I hate losing things in shipping

[mkdive]

That ***** you didn't get your tools. It has happened to me also. I have had ebay purchases like others with great packaging....and then the other type of seller that just throws the tool in a priority envelope and hopes for the best.

One thing I have have to say is.... USPS is handy, they do provide pretty much free shipping consumables. But their actual delivery and sorting stinks! At least one or more times a week I get someone else (neighbors) mail in my box, & I know the opposite is true.

I bought a plomb key chain screwdriver off ebay about a year ago. The seller was about 15 miles from me. The same day/time I made other buys on fleabay. I got all the other winning auctions delivered to me, (some coming from east coast).

But still never received my plomb driver (WTF)?!?!

I waited 2-3 weeks and then I contacted the seller. He was very nice, emailed me a copy of his receipt showing he mailed it. We both were surprised that it didn't show up the normal 2 days after him sending it. He ended up refunding the money (I didn't even ask him to).

Then 3 weeks later a nice stranger came over with the package!
It was delivered to his house 4 blocks away!!!! Not even the same house number or street name?!?! I immediately pay-palled the guy the money back and wrote him an email.

I was so ticked off with the USPS. It happens all the time here. Seriously at least a couple times a week I get someone elses mail stuck in with mine. I wonder at times what is sent to me..... that never actually makes it to our house?!!?

We have complained, but it doesn't change.

 

[Tool Pants]

Here we go again. In my mailbox today.

This time I received the ratchet. Almost.... The only thing holding it in the envelope was the wad of bubble wrap around the ratchet. Old Craftsman in mint condition, and I would be pissed if it got lost.

Then I had to take it apart.

 

[Bull]

Those Priority envelopes are not that durable. I sandwich the ratchet between cardboard inside that envelope, and tape the heck out of the sandwich. Then, I tape the edges of the envelope, front and back. That gives it a real good shot at enduring "normal" abuse.

 

[truckdriver]

I bought a SO 1/4 metric deep,shallow set with 2 ratchets and extension set. Never got it. UPS said that they couldn't read the address so they looked in the computer for my last known address. They delivered it to an address that I haven't lived at for 10yrs. UPS has delivered several packages to by current address so I'm not sure why they went with they old one. I contacted UPS and they went back to my old address and surprise, the current residents said they never got it. Since I was not the one who shipped it I wasn't allowed to file a claim. The person i bought it from used a shipping service(packpal IIRC) so he wasn't allowed to file a claim. Packpal filed a claim and I never got any money back. Since we were waiting for the claim to go through, my time expired to file a claim with paypal. UPS has screwed up several deliveries for me,including a turbo for my truck. I paid for 2 day service on Mon, shipped mon and recieved on Fri. When I am looking on ebay, if ups is listed as shipping I will not bid unless seller agrees to USPS or Fedex.

 

[justinmc]

Those Priority envelopes are not that durable. I sandwich the ratchet between cardboard inside that envelope, and tape the heck out of the sandwich. Then, I tape the edges of the envelope, front and back. That gives it a real good shot at enduring "normal" abuse.

Exactly.. if you are going to pack stuff in an envelope thats really not supposed to go into an envelope.. you better tape the **** outta it. I've mailed quite a bit of stuff here lately to other GJ folks and always employ the backerboard (I try to cut it to the size of the envelope then another strip over the top of the tool. I then use liberal amounts of packing tape on all corners of the envelope and especially over any creases, etc that I can tell will become "wear" points in transit. All it takes it a couple mins and some thoughtful placement of tape and you too can durably use USPS flat rate mailer envelopes. I will say however that I don't think I would EVER send a ratchet or non "semi flat" item in an envelope. Just spring for a box.. its a better choice and better chance your stuff will show up in the package.

 

[LoneGunman]

The flat rate envelopes aren't bad for small to medium wrenches if you do the tie wrap thing. The wrenches tie wrapped to cardboard then placed inside a USPS Tyvek bag inside of a flat rate mailing envelope will stop just about everything from puncturing the Tyvek then the flimsy cardboard envelope. I thank all the members who pay for my free shipping materials, it's about time I place another USPS order

Bull, how do you make the hole for the tie wraps? If you just use a knife to make a slit or stick the point in and twist it rip if the item is a little heavy, an empty .22 casing makes the perfect punch for a nice clean hole.