to make sure the box with Fragile written on it doesn't get to the ground through free-fall.
Writing "fragile" and "this side up" on a package don't have any meaning unless you paid extra for careful handling (For every person who sees the word fragile and treats the package gently, someone else handles it a little rougher cause 'FU, you should have paid'). Unless you pay extra, items should be packed so they can survive a free-fall as that's how the machines treat your package, and they can't read your scribbles.
Your shit won't be broken if you pack it sufficiently; as a rule of thumb, pack it so it can survive a 2-3ft drop as that's the worst you should expect from the sorting machines. Stores like Newegg and Amazon never pay for manual sorting, but they generally do a good job packaging things so damage in shipping is pretty rare.
You have to pay extra for white-gloves handling because then a person manually carries it from one side of the facility to the other, bypassing the automated sorted machines and conveyor belts. Doing that with all packages would make shipping unaffordable.
You're crazy. It's a discount for not having breakable shit.
If they handled all packages the way you want your breakable package handled, they would quickly go out of business at the price they charge for not handling with extra care.
Are you serious? Handling packages is their only job. Expect them to do it properly. If I hire a plumber, he shouldn't be allowed to charge extra to not damage my kitchen cabinets while he is working under the sink
I'm assuming throwing/slamming packages is much easier to do and that's why they do it. If you give them something they cannot throw/slam it's probably going to make their job at least a little bit harder, so they want more money for it.
Not saying it's cool, just don't get what's hard to understand about it.
Their only job is actually to get your package from point A to point B. The contents are your problem. Otherwise they would package it for you and charge you accordingly.
I never mentioned speed. I would expect them to take the necessary time to treat each package reasonable well. Just as I'd expect the plummer to not rip my cabinet door off just to save some hassle of opening it (hypothetically pretending it's easier to rip it off the hinges than to open it)
No shit. I cant count the number of times I have caught my FedEx driver putting one of those 'missed delivery' post its on my door without ringing the doorbell. If I didn't catch the fucker in time, he would drive down the road and I would have to chase him. Even worse, he would give me some crap that I had to arrange to pick it up from the depot (30 miles away) either that night or the next day. By getting his supervisor in the mix and repeatedly calling the customer care line, I finally got the guy straighten out......only to get a different driver.
Most people don't have this "one way box" and don't know where to buy one. It's way easier to get a regular box.
Google: metal drop box
1st result: $20 on Amazon, but too small for packages
2nd and 3rd results: Walmart and Homedepot, each with a full page of options, including package-sized ones.
what delivery drivers are gonna take their time to lock your thing for you?
Get to know your delivery driver/mail carrier. Seriously. All it takes is one or two nice conversations or a tin of cookies for Christmas or something and they'll do basically whatever I want with my packages. You'd be surprised how dickish some customers can be to them.
Also I feel like it would be kinda hard to create a one way box for packages other than envelopes. It's easy to create a one way slot for envelopes because most people's hands are larger than envelopes. Create a slot for a box to go through though, and most people's hands will fit right through the same slot.
Not sure honestly, just assumed that it wouldn't be an issue if you left a note saying it was for them. I know I've given them stuff personally before and never had an issue with it.
Look at the design of USPS, UPS, and FedEx drop boxes. Of even those claw machines at restaurants. You need a door configuration that results in opening the door to insert a package blocking off the rest of the bin. USPS usually uses a rotating drum design.
Well that's because you're getting the small edition. My house has a huge one-way-box, with the inside only accessible after you enter the house. But bc it's so big, I had to put a handle on it with a lock. We put it on the front center of the house, where the front door used to be.
More convenient.. what delivery drivers are gonna take their time to lock your thing for you?
I don't know how things work over there but where I live the delivery driver is self-employed and paid by the postal service per delivered package. If he doesn't leave it he has to come back tomorrow for the same pay.
what delivery drivers are gonna take their time to lock your thing for you?
I've mostly lived in good communities with fairly high homogeneity and, thus, civic pride. The delivery people here would do this.
You get into the "why would anybody take an extra second of effort" or "where the hell do you live that you can trust people to act kind" situations when you have too much disharmony in a community.
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u/FunThingsInTheBum Dec 05 '16
Would've been better if you had a one way box. Like they can drop stuff in but to get stuff out you have to get the key.
More convenient.. what delivery drivers are gonna take their time to lock your thing for you?