Shipping Question

[Newfman]

Having worked for UPS and their oversize and international division (Cartage), I can tell you, they try to cram as much as possible into the shipping pods. I have watched a few of my fellow emplyees just cram something in and not care that the item they put on top will crush the item below. Not their 'personal' problem. Heed the advice of getting your container reinforced. You will never really get satisfaction from them, after the damage is done.

Luan, ie., wood door skin is available at home depot. It is a Very strong, and very light plywood. We used it for making flats (walls) for the movie industry a lot. You could make inner linings out of that and some cheap one by. Bill it to the customer. Twenty five dollars in materials to get their wonderful, hand made saddle there, has got to be worth the price. Maybe that is excessive, but you should talk to the people that make shipping containers for this very purpose. They have seen it all. I also have watched some of the drivers and dock workers at ABF, throw things into the trucks as well. It will never come back to the individual that did it, so there is no reason to change their ways.

[saddles]

Update! We shipped the saddle USPS in a box that we have built to ship our saddles in. I had to cut it down about 2 inches height wise to fit their shipping specs. We wrapped the saddle in 2 layers of open cell foam. I ran 3 rows of duct tape around the box just to be safe. We shipped on March 28th and it was delivered on April 3rd. Total cost was $191.80. I could only insure it for $650 though. Made it there just fine! Thanks for all the advice!