[Boatanchors] Packing materials

[Glen Zook]

If you use UPS make sure it does NOT go through the Mesquite, Texas (Dallas area), hub!  The boxes that make it through without severe damage are still vibrated so much that hardware, tubes, etc., come loose and that is with internal packing of the equipment.  I have had things come in wooden crates in which the crate was badly damaged!

Until several years ago I had only one thing damaged by UPS and that was when they ran a forklift tong through the box!  They still claimed "improper packing"!  Wrong!  They did pay that claim.  However, several years ago things started coming in badly damaged and then things that I sent out started being damaged.  Eventually, they would pay the claim but it was like pulling teeth to get paid and even then it took at least 4 months.

I went to FedEx Ground and haven't had any problems since.  In fact, I have gotten in several items that were definitely VERY poorly packed and the equipment made it fine.  FedEx Ground is also cheaper than UPS.

I purchase parts from Mouser and they are on the south side of Fort Worth and I am on the north side of Dallas.  They prefer UPS because of price breaks.  The vast majority of time the boxes arrive mangled even though they are going about 40 miles.  Mouser knows this and they use 3 or 4 times what would be normal since things coming to me have to go through Mesquite.  Fortunately, with a couple of exceptions, the parts have made it fine even though the boxes were, basically, destroyed.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Wed, 5/25/11, Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo at gmail.com> wrote:

Oh boy you are going to get a million responses : )  We all have our tricks and bad experiences.
 
The hard part is getting the really nice double ply big boxes.   There are some good tips on that which I am going to remember myself. Forget peanuts and bubble wrap.   Go to Lowes and get the thick slabs of blue styrofoam used for wall insulation.  You will have to measure and cut pieces to wall the boxes, yes there are two of them one inside an outer one.   You saw the styro with a saw and do it outside because you'll have a million little fragments.  Great advice putting the knobs inside cardboard tubes.   Put the rig inside a big contractor garbage bag to keep it dry.  Also (this is the good thing for bubble wrap) stuff the interior of the cabinet with bubble wrap so nothing inside and work free and rattle around.   If you have big tubes or fairly big iron, you might consider shipping them separately.   Get non-expanding spray foam from Home Depot and use it to fill in spaces in the  boxes between the styrofoam.    UPS is fine
 IF you pack correctly.  I have never had a problem with UPS except when the shipper was a gas-head and clueless on how to pack a piece of vintage gear.   OTOH, if you want to make the recipient cry, ship FedEx for their signature requirement will make taking delivery a nightmare for anyone who works in the daytime.
 
BTW all the above recommended methods are expensive and a lot of work BUT they are a lot cheaper and easier than driving 1000 miles.    The way you pack really tells the story about how much you care about vintage gear.