[Toaster]

Hi folks,
A few days off to pursue an experiment.
In this experiment, several methods (carriers) were used to ship a common
parcel. Shipment was done by:
1. USPS
2. USPS Priority
3. UPS
4. UPS Blue (3 day)
5. Fedex standard
6. Fedex equiv. of USPS Blue (3 day)
Above was the companies used to ship a "controlled" parcel from here in Maine to
Portland, OR. Estimated distance 3300 miles. Control parcels were mailed from either here in Maine destined for Portland OR. or vise versa. In no event was any company aware that anyone was conducting any type of experiment.
All parcels were mailed from the same the same location on each end. The only diffrence is that the use of the USPS was done at a local post office at the point of departure. The actual point of delivery was fixed on each end.

The Parcel.
The parcel was a moderate cardboard box with 0.5 cubic foot of internal volume.
The packing materials used varied from "peanuts" (styrofoam), common newspapper, shredded newspapper, foam in place, cusion bags (filled poly bags with air),
bubble wrap (both large and small bubbles).

Parcel Markings
Each parcel was either not marked aside from needed addressing or was marked fragile. No label described the contents. At time of shipment, if the shipper required to know the contents, this was divulged as figurines of glass.

The item within the parcel.
The item was a "typical USDA Grade AA "EGG" in a ziplock bag with the air purged from the bag so the EGG wouldn`t be alowed to move WITHIN THE BAG.
This was done soley to reduce the chance of soiling anything should the EGG fracture. The ziplock bag was a standard sandwich size bag.
The EGG was packaged while still cold, direct from removal from the fridge.
All parcels were mailed near noon during a business day.

Results

Results are still pending for 2 shipments. 12 shipments total from each point of departure.
All eggs arrived intact EXCEPT those packed with "styrofoam peanuts".
3 such shipments using this packing medium and 2 arrived "broken".
All parcels arrived without sign of damage to the carton.
The shipper whoose EGG fractured (2) was USPS and UPS ground.
One package is "unaccounted for" as yet and is overdue at the time of this writing. This shipper was Fedex standard ground.

Arrival time/Transit time

1. USPS "parcel post" (standard) 6 business days. (one EGG broken)
2. USPS "Priority" 4 business days
3. UPS "standard ground" 5 business days (one egg broken)
4. UPS "Blue" (3 day) 3 business days (one instance, 2 days)
5. Fedex "standard ground" Item unaccounted for to date, overdue. 6 business days
6. Fedex "Blue equiv" (3 day advertized) 3 business days.

Synopsis:
Avoid the dreaded packing peanut.
All shippers delivered the item in the time they advertise except Fedex standard. (Item tracking suggests an error in addressing and is in this case our fault)
Bubble wrap offered the best protection. Peanuts offered the least.
Shredded newspapper offered good support and is environmentally friendly.
Bubble wrap is re-usable.
Packing peanuts are NOT environmentally friendly and seem to scatter when the package is opened.
All packages marked "fragile" arrived intact, including one packed in "peanuts".


Recomedations:
1. Package the contents in bubble wrap, shredded newspaper. Re-use bubble wrap.
2. Mark the package clearly including return address.
3. Any marking such as "RMA" should be well clear of the address lable, best place on any side of the shipping carton EXCLUDING the label area.
4. If the contents are fragile, do not write the word "fragile" but use an appropriate lable instead. (all carriers assume fragile)
5. Zip code notes:
Packages using the 5+4 zip code arrived sooner. Those shipped with the standard 5 digit zip arrived at least one day later.



I hope this was useful.