Shipping methods, the experiment.

[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.

[HAL9000]

Toasty, you intrique me every time you post something. I have to ask, what posessed you to perform such a test and at what/whose expense?

[DrZaius]

Wow, all I can say is that's an awesome experiment. Thanks for taking the time and money to help us all out next time we ship something.

[glc]

Doesn't surprise me that Fedex Ground is unaccounted for - avoid them like the plague. They are not what you think - they are actually RPS (Roadway). Fedex bought out RPS and all they did was repaint the trucks. Roadway is the worst carrier on the planet. I ordered parts to be dropshipped to a customer exactly 3 miles away from the distributor and chose Fedex Ground because they were the cheapest. The parts left the distributor, kicked around the system for 5 days, and got delivered back to the distributor.

[Toaster]

Hi folks,
Total cost for this experiment was about the 50.00 mark and took well over 3 weeks to compile.
The reason "why" this was done was to assure ourselves the best shipping with the most value. On top of this was the packing medium.
A friend an I will be doing a fair amount of shipping over the coming weeks and we just thought this experiment would enlighten us as to the best way.
The Fedex shipment is in all probability our fault and not Fedex`s. The tracking shows the package had gone overseas and is returning stateside for reasons unknown. The zip code for this parcel doesn`t match the way we "thought" we labled it. Time will tell.
Another reason was to inform folks of the lowly packing peanut.
For non-breakables, its fine but otherwise its the worst choice and should be avoided. In all cases, service was courtious and helpful.
The most cost effective was USPS priority by a long shot. To ship this method, the total cost was 2.85 for 4 day service (coast to coast). As the weight increased, soon UPS was the most cost effective. Worst case for cost was Fedex 3 day service at 21.50. UPS 3 day was 18.80. The cost champ was USPS parcel post at just under a buck because the parcel weighed just under 2 pounds.

[Xayd]

I ship through a Mailboxes Etc. type place here, and the owner of the store has recently stopped doing FedEx ground as well, due to the number of problems and the terrible time frame involved in getting an insurance claim through their process in the event that they do break or lose something.

I always ship UPS ground personally. As cheap or cheaper than USPS, and I know where it is.

In fact I'm in an argument with a user on another forum right now who bought a case from me. He insisted on USPS rather than UPS, and the box arrived somewhat demolished, with the plastic bezel on the front of the case broken.

Since he insisted on USPS rather than UPS, as most users of this particular forum do because they're sheep in general and 'everyone else uses them' (reboot knows which forum I'm talking about ), he's just SOL on this one.

Lesson is, if it's important don't go to the post office with it.

Xayd

[Beowulf]

Oh Toaster, I heard about you...
Having been a courier myself and dually graduated from the School of Parcel Management recieveing top honours in flourexcent tube demolition, I to can conclude that the packing peanuts should be best left for your stuffed elephants. Unless of course breakable items are securley pakaged within smaller packages that fit into a larger package that are then filled with the peanuts.
I saw a guy wat one of those peanuts once...

[HAL9000]

Hmmm... seems like I have to show big bro where the spell check is

[Beowulf]

yeah...but the worst part is you still knew what I meant

[Toaster]

UPDATE!

The remaining package arrived to its intended destination.
One parcel seemed to have toured the world.
My friend on the other end (Portland, OR) finally recieved the package.
The package went to the following destinations before arriving in its INTENDED destination: (Item was shipped from Maine)
1. Item arrived in Hawaii for "international scan"
2. Item arrived in Guam due to errors in shipping locale and was to be redirected to the mainland US.
3. Item arrived in London, UK. (Big mystry here!)
4. Item left above for shipping to the US.
5. Item arrived in NY,NY for "redistribution".
6. Item arrives in Denver, CO.
7. Item ships for final destination.
8. 3 days later, item finally leaves Denver, CO.
9. Item arrives at final destination. (Portland, OR)

Total time in transit: (from drop off to arrival)
17 days
Item arrived intact but spoiled. (obviously!)
This package utilized "peanuts".
I tracked this package throughout its journey. Each locale was noted.
I contacted Fed-Ex. They refunded shipping costs and gave a 100.00 "credit" for future shipping.
(they also laughed like all hell!)
I did inform them that the item was "non-critical" and was simply a test.

[Beowulf]

I Heard that United Postal Service and Federal Express were being combined...
The new company will be called Fed-Up

[HackinCowboy]

lol... I actually have never had a problem with UPS. Fedex on the other hand is horrid. Everytime I have something shipped Fedex it's either late or damaged. Once they delievered it to the wrong place. I got a nice little refund ($150 for a $50 item) for that

[Beowulf]

K...am not to sure about ALL the particulars...BUT...guy down atthe karate club I work out with had to send his computer out to get repaired. He lives in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. It got to the repair centre it was sent to, no problem, someplace within the United States. Upon its complettion, the computer was sent back...this was all Fed-Ex by the way...it was addressed Gull Lake Sk and no postal code.

IT WENT TO SLOVAKIA!

Gull Lake, Slovakia. Go figure...