Re: New Linux Computer (shipping advice)

[hjohnson@pluto.njcc.com (Herbert R Johnson)]

Sounds like Chris and Tom are sorting out the details of shipping and who
was in the loop when. I will use this occasion to advise on shipping
items, our TASS members have occasion to send stuff around; not everyone
knows how to do this cheaply and safely. SHipping is part of my business
practice. But your mileage may vary, and if you don't need such advice
or cannot follow it, you can delete this message now.

Reasons I avoid third party shippers (that is
companies who only pack and arrange pickup by UPS or the
Post Office) include 1) they are not always accountable, 2) they charge
for services that I can do myself and 3) it adds yet another party to
the shipping process. I have had very few problems with UPS or the US
Postal Service, in part because I overpack items whenever I can. United
Parcel Service and the US Postal Service are generally available everywhere
in the US, although not always conveniently. UPS hides their locations but
check their Web site or call them to find the nearest one to you. Federal
Express has good services, some of them are cheaper than others.

When in doubt, add more packing material, and put items in boxes INSIDE boxes.
Also, items that are thin and flat need to be packed such that they
do not slide around through the packing material. You need to have inches
of packing material around items, so that no part of it will recieve
an impact if the box is dropped. Items like hard disk drives need
to be packed in SOFT cushion material, to avoid shocks. Ideally remove
the hard drive and pack it seperately in a box, otherwise have a layer
of soft cushioning material (couch cushion foam, carpet padding, etc.)
around the computer.

Packing
materials can be scrounged from small businesses who engage in imported
goods, they throw out stuff like styrofoam peanuts and padding. These
items can otherwise be bought from office supply stores (usually for too
much money in my opinion). Soft cushioning material can be bought from
fabric stores or fabric/hobby sections of department stores. Also old
carpet padding can be obtained from carpet stores for free, and new padding
can be bought there or other places. Used boxes are fine, if they are
not banged up, and most businesses throw good boxes out all the time.

"Original" boxes and packing materials for many goods are not sufficient
for shipping. Such boxes and packing is intended for packing several units
in larger containers, not for shipping single boxes. Be careful to remove
any old addresses or mailing lables - including bar coded lables! - from
used boxes. Include in your shippment a piece of paper clearly identifing
the sender's and reciever's address. Use shipping methods that provide
a tracking number and which give you a reciept, this costs little or nothing.
An itemized list would not hurt, of course a bill or reciept would have these.
And clearly lable your package, and I recommend you TAPE OVER those lables
with clear tape to protect them from water damage.

In short, a resourceful person can obtain packing supplies for free,
do a better job of packing than most any small shipper, and provide for
tracking and verification of shipment. Shippers provide insurance and various
means of shipping to match budgets and expediency.

Herb JOhnson

Herbert R. Johnson              http://pluto.njcc.com/~hjohnson
hjohnson@pluto.njcc.com         voice 609-771-1503, New Jersey USA
             amateur astronomer and telescope tinkerer
   reseller of classic Macs & accessories from Plus to PowerMac
   S-100 & 8-inch drive manuals and parts, call for "Dr. S-100"