Tips from a UPS guy or girl on sending your Secret Santa gift

Dec 8, 2017 7:42 AM

Hemelsblauw

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1299

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@BlazinDays: it seemed to me that more people could use your excellent advice.

8 years ago | Likes 79 Dislikes 3

My great uncle used Polish fudge instead of packing peanuts for the dolls he made and bought. Worked great, oddly, and no melting.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm sending some custom glassware for Secret Santa so these tips are great!

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Worked in ship/rec. If you would't sit on it, don't ship it.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As a FedExererererer, this. Alllllways this.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I worked at a railyard that dealt with shipping containers (lots of UPS). Can tell you those containers don’t get treated gently.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

How I ship glass: bubble wrap, then in box with balls of newspaper. Then pack THAT box in another with 1-2" on all sides, and more newspaper

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Packing peanuts are bad for the environment. Use something recyclable instead please.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The biodegradable ones made from corn starch are good. Not sure the costs involved. Bonus; they're edible! (mostly)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Very helpful to know.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

1st thing my UPS hubs said when he knew I was doing this, "Ship USPS"..

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not better at all. I work at a bulk mail facility and there's little difference between basketball and our sorting method.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I worked for Parcelforce for years. A FRAGILE sticker just basically means "Please throw underhand.." to the sorting staff.

8 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

Because there are fragile stickers on everything including fucking shirts.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Double boxing, yo. One box inside another with 2" if peanuts between them.

8 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 1

This would be overkill for almost everything, but good advice for glass / ceramics / etc.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It's good for sensitive electronics.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's not always the brown trucks.... I've had about 15 packages delivered over the last 2 days, once from 5 different people in 1 day.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I always pack stuff like someone is going to throw it across the room and against the wall.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Some of the best packing I have seen was for returning a defective projector (DOA). First the box was much bigger than it needed to be. 1/?

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Secondly it had what I can best describe as two thick plastic trampolines inside of it that sandwiched the projector between them. 2/3

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

There was probably 5 inches of clearance between the projector and the box on all six sides. 3/3

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Sturdy box? check. Bubble wrap? check. Taped up like mad? check. I'm probably good.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Did you remember to put the shipment in the box though?

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Damn...I knew I forgot something...:)

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

^This. I cannot stress this enough. People act like if they pack with newspaper and put a fragile sticker on the box it will be ok.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This is a nice thing to help those who don't ship a lot. Great post.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Thanx :)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I work for amazon can confirm if you wouldn't roll it down a staircase it shouldn't be shipped.

8 years ago | Likes 124 Dislikes 1

I drive a tractor trailer and can confirm that trailer bounces like tigger on coke. Plus all the sick backflips I do

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Amazon delivery brother/sister - where you at?!

8 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

Dla9

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

DLA8!!!

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Nice!

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

UPS has a 200 LB Bursting test standard too, and 2 inches on every side of fragile items (ESPECIALLY if you are declaring >$100.)

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm a loader at UPS and can testify to all of that. Pissy employees are also a factor

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

in case your friend was also wondering if packing peanuts are peanuts you just put in the package:

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

:D I thought he meant real peanuts.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Write shipping addy on box on a note card, TAPE OVER IT. Lucky to get this at all. /a/xhxN3

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Posted pint glasses from UK to Aus without breaking. Can confirm this method is great

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I just shipped wine via the USPS recently. ...from reading this, I'm really surprised that it made it.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Single bottles are safe. Multi packs can break.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

But I put a “fragile” sticker on it!

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

"Fragile? What is that, Itallian?"

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

It’s French for crush harder

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Soviet Russia had shipping boxes made of plywood. I wonder why we don't have these instead of cardboard.

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

That's still a thing if you don't mind paying for shipping the heavy box. It's used for fragile valuables.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

We do have those, but wood is way heavier than plywood, so it's much more expensive.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Kind of relevant... except I'm trying to send to the Philippines and am worried my package won't make it based on things I've read.. :(

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Have you send it already?

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Not yet. Still trying to find the best option.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Good luck then! Better advice than above I can't give you. But a lot of packages do arrive safely.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I spent 8 years at UPS. Message me with shipping questions? If you wouldn’t throw it, don’t mail it.

8 years ago | Likes 374 Dislikes 6

Waiting for a package for a week stuck in destination scan. Why does this happen :(

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Would be interesting to see you do a post.

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Got a facebook memory reminder a few mins ago of my 1st day on the job getting my finger crushed pin the rollers. Had to hide it

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I used to unload trailers at UPS, I had to pull down the "walls" of packages crashing to the floor. If you can't throw it, don't ship it.

8 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

This. This is how it’s done. If you’re good you can pull most of it onto the belt, but it’s always a damn mess.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

So no to sending bottles of alcohol?

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

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8 years ago (deleted Apr 8, 2018 6:21 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Excellent, just making sure so I don't fuck up secret santa this year

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I can’t stress this enough: if you wouldn’t give it a solid throw/slide across your garage floor don’t mail it.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My garage floor is padded but I will make plenty sure it is well packed and heed all the advice I can get

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You might also want to check if it's legal to ship alcohol from your state. It isn't in WI of all places.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Did not think of this. Turns out it is illegal to use USPS to ship alcohol.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

But you CAN mail "grape juice"

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I work at UPS in WI and we get alcohol all the time...

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

From what the local breweries told me, Sprecher, Lakefront, and MKE Brewery, it is illegal. Though wine for some reason is okay.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Have the Amazon trailers nearly killed you too?

8 years ago | Likes 75 Dislikes 1

amazons use trailes for combat? Are the like charriots?

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No it's when the unload dumps a bag of smalls inside a tire and you gotta deal with it on a moving belt. That's the killer.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Fucking small sort fuckers. Our facility didn’t allow tires on the belts.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I left in 2011. Didn’t have those then.

8 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 2

Damn, we old

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

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8 years ago (deleted Apr 8, 2018 6:21 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

They put 50lb package on the top row. It nearly knocked me out

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

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8 years ago (deleted Apr 8, 2018 6:21 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

You irregular offload guys are the real MVPs

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Don’t feel bad. I once bent down for a package and a fiberglass ladder fell off the top of the wall and hit me directly in the ear.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Off to the small sort with you

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0