Axe via USPS, should I be worried?

[Alocksly]

I got a hatchet from ebay about a month ago and the seller made a nice square package by cutting the outline of the hatchet in layers of foam board. It was the niceest packing job I'd seen yet from an ebay seller.

 

[newsasquatch]

I know this is late, and it arrived, but I trust USPS quite a bit. Use them exclusively, with great luck. Glad your package was delivered safe and sound.

Thanks! I was actually quite surprised that everyone has had great experiences with USPS, I thought they weren't as efficient as UPS or FEDEX

 

[newsasquatch]

I got a hatchet from ebay about a month ago and the seller made a nice square package by cutting the outline of the hatchet in layers of foam board. It was the niceest packing job I'd seen yet from an ebay seller.

Wow that sounds awesome, the lady who opened the axe head package that I sent told me the box was pretty banged up and that I should put "fragile" on it next time. I have to pay more attn to packaging.

 

[killa_concept]

Wow that sounds awesome, the lady who opened the axe head package that I sent told me the box was pretty banged up and that I should put "fragile" on it next time. I have to pay more attn to packaging.

I know from experience putting "fragile" on a box doesn't do anything for its well being during the shipping process. There are schedules to keep and things get thrown around sometimes. Your best bet is just to make sure the box is big enough for the item plus a heavy amount of padding. Now that you know the package has arrived relatively unscathed, here's an article on the subject that I found pretty funny and insightful

 

[lmalterna]

I used to ship everything from snakes and lizards to 2K riflescopes. It is all about packaging. A friend who worked for UPS for years once told me to package the item as if it will be thrown across the room into a wall, kicked down a flight of stairs and sat on by a large man. If I think it will be safe, I should be good

I have really had good luck receiving axes and heads- though I did have a package once with the sharp toe and heel alternately sticking out of holes in the box. Taught me to put plenty of edge guard on the ones that I sent.

Bill

 

[newsasquatch]

I know from experience putting "fragile" on a box doesn't do anything for its well being during the shipping process. There are schedules to keep and things get thrown around sometimes. Your best bet is just to make sure the box is big enough for the item plus a heavy amount of padding. Now that you know the package has arrived relatively unscathed, here's an article on the subject that I found pretty funny and insightful

Dude that was an EXCELLENT article! I like the tips about making the package look like a heartwarming gift from a kid or something disgusting. I'll just package better next time. I'll also try to do what they say about disguises. Thanks for the article.

 

[Square_peg]

I know from experience putting "fragile" on a box doesn't do anything for its well being during the shipping process. T

Absolute truth. Just pack it well and all will be well.

I've had much better results from USPS than from UPS or Fedex. And USPS is usually cheaper, too.

 

[Jacob HL]

So nice

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Putting "Fragile" on a package accomplishes one thing only, and that means that it gets sorted by hand instead of by machine.

 

[Skiv]

I used to ship a lot of heavy, fragile things (antique sewing machines). Many times I had buyers bitch about a hefty charge for packaging, but then apologize once they got the package and saw what condition the outside was in versus the inside.

Bottom line: If you're not afraid to throw the package out a second-storey window, it's probably packed well enough. I'd bed the machine in compressed foam inside a very sturdy box, then cover it with more compressed foam and seal the box. THAT box went into another box at least eight inches bigger in every dimension that was padded with "angel turds" (four inches of them on each side, in other words).

Neither cheap to package nor to ship, but I never had one arrive damaged, either.

I once saw a postal worker, told to stamp a package "Fragile", take a large stamp and go all over the package with it refreshing the stamp on the inkpad each time: Thud-BAM-thud-BAM-thud-BAM *tinkle* "Ooops." You can lead 'em to water, people, but you can't make 'em think.

 

[newsasquatch]

Well stated

 

[Nitaino]

What do you mean by USPS store? There are UPS stores and USPS post offices. If using USPS, always insure EVERYTHING. Dont waste money on signature confirmation or registered mail, just add insurance and package WELL. Insurance has a tracking number, which you can easily track online and it requires a signature upon delivery.

 

[newsasquatch]

@Nitaino, I wrote the wrong thing, I meant USPS post office. I'll probably start insuring the things I send.