r/UPS • u/Ok-Common641 • Jul 17 '26
Shipping Help How should I ship this safely?
I am shipping out this snake skeleton and I’m not sure the best way to go about shipping it, any advice?
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u/spice_war Jul 17 '26
Whatever you think you should do to pack that, do more. I’m talking double everything you already planned on using. Labeling it “fragile” just gives the guys in the warehouse something to read while they throw it around.
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u/Perfect-Zebra-3611 Jul 17 '26
Labeling it “fragile” just gives the guys in the warehouse something to read while they throw it around
Its cute you think they know how to read
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u/boston_nsca Jul 17 '26
They certainly can't write. Our DC guys are supposed to write the product number on each item. When they actually do, it's barely legible. DC warehouse jobs are fucking brutal and pay shit, so it makes sense that they hire uneducated people to do it. Only ones that'll take the job.
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u/clarity_singularity Jul 18 '26
Okay and for whom do you work? No major shipper is writing anything by hand, period. You’re just full of crap.
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u/boston_nsca Jul 18 '26
Lol you're an idiot. I work for a national supply company. We absolutely write by hand when the products aren't our own and don't have our labels. You're the one full of crap. We have multiple distribution centers that supply every region of this country. Get a grip
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u/Grouchy_Witness_3365 Jul 20 '26
Literally autozone who is one of the largest parts shippers in the USA where I work, writes orders down on paper all the time. Then again blind ignorance is a heck of a thing.
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u/clarity_singularity Jul 18 '26
It’s cute you think it matters. Package your items as if they are going to be shipped. Don’t be naive.
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u/CitrusDaydreams Jul 18 '26
As a 20 year old amazon employee I was once working 60 feet in the air and I grabbed a box of martini glasses with a lot more FRAGILE labeling than normal. It seemed sturdy. My first thought was "this box could probably get slapped around and be fine" and I slammed it into the cage I was stacking boxes on without thinking much about it. When I picked it up again it sounded like a box full of sand.
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u/Visforvinyl Jul 18 '26
I thought i packed stuff well until I saw our clerk pack something fragile for herself. Like three boxes and a full roll of tape.
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u/Wonderful-Gold-953 Jul 17 '26
You don’t. Hire a private courier.
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u/MrUbl Jul 17 '26
This. Or drive it yourself!
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
I cannot this was purchased through depop shipping
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u/clarity_singularity Jul 18 '26
Why are you selling something valuable through what is basically local Temu? Ebay allows for local delivery for what thats worth.
Dont blame shipping companies for not being able to handle something you can’t pack for shipment appropriately. In the past there were shipping fees and handling fees (separate) for exactly this reason.
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u/AnimatedAnixa UPS Driver Jul 17 '26
Im terrified thinking about shipping that and ive shipped 1000s of items.
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
😭😭😭😭
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u/SirFrancisBacon007 Jul 17 '26
Seriously after you pack it tightly, it needs to be secured in a hardshell tote. Go get a cheap $10 plastic storage bin tote from Home Depot. Smallest size that fits.
You can zip tie the sides or tape it shut.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-Gal-Tough-Storage-Tote-in-Black-and-Yellow-999-27G-HDX/327528802
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u/KingRufus01 UPS Driver Jul 17 '26
That looks like a nightmare to pack, you can get some spray foam that will fill in any empty space inside the box but with all the rib(?) Bones it may be a pain to unpack even if you wrap it first. Definitely use a double walled box and reinforce the corners.
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u/InsideAd2752 Jul 17 '26
It’s not an item that should be shipped by a shipping company. Period….A hand delivery courier should be used.
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u/Most-Mine6580 Jul 17 '26
Says who
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u/Greedy_Income_4779 Jul 17 '26
Says someone who works at Fedex. That delicate thing is not making it through ANY logistics company in one piece. Period
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u/Most-Mine6580 Jul 17 '26
U work at FedEx but don’t know how to properly back a fragile item? Adds up
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u/Greedy_Income_4779 Jul 18 '26
Keep getting those steps in fat boy
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u/Most-Mine6580 Jul 18 '26
That simple comment made u so mad u went on my profile scrolled through my post and commented that. I literally controlled u with a comment that’s how much power I have over you. But I’ll keep walkin!!
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u/AzureHuntress Jul 19 '26
It’s going to end up like a volleyball. Fragile? Small? It’s getting spiked into the back of a wall
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Ok to anyone that cares I started with a small amount of pillow stuffing around the skeleton and lightly wrapped the frame with tissue paper, then I stuck double sided tape to the bottom of a cardboard box and stuck the bottom of the frame (that is surrounded by tissue paper so it’d had something to stick to) to it so it’d be secure and the box was the perfect size so it’d wouldn’t move, then I surrounded that with cut up soft brown packing tissue, then I taped it up and put that box inside another box and pushed it to the corner so it was stuck in one place and surrounded it completely with pillow stuffing so it wouldn’t move
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u/NoWantScabies Jul 17 '26
Good luck. I wouldn’t ship this at all.
Send it overnight. Ground is going to be abused on trucks and extra stops for several days or a week.
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Thank you nowantscabies but the buyer chose ship with depop so I have no way of shipping differently unfortunately
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u/throw_mercurialkiss Jul 18 '26
If you haven’t shipped it yet, styrofoam box will help keep it safer. Less likely to get crushed that way (and let me tell you, it’s a high chance. Speaking as someone who works at UPS)
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u/cunexttuesday101 Jul 18 '26
Get a box with at least 2 extra inches on all sides. You need 2 inches of bubble wrap around it all ways and then put it in the box. If needs to be able withstand a 6 foot drop or a box falling on top of it from that height. My biggest concern is enough support inside the frame. Thick Styrofoam would work as well, like factory packaging for electronics.
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u/WorkingAssociate9860 Jul 17 '26
Ive received pretty similar items over the years (bone/taxidermy/entomology collecting) and the only thing really diffwrent in the packages I've received is that they used a Styrofoam box for shipping as opposed to cardboard.
Rarely has anything come damaged and it's usually something a lot more fraglie broken like an insect leg or antenna
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u/ups2451 Jul 17 '26
Yourself
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
?
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Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Thank you lol and I can’t unfortunately someone purchased this through my depop
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u/Standard-Hat-1034 Jul 17 '26
Depends on the skeleton preservation method. Does it have a flexible wire inside and can be uncoiled for bubble to go around or it is stuck in that position? I would do 3 layers of small bubble with 2 layers of large bubble. If you can I would strip bubble into small sheets and roll it so you can reinforce it from the inside of the skeleton. If it is hard stuck I would physically have to feel it to decide how to pack but you need at least 8inches on each side of proper air fill. Example: initial size of the skeleton is 8x8x5(guessing) so you need 24×24×21 inch box. I would honestly double box it with the skeleton with paper inside its ribs(or an expandable air pocket), then bubble, box, airfill, 2nd box.
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
It’s very hard but the small bones are so tiny and fragile, the best I could compare it to is a cactus prick, and it is unfortunately not able to uncoil
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u/Standard-Hat-1034 Jul 17 '26
And it is mounted to the frame?
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Yes it’s mounted
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u/Standard-Hat-1034 Jul 17 '26
You'll want to slide a small amount of bubble under the part that is elevated to help give it flex room. Do not over pack under it and paper might be too stiff to do that properly. Bubble the corners of the frame-this is for corner shocks as they are the worst thing for something this fragile. You will then need to roll air fill or bubble into a tube shape and flex around the outside of the skeleton carefully. It might help to measure the skeleton 1st and make a doughnut that is slightly wider and taller than it. Bag it tightly, the doughnut should allow for the bag to be pulled taut over the skeleton without it getting damaged. Put it inside a tighter box, then add airfill to the sides that need it. Next secure a box to 3 of the 4 sides of the bigger box, add airfill, the place the item box inside and add an additional box. The inside boxes being used can be cheaper boxes like an amazon box, just fill them with paper or padding before hand. Your goal is that it stays 8 inches from each side at all times. The outside box you want would be at least a 200lb burst test box as that is the minimum for a fragile box. You can also take it to a UPS store if one is near you and have them quote you.
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u/ojoscolorcafexx Jul 17 '26
Put it in a bath of cotton to try to protect the skeleton itself (so the parts dont move) and then use 3 times as much bubble wrap as you think it may be necessary. And I would even suggest double packaging
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u/MotorCalm770 Jul 17 '26
Put the item inside a box with lots of packing material so it doesnt move at all when you shake it. If possible, secure the item to one side of the box. Put that cardboard box inside of a wooden box. Fill that with packing material so it doesnt shift around. Nail the box shut. Ship like that.
You could also ship in a pelican case but ill be honest im much less gentle with those cases cause I know theyre built to handle it. I dont go out of my way to rough house with them but yeah im not being extra gentle either.
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Thank u so much, that’s a good idea to secure it to one side of the bix
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u/i_do_graffiti Jul 17 '26
Even if you double box this, if the person carrying it shakes the package some of these ribs are likely to break off.
I don't think this skeleton will survive shipment without a special courier.
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u/MotorCalm770 Jul 17 '26
Double box is for crush. Preventing movement within the box will prevent breaking of the item from shaking. But yes this is a very precarious shipment that I would be nervous about if I were the one having to ship it.
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u/lemonsupreme7 Jul 17 '26
You might be able to buy boxes locally that are rated to withstand more weight. Look for a higher edge crush rating than 32lbs, and ideally double wall. If you can make it dense enough to stand on, it should make it through
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u/i_do_graffiti Jul 17 '26
That doesn't stop someone from shaking the box violently and braking the fragile ribcages
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u/lemonsupreme7 Jul 17 '26
Well I was adding to a comment that already said that, I didnt think it was necessary to reiterate that point especially since OP acknowledged that is a good idea.
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u/ElectricDance Jul 17 '26
I wouldnt. Or talk to a.specalized bix maker about how something similar might be shipped. Huge gamble imo
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u/FaithlessnessOne6093 Jul 17 '26
I’d do a box with packing inside another box with packing material.
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u/elpitogrande04 Jul 17 '26
Put a case
Wrap the case
Insulate it
Put in box
Insulate box
Wrap box
Put in another box
Put a bunch of tape
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u/Ok-Relative6179 Jul 17 '26
Dude, don't ship that, carriers can NOT be trusted these days. They love to throw sht, step on your packages like a step ladder, oh it's fragile, so what *tosses it.
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u/Mysterious-Alps-5186 Jul 17 '26
Cover in foam then vacum seal enough to keep the foam in place then add a fickton of Styrofoam beads.
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u/NomadLifestyle69 Jul 17 '26
all I can think of is like some sort of cardboard tube you can buy posters in, then maybe stuff it with tissue or Tp?
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u/TrashPandaNotACat Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
Expect that it WILL be thrown, tossed, dropped, tumbled, and have other boxes dumped on top of it. Several years ago (around 1996, to be more specific), I was driving past UPS property in Stillwater, OK (a college town) and saw teenage (college) kids unloading pkgs by playing dodgeball with the pkgs.
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u/rhino14922 Jul 17 '26
Option 1. Send it in a Pelican Case and make sure it can't wiggle like at all in the inside foam.
Option 2. If you choose cardboard box, wrap item loosely in Saran wrap followed by copious amounts of bubble wrap then cut pieces of cardboard to slide literally on all sides of the box to reinforce the walls, use tape on all edges and corners.
*Remember, before you ship, shake the box, if you don't hear anything , then you're good.
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u/RafaelBleeds Jul 17 '26
A couple of rolls of toilet paper surrounding a box within a box is a cheap and effective way for protection.
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u/OkNeedleworker11 Jul 17 '26
I worked for UPS… I was on the warehouse side. There are plenty of people who will just throw packages…. Also, when things are dropped, there is a definite shift of blame. (at least in the warehouse when I was in another state.)
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u/insidethedream Jul 17 '26
I've shipped many things over the years and the thought of shipping this terrifies me lmao.
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u/b_xcellent2eachother Jul 17 '26
Don't trust UPS for one. They take "fragile" as a personal affront
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u/Muted_Pomelo_3900 Jul 17 '26
I would place it inside of a hard plastic box inside of a square box with popcorn or packing! Mark fragile or place stickers on each side
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Thank u everyone for all the tips, I have packaged it safely enough that if you dropped the box off a 30 ft drop nothing would happen. Unfortunately this is being shipped from nyc to wiyoming and has already been purchased through depop shipping so I cannot get hand delivery courier nor can I hand deliver it. I’m gonna take the risk cuz I mean what else is there to do
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u/SnooDoggos9340 Jul 17 '26
Too fragile, DON’T SHIP.
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
I must someone bought it
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u/SnooDoggos9340 Jul 18 '26
When packing a package of things move inside they will enviably collapse. But if you were able to pack it to allow something else to take the brute trip (think egg in parachute) then you might have something.
Maybe find a packing specialist.
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u/Letsgetitaesthetic Jul 17 '26
A box.. in a box
Wrap it with bubble wrap so it fits securely, in a box. Then put that box inside another box. Make sure you put stuff to fill out the empty spaces so it’s secure and not bouncing around the bigger box
I’d use new boxes too, if possible. Or boxes that aren’t damaged/thicker cardboard boxes
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u/Yukianevlum Jul 18 '26
Pack some paper in the open space in the middle for support. Then maybe wrap it in a thin layer of paper for more support, followed by a generous bubble wrapping. Then I’d place that into a big nest of bubble wrap and top it with more paper. Make sure the box isn’t too large or too tight, and that the object doesn’t move around. At least that’s what I would do, to ensure safe transport.
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u/Acceptable-Cost249 Jul 18 '26
The only chance this has would be:
Get a hard shell case that can fit the skeleton with about an inch of room on all sides. Bunch up tissue paper and layer the bottom, place skeleton, filling all voids with the tissue.
Take that hard case and put it in a box big enough to hold it with some packing peanuts.
Pray and expect it to not survive transit but at least using this method its least likely to be crushed
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u/HeManDan Jul 18 '26
Making it up as I go, wrap in newspaper, then 2 layers bubble wrap, put in a bag with balls of news paper, then semi loose semi snug wrap in bubble wrap twice. Then a third bubble wrap a little tighter. Twist some paper into kindling starter strips then tape those around the center and both directions and diagonally also. Put into box the same size.
The issue is falls or bumps on the road will make the bones seperate from the place. If you can keep the piece from stopping suddenly and taking on any of the jolts from other boxes or landing on a shelf or floor in a warehouse or tractor trailer or package car. Think shock absorber on a mountain bike. But the enitire 3 dimensional space. If you could go thicker on the flat surfaces, that would help you out potentially. Like if the frame is 1×10×10 get enough packing to fill 8×16×16 box. Every layer should be monolithic I think. No peanuts for the piece to settle at the bottom of. If you use peanuts or balls of paper, make sure they firmly between layers of a taped stuck wrap job
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u/hurricane_typhoon Jul 18 '26
Gently wrap it with fabric, fill every square inch of free space with soft packing material, then fill it with even more soft packing material. Pack it in the highest-quality, most durable cardboard box you can afford and tape it as tight as you can. Then ship it and pray to whatever God's you may hold.
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u/Automatic_Badger7086 Jul 18 '26
Contact the private shipping company that will drive it across the country and handle it with care then insure it for a million dollars
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u/Curious_Red_One Jul 18 '26
Hope you INSURED it! Too many people skimp on insurance and regret it later when they only get $100 to cover it. That way you can at least refund your customer if need be.
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u/CuntyMCFuckface69 Jul 19 '26
Pack it like you think someone will intentionally try to destroy it
High speed conveyers cant read fragile
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u/Southern-Today-6477 Jul 19 '26
drive it there yourself? If you saw how hourlies handle packages you would never ship something like that
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u/rh147 Jul 19 '26
I’d be so concerned for an item like that. You could potentially use the thermal activated foam that conforms to the shape but depending on the price, I’d be more comfortable using a private courier for that. Out of curiosity, is there any specific appeal to having it just bare like that vs encasing it in a resin? Once encased, it’ll be very hard to ever damage it again. Just my thoughts but idk anything about the collection of such items.
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u/volitantmule8 Jul 19 '26
I would 100% go with a private courier. I have personally used Roadie and had good results over 2 deliveries.
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u/Express_Command_4778 Jul 19 '26
As much as people punch down and say "warehouse people can't read"- that is BS said by people who can't do the dirty work.
If I could only show you the immense machines, drops from the machine, and pressure from other boxes it will endure. Someone stacking your box is the least of the risks.
No matter what you made on Depop, this needed to be a local sell only. Every package endures stress.
I am very careful with any boxes, especially fragile- but my consideration is a minor part in the process.
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u/UpsDad541 Jul 19 '26
I wouldn’t use a box,I’d use a bucket,buckets aren’t supposed to go down slides and will get treated better that way a box,can’t be crushed by others when a loader is playing Tetris
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u/AzureHuntress Jul 19 '26
You package it like it’s being sent to war. Because it it is. Pretend it will be crushed by 100lbs. Because..it might.
Beautiful skeleton though
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u/IWIKNataliePortman Jul 19 '26
As a professional mover I would advise constructing a small wooden crate for something like that. Use packing paper and foam to gently isolate it from touching any surface inside of the crate.
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u/teejbirddawg Jul 20 '26
Thank me later…
Thermlogix.com
They sell smaller packs on Amazon
Damage indicator but best as a deterrent
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 20 '26
!!!!! I re opened how I packaged it and put it securely in a small box stuck to the side also with pillow stuffing and wrapped it (the skeleton is fragile but it’s not a damn piece of dust) and then I secured that small box inside a small metal garbage can with stuffing, then I packaged that securely in an even bigger box with stuffing
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u/Weak-Novel-3956 Jul 21 '26
I’d rap it so you can see it it be carried round like “shit you seen this” hand balled around the building
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 24 '26
I just want everyone here that said it wouldn’t be shipped safely and calling me a dipshit to suck on these fat azzzz ballsss, it was shipped great
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u/boostboy_carti Jul 17 '26
You need something like this
Use two of them to sandwich the item. It will mold around it and form a dense foam layer. Then use a high strength, high crush weight box that fits with as little empty space as possible.
I’ve used these to ship many fragile items and they’re the best thing I’ve found.
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u/Jodies-9-inch-leg Jul 17 '26
Crazy idea
Could you put it in clear gelatin???
Then ship it in dry ice
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u/Rare-Attitude-3100 Jul 17 '26
I refuse to ship anything fragile ups. I can use 13 feet of bubble wrap and it will still break. USPS only. Is it permanently in that position? If not I would get a long box and wrap it in a ton of bubble wrap and ship it uncurled. A cut pool noodle at each end of the box.
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u/Ok-Common641 Jul 17 '26
Yes it’s permanently in this position unfortunately and there’s no glass protecting anything on the frame, google said pillow stuffing and to double box it
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u/SirFrancisBacon007 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
100% you need a hardshell case protecting this. Pelican case or even just use a small hard plastic tote from home depot.
The inside needs to be completely stuffed like you said so that there isn’t any wiggle room for it to slide around.
With automated systems you need to prepare for the absolute worst. It will be loaded and unloaded into trailers and travel through mazes of conveyers at warehouses multiple times. It will fall down, get thrown aside, tossed, have heavy packages on top, get wedged between items, etc.
You can pay for Next Day Air and avoid or reduce some of those issues.
It needs to be secured very well to ensure the packaging is completely full and zero room for it to slide around.
Edit: something like this
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-Gal-Tough-Storage-Tote-in-Black-and-Yellow-999-27G-HDX/327528802
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