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Do You Know When Fedex Drops Your Package? Senseaware Does
Sony, Microsoft, and Best Buy Join in the Fight Against Tough Packaging: Clamshell's Days are Numbered
Lightning Round: Plastic Surgeon Package Opener
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shaunchu
11/24/09

In reply to Do You Know When Fedex Drops Your Package? Senseaware Does
I find it important to mention that it's HORRIFICALLY unlikely that any package employee has time to do serious damage to your package, unless you happen to be shipping glass. Your average UPSer (or FedExer) handles between 400 and 2000 packages per hour (depending on his or her specific job. The majority sit around 1200-1500). Almost all damage occurs because the box can't handle any pressure and gets crushed in transit.

Most people simply don't get that the little brown truck with neat rows and a friendly driver with access to the box isn't trucking it the whole way. 90% of that little guy's journey takes place in a semi, stacked from front to back, top to bottom, with about 1000 other boxes. And no, nothing gets pallet-ized unless it's shipped freight, in which case it's probably the only thing on the truck.

Rule of thumb (and any good driver will tell you this): if the box can't handle at LEAST 30lbs of weight and/or a 5-6ft drop (to simulate the stress of moving belts and transit), you're putting the box at risk. Of course, that doesn't clear your carrier of wrongdoing, but thinking that some flimsy, thin cardboard is going to protect something of value is stupid.

Full disclosure: I'm a sorter at a UPS facility. I handle 2000 boxes an hour. Have I ever broken anything? Sure. Is UPS better than FedEx at broken packages? I'm sure my bosses would like me to think so, but I seriously doubt it.

Side note: No one has EVER cared about a fragile sticker or (to a lesser extent) arrows. Only incompatibles and hazardous materials get special attention.

Side note 2: It's the holidays. Carrier facilities are looking at, in some cases, a 50% increase in volume. It's the time of the year to make damn sure your package is secure, because it's going to take more of a beating than usual as every truck on the road is pakced beyond capacity.
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Dickeydoo
11/25/09

@shaunchu: Nice write up. Im in the same boat as you, except at DHL. Way too often i see boxes with split seams and terrible taping jobs come through, you know they're going to rip apart or get crushed at some point in the journey. I think the main reason items get broken is because people do not know how their packages are going to be handled from point A to point B. If you expect the worst and over protect, you will be fine.

About the fragile stickers, i second that. If its fragile pack it really well, if it isnt pack it really well anyway. Problem solved.

Oh and to add a point, try not to over pack boxes or put all the weight on one side, thats asking for trouble.
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The Lab
11/24/09

In reply to Do You Know When Fedex Drops Your Package? Senseaware Does
I just flipped to Gizmodo to procrastinate while writing a letter to UPS about a relatively lightweight package they dropped so hard it bent a steel beam. They denied the damage claim due to "insufficient packaging". Like really, it it bent steel, then should I have packed it in something more durable than steel? An admantium crate perhaps? Having one of these sensaware devices would allow me to substantiate my claim and would be quite valuable when making claims against shipping companies.

Also, The UPS Stores are franchises and not part of UPS proper and are even worse than UPS. DO NOT USE.
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RT100
11/24/09

@The Lab: keep in mind that each UPS store is owned by a different franchise owner, much like fast food restaurant. Results may vary. Maybe just don't go to this particular one...
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The Lab
11/24/09

@RT100: That's kind of the point. Since each one is different, you don't get the security associated with a company that has a nation-wide reputation. They can be much shadier and people will still trust them because of the brand.

When I ship a product, I want dependability, not "results may vary".
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RT100
11/24/09

@The Lab: agreed. I mean you'd hope that people are nice, but the world doesn't work that way...
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MrEvil
11/24/09

In reply to Do You Know When Fedex Drops Your Package? Senseaware Does
This is a very interesting technology, and it seems like FedEx might gain an edge over "United Package Smashers" if these things help them police their employees better.

I can't remember though what all organs other than Kidneys can spend much time in transit. I know hearts are measured in hours to minutes, and someone that regularly handled kidney donations said a kidney could stay in transit for over a week if kept cold.
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whootowl
11/24/09

@MrEvil: Smoke em and they'll last months.
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medopal
11/16/08

In reply to Sony, Microsoft, and Best Buy Join in the Fight Against Tough Packaging: Clamshell's Days are Numbered
i was always thinking, why dont they give a free disposable scissor with every item they sell!!

Like u know, giving free straw!!

At least the scissor will be much cheaper than curing all the cut-hands and fingers!

btw, just yesterday night, i was this much near to break my home-door key to open a flash usb package.
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satoru
11/16/08

@DaSmith: Internal thefts from employees are still a major problem for even purely online retailers such as amazon or buy.com.
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satoru
11/15/08

In reply to Sony, Microsoft, and Best Buy Join in the Fight Against Tough Packaging: Clamshell's Days are Numbered
While this is hopeful, I won't really believe it will get any traction until Walmart gets on board. I used to work at P&G and if Walmart said "JUMP" we said "HOW HIGH", on command. They dictate how the packaging for products must look, and they demand that the packaging be as theft-proof as possible. It's as if allowing the consumer to get at the product ranks about 100th on the list of requirements. They simply don't care. It must be theft proof to deter both external, and internal thefts. Unless Walmart gets in on this kind of initiative, prepare to continue to toy with death while opening gifts on Christmas' to come.
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frigg
11/15/08

In reply to Sony, Microsoft, and Best Buy Join in the Fight Against Tough Packaging: Clamshell's Days are Numbered
Has anyone ever sold clam shells in clamshell packaging? I'd buy that.
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Nintenboy01
11/15/08

In reply to Sony, Microsoft, and Best Buy Join in the Fight Against Tough Packaging: Clamshell's Days are Numbered
I hated the Xbox 360 controller packaging above all else. It took me 30 minutes to get it out.
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BeautifulAgony
11/15/08

@Nintenboy01: If I remember correctly, you should have gotten 100 Achievement Points for your Xbox Live account for accomplishing that feat in under 30 minutes.

If you get it open in under 5 minutes, though, they ban you for haxx0ring...
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shiftyeyedgoat
11/15/08

In reply to Sony, Microsoft, and Best Buy Join in the Fight Against Tough Packaging: Clamshell's Days are Numbered
The Clamshell is like EA's software piracy prevetion: pointless and solely screws the customer actually PAYING for the product.

Now, if you find some way to turn this into an Obama story, I'll hurt all of you...
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BeautifulAgony
11/15/08

@shiftyeyedgoat: It's time for packaging CHANGE! We need to put the unassailable, impregnable clamshell packaging of the Bush administration behind us! For too long it has prevented hardworking, lower- and middle-class American families from enjoying the products they deserve, while only protecting the wallets of the richest corporations! Healthcare costs will actually DECREASE as we slowly transition AWAY from this harmful packaging, and we will be able to REDUCE military spending aimed at devising ways of opening this type of irrational packaging!

heh
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