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Which Shipping Company Is Kindest To Your Packages?

Ant writes "Popular Mechanics mailed a bunch of sensors on an epic journey to find out which American shipping company is the most careful with your packages. From the article: 'One disheartening result was that our package received more abuse when marked "Fragile" or "This Side Up." The carriers flipped the package more, and it registered above-average acceleration spikes during trips for which we requested careful treatment.' Here's what they found."

21 of 480 comments (clear)

  1. TSA by smittyoneeach · · Score: 5, Funny

    . . .will be kind to your package, as long as there is not too much junk in it.

    --
    Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    1. Re:TSA by Dayze!Confused · · Score: 4, Funny

      When I worked at UPS I remember my foot going through a Dell package, they had pretty sturdy boxes, just not a match for my steeled toed boots...

      --
      "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." [Thomas Jefferson]
    2. Re:TSA by imakemusic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Do you suggest graduating a college boost you resistance to hypothermia?

      Maybe college isn't such a bad idea.

      --
      Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!
    3. Re:TSA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I think you missed the point.

      Maybe.

      You can't quite bring yourself to say "yes" can you?

  2. Re:When I worked for UPS by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 3, Funny

    Would labeling it "bottle deer urine" work as well, too?

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  3. Re:ups / fedex push to much in there conveyor syst by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thanks. My brain hurts.

  4. Re:I like UPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, your UPS guys must be a lot cooler than the ones around here. I'm consider it lucky if they bring the package to the door. Expensive parts, medical supplies, live plants, whatever, find them everywhere, they just toss them off the truck and move on. Yeah, I've found medical stuff on the side of the road, like being in an FPS. They won't even ring the doorbell when it's obvious people are home to let anyone know there's something sitting outside. Maybe you have better luck, but I hate UPS. For anything important, I ask for FedEx delivery.

  5. I Mark Mine by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Do Not Impale With Spear". So far none of the packages that I've sent this way have been impaled with spears.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  6. Re:USPS... gentle? by PPH · · Score: 3, Funny

    At first glance, the USPS being the most gentle seems to be surprising.

    Not really. Slow speed == low rates of acceleration == less damage.

    The geezer who took my package at the USPS window this morning probably hasn't made it to the 'outgoing' bin yet.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  7. Re:Whenever I have something delivered by cdrudge · · Score: 5, Funny

    DHL is the worst, I had electronics shipped from China and the box came soaked with water.

    Next time don't ask for ground shipping from China. Pay the extra and go with air. Or at least by boat.

  8. Simple by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

    Put "Fragile, Glass" and "Biohazard" stickers on it.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  9. Re:When I worked for UPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Presumably because he had a bad burrito the night before.

  10. Re:I like UPS by snakeplissken · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, I've found medical stuff on the side of the road, like being in an FPS.

    but did walking over it automatically fix you up?

  11. Re:When I worked for UPS by mysidia · · Score: 2, Funny

    You do know you can mail live bees?

    Perfect... Warning: Fragile: Contains Live Bees.

    Make sure your package contains some visible holes on the exterior, such as handle holes on the carton, air vents.

  12. Re:When I worked for UPS by bertoelcon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Would labeling it "bottle deer urine" work as well, too?

    Not according to my experience unpacking various urines at a hunting store.

    --
    Anything can be found funny, from a certain point of view.
  13. The language barrier, obviously. by ibsteve2u · · Score: 4, Funny

    One disheartening result was that our package received more abuse when marked "Fragile" or "This Side Up."

    I'm sure that the package would be handled much more carefully if you stamped "Fragile" and "This Side Up" on it in Arabic.

    --
    Orwell: "In a Time of Universal Deceit, telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act"
  14. Re:When I worked for UPS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    My favorite tracking log entry:
    Delayed- train derailment.

  15. Re:In a just world... by Eskarel · · Score: 4, Funny

    True, and you know how monkeys like to throw stuff.

  16. Psychological field test by SpaghettiPattern · · Score: 2, Funny
    Psychological field test:
    • Spread an abundance of toys into an otherwise empty room.
    • Introduce a kid into the room.
    • Tell the kid he can play with any toy EXCEPT the one you point out.
    • Leave the room.
    • Observe.
    • Be disappointed by the result.
    • Repeat with different kids until utterly appalled by humanity.

    Alternative test:

    • Use fruits instead of toys.
    • Use a woman instead of a kid.
    • Exclude the apple.
    • Let humanity redeem itself through ridiculous penitence.

    The moral: Actively NOT doing something primarily needs you to contemplate performing the actual task. And then you have to suffer the abstinence.

    --

    I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
  17. Undamaged package by jbeaupre · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nearly 30 years ago I stumbled on a way to ship items without any damage happening. I needed to bring back two boxes of stuff from my grandparents. I didn't look to closely at the two boxes, but the airport sure did. "Does this box really have sulfuric acid?" Huh? Oh, that's just the box. Don't worry. It was left over from treating the swimming pool.

    At baggage at my destination, the sulfuric acid box was pristine. Not a scratch, dent, or tear. The corners were perfect. The regular box was beat to hell and barely holding together.

    I doubt you could even use a left over pool chemical box anymore.

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  18. Re:When I worked for UPS by StikyPad · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now that I know that, I almost want to order some. I can see it now...

    "Honey, why did you order 5 baby chicks?"

    "Because I could."

    "But what are we going to do with them?"

    "I haven't thought that far ahead..."