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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 1, 2024 12:47:58 GMT
OK I admit it, when I buy an item whether it is NOS/used with factory shipper/Brand new with factory shipper which is shipped to me I always request the item be double boxed if at all possible. In the case of older items, it is because the rigors of today's transit are not too kind to years old cardboard boxing which has lost the original tensile strength due to age or less than ideal storage conditions. For brand new stuff I just like a nice clean unlabeled undinged/punctured/smashed factory box. Severe toilet training can manifest itself in mysterious and unexpected ways.  Some dealers double box as their standard practice. Other dealers will D.B. upon request with or w/o charge. How about you? Is double boxing a must have or an oddity for your shipped items with factory shippers? |
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Post by af3020 on Nov 1, 2024 12:53:39 GMT
Always. I request it in the comments to shipper section and for the same reasons you mentioned - those boxes are not built to take the rigors of parcel shipping/mailing.
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Post by trainman9 on Nov 1, 2024 14:35:29 GMT
Trainworld will usually double box as a standard. I’m not a big customer but I’ve purchased a few engines from them and the Legacy S2 prewar set. All of these came double boxed.
When ever I sell an item I always double box. I also photograph the packaging in some instances if the item I’m selling is either fragile or rare.
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Post by JDaddy on Nov 1, 2024 16:59:27 GMT
Nice to have everything double boxed. Then I sent a locomotive back to Lionel with an RA number, double boxed, came back damaged in its single box.... I give up at this point.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 1, 2024 21:00:45 GMT
Nice to have everything double boxed. Then I sent a locomotive back to Lionel with an RA number, double boxed, came back damaged in its single box.... I give up at this point. If I was not so far away from Harmonyard I would take my 2 Lionel K-4s to have his gear box retrofit myself! The thought of shipping those engines gives me the willies. Whatever the heck they are!
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Post by Traindiesel! on Nov 2, 2024 9:16:51 GMT
Nice to have everything double boxed. Then I sent a locomotive back to Lionel with an RA number, double boxed, came back damaged in its single box.... I give up at this point. If I was not so far away from Harmonyard I would take my 2 Lionel K-4s to have his gear box retrofit myself! The thought of shipping those engines gives me the willies. Whatever the heck they are! I know what you mean, Chuck! I have three of those Lionel K4’s that probably need that gear box fix.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 2, 2024 13:46:32 GMT
If I was not so far away from Harmonyard I would take my 2 Lionel K-4s to have his gear box retrofit myself! The thought of shipping those engines gives me the willies. Whatever the heck they are! I know what you mean, Chuck! I have three of those Lionel K4’s that probably need that gear box fix. If Pat was able to come to York, you could bring them with you this coming April and then pick them up in October 2025! Three of those K-4s should fit in overhead storage right? Just ship your clothes a week ahead of time. 
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Post by Traindiesel! on Nov 2, 2024 18:11:19 GMT
I know what you mean, Chuck! I have three of those Lionel K4’s that probably need that gear box fix. If Pat was able to come to York, you could bring them with you this coming April and then pick them up in October 2025! Three of those K-4s should fit in overhead storage right? Just ship your clothes a week ahead of time.
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Post by redjimmy1955 on Nov 2, 2024 19:12:16 GMT
Double boxing should be a no brainer. A colourful package box certainly cannot stand 100 psi impact from being thrown.
Neither has my lil' brother as we dropped him on his head....lol
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Post by frankmulligan on Nov 2, 2024 21:23:52 GMT
Double boxing will definitely add to the cost of shipping.
I work as a mail carrier for the USPS and I would recommend double-boxing if possible and not too costly. Also, make sure the item cannot shift inside the box. That is more important. I delivered a set of frying pans the other day. How did I know that? One of the pan handles had poked it's way through the side of the box.
I'm amazed at how poorly a lot of items are packed. It's as if they expect the item to be handled with kid gloves. UPS and Amazon hand stuff off to us and sometimes the box is already damaged by the time we get it.
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Post by edlloyd on Nov 3, 2024 21:25:03 GMT
I prefer double boxing.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 3, 2024 21:37:01 GMT
Double boxing will definitely add to the cost of shipping. I work as a mail carrier for the USPS and I would recommend double-boxing if possible and not too costly. Also, make sure the item cannot shift inside the box. That is more important. I delivered a set of frying pans the other day. How did I know that? One of the pan handles had poked it's way through the side of the box. I'm amazed at how poorly a lot of items are packed. It's as if they expect the item to be handled with kid gloves. UPS and Amazon hand stuff off to us and sometimes the box is already damaged by the time we get it. Movement inside the shipping carton will damage a lot of different items. Many amateur as well as business shippers don't get it. You have to immobilize stuff and peanuts are the worst.
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Post by atsda on Nov 6, 2024 14:49:59 GMT
Chuck, I generally don't buy alot of items online, and none has been the new equipment. When I have gotten items shipped, they have fortunately been packed in paper and bubble wrap; the boxes have been sturdy. I have not had a problem - lucky, I guess. However, I will keep the double boxing in mind if I get an item that is delicate. Alfred
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 7, 2024 12:18:06 GMT
Speaking of double boxing, here is my most recent experience from a well known dealer. I requested double boxing and was surprised to receive a supplemental invoice for that service as I had never encountered that before. Oh well. The box arrived and the first thing that I noticed was that the double box was a repurposed carton for model train structures. It looked fine but really? Next I opened the box and examined the factory shipper. Fine so far until I flipped the box over and saw the the bottom of the factory carton. The side of the box was noticeably damaged to the point that it had to be taped together. The shipper had been opened likely to determine if the display boxes/contents had been damaged. Fortunately not. But here is the question. If someone requests to have an item double boxed, unless it is the last one in your inventory (still in stock) is this damaged shipping carton the one you send? I doubt whether the dealer would have shipped this carton w/o double boxing or that the shipping company would have accepted it in the condition that it was in. As far as I can tell I paid $22.00 for about 200 peanuts, a repurposed box that the dealer would likely have had to use anyway and some tape. BTW the double box was not oversized to the extent that it would have dramatically increased shipping costs. It was not free shipping. I suppose he saved the nicer factory shipper cartons for his walk in customers. A photo will be posted as soon as my phone starts playing nice with my computer. Once again The Rolling Stones were right 'You can't always get what you want'. Attachments:
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Post by frankmulligan on Nov 7, 2024 13:30:17 GMT
Speaking of double boxing, here is my most recent experience from a well known dealer. I requested double boxing and was surprised to receive a supplemental invoice for that service as I had never encountered that before. Oh well. The box arrived and the first thing that I noticed was that the double box was a repurposed carton for model train structures. It looked fine but really? Next I opened the box and examined the factory shipper. Fine so far until I flipped the box over and saw the the bottom of the factory carton. The side of the box was noticeably damaged to the point that it had to be taped together. The shipper had been opened likely to determine if the display boxes/contents had been damaged. Fortunately not. But here is the question. If someone requests to have an item double boxed, unless it is the last one in your inventory (still in stock) is this damaged shipping carton the one you send? I doubt whether the dealer would have shipped this carton w/o double boxing or that the shipping company would have accepted it in the condition that it was in. As far as I can tell I paid $22.00 for about 200 peanuts, a repurposed box that the dealer would likely have had to use anyway and some tape. BTW the double box was not oversized to the extent that it would have dramatically increased shipping costs. It was not free shipping. I suppose he saved the nicer factory shipper cartons for his walk in customers. A photo will be posted as soon as my phone starts playing nice with my computer. Once again The Rolling Stones were right 'You can't always get what you want'. Adding just an inch all around to make it a double-boxed shipment can greatly increase shipping costs. I shipped out an item that I double boxed. Doing so made the shipping go up from around $32 to over $70! I cut the height down an inch, still protecting the inner box with peanuts all around, and it brought it back down to around the $32 mark.
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