posted on March 13, 2002 02:02:05 PM new
Hi,...... I mailed a plastic sign, pretty sturdy, not flimsy...size 12" by 12" ...I wrap the sign in tissue paper, put cardboard on the back of the sign 11" by 11", so the sign will not get bent in shipping, and also wrap the entire sign in heavy paper, and I wrap the entire front, back, and side with clear tape.{to live threw the weather and anything else the post office throws at it.as well as it keeps the buyers address readable.........clearly in the listing ad is buyers protection=self insurance, buyers option to pay for.also says, insurance is null/void if you damage the item while opening package.......... okay now, I have a buyer, {1} that is upset at the fact it was mailed without insurance. ....Not a problem, as it is covered by the buyers protection, which she paid for...........{2}She says she recieved the sign with bent corners......okay not sure if I believe her, as I have mailed 100's of these, and NEVER had a problem....but if so,...okay insurance will cover it, damaged caused by the post office........{3} She said she did not know how to OPEN the sign, because of so much tape.....her email to me.=====it was so full of tape I could not open it, so I used a razor blade on the edge and cut the back of the sign, ...... so when she opened the sign, SHE cut the back of the sign, and also must have cut the cardboard also...........................................My question to you is, how would you handle this????.................new gossip to talk about, no s/h, and no feedback.....LOL Thank you All
posted on March 13, 2002 02:31:02 PM new
If the cardboard was smaller than the sign, it's possible that the corners did get bent.
I personally would replace the sign, or offer the buyer a refund (their choice).
In my opinion, it sounds like it would be easier just to get a box that the sign will fit in, put the sign in a plastic bag to protect it from the elements, and ship it that way. Having excess tape on a package does make it more difficult to open it, and, as with your buyer, it's easy to unintentionally damage the item if there's not much packaging between the tape and the item itself.
Maybe you could use some of the free large Priority boxes, and cut the height down a bit? (Still shipping them via Priority Mail, of course ) Or use the larger laptop size Priority boxes?
Using a box would probably be less time-consuming to package up, as well.
posted on March 13, 2002 04:53:52 PM new
Thank you for your comments and for your help....... If I could send them priority mail, I would, but not too many buyers want to pay the cost for priority mail. for a plastic sign, ....maybe I will give it a shot in a few of my upcoming auctions, give them the option of priority mail vs 1st class mailing..... I had thought I would just send her another sign...... Thanks again TL
posted on March 13, 2002 05:22:56 PM new
You could also but two pieces of cardboard at least 1" larger than the sign (13 X 13), place the sign between them, and then put that into a large mailing envelope or wrap the sandwiched sign in paper with perhaps a bit less tape?
Too much tape can cause problems. I received an item (necklace) sealed in bubble wrap with tape and placed in a bubble mailer. I worked at trying to get that bubble wrap off the necklace for almost 20minutes before loosing my patience (I'm a redhead) and grabbing the scissors while swearing under my breath... snip snip, cut through the tape, bubble wrap and chain!!! Boy was I upset with myself, but human nature being as it is, I cursed the seller!!!!!
I didn't ask him for a refund, but I did let him know he had the worst wrapping skills I had ever seen and he needed to find someone to teach him a better way!
Just wanted to add, clip the corners of the cardboard so they are not pointed but flat and use one of those big white Tryvek(?) envelopes from the PO. You can fold and tape that to the proper size and it's somewhat waterproof.
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Mar 13, 2002 05:34 PM ]
posted on March 13, 2002 05:49:46 PM new
I would go to office max/stapes and buy over size envelopes and get some stury cardboard cut slightly bigger then the sign and put one on the top and one on the bottom and place in over size envelopes you could use one peice of tape to seal it and you would save a lot of time and refund's ,and still ship media rate .just a suggestion,
posted on March 13, 2002 05:58:03 PM new
If it fits in a priority box that is the way I would mail them. You are putting to much material and energy into the way you are doing it. If your product is what people want they will pay the priority price so that they don't have to go through the trouble of trying to get the sign uncovered and damage it, that is the way I would go.
posted on March 13, 2002 08:50:54 PM new
When I first started buying wallpockets on ebay, one arrived in a box--no damage--but inside the box was this little wallpocket with bubble wrap around it and then about 75 yards!! of priority tape round and round and round and round. Trying to open the danged thing, it slipped out of my hands and got nicked. I was really upset. Too much tape, inside or out, can cause damage just in opening the package. I agree with some of the above people that you need to find a different way to send the signs.
One thing that's helped me with fairly fragile, large paper items is to sandwich them between two pieces of styrofoam board, tape the boards together, and then wrap with a layer of paper on the outside. Cheap, and very very lightweight. Adele
posted on March 13, 2002 09:54:49 PM new
It is hard to wrap flat items, and I have found a way that works well for me. I slip the item into the box flat. That is, I do not open and tape the postal priority mail box, but simply slide the flat item into the folded box and tape all sides and edges. It works great. It's just like sending a flat box through the mail.
homestead7, not my ebay name.
posted on March 13, 2002 10:18:59 PM new
Order 0-1092 or 0-1095 box at www.usps.com and charge the buyer 3.50-4.00 for Priority Mail. All you need to add is a little cushioning.
posted on March 14, 2002 08:38:51 PM new
I bought a tailor's hemming tool off eBay. One part of it is similar to a yard stick. The seller sandwiched it in 3 layers of cardboard to ship it. Imagine a long yard stick inbetween cardboard about 3" across and 1/2" thick. Well, apparently it was set on top of 2 different height of boxes in shipment creating a teeter-totter, and then 2 or more boxes thrown on top. This effectively bent it and cracked the stick. Nothing could have prevented a long, 1/2" thick, flat item from getting bent better than a box. The seller thought it was funny because the PO bent it right on the line where she wrote "do not bend." She refused to replace, and I was bucks out.
As long as you offer to send a replacement or refund, it shouldn't be a problem, though. But if a flat item is sent in that manner, I would and did blame the packaging for the damage.
) Or use the larger laptop size Priority boxes?
