That carriers are animals
aha ah ah
is a fact
but I have to also say that when proper packaging instructions are followed there is a very remote changes to get a machine damaged

on a percentage of machine that we get in for repairs maybe 1-2 over 10 arrives damaged,
and ALWAYS is because customers do not follow the packaging instruction that we or for that matter any other company provides

and do not skip on the insurance neither
if the packing is done right
they will pay for damage

RapidCoffee wrote: Of course, nothing is truly idiot proof, because idiots are so darn persistent...

Make it idiot proof and someone will invent a better idiot.

Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

There are no dumb questions, however, there are a lot of inquisitive idiots out there.

Now back to your regularly scheduled double boxing....

Apropos, this arrived yesterday



Sh!t happens. Plan accordingly.

forget about getting drunk on porto Ian

My espresso machine seems to have arrived to the buyer in good shape....

Jason,

Glad your machine arrived safe!

I am just getting ready to ship a machine (Linea 2 av) from Atlanta to Boise.
I would appreciate any info as to who you used, etc.


Thanks,Eric

Eric, i used fedex ground.
You can see the picture of my machine boxed up here:


It's the espresso machine box inside another box, sides and bottom supported by empty fedex boxes and those air pouches.
The machine inside the box was also suported by crushed paper and bundles of plastic wrap (i had all the packaging from the machine)

fortunately i had the external box from my machine i bought to replace the sold one...i don't know where i would have gotten such a box otherwise.

PS: before anyone says anything, i realized the styro corners didn't serve a purpose. I replaced them with layers of bubble wrap.

Jason,


Thanks, could you tell me how much it cost? as well as how far you shipped it? I am just trying to get a general idea.

Eric

It was surprisingly cheap..well...vs. what i thought.
I shipped it to boston, the box was 23x22x25 or close to that, and weighed 70 lbs, and cost $35 to ship insured.

@eric - too late to help with your inquiry I suspect but I have consistently gotten my best shipping rates by using the agents http://www.thefreightrateco.com/ You set up a free account, enter your info (use Freight Class 100 for coffee gear in general as they won't really know what to use) and then request a quote online. They seem to get really good rates (better than anyone else I have tried) and have always been readily available by phone to answer questions. When you accept the quote (if you do) then you pay online by credit card, they schedule pickup0 based on your criteria and send you the Bill Of Lading (BOL.)

Foam Peanuts: NO!!! Maybe if they're wrapped in bunches tightly tied plastic bags and they are used inside the inner box of a double box scenario... only then and only "maybe." With heavy equipment they tend to shift and move to the point of least resistance and the sharp corner of heavy objects end up moving to the point of least resistance - the corners of the carton(s). Use as much rigid foam and rigid multi-layer (e.g. like 5 to 6 layer) corrugated corner and edge reinforcement as you can muster up. Double box and allow adequate space (2" or more) between inner and outer carton with plenty of rigid packing between the inner and outer layers.

Cartons: Check with the shipper on what their insurance regulations mandate for burst strength and edge crush strength numbers for corrugated cardboard containers. All double and triple wall corrugated is not created equal. Last year I shipped a Mahlkoenig R2D2 grinder (used but way pricey) via UPS using exactly the same packing method I had used for shipping one safely two years prior (granted - the previous one was shipped by FedEx ground who seems to trash things a bit less.) On both shipments the outer carton was a triple walled "dish barrel" shipping box purchased at a local shipping supply company. Little did I know... they had switched over to cheaper Chinese made boxes that are below the minimum standards required by UPS's insurer. The carton was totally trashed and the outer assembly of grinder completely ruined (salvageable but needs $500 in parts to fix.) I had to refund the buyer and UPS blew off my claim - was legally able to deny it because the packaging did not meet the fine print criteria.

Pallets and LTL shipping: I think Greyhound Express is a great idea for many things (so glad to get that idea here) but for the really large and heavy stuff i swear by palletizing and doing truck shipments. It may end up costing less than you think and I've never had an item damaged coming or going.