- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
Well be careful what "securely" means. I was told that and my Underwood SS came to me without a box. Thankfully the only damage was just a cracked carriage, but I don't see the logic on spending an hour to wrap a typewriter verses to just throw it in a box like what most lazy sellers do.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- KatLondon
- Key Master
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- From: London
- Registered: 11-10-2014
- Posts: 995
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
The thing is to give them very specific instructions. Even this may not work but at least they have been told exactly what is meant by 'well packed'. Read this entire threadf, there's lots of stuff in here about packing the things for safe shipping. This is one reason I brought the thread up again - plenty of people new to the board at the moment and this is a really important aspect of the eBay experience...
- Typewriterlv
- Platen Punisher
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- From: Los Angeles, CA
- Registered: 25-9-2015
- Posts: 90
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
my first typewriters, i've picked up. the first one i had shipped arrived in excellent condition. carriage secured. double boxed. all sides and parts protected. i'm really hoping my luck will hold up.
- KatLondon
- Key Master
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- From: London
- Registered: 11-10-2014
- Posts: 995
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
I've had three arrive broken, one of those horrendously packed by someone who said that he had followed my instructions. It really is worth reading this whole thread.
- TypewriterGuy
- Typewriter Talk Vet
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- From: United States
- Registered: 24-4-2015
- Posts: 1,250
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
I usually dont double box, but I find a logically fitting box. Not one thts really tight... And then I load it with bubble wrap and stuff...
Back from a long break.
Starting fresh with my favorite typer. A Royal Futura!
- Typewriterlv
- Platen Punisher
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- From: Los Angeles, CA
- Registered: 25-9-2015
- Posts: 90
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
Read the whole thread. My first shipper actually followed the double box/styrofoams corners/packing chips/tape down the carriage method. i hope the incoming boxes arrive the same way but like most of you said, not all sellers follow or care about detailed directions.
- Repartee
- Key Master
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- From: Brooklyn
- Registered: 12-10-2015
- Posts: 683
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
Now that's coincidental. I just received a damaged Olympia SG1 via United Parcel Service - via ground across the US - and I was contemplating sharing my experiences. The seller turned out to be a noble soul who when I merely sent him a polite note with photos of the damage asking what he though we should do, immediately refunded my total outlay, and left me with the damaged typewriter and him with a total loss!
I hardly blame him or the carrier - the machine is so heavy that unless packed as originally shipped by the manufacturer it's almost guaranteed to damage itself by its own weight with any rough handling: this particular machine was further sabotaged by loss of two of the four screws holding sheet metal body to frame. Shipper packed with care and the shipping container had no visible damage but the machine would probably best be screwed down inside a crate, even if not weakened: I see some threaded holes in the base which may have served this original purpose.Nothing a trip to the auto body shop could not fix, but its built-like-a-tank aura is extinguished, at least for me! Looks more now like a Chevy that's been in a collision - in a soul crushing office bland paint job. What was I thinking?
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton".
- Repartee
- Key Master
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- From: Brooklyn
- Registered: 12-10-2015
- Posts: 683
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
Gosh tarnation all get-out! Another dern newbie error!
Did not notice I was replying to post over a year old, and too late to edit: in my post please take as omitted "Now that's conincidental" and mentally substitute appropriate leader.
May I add I just received a Reminington #2 portable in the mail today, minus original case, and it must have been under divine protection to arrive undamaged. Clever shipper had crammed it into a flat rate cardboard box only slightly larger than the machine with a few sheets of bubble wrap and newspaper. Still typed beautifully out of the box with nothing more serious to fix than a torn ribbon, and looks almost new. My pyschic revenge on his damnable foolishness is to know that may be the best thirty bucks I ever spent - shipping included.
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton".
- KatLondon
- Key Master
Offline
- From: London
- Registered: 11-10-2014
- Posts: 995
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
No worries, Repartee! Great news about the Remington. I think there are people on this board with stories of shipping those big standards - I personally would never dream of trying it, but I know people do! I hope you will get that SG1 fixed - it sounds like it still works fine, and that in itself is a sign that it really is built like a tank. Keep us posted.
- Repartee
- Key Master
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- From: Brooklyn
- Registered: 12-10-2015
- Posts: 683
Re: Another machine destroyed in the post
Ah. I must admit, I was thinking of looking for a way to pass the SG1 on!
However, my natural hoarding instincts only need the smallest encouragement, and your implicit suggestion that this is a neat machine worth spending some time on will probably stay my hand. It has UNCOMPROMISING "I am a serious office machine" looks, which can be good or bad, depending on state of mind. It needs cleaning and lubrication badly besides the body work, but other than that - yes, you are right: the mechanical core is undamaged.
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton".
