USPS near disaster

[MultiScaleMale]

Started typing a really long story of what happened - but I'll TL;DR it as a PSA. If you use the insurance tracking stickers from the Post Office, even if the clerk puts them on the package, put a piece of packing tape over them. They can fall off and end up on other boxes making your package look like it was delivered to a different part of the country.

I had two basses shipped on Monday where this happened. Both labels fell off and ended up on other packages. But I did learn something kinda cool - they take pictures of your packages at various sorting centers and can look those up.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Good info thanks for that. As much flack as all the carriers get, I wonder what the ratio of damaged to not damaged really is? I recently received a Lightwave bass from the east coast (I'm in Oregon) in a cardboard one ply box that had minimal paper padding. Not a mark on the box, bass in like new condition, except for a couple of dings noted by the seller. I couldn't believe it wasn't damaged looking at the pack job. Color me relieved.

 

[Iridescentone]

Started typing a really long story of what happened - but I'll TL;DR it as a PSA. If you use the insurance tracking stickers from the Post Office, even if the clerk puts them on the package, put a piece of packing tape over them. They can fall off and end up on other boxes making your package look like it was delivered to a different part of the country.

I had two basses shipped on Monday where this happened. Both labels fell off and ended up on other packages. But I did learn something kinda cool - they take pictures of your packages at various sorting centers and can look those up.

Good to know. Not crazy about shipping basses (or any large item) via USPS, have had the most trouble with them. But, since UPS Ground shipping costs seem to have gone crazy lately, I may take a look at USPS again (shudder).

 

[kirkdickinson]

Good info thanks for that. As much flack as all the carriers get, I wonder what the ratio of damaged to not damaged really is? I recently received a Lightwave bass from the east coast (I'm in Oregon) in a cardboard one ply box that had minimal paper padding. Not a mark on the box, bass in like new condition, except for a couple of dings noted by the seller. I couldn't believe it wasn't damaged looking at the pack job. Color me relieved.

I always double pack basses when I ship them. Last bass I shipped, I put it in the soft case, wrapped it twice all the way around with single face corrugated cardboard, put on layer of bubble wrap, put that into a bigger box with room for peanuts. We are a daily UPS shipper and I see what some boxes look like. I always pack good enough that thankfully I have never have had a damaged bass.