Author Topic: USPS flat rate boxes  (Read 4508 times)

Offline 412BaitCo

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USPS flat rate boxes
« on: 10/23/12 05:14 UTC »
Just a tip to guys out here shipping heavy items like molds. If you're using smaller flat rate boxes with adhesive tape them as well. I bought a mold off someone and when it got to me it was taped closed by the postal service and instead of a mold I ended up with two bags of Campbell's soup and someone's Halloween card lol. Myself and the shipper are working with USPS to find the mold but the point of this story is tape those boxes because it seems the adhesive doesn't hold. I feel bad for the guy who was expecting soup and ended up confused and hungry with a hunk of aluminum lol.

Offline hawgthumper

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Re: USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #1 on: 10/23/12 07:39 UTC »
Good tip! I have also lost molds this way. I really hate to see molds get shipped in padded envelopes. The last ones I bought almost didn't make it because the envelope was ripped open and then re-taped by the postal people. I would assume the shipper is responsible for the packaging of these molds, so if they don't make the trip, they'd be responsible for replacing the molds or refunding the money.

412, good luck getting your molds back. It sounds like just the old accidental Switcheroo, and maybe you'll get lucky. Hope so! I lost one a year or so ago this same way and never have gotten it. The last I heard it had been sent to Atlanta for repackaging! From Cincinnati! I live 50 miles from Cincinnati! Our government agencies at their best! ;D

Offline 412BaitCo

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Re: USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #2 on: 10/23/12 07:44 UTC »
Yeah always a good time with the postal service. The shipper is a good guy and I'm sure we wont have a problem working out the details. Just thought I'd share the details in hopes that someone else can avoid this happening. On a brighter note and on principle I think I will eat the soup lol.

Offline hawgthumper

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Re: USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #3 on: 10/23/12 09:10 UTC »
Yeah always a good time with the postal service. The shipper is a good guy and I'm sure we wont have a problem working out the details. Just thought I'd share the details in hopes that someone else can avoid this happening. On a brighter note and on principle I think I will eat the soup lol.
Get plenty of crackers and I'll join you!

Offline Botanophilia

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Re: USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #4 on: 10/23/12 10:38 UTC »

412, good luck getting your molds back. It sounds like just the old accidental Switcheroo, and maybe you'll get lucky. Hope so! I lost one a year or so ago this same way and never have gotten it. The last I heard it had been sent to Atlanta for repackaging! From Cincinnati! I live 50 miles from Cincinnati! Our government agencies at their best! ;D

USPS is gov't mandated and gets some support for mail-in election ballots and their cooperation in other gov't programs like providing address info about child support etc.  But it's not a gov't agency per se as it isn't controlled by the gov't and is run like any other private industry.  Those postage hikes to make up for fewer letters being sent?  Done by USPS officials and not the gov't.  Despite the gov't mandated requirement to only break even, the USPS (despite what they want you to believe) makes about 1 billion in profit every year.  UPS and Fedex have the same loss and misdirection issues as USPS.  As far as handling packages, I would never send anything UPS willingly after seeing trucks unloaded; employees tossing packages 15' that are obviously labeled fragile:glass didn't leave a good impression on me.  Interesting article here about who handles packages the best. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/tests/which-shipping-company-is-kindest-to-your-packages

Offline Jester

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Re: USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #5 on: 10/23/12 11:02 UTC »
I ordered 2 boxes of call blanks a few years ago and only got 1. The vender made good on the other box and sent me a new one to replace it. A few months later I was talking with the vender and asked what had happened to the original second box. He told me that a few months after he shipped it that the lid of the box was mailed back to him from the USPS with a dear John letter saying we are not sure what was in this box or where it went. It must be nice to just loose someone’s goods and not be responsible for them…

Offline 412BaitCo

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USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #6 on: 10/23/12 11:05 UTC »
I ordered 2 boxes of call blanks a few years ago and only got 1. The vender made good on the other box and sent me a new one to replace it. A few months later I was talking with the vender and asked what had happened to the original second box. He told me that a few months after he shipped it that the lid of the box was mailed back to him from the USPS with a dear John letter saying we are not sure what was in this box or where it went. It must be nice to just loose someone’s goods and not be responsible for them…

Had that wonderful empty box show up before with the nice letter as well.

Offline 412BaitCo

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USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #7 on: 10/23/12 11:21 UTC »
Great article!

Offline Botanophilia

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Re: USPS flat rate boxes
« Reply #8 on: 10/23/12 22:36 UTC »
Thought of another reason I don't use UPS.  I once had a set of guitar pickups not arrive after 2 weeks.  Company replaced it no problem.  About a month later I noticed a box in a melting snowbank in the yard.  Of course it was the missing pickups.  Pretty much physically impossible for them to have gotten there if they were properly delivered to the door.  The carrier?  UPS.