F*ck usps!

72Dodge said

Yeah, in this case leaving it in the water is the USPS's fault. Normally I agree with hemi71x. It seems hardly anyone knows how to pack securely nowadays. And that's the very first thing the shipping company will point to with a claim.... if it wasn't packed well, claim denial... and with good reason. Movement of a fragile item within a box is very likely to break it.

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That's right 72Dodge! I've had stuff show up here for restoration that needed a lot of work before it was shipped ... and with a crappy packing job and little or no cushioning whatsoever, even more damage occurred in transit to my shop and resulted in higher job cost.

You need at least 3 inches of solid packing on all sides, not THIS.

View attachment Customer's Box is Too Small (1) - Copy.jpg

Another important point I've learned in dealing with shipping insurance claims on behalf of my customers is that the box itself is also highly scrutinized. There is a (usually) circular stamp on the bottom of suitable boxes that contains various information; the one shipping companies seem to be most concerned with is the "edge crush" number, a certain number of pounds of force required to damage the box. If that stamp is non-existent (such as on a box fan or clock you'd buy at the store), it's not suitable to use for shipping ANYTHING because if something happens to it along the way, the insurance claim will be denied in its entirety. Further, if that number is too low for the weight of the contents, it is also a basis for claim denial.

Adding to the rant at hand, I took Snake's valve covers to the Post Office this very afternoon to get a shipping quote. The last pair of sb Mopar M/Ts I sent to Canada -- moderator Scott's I think -- were about $25 if I remember right. I about fell off my feet when the clerk told me it'd be almost FIFTY BUCKS for 8.9 pounds and only $200 in insurance, about half of what I'd prefer to buy. That's friggin ridiculous!!