Shipping a Farley

[jcolville89]

Anyone shipped one, I’m curious what be the best option to make sure it arrives secure.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I shipped one once. I started with a corrugated cardboard box that a metal 3-drawer tool box came in. Then I basically built a corrugated cardboard box around the rest that would fit into the box. I used reinforced packing tape to hold things together while I built it up. It made the trip fine.

 

[AlNyhus]

I built a wooden box to ship mine. Sides, bottom and top were all screwed together. The rest was bolted to the bottom with through bolts, fender washers and locking nuts. Two short lengths of 2X4 screwed to the bottom for easy handling and to keep the bolt heads holding the rest off the floor. All the accessories (handle, leg screws, etc) went in a cardboard box and the whole thing was packed tightly with shipping materials. It went out FedEx and returned via UPS....no issues.

A Sinclair Competition rest that just got here was in a heavy cardboard box from Home Depot with a wooden bottom inside. Everything was disassembled and individually wrapped in foam packing. Strapping tape around the box. It came UPS and was very reasonable to ship.

Hope this helps. -Al

 

[6BRA]

The last SEB I shipped.
I went to Home Depot and found a heavy duty plastic box/lid combo that just fit the rest dims.
I place the rest inside of this box/bagged(SEB BAG). Then I overwrapped with another cardboard box.
packed tightly plenty of bubble wrap. Add a layer of protection to the rest.
Any claim filed will be denied to improper packaging.

 

[majohnson]

If you break it down taking the head of the post. Unscrew bthe post from the base. I ask customers too loosen the set screw and remove the height adjustment know it will pack into a Medium USPS box. The base will fit in the long thin Large USPS box. Glue all the flaps before you tape the box. On the edge tape the flap, it stops the box from opening. I ship Farleys all the time and use that method. The bubble envelopes that Amazon use better for the rest section than bubble wrap. I use bubble wrap to keep the parts separate. You can also get padded mailers from USPS.. it will save you on
shipping. Call if you have any questions.

Mark Johnson
MA Machine & Benchrest Service
McLoud, Oklahoma
909.260.5179

 

[LuvDog]

The last rests I sold and shipped, I disassembled as much as possible. Made a cardboard box and then double boxed it. The really important part is to pack it with enough material so it doesn’t move. When it moves in the box and gets momentum to punch through that’s when you have problems.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Something to consider. Wrap the rest in plastic. Line any box in plastic. Spray Foam insulation between the rest and the lined plastic sheet so IT CAN'T MOVE!!
Had a 6' Flintlock Fowler shipped to me in a wooden framed spray foam insulation lined package NEVER moved a bit and not a mark on it!! A BOOGER to un pack but well worth the extra effort.

 

[ISS]

Anybody but USPS. They have employees that specialize in breaking things, and supervisors that specialize in denying claims.

I bought a C Sharps that was made for Elmer Keith. I sold it for an obscene amount to a collector in Denver. Shipped it in the factory hard case inside a wooden box I made. Quarter inch plywood and 1x10" sides. They broke it at the pistol grip. They then denied the claim saying it was improperly packed, despite the fork lift tread mark across it. After about a month, I called my US Senator's Office and sent pictures. I also gave him the Supervisors name and phone number who denied it.
Two days later I got a call from him, saying they would pay the claim and sent me a form to fill out. I asked him how it was, chatting with the Postmaster General after my Senator's Office called. He did not answer.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Have NEVER has a "damage" issue shipping USPS. Sometimes SLOW but that seems to be life in general. Want to avoid shipping issues?
Jump in your car/truck and do a road trip. Might get to see some beautiful country. OR, just ship it and hope for the best.

Worked for an outfit that made and shipped dental lab equipment all over the world.
Big fat HEAVY electric motors wrapped in plastic, big cardboard box maybe 3'/4' feet long. Inside of the box plastic lined. Sprayed in expanding foam between the plastic sheets. NOTHING MOVED and NEVER a report of shipping damage. Must have been a BOOGGER getting the motors out of the wrap but NEVER any damage and nothing ever moved!! Surprising what you can with DIY spray in insulating foam.

 

[nmkid]

Something to consider. Wrap the rest in plastic. Line any box in plastic. Spray Foam insulation between the rest and the lined plastic sheet so IT CAN'T MOVE!!
Had a 6' Flintlock Fowler shipped to me in a wooden framed spray foam insulation lined package NEVER moved a bit and not a mark on it!! A BOOGER to un pack but well worth the extra effort.

Winner, winner. It is messy to unpack, but it will arrive in perfect condition.

 

[majohnson]

USPS is notorious for not paying claims. The post master of the zip code has a lot to do with if claims are paid. The income from insurance adds too the monthly P & L sheet. They cover too many expensive claims hurts the P & L sheet. As with any business your only as good as last month P & L sheet. It surprising how many rests I receive that you can shake the box and the rest is loose inside. You need at least 2” gap between the rest and box inside. Do not only depend on tape to close the box. I received a rest and the customer had glued the inner and outer flaps. It adds a lot of rigidity to the box, than tape all the edges top and bottom so 1/2 of the tap goes over the edges. I started using the fiber reinforced tape on the center flaps and a strip along each side of the center top and bottom. With the gap between the rest and inside of the box adds a lot of protection. Make sure to pack the rest separately and tape the package on the rest. Then use bubble wrap top and bottom before packing the sides. Protective wrapping on the bottom should be the same used to pack the top of the rest. It should be tight enough it requires 2 people to close the top flaps. After you finish closing the box shake the crap out of it. If you hear any movement it not safe to ship.

Honestly I have found the heavier the package the more likely it is to get damaged. Using USPS medium flat rate it costs roughly $40 to ship and return a rest. That a lot of bullets and powder. Spending additional for insurance you might never be able to collect adds to the costs. If a customer requests insurance I always add the dollar amount to the shipping cost. It a personal preference to insure a package. Do so with the understanding you might never receive any compensation for damage or lost items.

Last but least. Always ship early enough in the week the package is received no later then Friday. Packages that sit over the weekend are more likely to be lost or tampered with. Always use a non descriptive word on the form, anything shooting or gun related is likely to be lost or “intercepted”.

Machining parts all of my parts are shipped to customers. Having anything damaged is not an option. And a Thank you to a customer that glued his box before shipping, it has been a big help in preventing damage to everything I ship, I always ask customers to glue their boxes prior to shipping.

Sorry for being low winded, but hopefully this info helps smooth out shipping issues.

Mark Johnson
McLoud, Oklahoma
MA Machine & Benchrest Service
909.260.5179