I ship a lot of things, as most of us do. Stuff sold on eBay, Trades with members here etc.

I always make sure to package things as well as possible because I don't really trust UPS, USPS, and FedEx. Its not that the employees, don't care, its just that they seem overworked and rushed.

I always have wondered if putting a "Fragile" stamp on a package would change the way said package is handled.

Would they see it, and treat the package better?

Completely ignore it?

Or do exactly opposite? I've always pictured the guy at the distribution center saying " Fragile huh? I got your fragile right here!" As he drop kicks your package across the warehouse.

What do you guys think? Maybe someone that works for a shipping company can fill us in.

Fiction. They treat them no differently.

I have had the postman say to me when I stamp then as fragile "Do you think that matters?" in a sarcastic way. I still do it mostly for my customers. I really don't think they pay attention to it though.

50/50, the worker either cares or doesn't. Of course, if you pay for insurance things are a bit different.

I always just picture the opening scene of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Nobody is looking at those labels. Most of the moving of packages is done by conveyor belts and bins anyway.

-Ian

I've Worked for UPS & USPS. I didn't have time to look at the packages let alone scan the barcodes to load them on the Semi's.

I don't think a shitty employee would care either way.

It can only hurt.

"Oh ya, fragile you say? Have you watched Ace Ventura, when he does this..."

The only time that I have received damaged packages are ones that are marked fragile. Therefore I just don't bother with it.

Fact, fragile stickers are like red targets.

I only mark fragile to make the customer's feel better. For NA I don't mark it either way. However I also do pack things really well so that helps those rushed employees out.

I know for a friggen' fact that Fragile means the complete polar opposite for the USPS. I've bought many things from someone here who always stamps 'Fragile' all over the box, and no matter what, the box is always beat to hell when it arrives. One time, with a lot of Nintendo Powers, an entire freakin' corner was totally busted out, leaving a gaping hole.

Funny thing is, when I've shipped things to the same guy, without 'Fragile' on the box, it always arrives in tip-top shape. Actually, now that I think about it, the only packages I've ever received damaged were ones labeled 'Fragile'. Every single other one have not. Good God, the post office needs to get their shit together

Looks like I wasted 8.00 on a fragile stamp then . I am glad I asked.

I still mark packages as fragile just in case the contents arrived destroyed, USPS or the recipient can't claim I didn't take precaution. But yeah, effectively it makes no difference or hurts your package if you get a worker who likes to beat on fragile package.

I have a buddy that sorts for usps and it makes no difference. File a claim and that fragile sticker will show to a degree that the package preempted the shipper.

i think at when they see that, they get a bit more rougher w/ it ...

x2!

I'd like to believe that at the very least a damaged box on a fragile sticker will place most of the blame on USPS. Just my opinion, but if I ever had to file a claim with the damaged box in hand, I'd have a stronger leg to stand on.

I import/export a lot for work. Labelling fragile hasn't helped at all, it just shifts the blame from the senders packaging methods to the shippers delivery, which is the only reason I mark packages fragile. Just my personal experience, UPS seems to have shipped me the most damaged boxes i've received... and their claims department is pretty piss poor as well.

Agreed.