D
dodgeaspen
New member
I was in Indiana last week at a Sweetwater recording workshop, I could have picked it up and met you half way or something. Let me know next time and I'll try to help if I can.
Victory Pete
Banned
Victory Pete
Banned
The story continues: I have sent the TV station a shipping box. It cost me $60 in material and $60 to ship, this better work. I have a 26" cube box with a 25" cube box suspended in it with peanuts. The inside of that box is lined with 1" foam, 3 layers on the floor. I then filled the box with antistatic bubblewrap. There are 4 rolls of tape inside also. I sent them detailed instructions on how to pack it. I have Fragile stickers all over the box and I wrote "this side up" on it. The kid at the UPS store laughed and said I should not put any stickers on the box because it will get abused even more than normal. My reaction to this was outrage, he was probably the first punk to kick-box the package. Now I will just wait and see.
VP
VP
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
VP: That's possibly the only thing you can do right now, your sending them the box, outfitted with packing materials and instructions etc... It's undoubtedly much more than they would do, judging from the previous packing job.
Now, while I totally understand your anger toward that kid, at the UPS Store, he's actually right. Labeling a box with UP arrows and FRAGILE stickers, not only does it not do anything, in terms of handling but actually may make the box a target for extra rough handling, by some unscrupulous handlers. It's actually pretty scary. I would, however, try to be positive 'cause it's the best thing you could do, at this moment. Odds are it will be fine.
Now, while I totally understand your anger toward that kid, at the UPS Store, he's actually right. Labeling a box with UP arrows and FRAGILE stickers, not only does it not do anything, in terms of handling but actually may make the box a target for extra rough handling, by some unscrupulous handlers. It's actually pretty scary. I would, however, try to be positive 'cause it's the best thing you could do, at this moment. Odds are it will be fine.
Victory Pete
Banned
Well if they ruin the box because they are disgruntled employees I guess I will have to file another claim with UPS. "What can Brown do for you?"
VP
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
VP: Would you be at all open to snapping a few photos of your current and ongoing experience with the shipping? The deck that you've got, the packing, the deck that you're gonna receive etc... Would you be open to posting some photos of that whole thing? I'll then link this to the packing thread, for future reference. Thanks.
Victory Pete
Banned
VP: Would you be at all open to snapping a few photos of your current and ongoing experience with the shipping? The deck that you've got, the packing, the deck that you're gonna receive etc... Would you be open to posting some photos of that whole thing? I'll then link this to the packing thread, for future reference. Thanks.
Yes, I had been thinking of doing that before. I just forget all about taking pictures when I am confronted with a damaged machine. I still have all my boxes from before, and I still have the machines with their wounds.
VP
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Yes, same thing here.... I recall having a hard time snapping photos of a couple of items wrecked in shipping. That was before I quit the shipping thing but it was traumatic nevertheless.
DuddyGuy
No good fer nothin!
crazy idea
I realize this thought may be completely absurd and unattainable, and I apologize if this in any way hijacks the thread but since it seems the original topic was somewhat resolved and we're currently on the subject of shipping.... I've had an idea.
Being someone who has been in the market for a deck now, about six months, and has had a difficult time finding something in suitable condition and within the price range I have decided to give myself, locally. At the same time also ruling out shipping, as during the course of my search i have heard an absurd number of horror stories and good decks ruined through this manner.
I wonder if we can't set up some form of network... perhaps a stickied thread with e-mail addresses and locations of members willing to join the network and pick-up or pass along equipment. Now long chains of connections would be ridiculously difficult to set up and ensure that all pick-ups/drop-offs could be made, but one or two point extensions to your own locale could extend the range of local purchasing by double or triple, thus possibly saving quite a few "pieces of art".
For example, say I'm at X location. Ive found a deck being sold on ebay at Y location. I look at the stickied thread and see that Soandso lives at Y location! I drop an email and ask if Soandso would mind picking up the deck and meeting me at the halfway. Soandso and I meet up, I buy beers, slip the good man some gas money, and have a good time talking with a fellow analog enthusiast face to face. On top of that I leave with a non-shipping damaged deck. I realize this will be much more difficult to work out in a real life situation, but as dodgeaspen had just declared that he would have met the op half way, it seems to me that we should have a resource in which we could double check with other members to see if anyone is willing to help a fellow out in situations such as these.
Anyways.... just an idea.
I realize this thought may be completely absurd and unattainable, and I apologize if this in any way hijacks the thread but since it seems the original topic was somewhat resolved and we're currently on the subject of shipping.... I've had an idea.
Being someone who has been in the market for a deck now, about six months, and has had a difficult time finding something in suitable condition and within the price range I have decided to give myself, locally. At the same time also ruling out shipping, as during the course of my search i have heard an absurd number of horror stories and good decks ruined through this manner.
I wonder if we can't set up some form of network... perhaps a stickied thread with e-mail addresses and locations of members willing to join the network and pick-up or pass along equipment. Now long chains of connections would be ridiculously difficult to set up and ensure that all pick-ups/drop-offs could be made, but one or two point extensions to your own locale could extend the range of local purchasing by double or triple, thus possibly saving quite a few "pieces of art".
For example, say I'm at X location. Ive found a deck being sold on ebay at Y location. I look at the stickied thread and see that Soandso lives at Y location! I drop an email and ask if Soandso would mind picking up the deck and meeting me at the halfway. Soandso and I meet up, I buy beers, slip the good man some gas money, and have a good time talking with a fellow analog enthusiast face to face. On top of that I leave with a non-shipping damaged deck. I realize this will be much more difficult to work out in a real life situation, but as dodgeaspen had just declared that he would have met the op half way, it seems to me that we should have a resource in which we could double check with other members to see if anyone is willing to help a fellow out in situations such as these.
Anyways.... just an idea.
Victory Pete
Banned
That is an interesting concept, Thanks for sharing.
VP
VP
Victory Pete
Banned
Never again!
Well I got the 42B today. Guess what? Damage. Cjacek you are right. I will never have one of these irreplacable machines shipped again. The seller did most of what I instructed for them to do except make sure the machine had absolutely no air space around it. I took pictures while unpacking and I will post. The machine moved back and forth and while it never tore through the 1 inch foam on either side, or the double box. It banged back and forth and hit the styrofoam and left dents in the styrofoam. I sent so much bubblewrap there is no excuse for any voids in that box. Imagine the force UPS was exerting on that package to rack the chassis and shear some screws. I am in the procces of continuing my claim with the seller and demanding my money back. I dont know what will happen with the $120 it cost me to send the double box and packing materials.
VP
Well I got the 42B today. Guess what? Damage. Cjacek you are right. I will never have one of these irreplacable machines shipped again. The seller did most of what I instructed for them to do except make sure the machine had absolutely no air space around it. I took pictures while unpacking and I will post. The machine moved back and forth and while it never tore through the 1 inch foam on either side, or the double box. It banged back and forth and hit the styrofoam and left dents in the styrofoam. I sent so much bubblewrap there is no excuse for any voids in that box. Imagine the force UPS was exerting on that package to rack the chassis and shear some screws. I am in the procces of continuing my claim with the seller and demanding my money back. I dont know what will happen with the $120 it cost me to send the double box and packing materials.VP
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
I'm glad we're done with the shipping. Better late than never, eh?
Yeah, it'd be cool if you could contribute to that packing 101 thread with some photos. I'll try to link this thread to there.
Yeah, it'd be cool if you could contribute to that packing 101 thread with some photos. I'll try to link this thread to there.
Vintage Texas
New member
Sorry to hear about your 42B, that's a bummer 
Packing these is not easy, I have shipped 42 and 44 all over US and abroad.
Was it standing up or horizontal in the box ?
Packing these is not easy, I have shipped 42 and 44 all over US and abroad.
Was it standing up or horizontal in the box ?
Victory Pete
Banned
Sorry to hear about your 42B, that's a bummer
Packing these is not easy, I have shipped 42 and 44 all over US and abroad.
Was it standing up or horizontal in the box ?
It was on its back, but with UPS it probably was doing cartwheels!
VP
T
technoplayer
Recovering Gear-aholic
I don''t really know if they are any better, but I do all my shipping now by FedEx ground. Its less costly than UPS, and I have never had a shipment damaged. Now, that said, I massively overpack stuff to make sure it gets thru in one piece. My wife laughs at me and thinks I'm nuts, but I'd rather spend an extra ten or twenty bucks in packing materials tha deal with a total loss based on shipping damage. None of the big shippers (UPS/FedEx/ USPS) insurance is worth a damn...try collecting.
Do whatever you have to to avoid shipment damage either incoming or outgoing. I work for a big company, and make a vist to our receiving docks packaging recycle area before each shipment
Do whatever you have to to avoid shipment damage either incoming or outgoing. I work for a big company, and make a vist to our receiving docks packaging recycle area before each shipment
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Hey technoplayer, we need more of your kind on eBay. I'd also agree that FedEx is a bit better but you really can't, as you say, make up for massive over-packing. I'm not sure who said it (Herm) but it's basically if your boxed item (recorder / mixer etc...) can survive a toss down a staircase, then it's ready for shipping.
Also, yeah, those packages do indeed travel and get tossed on any side, do cartwheels, if you will. (UP arrows, fragile stickers etc... mean absolutely nothing).
I'd also agree that FedEx is a bit better but you really can't, as you say, make up for massive over-packing. I'm not sure who said it (Herm) but it's basically if your boxed item (recorder / mixer etc...) can survive a toss down a staircase, then it's ready for shipping. Also, yeah, those packages do indeed travel and get tossed on any side, do cartwheels, if you will. (UP arrows, fragile stickers etc... mean absolutely nothing).
FALKEN
*************************
Generally I have had good luck shipping but recently every. single. package. has been destroyed in shipping as though it was on purpose. things have been broken in such ways that they would have had to have been dropped off a building for them to be broken in that way.
Victory Pete
Banned
Revolution!
It is out of control! I urge everyone willing, to call and harass UPS until they get the message. 1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877)
VP
It is out of control! I urge everyone willing, to call and harass UPS until they get the message. 1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877)
VP
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Call me cynical but that won't do anything, unless the company or laws (which are enforced) are going to totally restructure the way things work and how workers are treated.
If I were shipping something today, I'd pack the shit outta the gear but it's not easy to do this right, as knowledge of some physics, some common sense and knowing the mishandling procedures of companies are required. I'd do the "staircase" test (at least mentally) and send it either FedEx Ground or overnight (the fastest the way, the less the chance of mishandling).
I'll try to dig up something I sent a few years back, photos wise, to illustrate this point, if I haven't done previously.
If I were shipping something today, I'd pack the shit outta the gear but it's not easy to do this right, as knowledge of some physics, some common sense and knowing the mishandling procedures of companies are required. I'd do the "staircase" test (at least mentally) and send it either FedEx Ground or overnight (the fastest the way, the less the chance of mishandling).
I'll try to dig up something I sent a few years back, photos wise, to illustrate this point, if I haven't done previously.
Vintage Texas
New member
Post a few pictures if you can.