I officially will never buy or sell pcbs that need to be shipped again!

[shardian]

Previously, I had bought a pcb on ebay and the guy poorly packed it and it broke in transit (so he said). I then went thru a 4 month hassle getting my money back.

Last week, I sold a Top Gunner pcb. I thoroughly packed it in a brand new, perfectly sized box. The buyer emailed me today and said the package looked like a monster truck had ran over it. The pcb has been bent horribly. I started a UPS claim, but I've heard the horror stories of trying to get them to fess up to breaking things.

Anyways, just wanted to vent a bit. Enjoy the pics, and remember, that box was crisp and brand new when it left my hands.

[tommy]

It's hard to tel if the person is trying to lie to you and the PCB never worked to begin with or if it really was broken during shipping. I try to be there to test any electronics i buy that is used.

[shardian]

It's hard to tel if the person is trying to lie to you and the PCB never worked to begin with or if it really was broken during shipping. I try to be there to test any electronics i buy that is used.

Regarding the one I bought, the guy claimed his mom shipped it. It was in an oversized box and the only packing material was...a single sheet of newspaper wrapped around the pcb.

[tommy]

It sounds like you bought from a kid who needs his mommy to ship stuff for him... if only you knew. 

[shardian]

It sounds like you bought from a kid who needs his mommy to ship stuff for him... if only you knew. 

Heh, I sent back the board at my cost in agreement that he would refund me. Well I never saw a refund. Finally, I saw him trying to sell the exact same board on ebay as "untested" a few months later. After I kindly pointed this out to him and mentioned I might be contacting his bidders, I suddenly saw a refund sitting in my paypal account.

[XyloSesame]

It was in an oversized box and the only packing material was...a single sheet of newspaper wrapped around the pcb.

That's hilarious - It's always a gamble...

I won a laptop proc from eBay for $500 and change that came in a standard white envelope with no packing, protection, or anything. Just a proc in an envelope.

[ChadTower]

I got a package from tommy once and it bit me.  I was like WTF, he said he trained these packages.   

I usually double box PCBs.  Pack it well inside one box... then pack that into a second box with an inch or two of peanuts or newspaper.

[tommy]

I got a package from tommy once and it bit me.  I was like WTF, he said he trained these packages.   

It would have been fine until you started beating the package and left it outside with no food or water for many weeks.

[ChadTower]

What was I supposed to do?  The thing kept dropping peanuts all over the rugs.

[Jouster]

Regarding the one I bought, the guy claimed his mom shipped it. It was in an oversized box and the only packing material was...a single sheet of newspaper wrapped around the pcb.

What are you talking about??  My mommy did a great job packing that board.

Jouster

[tommy]

What was I supposed to do?  The thing kept dropping peanuts all over the rugs.

That's the sort of thing you have to expect from a dog that is not trained right. Don't blame the dog. Do you get mad when a baby shits his diaper?

[ChadTower]

Wait, there were dogs in that package?  I ordered a PCB.

[Wade]

How did you pack it?  I've NEVER had a package arrive damaged.  If UPS' standards are followed, then it practically CAN survive a truck running over it.  Am I gonna have to school you on packing?

Wade

[tommy]

Wait, there were dogs in that package?  I ordered a PCB.

There were small newborn pit bulls in there. Ah, that explains why you beat them. 

[Ed_McCarron]

Wait, there were dogs in that package?  I ordered a PCB.

There were small newborn pit bulls in there. Ah, that explains why you beat them. 

CHAD BEATS PUPPIES!!!

[ChadTower]

I never even opened the package.  I swear.  tommy is the one who put puppies in a sealed box and handed them over to the USPS.

[tommy]

I never even opened the package.  I swear.  tommy is the one who put puppies in a sealed box and handed them over to the USPS.

Lier, you opened it and the peanuts came out.

[ChadTower]

I didn't say I opened it.  I said it was dropping peanuts.  I'm filing a paypal chargeback.  I didn't order puppies.

[tommy]

I didn't say I opened it.  I said it was dropping peanuts.  I'm filing a paypal chargeback.  I didn't order puppies.

What am i supposed to do with dead puppies you beat to a pulp only because they were pit bulls?

[Ed_McCarron]

The puppies must have broke out of the box, and the peanuts were coming out the hole they gnawed in the box.

CHAD!!!  BE CAREFUL!!!  Theres probably killer puppies roaming your house!

[ChadTower]

Dammit.  I'm going to have to hire this chick to protect me. 

[tommy]

Don't change the subject. I expect an answer.

Even though she does seem to handle that tool well, it is not important here and now.

[ChadTower]

I didn't kill any puppies.  I didn't open the box.  If you packed your puppies improperly the fault is yours.  Or the shipper's.  File a dead puppy claim with the USPS.

[tommy]

Let me speak to your manager!!

[Level42]

I got a Mario Bros. PCB set from the US via Ebay. Arrived safely without any damage. It was pretty well packed in an oversized box with lots and lots of newspaper (with an interesting article about Apple to boot  )

Thing is, most people don't know how to pack things.  I worked for a computer monitor company (still CRT's then) and we often received monitors for repair not shipped in the original packaging (which meant NO guarantee). People dropped the monitor in some box that fitted, through in a load of chips and thought that would be ok. What happened next is that the stand of the monitor would go straight through the bottom of the monitor AND through the PCB. That meant a DOA  

In the original packing, the stand is LOOSE from the monitor and the monitor "hangs" in the side foam parts.This prevents any strain on the monitor itself when the box is stacked etc.

I guess a PCB could be packed the same, using some kind of frame around it from very sturdy and light material, so that it takes any pressure. But heaps of newspaper seems to do the trick normaly...

O, and don't use UPS. I've never had ANY problems with good old Post (USPS etc.)

[shardian]

How did you pack it?  I've NEVER had a package arrive damaged.  If UPS' standards are followed, then it practically CAN survive a truck running over it.  Am I gonna have to school you on packing?

Wade

The pcb was bubblewrapped, with extra wrap being put on the component side. The box was lined with more bubble wrap - the thick stuff. Then the box was filled with crumpled newspaper and misc scrap paper. I always test my packing by shaking the hell out of it and tossing it around a bit - it was well protected and secured. "UPS standards"what does that mean? I've seen UPS pack, and all they do is fill a box halfway with peanuts, then drop in the item, then top off with peanuts.

[ChadTower]

Maybe it was the tiny lightning storm from all the static electricity in that wrapping paper?   

[SithMaster]

Chad and tommy stop please 

[ChadTower]

Let me speak to your manager!!

Dude my wife doesn't even like dogs.  She's allergic.  She's not going to help you.  Especially since she said after the last dogs that I couldn't have anymore because they were taking up all the space in the house and none of the ones we have now work to begin with.

[tommy]

I'm going to report you and your wife to the department of cruelty to electronics and stuff.

[ChadTower]

Been there, done that.  I have immunity because I testified against SithMaster when they went after him for PCB malpractice.

[shardian]

Maybe it was the tiny lightning storm from all the static electricity in that wrapping paper?   

When it comes to bubblewrap, opinions are varied. Some people say that bubblewrap is fine. Others swear by antistatic bags, while most say aluminum foil works well as a static shield. using aluminum foil kind of freaked me out, so I just went with bubble wrap - not to mention the foil would just rip around all of the sharp points on a board anyways. If I was sending a $200 board, then yeah I would have went the extra mile and got a bag. Being this was a $20 board, secured bubble wrap was more than adequate. The risk of static ruining the board was minimal. I've received TONS of electronic goodies wrapped in bubble wrap and guess what? They all work just fine.

The only packing material that is a definite no-no is popcorn styrofoam. That crap is bad for the environment anyways.

[ChadTower]

It was a joke. 

Maybe this is a better joke. 

[tommy]

What's with all the comics lately?

[ChadTower]

I've been reading through the whole Penny Arcade archive.  Brilliance.  Someone needs to make a Penny ArcadeCade cab.

[Ed_McCarron]

What's with all the comics lately?

Yeah, and wheres the puppy beating comics?

[ChadTower]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2002/20021028h.gif

Images changed to URL due to language. *bonk*

[Wade]

How did you pack it?  I've NEVER had a package arrive damaged.  If UPS' standards are followed, then it practically CAN survive a truck running over it.  Am I gonna have to school you on packing?

Wade

The pcb was bubblewrapped, with extra wrap being put on the component side. The box was lined with more bubble wrap - the thick stuff. Then the box was filled with crumpled newspaper and misc scrap paper. I always test my packing by shaking the hell out of it and tossing it around a bit - it was well protected and secured. "UPS standards"what does that mean? I've seen UPS pack, and all they do is fill a box halfway with peanuts, then drop in the item, then top off with peanuts.

The UPS workers don't follow their own packing standards (just as they don't actually look in each package for dangerous liquids, explosives, other un-shippable items), but if a package they pack for you is damaged you might get away with a claim more easily.

If you read the fine print on UPS/Fedex/etc packaging, they require the box to be packed until it is stiff and supportive, and is supposed to be able to support several hundred pounds (exactly how much, I don't know offhand).  It doesn't matter how much bubble wrap you use around a board, if your box alone can't withstand yourself standing on it, the bubble wrap isn't going to help it much when it ends up on the bottom of the pile in a truck.  Think more along the lines of the extra thick, weight-supporting boxes, or think about the boxes that something like a DVD player would come packed in.  It is a strong box and it is supported on the inside by styrofoam, and they can safely be stacked a few dozen tall without the bottom box crushing.  This is how UPS/Fedex expects their packages to be.  Anything less for a piece of breakable equipment, and it's your problem, not theirs.  Ever wonder why factory packaging is so good?

I have a piece of automotive tuning equipment that I used to rent out.  Because it was frequently shipped, I bought a plastic gun case for $20 and cut the foam inside to fit the part.  I shipped it many times in this case (which was enough by itself), but I also plopped the case into the original cardboard box too.  It didn't really matter what UPS did (short of losing the part), they weren't going to damage it by throwing it around or stacking other things on top of it.

Wade

[shardian]

I don't really expect them to accept my claim (do they accept anyones claim?), but their response in this case will go a long way to determining if I use their service in the future. I've shipped tons of things and I expect a few corners of boxes to get dinged here and there. The condition of this box reminds me of the opening credits of Ace Ventura though. My packaging was more than adequate to absorb the normal transit bumps and bruises of shipping.

And for the record, supporting a weight of 100-200 lbs and having a 100-200 lb weight fall on your box violently are two very different things.

[FrizzleFried]

I NEVER use UPS.  I've only received damaged goods via mail twice and both times have been with UPS.  I've sold about 100 boards thus far and shipped USPS PRIORITY each and every time with insurance and each and every time they arrived without problem.