posted on January 23, 2001 07:18:05 PM new
There was a thread towards the end of last year that discussed the use of the USPS Tyvek envelopes for shipping apparel. I've started shipping shirts in double-layered Tyvek envelopes and it seems to be working pretty well. I put a shirt inside of one Tyvek envelope and seal it, insert that inside of another one and then run priority mail tape around the outer flaps and right across the middle as well.
It was recommended that it makes sense to use waterproof poly bags to make sure that the items stay dry inside the Tyvek envelopes. I've searched through some of the shipping supply company catalogs, but haven't gotten a good feel for whether their polybags are waterproof or not. If anyone could recommend any suppliers that would be worth looking at, I would be grateful.
posted on January 23, 2001 08:33:03 PM new
I've shipped thousands of clothing items in the past 3 years in just a Priority Tyvek envelope and have never had a problem at all. I don't pre-wrap them in plastic or put them in double Tyvek envelopes. I would think that paying extra money for special bags to "waterproof" them are not necessary. I've shipped mine in all kinds of weather - and NONE of them have gotten wet.
posted on January 23, 2001 08:57:35 PM new
If you are concerned, don't pay extra, just use those neat plastic bags you get at the grocery store, THEN put in Tyvek.
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
posted on January 23, 2001 09:00:43 PM new
mdschoch
" I've searched through some of the shipping supply company catalogs,but haven't gotten a good feel for whether their polybags are waterproof or not. If anyone could recommend any suppliers that would be worth looking at, I would be grateful."
I just ordered some tyvek like envelopes from Uline.com. They are called poly mailers. It says in their catalog that they are water resistant. I paid $34.00 for 100. That was the cheapest I could find them. There shipping is fast. I ordered on Sat and had them today.
Hope this helps.
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posted on January 24, 2001 05:33:38 AM new
TYVEK envelopes are NOT waterproof, even double-layered. "water resistant" means that droplets will roll off. If the USPS drops the item in a puddle or the porch it is left on is exposed to snow and rain ... you might have soggy contents.
All you have to do is put the clothing in a plastic baggie (a small trash bag is cheap and waterproof), seal it with tape, and insert it in the tyvek shipping envelope.
ExecutiveGirl
It's odd that EVERY time I leave negative feedback for items damaged in transit, the seller insists that they have shipped dozens/hundreds/thousands and mine is the ONLY package that was ever affected by their choice not to pack properly.
Do all the items that reach your mailbox arrive intact? You must be using a different poastal service than I am.
posted on January 24, 2001 05:45:47 AM new
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posted on January 24, 2001 05:47:57 AM newAbacaxi: I've NEVER had a package I shipped in a Tyvek envelope be damaged during shipping. And yes, I HAVE shipped thousands of packages in Tyvek envelopes - in all kinds of weather. NONE of my feedbacks state that an item was damaged in shipping using a Tyvek envelope. (As a matter of fact, they all say "great packaging!" ) The only packages I have EVER had damaged were boxes that were sent using UPS. NONE of my USPS Priority Packages have ever arrived to my customers damaged. I also don't ONLY ship with Tyvek envelopes - I also use Priority Boxes. Neither of them have ever been damaged during shipping in the 3+ years I've been selling on ebay.
Also, my postal clerk told me that if it's raining/snowing or any kind of wet weather, it's the DELIVERY person's responsibility to put the package in a plastic bag to make sure it doesn't get wet. He said if a package gets wet, to let the post office know because it's THEIR responsibility to keep the packages dry.
I had 3 packages on my front porch last week and they were all in plastic bags from the post office to keep them dry.
[ edited by ExecutiveGirl on Jan 24, 2001 06:06 AM ]
posted on January 24, 2001 06:04:47 AM new
USPS Tyvek envelopes would be strange for apparel. What kind of thread would one use to hold the envelopes together? What patterns would properly display the USPS logos? And would the USPS approve the wearing of their free envelopes???
I couldn't help it. It had to be done!!!
Now back to your regualrly scheduled serious discussion
edited for speling misteaks
[ edited by mark090 on Jan 24, 2001 06:06 AM ]
posted on January 24, 2001 06:13:37 AM new
Executive Girl -
"my postal clerk told me that if it's raining/snowing or any kind of wet weather, it's the DELIVERY person's responsibility to put the package in a plastic bag to make sure it doesn't get wet."
That may be so, but I have recieved plenty of damaged packages FROM the USPS and even in wet weather have NEVER seen them use a plastic bag on a package. Clearly they have no clue what they are supposed to do.
Rather than leave my customers to the mercy of the USPS delivery persons doing what they are supposed to do, I make darned sure the even if the USPS screws up the item is safe.
EDITED TO ADD:
Also, rain and snow are not the only sources of water-damage. Condensation inside a cargo hold, leaky pipes, leaky roofs, sprinklers (lawn and fire), and peeing dogs/cats are all sources of damage.
[ edited by abacaxi on Jan 24, 2001 06:15 AM ]
posted on January 24, 2001 06:17:57 AM new
I ship clothing using the Tyvek & just enclose them in one of the large ziploc bags to protect them. NO way I'm going to leave it up to the usually overly harried delivery person to make that decision.
Plus, it might be sunny & clear when the mail is delivered but be storming cats & dogs by the time the buyer gets home. Never had a complaint using the baggies.
posted on January 24, 2001 06:19:43 AM newabacaxi: Well then maybe you should have brought those packages to the post office and asked them why they didn't protect them in a plastic bag.
I don't leave my customers at "the mercy of the USPS".. I simply expect the USPS to do the job they are paid to do. If I ever received a package that was damaged due to getting wet I would surely bring it to my postal clerk who I am sure would take care of the problem. But then again, that would probably never happen to me, because my post office is one of the few that actually knows what they are doing .
Now that you know that it's their job to protect packages, maybe you can spread the word and let your post office know, and let your customers know what to do in case their packages are left out to get wet.
posted on January 24, 2001 08:20:05 AM new
I have been selling on eBay since 1998. I have used USPS boxes and tyvek envelopes and never had a customer tell me a package was damaged or contents got wet.
I agree with ExecutiveGirl. I also have received items, that USPS has placed the box or tyvek in a plastic bag and left it hanging on my mailbox. I have never received anything wet or damaged.
I have had a couple packages where the boxes didn't look the best..but the contents were fine.
abacaxi: I am sorry you have not had the same experience.
The USPS hands out the TYVEK envelopes and boxes...so they must feel they don't need to waterproof them.
If you choose to place the items in a separate bag that is your decision and you do so, more than likely, based on your own experiences; just like others who have never had a claim, will continue not to place items in a separate bag.
If the USPS does damage a package, they do provide INS.
posted on January 24, 2001 08:35:55 AM new
Executive Girl -
I have CRAPPY postal service. The branch is where they transferclerks and delivery personnel to punish them, so they take it out on the customers. I'd secede fron the ZIP code if I could.
However, I know I am not the only zip code in the country that is used as a penal colony by the local post office, so I pack to protect from the worst-case trather than assume that they are all doing what they should be.
psalms139 -
"If the USPS does damage a package, they do provide INS."
ROFLMAO! They don't provide anything unless the buyer pays for it. They have RUN OVER packages and declined to pay for the damage to the contents.
Even if the item had insurance, if you take them a soggy mess with a water-damaged item inside it, they say "sorry, inadequate packing, should have been waterproof."
posted on January 24, 2001 09:06:57 AM new
I sell clothing. If it's not still in the manufacturer's plastic bag, I have a supply of flat 16 x 20 polybags that are about $35 for 1000 that I use. They can accomodate most things. Everything is wrapped in plastic. If it's something delicate, I will even wrap it in plastic then in tissue. If it is very lightweight and going in a tyvek envelope, I might even put it in a priority flat rate envelope first and then put it in the tyvek envelope. I've also done the double tyvek envelope, and the tyvek envelope/ box combination.
At first, I thought that maybe I was overdoing it. But one time, a few months ago, I sold two Tommy Bahama dresses to a lawyer who asked about our packaging. I told him how we pack. He said "good, because I'm tired of all the sellers who just throw the stuff in a box. When I'm spending good money, I don't want it just thrown in a box."
posted on January 24, 2001 11:27:11 AM newabacaxi:
USPS Does provide INS. I didn't say it was FREE.
[i]"They have RUN OVER packages and declined to pay for the damage to the contents.
Even if the item had insurance, if you take them a soggy mess with a water-damaged item inside it, they say "sorry, inadequate packing, should have been waterproof."[/i]
I don't doubt there are Some PO's that would say that...but NOT ALL.
I am sorry you have had troubles with your Postal Service. Have you written or talked to anyone higher up about it?
miracle118: Sounds like you found a good source for purchasing bags. (Sounds like a great price!)
I once had a customer ask me to place an item in a plastic bag. I gladly did so and if anyone else asks, I would do the same.
I agree with you. I don't just place the items in a box either. I don't use a plastic bag, but I do like to wrap the item, like it is a gift. Enclose a little Thank You note too. The customers seem to like it and I love to hear back from them.
( I know that not everyone can do that .....especially Power Sellers!) It's just something I like to do.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:35:01 PM new
abacaxi: Our post offices must be related! After getting the first package like the one I show above, my motto is now:
Pack to Survive the Postal Attack!
I use plastic, peanuts, bubble wrap, double boxing, whatever it takes.
That's why I had to laugh at the books in a manila envelope thread . If I was the buyer, the book most likely would not make it in one piece.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:47:17 PM new
psalms139 -
"I am sorry you have had troubles with your Postal Service. Have you written or talked to anyone higher up about it? "
The reason the employees are AT the office that serves my zip code is because:
1. They have enough tenure or whatever so it's damn near impossible to fire them unless they shoot someone.
2. They were transferred into that office because of customer complaints about them at other post offices. The office serves MOSTLY industrial zones and minority-heavy neighborhoods (few people with power to cause waves) so the management doesn't care.
3. There IS NOWHERE worse to transfer them, so they don't give a damn what you tell the supervisors or management.
I use a nearby PO where the staff is great for as much as possible, but it sucks to have the doofuses in my ZIP continually delivering mail to the wrong side of town because they can't read the fricking ZIP CODE and sort it right.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:59:39 PM new
Miracle118 - Glad you mentioned the polybags. I use them also and paid about the same price locally. I just looked in the yellow pages and called around until I found a nice mom and pop place that sells all kinds of packing materials at wholesale prices.
Not only are the bags waterproof, they keep the apparel flat and help prevent wrinkling or scrunching. I think it gives a professional look to a "second hand" item and adds a psychological punch to the satisfaction of the buyer.
The other benefit of having the same size bags on hand is that it makes packing up the items more efficient. And darn it, it just looks so much nicer!
posted on January 24, 2001 04:45:53 PM newabacaxi: How sad!!! If someone is not doing a good job, their seniority should not be the reason/factor they are allowed to stay. Unfortunately, I see that in many work places. It does not seem right.
I'm sure the PO that you go to in the next town, knows about your PO. Can't they help you or direct you to someone who can?
I don't know if you have already seen this site but here is a place you can give the USPS your feedback.
Maybe if they received enough of complaints about your PO they just might send someone there to check it out? (we can hope)
posted on January 24, 2001 04:50:40 PM new
psalms139 -
I Live in a large city ... and the PO that I ship most things from is well aware of the problems at the other one. Heck, the whole city knows about it, because that's where they transfer their incompetents to until they either quit or retire.
Most of this neighborhood would LOVE to secede from that ZIP code.
.
