[meteorite-list] More on Shipping, etc.

From: minador <minador_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:15 2004
Message-ID: <002501c427be$6b670680$a977480c_at_s0024741812>

Hi All,

My current job requires a lot of shipping. We average about 50 shipments a
day so I've seen some real horror stories...

Regarding the "fragile" warning Michael mentioned, our UPS guy warned us to
not write any warnings on the boxes. They're having a lot of labor
relations issues right now. I didn't know the same problem existed with the
USPS, but it doesn't surprise me. Thanks for the warning Michael.

UPS does a pretty good job for us, but smaller padded envelopes tend to get
lost more frequently. Our smaller stuff goes USPS except when we require
tracking (for a very large or suspicious order). We found that we saved
about $4 per order, so it's worth the trip to the post (UPS comes to our
door). We haven't had any orders lost since this became our policy (about
1.5 years). So it doesn't seem to be risky to use first class w/o
confirmation (although it's an easy choice when using company funds). When
shipping for yourself, it is a more difficult decision.

Regarding survivability, I found that the combination of oversized boxes and
a lot of padding is the key. Even though a box can be driven over (happens
every few months), you would be surprised to find that most items won't be
damaged if properly packaged. And when you think about it, a slightly
oversized box isn't going to change the weight significantly. Plus if you
buy your boxes in bulk, a slightly larger size will only be 2 or 3 cents
extra per unit. For some of the more fragile items, we'll double box, (even
small
items). As a manufacturer, the cost is worth the peace of mind and saved
time. Not
to mention making life easier for our customers.

I have never received a damaged meteorite. Only once have I received a
severely damaged box (Priority mail). Since the Hupe's packaged the
meteorites carefully, there was no danger to them. I have received some
shipments that have made me worry. Had an envelope been torn or crushed,
the
specimens would have been severely damaged (more likely lost). I've
received some international shipments that fell into the same category.
Luckily none of them have been abused by the shipper. To be fair, most of
those
(domestic) dealers charged very little for shipping. So I suppose I
received
what I paid for.

An aside for the dealers: If description cards are placed inside a zip lock
baggie with a meteorite, they are usually damaged in some way. For most
collectors that's probably not an issue.

I hope that my company's policies aren't impractical or too expensive
for most on this list. I hope many will find my comments useful, and maybe
the points given by all to date will help prevent damage to precious
specimens.

I personally think that what I pay for meteorites is a bargain, and that
customer service is exceptional 99.9% of the time. I very much appreciate
all the dealers who have sold me beautiful specimens the last couple of
years. Keep up the great work!

Happy hunting/collecting/selling/studying, etc.,

Mark

Mark A. Bowling
VAIL, AZ

----- Original Message -----
From: Impactika_at_aol.com
To: mlblood_at_cox.net ; meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] RE: Escoria / boxes

In a message dated 4/20/2004 2:34:53 PM Mountain Standard Time,
mlblood_at_cox.net writes:
This is one of the primary reasons I send EVERYTHING Priority
Mail. It is very safely boxed. (exceptions are use of Registered Mail,
in boxes, for overseas and material over $1,000 in value)
        This post is NOT meant to be a MICHAEL BLOOD justification:
It IS meant to point out the virtues of priority mail. It's the BOX,
folks, it's the box!

Not exactly.
I sent one of those boxes to a very good customer who emailed me as soon as
he received it. He wanted to tell me that he had found the box in his mail
box, flat as a pancake, with tire tracks across it. Worse, he knew very well
that the box contained a thin-section!
Happily the thin-section was in a plastic box, wrapped in lots of
bubble-wrap and intact!
So I say it is the Bubble-Wrap, I use so much of it my packages should
float!!!! :-)

Anne M. Black
Received on Wed 21 Apr 2004 12:32:49 PM PDT