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For the past month I have been working at the USPS Priority Mail Processing Center as a mail handler. I have had an opportunity to see a tremendous number of rods pass through the system. From this experience (which is, alas, temporary), I would like to make the following observations on packaging. Do NOT mark any item with handling instructions such as ""Fragile" or "This End Up". This only frustrates the mail handlers who must pack a post-con or air-can in the most efficient manner possible... they MUST ignore your instructions. Even if they could adhere to your wishes, most packages will fall up to seven feet from a moving belt onto the metal floor of a post-con. Understand the stresses to which the package may be subjected and pack accordingly. A package weighing as much as 70 pounds may be dropped from a height of four feet directly onto your precious cargo. Fiber rod tubes provide insufficient protection for a rod. Imagine your rod suspended at either end and a seventy pound weight dropped in the middle. The triangular tubes are some help, but even they cannot handle these stresses. A heavy weight PVC tube inside a triangular cardboard tube seems like the best one can hope for. Secure the end caps. I have several times seen rods sliding out of fiber tubes that had lost a white plastic insert cap. At the very least, tape over both end caps with a stout tape (the fiberglass tape is excellent)...let your customer worry about opening it. Pad the rod from shifting or sliding in its tube. Also pad the tube if used within a larger tube. Don't advertise your rod shop on the container. The average parcel probably gets handled by twenty people in the USPS and FedEx (the carrier for USPS). You are only tempting otherwise honest people by indicating the contents, save your marketing for those that can afford your wares. Indicate the destination address with a bold "To:". Be especially clear about the ZIP code. Use smaller type for the return address. (Reed Curry) Along this same line of thought: I've had a few of the fixture packages "looked into" by someone while enroute. This wasn't damage obtained in transit, per se, but due to someone maliciously opening the boxes, and smashing the end of the PVC cap and tube. Had they looked, the other end was taped, rather than glued. I suspect that either their curiosity, or their felonious intent was aroused due to the shipping label carrying the words "Rod Company". Since I stopped using that terminology, I've had no breakage problems, nor even so much as a destroyed/damaged box. To date, I've had no rods lost nor damaged, either. If you really want to add to your loss protection, send rods and other valuables via Registered Mail. Each person who handles the package must sign for it, in and out, thus it's easy to trace, and only certain people are supposed to handle Registered Mail. Many large post offices have a Registered Mail Clerk for this task. (Martin-Darrell) I ship in PVC then save an extra $5 by slipping the PVC tube in a fiberboard container. the aluminum is shipped alongside or separately. (Timothy Troester)
I was wondering what shipping service you use to ship rods and what is a typical cost. (Jerry Madigan) Personally I like to do about 2 overlaps of the small bubble wrap over the aluminum tube and then shipped in an over size cardboard tube through UPS. If there is room I will use more bubble wrap or stuff with newspaper. Sent Ground with insurance I think the last time cost me about $30. I never quibble on the cost of shipping something that I value. (Scott Grady) I get think cardboard tubes from the carpet store. Wrap everything in bubble wrap. I’ve found plastic end caps that fit the tubes. Cushion both ends. Tape well. Sending it USPS Priority runs around $15 or less. I haven't done Registered yet so no guess there. (Gary Marquardt) Where do you find the end caps? (Joe Hudock) When I ship a fly rod, I buy an appropriate length of PVC pipe and two caps at the hardware store. Only once has a shipper managed to destroy a rod so packaged. Before that happened I didn't think it could be done, but the USPS showed me. You can absolutely count on it, the Post Office, UPS, FedEx, they will all give it a really good try sooner or later. And collecting on insurance is a royal pain. There is a place by me where a lot of the companies that manufacture various items donate their scrap or unused items. Carpet tubes are $1.00 for 6-8’ end caps from one of the book publishers paper roll ends are .25 ea. I do think U-Line also carries the caps.I've gotten rubberized 1' x 1/16" think cork discs from a place that does gaskets and donates the cutout. a gallon zip lock bag full for $2.00. (Gary Marquardt) If you want the rod to get to it’s final destination unharmed do NOT ship it in a round tube alone.Tubes roll off of conveyor lines and get run over by forklifts. Get a FedEx map tube (triangular section).and put the round tube inside that.That’s why I ship my Planing Forms in a shop made plywood and solid box with foam cushioning inside. (Larry Swearingen) Ditto on the triangle tubes. You can get them from the Post Office too. (Scott Grady) When I ship a fly rod, I buy an appropriate length of PVC pipe and two caps at the hardware store. Only once has a shipper managed to destroy a rod so packaged. Before that happened I didn't think it could be done, but the USPS showed me. You can absolutely count on it, the Post Office, UPS, FedEx, they will all give it a really good try sooner or later. And collecting on insurance is a royal pain. I've used 3" plastic drain pipe. Cheaper the sch 40. Also always insure it for what it's worth or more. I think it makes them handle it with more care. (Rick Barbato) I used to pack my Planing Forms in a 3” Schedule 40 PVC tube for shipping. Wrapped the Form in foam inside the tube. Schedule 40 PVC is pretty tough stuff. I had two out of about the first 40 of my Forms arrive in cracked tubes with tire tracks on the outside. The Planing Forms were OK but I figured that it was just a matter of time before Fedex either lost or damaged one so I switched to making a plywood and solid pine box glued and screwed. So I’ve shipped another 160 since the switch with no damage.If something you shipped arrived damaged, then you didn’t pack it well enough. Don’t count on Insurance. (Larry Swearingen) Some years ago I bought an original payne in mint condition. Shipping and handling included. A few days later, I received the pink slip from the post office that I had to stop by and sign for it. At the post office the post mistress rumaged in the back and handed me a payne tube with a USPS shipping label scotch-taped to the tube with scotchtape wrapped around the cap to make sure it didn't fall off! The rod was still inside and undamaged.Still shaking my head. :-} (Dennis Higham) I only ship in PVC pipes. Got a rod awhile back that UPS packed in a cardboard box wit styrofoam spacers. Rod shafts came in 3 pieces. UPS paid $100.00 for instance. (Bret Reiter) Don't shake you head, Dennis; by the time the rod was sent it was yours, not theirs! No need for the sender to worry about standard of packaging. Last year BR (before retirement) I needed to ship an instrument to Las Vegas for a research study. Hedging my bets, I constructed a very strong plywood box, using very nice looking box joints for extra strength. Added extra wood around the bottom and top. 3 hinges and 2 hasps with locks. Shipped it to our local warehouse in Vegas, with “Do not open, Hold for Carey Mitchell” on the top. When we arrived, the top had been ripped off with a crowbar; the warehouse guy said he thought it was his new computer shipped form HQ (they are shipped in special containers, with locks and warnings not to open)! Two days later, we strapped the top on, covered it with about 4 rolls of Gorilla Tape and sent it on its way home. When it had not arrived in a week, we traced. Again in 2 weeks. No record. After 3 weeks, I received the top – complete with tire tracks ! Nothing else was ever found. Never trust UPS or Fed Ex!! (Carey Mitchell) I have not shipped a fly rod, but I have sent many framed drawings under glass by way of the U.S. Post office. I wrap them in bubble wrap, construct a box out of foam core and to date have never had a problem. Maybe it is because the local post office folks know me and there would be hell to pay if there was a problem. Has anyone tried the post office? (Win Crannell)
I was wondering what shipping service you use to ship rods and what is a typical cost. (Jerry Madigan) Personally I like to do about 2 overlaps of the small bubble wrap over the aluminum tube and then shipped in an over size cardboard tube through UPS. If there is room I will use more bubble wrap or stuff with newspaper. Sent Ground with insurance I think the last time cost me about $30. I never quibble on the cost of shipping something that I value. (Scott Grady) I get think cardboard tubes from the carpet store. Wrap everything in bubble wrap. I’ve found plastic end caps that fit the tubes. Cushion both ends. Tape well. Sending it USPS Priority runs around $15 or less. I haven't done Registered yet so no guess there. (Gary Marquardt) Where do you find the end caps? (Joe Hudock) There is a place by me where a lot of the companies that manufacture various items donate their scrap or unused items. Carpet tubes are $1.00 for 6-8’ end caps from one of the book publishers paper roll ends are .25 ea. I do think U-Line also carries the caps. I've gotten rubberized 1' x 1/16" think cork discs from a place that does gaskets and donates the cutout. a gallon zip lock bag full for $2.00. (Gary Marquardt) If you want the rod to get to it’s final destination unharmed do NOT ship it in a round tube alone. Tubes roll off of conveyor lines and get run over by forklifts. Get a FedEx map tube (triangular section) and put the round tube inside that. That’s why I ship my planing forms in a shop made plywood and solid box with foam cushioning inside. (Larry Swearingen) Ditto on the triangle tubes. You can get them from the Post Office too. (Scott Grady) When I ship a fly rod, I buy an appropriate length of PVC pipe and two caps at the hardware store. Only once has a shipper managed to destroy a rod so packaged. Before that happened I didn't think it could be done, but the USPS showed me. You can absolutely count on it, the Post Office, UPS, FedEx, they will all give it a really good try sooner or later. And collecting on insurance is a royal pain. I've used 3" plastic drain pipe. Cheaper the sch 40. Also always insure it for what it's worth or more. I think it makes them handle it with more care. (Rick Barbato) I used to pack my Planing Forms in a 3” Schedule 40 PVC tube for shipping. Wrapped the Form in foam inside the tube. Schedule 40 PVC is pretty tough stuff. I had two out of about the first 40 of my Forms arrive in cracked tubes with tire tracks on the outside. The Planing Forms were OK but I figured that it was just a matter of time before Fedex either lost or damaged one so I switched to making a plywood and solid pine box glued and screwed. So I’ve shipped another 160 since the switch with no damage. If something you shipped arrived damaged, then you didn’t pack it well enough. Don’t count on Insurance. (Larry Swearingen) Some years ago I bought an original Payne in mint condition. Shipping and handling included. A few days later, I received the pink slip from the post office that I had to stop by and sign for it. At the post office the post mistress rumaged in the back and handed me a Payne tube with a USPS shipping label scotch-taped to the tube with scotch tape wrapped around the cap to make sure it didn't fall off! The rod was still inside and undamaged. Still shaking my head. :-} (Dennis Higham) I only ship in PVC pipes. Got a rod awhile back that UPS packed in a cardboard box wit styrofoam spacers. Rod shafts came in 3 pieces. UPS paid $100.00 for instance. (Bret Reiter) Don't shake you head, Dennis; by the time the rod was sent it was yours, not theirs! No need for the sender to worry about standard of packaging. Last year BR (before retirement) I needed to ship an instrument to Las Vegas for a research study. Hedging my bets, I constructed a very strong plywood box, using very nice looking box joints for extra strength. Added extra wood around the bottom and top. 3 hinges and 2 hasps with locks. Shipped it to our local warehouse in Vegas, with “Do not open, Hold for Carey Mitchell” on the top. When we arrived, the top had been ripped off with a crowbar; the warehouse guy said he thought it was his new computer shipped form HQ (they are shipped in special containers, with locks and warnings not to open)! Two days later, we strapped the top on, covered it with about 4 rolls of Gorilla Tape and sent it on its way home. When it had not arrived in a week, we traced. Again in 2 weeks. No record. After 3 weeks, I received the top – complete with tire tracks ! Nothing else was ever found. Never trust UPS or Fed Ex!! (Carey Mitchell) I have not shipped a fly rod, but I have sent many framed drawings under glass by way of the U.S. Post office. I wrap them in bubble wrap, construct a box out of foam core and to date have never had a problem. Maybe it is because the local post office folks know me and there would be hell to pay if there was a problem. Has anyone tried the post office? (Win Crannell)
I'll be flying to Chicago this Friday to visit with family. In my checked luggage, I will be taking my fishing gear, including my Hardy Smuggler. I've been asked to bring along a bamboo (48" PVC tube) and 4-pc graphite rod (30" Al tube) to show/loan, and need some advice on how best to do this. I'd prefer carry-on and safely in hand, but I'm anxious about going thru the ticket and TSA checks and having them rejected. What's the best way to do this? I'm flying Frontier Airlines, about to call them (and waiting a long time to talk to a real person). (Lou Barbaro) ~~~~ I just flew United from Chicago to Toronto for the Canadian Cane Gathering and back without a problem. I have a canvas type rod (LL Bean - no commercial interest) bag that I carried 3 aluminum tubes and reels in. United is especially good about this and if it fits overhead things work out. The big problem is that the airlines are flying smaller and small planes which may not allow a 48-inch tube to fit. Also I have heard that the TSA does not like home made tubes for rods (PVC or Wooden) although I have not had a problem personally. Best advice is talk to the airline and go to their website to look for information on this topic. Only trout fishing in the Chicago are is Wisconsin or Michigan despite what the Wisconsin folks say... (Gordon Koppin) ~~~~ You can ship them ahead, UPS or FedEx. If you shipped them today, they would be there when you arrived. (Timothy Troester) ==== UPS charges extra to ship in PVC. I wrap the tube in cardboard box I cut apart and save a few dollars. Sounds silly to me, eh? (Timothy Troester) ~~~~ Lou Go to the TSA web site. They cover allowable sporting goods. Last time I checked fishing rods were OK. Print out that section of their regs and if anyone gives you trouble show that to them. Worked for me the last time I was stopped. Usually they just let you through. (Bob Ratcheson)
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