Inadequate Packing Leads to Damage!

In my dealings with Marios, I have found this not to be the case.  He usually offers free shipping on orders over $200, and his shipping prices below $200 are pretty competitive.  Also, I may pay and additional $10 or $15 more with him on a single purchase when spending $300 or more, but I find his good service is worth paying a little bit more.  Also, when I have asked, he always offered me a better price than what was advertised.  A good dealer, all around in my opinion.  Bob Severin  

I recently received two boxcars won on the bay, differnt auctions. The MTH car was in its original box then wrapped in brown paper. It arrive unscathed. Next was a Weaver car. It was also shipped in its original box wrapped in brown paper. That didn't fare too well. Trucks had come apart and were rattling around in the box and rubbed some paint. One corner step was broke as well. Could have been worse. Its all been repaired and given the price not worth complaining about. Anyone familiar with Weaver boxes realize they offer near zero protection by themselves.

Pete

When shipping, one has to consider the weakest link; the many people who handle the product between here and there. I"m sure most have seen the horror story videos of Fed-X and UPS delivery personnel tossing packages to the porch form the side walk in the next county. These are the people one needs to insure against. If UPS says newspaper is not an acceptable packing material, then be sure not to use it. I had one claim against USPS for damaged coal loads a few years ago. Fortunately, I had the proper insurance, and photos from the addressee, who also took the damaged carton to his post office. The claim was paid, but shipping costs are not included. I don't remember how long it took to settle the claim, but when all the necessary precautions and steps are taken I consider it a smooth process. 

I work for a school district, and save many of the boxes that we receive items in, along with the peanuts, bubble wrap, foam wrap, styrofoam sheets and bubble packs. 

Don

I have always felt that someone who does packaging, should apprentice as the person who receives packages that others have packed. That should be an eye opener.

Styrofoam peanuts work only for things that are not heavy. Heavy items sink to the bottom of the box and bounce around there for most of the trip.

Plastic peanuts are fine if you know how to use them. You have to pack them densely enough that the inner package can't move around, even if it's heavy. The other thing is you can't just wrap an item loosely and then pack it in peanuts - you have to make up an inner package with the original box, or bubble wrap or whatever. Pressure from the peanuts can bend or break fine details if they are not protected. 

My Amtrak order arrived this past week. Staples Promotional Products has no idea how to package things. Wall calendar shipped in a box that was too small, they had to bend the side about 1/2" for it to fit. The other package contained the 2014 Ornament, the LAST 40th Anniversary mug they had and two packing air bags. The individually boxed mug was bounced inside the larger shipping box and arrived in about 10 pieces.

These are the replacement plates Kohl's sent us to cover for the ones damaged in the first shipment!

Luckily enough survived to make one set