Posting radios

[Murphyv310]

Hi Rob.
I've just received the Pye Radio from you and have had a look. Initially I was impressed with a good sized box and stiffening cardboard added.
Then I could see the radio was actually rather not to well supported, the extra cardboard rolled up and the paper didn't support the front and sides too well. As couriers tend to throw the boxes about the weight of the set quickly compresses the paper and rolled up cardboard.
The long and the short of it even with a board over the glass it is broken.
Its better to fill the recess in the cabinet with bubble wrap where the glass is as it helps to damp shocks, the glass was unsupported so cracked.
Another point if you are using tape on a cabinet, use low tack tape or masking tape as it is less sticky as sellotape lifts the French polish and even the veneer.

I'm not criticising what you did as I think this could be the first set you've sent but its advice for the next one.

[BusyBee]

My oscilloscope had a massive dent in the top where it had been thrown about after being badly packed by a staff member before a department move. Luckily it did not project into the tube or circuitry but it was close. My take is that if something can move at all it will move several times that distance. Beware of inertia of (especially the heavier) objects. Overpacking is a good idea. I have sometimes even packed a box then even encased that inside a larger box with bubble wrap packing. Yes, I agree with Trevor.

Tracy

[Nick]

What happens when stuff isn't packed properly... (part of a batch of several 100 nixies I bought many many years ago)

[Murphyv310]

The Russians pack very well indeed. I've bought a good few items and have in the main been impressed.

[FIXITNOW]

there are lots of s/h tote boxes around at about £5 (try local to you Facebook market etc) should make sturdy transport packing

[Radio Fixer]

There are some that are just too big and heavy to ship in double cardboard boxes. Even with lots of packing between and inside. I just dont do it for those and unless the item has a lot of value I'm not prepared to make a wooden outer crate. As said handles help a lot, the easier you make it for the couriers the better they will treat the item.

Also for big radios you have to use a proper courier as Hermes are just amateurs.

Gary

[Murphyv310]

Hi Gary.
I've never used wooden boxes nor felt the need to.
I've sent full TV sets, record players, radios and 78s, not only in a hobby situation but when working in business.
Most of the time I use Hermes for smaller and lighter items.
I've done parcel deliveries in the past when I closed the business when I was at the point of going bust. Being a courier you see what happens to parcels and how they are handled.
Remember that it is a very low paid job, typically between 45 & 60 pence for each parcel you deliver so speed is of essence, there is no time for any delay and you are or were not employed by the company so you pay fuel and other costs out of your 45 or 60p. Some work 12 hours a day and have to deliver 100 to 160 parcels a day to scratch a living. You can understand why things get thrown around. Again it's us that want it on the cheap. Ive received items from the specialists that cost 50 or 60 quid to send and the contents were damaged, but receive things from Hermes perfectly.
I received a 9 inch CRT from Frank in Ireland that didn't come by any special courier and was fine because it was packed properly in expanding foam, it also went from here to Poland and again arrived safely.
There are much better modern packing materials around now than before and I've found that with sensible precautions the right packing in the correct situations and common sense items will arrive un damaged, in my opinion all carriers are much of a muchness, the way they work is across the board. When the last items went back to Poland the first leg of the journey was Parcel Force and the guy just threw the big boxes in the van with no regard that I was watching, I chinned him about it and he said "you'll not like to see the rest of the journey then"!
So it's in our hands to do it right or not post at all.
The way the world is going with Covid19 and how we buy things now I really don't see an option if we are selling.

[Radio Fixer]

I've shipped medium sized radios in dbl box cardboard and masses of packing and not had a breakage. But for a really large ones: EMI and Philips sets that weigh near 60 lbs I wouldnt do it. Cant see cardboard holding together for those.

But each to his own ! I'd be worrying the whole time not about loss of money but a good radio getting busted .

Gary

[Murphyv310]

Hi Gary.
In the past Colour TV's were shipped in cardboard boxes many well over 60 lbs. The boxes though were thick, better than some you get these days, much stiffer.
The internal packing was shaped to give support to the bottom of the boxes and round the TV set to fit round the cone of the back and protect the CRT and cabinet. The set just couldn't move in the box and any knocks were absorbed by the design of the packing. Admittedly we cannot do that, so in many instances a set has to be packed into two or three cardboard boxes. The Plastic crates I'm using have the set inside and are packed with big expanded polystyrene rectangular blocks and of course bubble wrap, air bags and other packing. The crates are taped up and then put into a much bigger cardboard box. Its important that the item in the crate cannot move when the crate is upside down or on its side, it has to be firmly packed but not so tight that shocks could cause damage. The big box is filled in such a way that the crate is snugly held by the big expanded polystyrene blocks on all sides and top, again the crate mustn't move when on the box is upside down etc.
The other issue is that these boxes are opened up by the UK Border Force on arrival to this country so again that's another issue of international deliveries.

[Radio Fixer]

"In the past Colour TV's were shipped in cardboard boxes ..."

Yes! but a Pro designed box and delivered in a van by possibly by two youngish men who had a permanent job and not on 60p an item. My Hermes man is an OAP and comes in a stuffed full estate car. Not much care from him. Thats why I dont use them for big radios. With a proper courier you have a better chance.

Bought a new 55" OLED recently ... very well packed and delivered into the hall by two young guys who had a full sized van so it can still happen.

Gary