Packaging Secrets of Success

[RogerDat]

The zip lock baggies needed an outer wrapper. The free tyvek envelopes from post office work well, or even double bagged in the grocery bags used as padding. Something that prevents a crushed box from leaking the contents. I also can't help but notice the absence of fiber tape along the corners and edges. Not wrapped in clear plastic box tape either. My guess is any two of these three would have prevented the situation.

[recyclemonster]

I shipped some third member corvette rearends. I wrapped it in a trash bag then sat it in the heavy guage cardboard box i built. Setting it on a bed of used Styrofoam from the same place I found the card board. I sprayed cracks and gaps then add more pieces of Styrofoam them more cracks and gaps it makes a bonded cacoon surrounding the 85 lbs of third member. Works really well.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Ed in North Texas]

Here's a couple of pictures of what not to do:





Box far too big for contents, "stuffing" was 2 to 4 air-pillows which didn't survive long, and the box wasn't taped all around, leaving gaps at the ends under the flaps (why there's only one bullet loose in the box though the plastic bag was open at the end?). Haven't weighed to see if somehow I lucked out and got all the bullets.

[PaulG67]

For the past several years when I ship something I pack it tightly with wood pellets that I use for heating my home and tape the outside liberally. So far no complaints.

[samari46]

First think I do when packing a rifle is take the bolt out. Bubble wrap the heck out of the gun. Then add bubble wrap or heavy cardboard wround the butt and muzzle.Then take the bolt and double up the wrap and tape it to the already bubble wrapped rifle.So it won't go anywhere. My packages looks like a mummy was wrapped inside. Then all seams in the box containg both rifle and bolt are usually wrapped three times. To date all rifles shipped I have had no complaints about busted boxes. Frank

[gwozdz]

If stuff wont fit into a SFRB, before going to MFRB, look into a "Regional Rate Box A". It's pretty roomy and isn't that much more than the the cost of a SFRB. I had 5 boxes of bullets to send that would not fit in a SFRB, but would the A box. Postage from NY to Tenn came to $9 and change.

[Noah Zark]

If I use evil plastic peanuts as "dunnage" to protect not-too-heavy item(s) shipped in a carton, I double-bag the peanuts in plastic shopping bags sealed liberally with 2" packing tape. It keeps them where they should be, keeps them from contaminating the item(s), and makes unpacking for the recipient much easier and far more tidy.

If the item(s) is heavy, I'll use the expanding foam in a bag technique mentioned previously. I'll also tape the box in all three axes - on the seams, across the seams, and around the unseamed side. In rainy weather or winter I'll tape the entire carton, if not most of it for improved water resistance and physical strength.

As others have mentioned, the key to successful shipping is effective immobilization of the contents by whatever means necessary.

Noah

[RogerDat]

The free padded flat rate envelopes are same price as SFRB but can hold at least twice the brass. You may find one or two at local post office if you ask at the counter but not generally stocked. Can order them in quantity from the USPS online site. They are free.

I keep brass in plastic sandwich or freezer bags. Those go into the tyvek envelopes available for free at post office. The tyvek package goes into the padded FR envelope. I know I have shipped pretty large quantity of 30-06 brass in them and have received several hundred revolver or over 100 of 303 British rounds in the padded envelopes. Well over what would go in SFRB for same shipping cost. Including to Alaska or Hawaii.

I do add some fiber tape folded over the edge seams of the padded envelope for added strength.

Plastic bag and Tyvek prevent brass mouth from pushing through and poking holes in padded bag. Also make brass act like a single object so padded bag doesn't flop and have opportunity to fold and split. No problems so far. Same idea as most of the boxing approaches. Keep it from moving, avoid sharp edges that can bust through, secure seams.

[RogerDat]

As far as I'm concerned presses are about the worst thing to ship. Awkward, heavy, lots of edges and angles to poke through box or seams. I think I would be inclined to try the bag of spray foam to nest it in.

Or scales because they are despite being sturdy somewhat delicate instruments.

[FishHunter357]

If shipping something heavy and pointy like a reloading press, I always wrap it tight in cardboard and tape it tight. This creates a smooth layer. Then use more cardboard sheets to keep the smoothed press from slamming around in the outer shipping box.
I've been shipping many flat rate boxes with 30-45lb of various bullets for reloading. I tape each box shut and use saran wrap to wrap each box to protect from water and to keep them from spilling if the box breaks. Then saran wrap stacks of two or three boxes to stack in the package. I usually add layers of cardboard or flooring scraps to reinforce the bottom and walls. Lots of tape around the outside of the box in case it turns into a bag somewhere along the ride.
Don't forget about the USPS "Shoe Box" (approx 15x8x8) ship by weight. Great for scopes, brass, anything that won't fit in the SFRB or padded envelope. I use pirate ship for best pricing anywhere.

[HiVelocity]

Just my .02 worth.......
I got this tip from the window attendant at my local post office.
I had 2 small flat rate boxes to ship to the same location; cost (then) $8.70 each; he laid the two boxes side by side and taped them together securely.
Then he slid the two boxes into a flat rate 12x14 (I think) Tyvek flat rate envelope; cost $6.45 (then).

NOW, here's my complaint. I shipped a (ammo) properly marked package to a good friend who lives about 100 miles away via UPS. Sounds simple, right?
UPS subcontracts to the US Postal Service to deliver their packages; while it appeared to be lost in transit somewhere, it finally arrived at its destination 2 months later.

Just food for thought,

HV

[pa.frank]

Not too long ago, I shipped a large flat rate box full of pure lead bricks from the east coast to Alaska. The box weighted about 60 pounds.. and as stated in the original post, you have to pack it so it DOES NOT MOVE within the box, and I used an entire roll of fiberglass reinforced tape to make sure it would hold together no matter what angle it hit the floor on.. It arrived safely and the buyer was impressed with the packaging.. However what I saved on shipping using a flat rate box, I think I spent on the firberglass reinforced tape.... that stuff ain't cheap!

[alamogunr]

The best deal I have found on fiberglass reinforced tape is a 6 roll package from Amazon. Still not cheap but better than one roll at a time from the office supply.

Anyone considering selling and shipping anything, should think about the effect on their reputation if the package arrives damaged due to poor packing. A little extra cost is a good investment.

[higgins]

Years ago I shipped a partially diamantled shotshell press through UPS in a tomato box, about the strongest readily available box you can find. This was before UPS stores so I took it to a small UPS terminal in a nearby town. The individual pieces were well padded and all was packed tight. I had already taped it well but the counter man added about 100% to my tape job! It arrived in good condition.

[BuildGuild]

This was EXACTLY what I needed right now, thank you for this!

[country gent]

I also add a simple sheet in the packaging with the sender and receivers addresses on it. In case the label is damaged

[parkerhale1200]

Pack real good in plastic.
Use cunstruction foam.
But foam it in a two step process.
In between the steps make a other layer of plastic.

Easy and lightweight to ship, no damage to the goods and easy to unpack, easy to throw away.

[Shawlerbrook]

A UPS DRIVER’S SUGGESTIONS FOR SHIPPING FIREARMS [and other valuables]
( March 1st, 2013)

As a gun owner and an 11-year UPS driver, I get a lot of questions from people regarding the safest way to ship and insure firearms through UPS. Theft of firearms and other items by UPS employees, ‘though rare, unfortunately does occur, but there are a lot of surprisingly simple and inexpensive ways to virtually guarantee that you won’t be a victim. Please pass this information along to anyone who may benefit from it.

There are two things that cause thefts from UPS – pilfering and over-labeling. Pilferers are mostly thieves of opportunity. Handguns, jewelry, cameras, and prescription narcotics are their favorite targets because they are easily identifiable and can quickly be shoved into a pocket or inside of a shirt, due to the SMALL SIZE of the packages they come in.

The red and black “adult signature required” (ASR) labels that are legally required to be placed on these packages are often a dead giveaway. These labels are also called “steal-me sticker,” because thieves look for them. Most UPS facilities are fenced, and employees’ belongings are subject to searched exiting, so the size of the item is critical.

The BEST way to protect your handgun is to simply put it in a big box. One gunsmith on my route “disguises” his handguns by putting them in used Amway boxes! This works VERY well. Look at the box you are shipping your handgun in. If you can stick it inside your pants or under your shirt easily, it is vulnerable. As far as the ASR labels, you are required by law to have them on firearms shipments. What many customers don’t know, however, is that they can get a more discreet ASR label that is incorporated into the UPS tracking label. These are better because the words “adult signature required” are very small and unnoticeable. More importantly, this barcode will electronically “prompt” the driver at the other end to get a signature. In case he accidently tries to “release” the package on the customer’s porch without getting a signature. He will be unable to do so because the DIAD (that electronic clipboard that you sign) will read the barcode and will force him to get a signature in order to complete the delivery. You can order these special tracking labels through your Customer Service rep, or you can print them yourself with the UPS shipping software.

Another more sophisticated method of theft is “over-labeling.” This involves several conspirators who plan ahead and may get jobs at UPS for that very purpose. What they do is to print up a bunch of fake labels, with generic barcodes and phony return addresses, that are all addressed to a storage unit or apartment that they have rented in advance. One or more employees who are sorting and processing these packages will then slap the phony label over the authentic one, and the package will then proceed along its merry way to the “destination,” where an unsuspecting driver will deliver it to another accomplice who signs for it using a fake name. This will go on for a week or so until the thieves move on to another address to avoid suspicion. Since the original barcode is covered up, it is impossible to even trace these packages and they simply “vanish.”

The thieves who do this will also target handguns and jewelry but, since they are not trying to sneak it past a guard, they have the freedom to target larger packages, such as rifles, TVs, and computers. How do you avoid this?

It’s simple. You put an address label on ALL SIX SIDES of the box. A package so labeled will be passed up by a prospective thief, since he must now try to cover up six labels instead of only one. This is too risky, since the areas where these packages are sorted are often under electronic surveillance.If you are a gunsmith or store owner who ships UPS, and the package you are shipping is worth over $1000, inform the driver who picks it up and have him initial the pickup record. These “high value” packages are audited and are segregated from other packages. They are not sorted or run over conveyor belts, and they are subject to a chain-of-custody type of procedure that will prevent their being stolen. I feel 100% safe in saying that a handgun that is shipped in a larger-than-normal box of good quality, with a discreet ASR barcode, and with address labels on all six sides will NEVER get stolen or lost.

It’s unfortunate that a few of the 16 million pieces a day that we ship are in danger of being stolen but, if you take these simple precautions, you won’t be a victim.