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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
What shipping method do you use?

X-Dave_Lammey
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Nov 10, 2002, 6:29 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1308 views)
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What shipping method do you use?	Can't Post

I have been using USPS Priority Mail (and their supplied VHS-size boxes) to send out my demos and finished VHS and DVD videos, but lately the customer has been receiving broken VHS tapes, despite careful packing. I'm thinking of switching to UPS. What do you use for your demos/ final products? And what do you use to pack with -- bubble wrap? Styrofoam peanuts?
Thanks.

X-Scott_Brooks
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Nov 10, 2002, 7:07 PM

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I've always used the Post Office without any problems. I mail out concert tapes each year in individual VHS mailers purchased from my tape supplier. There's nothing special about them at all. If I need to mail out more than one in a larger box I either put newspaper in the box or use the bubble wrap.
There is no local UPS office here, so everything has to go through one of about three office supply places. UPS has always proven to be much more expensive.

X-Crystal
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Nov 10, 2002, 11:40 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1307 views)
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Re: What shipping method do you use? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I use the post office "media class". It is cheaper than first class but because they know that it is media, they send it with other media items and do not use magnetic devices to scan. I have had no problems thus far.
: I have been using USPS Priority Mail (and their supplied VHS-size boxes) to send out my demos and finished VHS and DVD videos, but lately the customer has been receiving broken VHS tapes, despite careful packing. I'm thinking of switching to UPS. What do you use for your demos/ final products? And what do you use to pack with -- bubble wrap? Styrofoam peanuts?
: Thanks.

X-Steven_Hacker
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Nov 11, 2002, 12:23 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1307 views)
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I have been using FedEx's ground service. Excellent tracking, never a problem and shipping costs are similar to UPS. On occasion I will use the overnight or 2 day if necessary.

X-Scott
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Nov 11, 2002, 12:38 PM

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Since most of the people I work for live close to me, I meet them somewhere and make the payment/tape exchange that way. I like seeing the emotion in their faces when they talk about seeing their wedding day and they cried.

X-Mike_Cline
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Nov 11, 2002, 1:32 PM

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Re: What shipping method do you use? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dave,
I use the USPS "Media Mail" rate to send out demos. I do nothing more than put the tape in a white side loading sleeve, and put it in a plain white non padded envelope. Maybe I have been lucky, but I've never had someone call and say it got broken.
If I mail out the final videos and DVD's, I put them all in a box with p-nuts or newspaper to cushion it. I sure know I don't want to have to make more copies!

X-Marshall
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Nov 11, 2002, 7:20 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1307 views)
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Re: What shipping method do you use? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Be wary of using styrofoam peanuts as packing material! It can crumble into small pieces and static electricity will cause it to stick to the tape case, and to the cassette itself. If these fragments get inside a VCR, they will wreak havoc with the mechanics and electronics. Use bubble-pack instead.
Marshall