A shipping caveat

While not a panacea, using Pirateship.com, makes mistakes like this unlikely, as you’re printing discount labels at home, and only way this could happen is if you spaced out and incorrectly sent both (or several) items to the same address. The ups routing label isn't put on until after item’s in ups’ possession.

Yep, I pre-print all my labels so I can just drop off the packages.  This also gives me a better price on shipping for many shipments, a double win!

I once had a major auction house screw up an order.  I bought a group of 2 prewar freight cars for a specific dump car, with the other car being a caboose.  I did not pay attention to the caboose when it arrived and luckily put it aside, instead of re-selling it.  About a week after I got the items, the owner of the auction house called and said they had mistakenly sent me the wrong caboose and that the person who had purchased the caboose had gotten my caboose by mistake (the other buyer was obviously paying more attention than I was).  I checked the caboose I had against the auction photos and sure enough I had the wrong caboose.  The auction house emailed shipping labels to both the other individual and I, and we sent each other the cabooses.  It just goes to show that mistakes happen.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

While not a panacea, using Pirateship.com, makes mistakes like this unlikely, as you’re printing discount labels at home, and only way this could happen is if you spaced out and incorrectly sent both (or several) items to the same address. The ups routing label isn't put on until after item’s in ups’ possession.

Yup, I use Pirateship.com for every shipment I make.  You get discounted shipping rates, and they offer great tracking info.

There seems to be two issues here, labeling errors and insurance.

My only labeling issue was when an item I had auctioned off by a third party arrived at my house after the item was sold to someone else.  It seems the original shipping label to me had not been removed, and the shipping department mistakenly thought it was a label they generated.  When the item arrived at my house it was a little confusing but we got it sorted out.

As for insurance, regardless of the shipping company good luck getting a claim paid if there is damage and the shipping company did not pack the item for you.  Unless the seller is a pro or a real train store accustomed to shipping items I insist that the item be taken to UPS/FedEx for packing if it is a steam engine of some size, or a large heavy box set.

I don't sweat smaller stuff so much even with the most inept seller.

Sure it costs more money to ship the way I described but if you or the seller wants to be more certain that in the event of damage in transit that there will be insurance to pay the claim you don't have a whole lot of options unless you like driving long distances!

Finally, in a private party sales transaction when the shipper buys insurance,  in the event of a claim the proceeds of the coverage are only payable to the shipper not the buyer.  

Also only the shipper can make the claim since they bought the coverage.  The buyer's only recourse is to dispute the charge with their CC bank.

@Former Member posted:

Sure it costs more money to ship the way I described but if you or the seller wants to be more certain that in the event of damage in transit that there will be insurance to pay the claim you don't have a whole lot of options unless you like driving long distances!

Costs more is a masterpiece of understatement!   As long as I pack intelligently, I've had few damage issues over the years. Even if I have to eat any damage claims, I think I'm way ahead monetarily based on the hundreds of shipments I've made. The price difference between me packing the stuff and buying my own shipping labels vs having the shipper pack it and pay retail for the labels is vast!  Forcing you to buy their shipping materials and services is just highway robbery!

@Run A Muck Chuck  writes:

“I don't sweat smaller stuff so much even with the most inept seller.”

Interesting. How do you make that determination?

Another point is, I've seen some abysmal packing jobs by both UPS and FedEx  Based on the previously stated guidelines, they have no idea what they're doing, or at least don't follow their own guidelines.  You're trusting some high school dropout in the back room with your packing job.  Damage warranty or not, I'd rather pack it myself.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Another point is, I've seen some abysmal packing jobs by both UPS and FedEx  Based on the previously stated guidelines, they have no idea what they're doing, or at least don't follow their own guidelines.  You're trusting some high school dropout in the back room with your packing job.  Damage warranty or not, I'd rather pack it myself.

Each location is only as good as their staff and management.  Maybe I am lucky locally however as a shipper and recipient I have had the same high caliber of service in other states as well.  The packing of these large engines was bullet proof.

That being said, to paraphrase my initial post when I am dealing with a selling pro, I go with the pro and forgo the commercial shipper packing services.

I would have you pack and ship anything that I might purchase from you.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

@Run A Muck Chuck  writes:

“I don't sweat smaller stuff so much even with the most inept seller.”

Interesting. How do you make that determination?

Disclaimer This likely pertains more to sites other then the OGR Marketplace

Mark, I should have qualified/edited  that a bit by saying that I try to manage the risk of an inept/inexperienced seller so I don't have to sweat it as much.

By inept I mean a seller who cobbles together pieces of cardboard or portions of boxes  to create a box with tons of tape, uses thin cardboard display boxes for shipping (Pampers are a favorite), or reuse old cardboard boxes which have lost almost all their tensile strength and are basically mush.

This is not an absolute criteria but linked to the value of the item purchased, as I have purchased higher dollar items packed as if they were almost worthless.

If buying on a popular online auction site, I look at the feedback, the sold items, and the other seller items.  You can pretty much spot a generalist experienced or not.  If it is an individual with low feedback and few sold train items they are a candidate for a little extra attention shipping wise.

I take it upon myself to message the seller that it looks as though they may not have much experience with shipping train items and offer suggestions on packing techniques which have worked on my other received items which are similar in size, type. weight etc. to what I bought  

Sellers have always responded favorably with that passive nonabrasive approach.  Most sellers heed my advice to some degree which I offer to subsidize.  I should note this also pertains to an upgrade in shipping speed if USPS Priority is not offered.

Having a way to readily communicate with a seller is a big plus as you can quickly get a sense of the experience and credibility of the individual you are dealing with such as with the OGR Marketplace.

Nothing magical about it, and sometimes the shipping gods are not kind and even the best packaging gets demolished.  However getting a little rapport with the seller goes a long way in my experience to improve the shipping outcome.

@Former Member posted:

By inept I mean a seller who cobbles together pieces of cardboard or portions of boxes  to create a box with tons of tape, uses thin cardboard display boxes for shipping (Pampers are a favorite), or reuse old cardboard boxes which have lost almost all their tensile strength and are basically mush.

What you fail to realize is all the major train manufacturers ship virtually all their items with a single layer of cardboard around them.  Truthfully, the guy that cobbles together a box isn't creating a shipping carton that's that different than what is being supplied by the manufacturer.

Can you pack it better?  Sure, but that's not how a majority of this stuff is shipped.

Shipping to a buyer is always a "fun" exercise. I attempt to provide/offer the lowest cost shipper. If I were to add the 4 inches of packing space around a boxed item, shipping costs would be outrageous. I take the approach of the majors (MTH, Lionel) - if they are willing to ship in the item box and a cardboard shipper, why would I think I need to add more than they provide? One reason I do not throw out my train boxes. That said unboxed items need to be well wrapped and packed so there is absolutely no movement.

I have had items arrive in very creative boxes, but in only one case did the pathetic packing job result in damaged items. That was 100 atlas track pieces with almost all of the end clips broken off due to sliding in the package. Got too good a deal to return as they were still useable.     

(IC took the day off)

"If I were to add the 4 inches of packing space around a boxed item, shipping costs would be outrageous."

Been there. That is why yours truly was at DuPage County Fairgrounds on August 6; trying to sell "the big stuff". My younger brother and I once sold there maybe 10 years ago, and he hated it, I'm OK, other than the marriage points that go with it, maybe his marriage points cost more. I pre-paid for one table the September show, then that is it for a while.

Going to be honest, I have thrown things in the garbage rather than deal with trying to sell something and getting less say $20 for it. The last victim was a K-Line passenger car that I heavily modified. Maybe my tune will change when I retire.

@illinoiscentral posted:

...Going to be honest, I have thrown things in the garbage rather than deal with trying to sell something and getting less say $20 for it. The last victim was a K-Line passenger car that I heavily modified. ...

While I understand the frustration - selling low-value items often isn't worth the effort - please don't throw them away.  Please set them on the entrance table at a train meet, or donate them to Goodwill or a similar organization.  Someone will get some good from them.