Fragile!

It probably was handled with care as they placed it in the vehicle, then they threw everything else they onto it

I got a Bachmann G scale 4-6-0 last year and I think the seller was hoping the box would get damaged.  There was no way the engine could have run straight out of the box and I think he was hoping box damage would have covered it up, but there was no damage to the outer box.

Joke was on him as I was able to fix the issues without having to buy any parts.

I've been lucky, I've had a couple of boxes arrive that looked like yours but so far things have survived the trip.

How was the merchandise packed in that box? Unless those free USPS boxes are filled with proper packing they crush very easily. Sometimes the packages I receive are badly packed, even items from commercial concerns. I've been lucky in that so far nothing has sustained shipping damage.

I can't believe I'm the first to do this...especially given the time of year....

"FRAGILE (FRA-GEE_LAY) it must be Italian!”  

come on guys!!!!

I've seen the inner workings of package processing centers... UPS and Fedex specifically, but I'm sure USPS operates the same way.  That seller's label is nice, but modern packaging facilities give NO consideration to custom markings on the box.  All that matters is whatever you pay extra for... speedier delivery, insurance for damage, tracking, etc.

Most of the sorting is automatic and done by scanners and computers, sending boxes sliding through various chutes and conveyor belts to get to its truck.  But there is still enough human handling (happening as FAST as possible when loading/offloading trucks) to guarantee that boxes will be thrown/dropped/crushed on a semi-regular basis.

I had a 763E that had the pilot and the back of the tender destroyed in shipping. The seller was easy to work with and took it back, but it was quite devastating to know that a 80 year old engine was ruined due to negligence. C'est la vie.

Team Ridley posted:

I can't believe I'm the first to do this...especially given the time of year....

"FRAGILE (FRA-GEE_LAY) it must be Italian!”  

come on guys!!!!

 

 

     I am glad you did not have any damage to your item Tom. I bought quite a few street lights and switches from an OGR member. He put them all together in one box with no packing around them and when they arrived almost half of the globes on the street lights were broken. I contacted him but did not get any response and the manufacturer of the lights is no longer in business. Take Care Choo Choo Kenny

I'm pretty sure the USPS Domestic Mail Manual will tell you no special consideration is given to packages marked FRAGILE, HAND STAMP,HANDLE WITH CARE, etc. It's a nice thought to mark a package like hat but it's meaningless except maybe to your carrier but by then it may be too late.

where UPS,USPS and FedEx go to train.....

on the other hand I often get packages from sellers where they have wrapped an item so tight with bubble wrap and tape I have broke an item trying to open it there such a thing as over wrapping also you can over wrap and if you do it to tight it just as bad as no wrapping as the wrapping has no room to do its job. it needs to be able to move some also. 

The P.O., UPS, FedeX, DHL ( they are back, it seems) all break things, occasionally. I have found UPS to be the worst, with the P.O. the best among the "majors" that I see. FedEx, I don't recall.

But, I can say with certainty that more of my items, particularly heavy ones (our bread and butter), are damaged by poor shipper/seller packaging than by the shipping services/companies. Had a guy send a nice Pre-War AF O-gauge steamer from Seattle to the Gulf Coast years ago, packed in a box and a few ounces of shredded newspaper. The box (the P.O.-handled part) was fine; the loco was shattered. Then there was the KTM brass 2-rail, unpainted J3a Hudson - with the partially crushed cab, for much the same reason.

There were others.

Fortunately - so far! - all of this, regardless of the "fault", has been rare. 

Marking a package with "Fragile" is the kiss of death. 

�� Hope these never happen to me!

Laidoffsick posted:

Marking a package with "Fragile" is the kiss of death. 

Lol! It sure seems that way.

back to the original post:

Tom, I'd say if the item got to you unbroken then there is no story here. Box crumpled, protected the item as it was designed, all is well. 

Must be a slow news day!

This seems pretty common for me. It seems every other package is damaged pretty badly. I live in Juneau, Alaska. Not in the bush. It feels like that science project where you pack an egg and drop it from a height.

Welcome to the Holidays! Most everyone is happy, especially the gorillas throwing our packages! 

From personal experience I can say that UPS, in my facility damages approx 1 in every 30,000 packages while the local FedEx facility was approx 1 in every 8,000.  Seeing my local postal carrier makes me believe the USPS could potentially be worse than both.

While the 1 in 30k is an acceptable frequency for the company the workers are not happy when any package is damaged.  The nature of the business creates many circumstances where damages cannot be avoided.  Those circumstances range from in house equipment to poor customer packaging.  You would be shocked how often we see packages where the contents weigh 50 lbs, but they are packed in a box rated for 20 lbs.  This not only has a negative affect on the primary package, but can and often does damage other packages. 

Sadly SOP now days.......

90% of my packages come with what I call major damage and the 'we got it this way' sticker the USPS puts on them. WHY does the USPS accept so many boxes that look like a 18 wheeler ran over them BEFORE they accepted it??? I got a box the other day with some model car stuff......someone HAD to take batting practice on it. Seller sent pictures of a PERFECT box before shipping. Big fat liar.......I know he did it to a package worth $100 after he took the pic......so says USPS!!!!