Shipping lava lamps via USPS

[Redstar306]

"Anything perishable, fragile, or any liquid?"

 

What do I answer?  "Yes, there's a liquid in the lava lamp's globe." What happens then? Are lava lamps allowed to ship via USPS?

[Jim]

I have not had any problems and I am beyond transparent letting them know exactly what I am shipping.  This link will take you to a pic of one of the packages sent to me by a fellow member of this site:  http://oozinggoo.ning.com/photo/somebody-who-gets-it.

I liked what Weebo did so much that I followed his lead when shipping a pair of new in box Icons to a different member on this site.  I put that print out on all 4 sides of the box and shipped USPS.  The buyer of the Icons reported they were all perfect when he received them.

[Redstar306]

Okay great, I also have arrows and "fragile" on mine, just not that visible lol.

And what's the service used, Parcel Post ?

[Jim]

I used the US Postal Service.

Redstar306 said:

Okay great, I also have arrows and "fragile" on mine, just not that visible lol.

And what's the service used, Parcel Post ?

[MattMJB0188]

I have had many lamps arrive in flawless condition with USPS but many also arrived damaged and severely banged up.  I think FedEx is the safest way to go.  :D

[Erin]

I have shipped and received many (70+) lava lamps both via UPS and USPS. The ONLY time lamps came with damage was when the seller packed them poorly. Packing is key, even more so than the carrier, I think. 

[MattMJB0188]

I 100% agree!!!

Erin said:

I have shipped and received many (70+) lava lamps both via UPS and USPS. The ONLY time lamps came with damage was when the seller packed them poorly. Packing is key, even more so than the carrier, I think. 

[WeeboTech]

Parcel post is VERY rough on lamps. I recommend USPS priority mail. 

I think they actually try with USPS Priority.  I know my mailman was very considerate when he saw the markings. 

Redstar306 said:

Okay great, I also have arrows and "fragile" on mine, just not that visible lol.

And what's the service used, Parcel Post ?

[WeeboTech]

Parcel post takes longer and if you examine the boxes, they are banged around so much more. 

Parcel post can take up to 10 days for a package to travel. This increases the amount of sloshing of the globe. 

Chances of a cloudy globe with parcel post are higher. It used to be the margin between the two was very small (only a dollar or so) But these days it's more and if I were buying lava lamps I would choose Priority over Parcel Post.

Fedex is OK, but they ignore anything on the sides.  

As does UPS unless you make it very visible and you have a driver who looks . Most do not.  

Erin said:

I have shipped and received many (70+) lava lamps both via UPS and USPS. The ONLY time lamps came with damage was when the seller packed them poorly. Packing is key, even more so than the carrier, I think. 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Shy of a dead body, don't ship ANYTHING UPS!!! It will get destroyed!! They are brown for a reason!!! Complete shit!!!

[Erin]

I will politely have to disagree here. Never had a problem with UPS, either sending or receiving. 

Wile E. Coyote said:

Shy of a dead body, don't ship ANYTHING UPS!!! It will get destroyed!! They are brown for a reason!!! Complete shit!!!

[Mr MaGoo]

Damn Wile E. Coyote, I sure hope that is not true.  I have a Opel Fluidium coming from the UK and it is supposed to be here today...via, you guessed it...UPS!  Everyone say a prayer for me..and cross your fingers..!  :)

[WeeboTech]

UPS Ruined my opal fluidium! There's good and bad in every carrier scenario. 

I can vouch saying UPS ground is really rough on lava lamps and if it's not packed correctly, they will be ruined. 

Just for the record, I had something that was packed correctly by the UPS store. It was still ruined. But that's a horror story I posted elsewhere. 

So two of the most expensive lamps I had were ruined by UPS.  That's not much of a track record.