good as the
> factory molded foam inserts." Hah! WRONG! The crate arrived at its
> destination in great shape. The buyer said the scope looked great, so he
> powered it up as soon as he unpacked it. NOTHING. He opened the scope
> and found the CRT was busted. The neck was snapped of off the bell of
> the tube due to the weight of the coils around the neck, which were
> unsupported (design deficiency on Tek's part), and the fact that the
> gorillas had dropped the damned thing somewhere along the line. So much
> for "builder's foam..."
>
> When returning the BROKEN scope to me, the UPS idiots LOST it for about
> three weeks. I won't bore you with the stunningly frustrating details of
> having to telephone know-nothing UPS idiots, dozens of times, and
> literally all over the country, first to locate the missing BROKEN scope
> so that I could be reimbursed by the UPS "insurance", and second, to get
> that reimbursement. Now, they couldn't have "lost it" on purpose, could
> they? But I digress...
>
> I have also personally delivered items to the "Customer (victim)
> Counter" at the local UPS terminal, paid the shipping, gotten my
> receipt, and left. The item promptly DISAPPEARED! Never was scanned into
> their so-called "tracking system", nothing. No evidence that anything
> ever existed, EXCEPT for the receipt I had. Another wait for
> reimbursement.
>
> Those are just a couple of examples of stuff I've shipped with UPS. You
> don't want to know about stuff I've received from them.
>
> I'm not a big shipper; maybe a half dozen or dozen outgoing packages per
> year, and about the same incoming. God help the big shippers!
>
> Summary: It's hopeless; you're at their mercy (of which they have none).
>
> FWIW
>
> Ed Greeley
>