USPS flat rate

[maple flats]

I've been using USPS flat rate to ship syrup for about 3-4 years. I just sent 4 cases of 2 half gal. each to Kansas. They were supposed to arrive last Friday. They finally got there today and 2 had big damage, syrup leaked all over, and they ended up 3 half gal short so far. The customer sent me pics of the boxes, the good one had major damage but the jugs were ok, no leakers, one was all sticky and only had 1 of the 2 half gal jugs left and the box looked like it had been dropped from rather high. The last was a poor repack in another box but the jugs were OK. The last box is still missing.
Over the years I've shipped over 100 boxes, maybe even 150 boxes, all packed the same. I'm wondering if the truck got caught in a twister or if it was in a wreck or just rough handling. I may never know. At any rate, I've got claims to file, I hope that goes faster than FedEx. FedEx trashed a case of 4 gal (to the same customer) last Nov. I still have not collected on that one. They want me to show an invoice for how much I bought them for. They don't seem to understand the concept that I made them.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

That sucks! We also ship USPS flat rate. No issues yet but I'll probably regret saying that. We're shipping a large order via FedEx and I'm a little nervous about. We had a medium flat rate make it all the way to the island of Curacao without damage. Not sure how you pack them but we use a lot of bubble wrap.

[Ghs57]

Someone I know worked for UPS loading/unloading trucks. When they would open the the back door after the trailers where backed up to the loading dock, they would stand off to the side to avoid the avalanche of boxes. It's amazing that anything gets anywhere in one piece. We should all praise the styrofoam packing peanut.

I use the USPS whenever I send packages because their rates are generally lower then all the others. No wonder they run a deficit every year. I haven't had to send any syrup yet though.

[Moser's Maple]

Never had any issues with usps returns. Should see your refund in 4-6 weeks at the most

[WMF]

The USPS flat rate boxes are so thin walled that to call them a cardboard box is an injustice to real cardboard boxes such as those from Uline. You want at least two inches of peanuts on all sides of any fragile item shipped in them to not have constant damage issues.
Flat's it sounds like your shipment took abuse that no box would have been able to endure.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

I had a similar issue a couple years ago and it was with syrup shipped to Kansas...

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

For anyone shipping large orders that are too big for any of the USPS flat rate packages, check with Fedex. They came down on their rates and offer a new deal for anywhere in the US. The box size restriction is generous and the weight limit is 50 lbs I think, same as USPS. My partner looked in to it and knows the details better than I do but I know it's only going to cost us $24.00 to ship 24 pints which is about half the price we can do with USPS.

[GeneralStark]

I have had to file a couple claims with USPS and it's not a big deal to do online. You do need the original receipt and will have to take a photo of it. All documentation needs to be uploaded to their website, and sounds like you got photos of the damage so that will be helpful. In both cases I was reimbursed for the value of the damaged goods pretty quickly.

[bigtreemaple]

I also have had a few claims with USPS they always have paid and generally they return the $50.00 insurance plus the flat rate shipping cost of the damaged box. I have had two instances where my boxes made it to the first USPS transfer point and then were "lost" never to be seen or heard from again! One instance I shipped 3 boxes on the same day and all 3 disappeared at the same location. I got my local postmaster involved she requested an investigation but I never found out what happened. USPS paid promptly on that claim.

[Dennis H.]

foam peanuts are useless for anything heavy. They get crushed on the 1st bump and once the contents start to move it is not long before the box breaks open cause the contents are moving all over the place in the box.
bubble wrap is one of the best was to go.
Yes the flat rate boxes are a little on the thin side, if you have the ability to get the boxes 1st, line the inside with cardboard to make it double walled and then use bubble wrap. Should be good to go then.
You want no noticeable movement of the contents when the box is ready for shipping. You have to remember that basically every piece of mail/package is now handled by automation, very little human contact once it gets picked up at the post office.

[WMF]

foam peanuts are useless for anything heavy.
Depends on the quality of peanuts and how you use them but my shipping of maple products would be impossible without the use of peanuts.

[maple flats]

I use heavy punched cardboard packing, or heavy waded kraft paper or foam peanuts or bubble wrap, all packing I've saved from any incoming shipments. These cases were packed tight with waded kraft paper. After packing them, I always hold each box up and turn it on all sides to verify there is no movement, on these, there was none. I actually like the punched cardboard best, but that seems to come in very seldom. It is made from recycling cardboard using some sort of punch that leaves a very sturdy packing. When looked at, there is about 1" flat, then 1" punched thru about 3" long, then 1" unpunched. This pattern repeats over the entire piece of cardboard. I only tend to use peanuts if I run out of the others because I find they are not stable, they can shift and crush easily.
I'm really wondering if the damage was the result of a vehicle crash or just rough handling. On every box I ship, I apply a label on all 6 sides that say, DO NOT DROP, HANDLE WITH CARE.

[IndianCreek]

If this was the same customer it makes you wonder if the customer doesn't have a beef with someone that is damaging his packages. Maybe at the post office or a neighbor.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[maple flats]

Possible, but unlikely, they have been great customers for years and are very nice folks. One damaged shipment was FedEx and it never got to them, it got to a terminal, sustained the damage and was repacked, with just 2 gallon jugs out of 4. This recent shipment was USPS, 4 cases of 2 half gal each in medium flat rate boxes.

[DaveB]

For you guys submitting claims for refunds, is that just for the shipping or the syrup? A couple of years ago I learned my lesson on buying insurance because I had a shipment not make it to my recipient and I filed a claim. The claim was rejected because I didn't have a receipt for the merchandise I was shipping. When I told them that I made the merchandise I was shipping I was told that it could not be covered because I didn't have a receipt for how much it cost me. They were basically saying that they don't cover homemade products. I'm just wondering if they have changed their story.

On a related note, we have been having more problems with our flat rate shipments and it's good to know we are not alone.

[maple flats]

I guess I'll find out. I'm filing a refund claim and I'm using the invoice I sent the customer. I've never had to file a claim before to USPS. It seems FedEx is like what you say, they wanted to see the invoice where I bought it. If they don't cover the product, I'll have to start adding more to the shipping cost to cover future losses.
For an invoice, I have none. Maybe I could sell it to some one, who in turn ships it for me.