The Railwire Interchange Fleet

[VonRyan]

That box won't cause any problems in the mail system with all of the adornment?

Shouldn't. Besides, it's the back of the box.
I have affixed the permanent return label to the front.

-Cody F.

[peteski]

Shouldn't. Besides, it's the back of the box.
I have affixed the permanent return label to the front.

-Cody F.

Permanent?  How will that work supposing that the package is traveling between couple of destinations in a country outside of USA (or between countries outside of USA)?  If it is misplaced (for any reason), can the foreign postal system handle the package with incorrect postage (for return mailing to USA)?  I ask because I think we have several destinations outside of USA.

The other thing is that after about 10 destinations the box will probably be tattered enough not to be usable. It will have to be replaced by a similar box (available free from the post office).  And again, in other countries, they might have to repack the model in their version of postal boxes.  So "permanent return address" might not be a viable option here.

[TiVoPrince]

Including
a permanent identification in the event packaging is destroyed is a great idea.  For many years I have included a business card attached to stuff inside the box when shipping it all over.  On more than a few occasions stuff eventually shows up because it was possible to identify it and send it home. 

USPS, UPS and FedEx have all come through and I'm always impressed that expensive hardware comes home when the original packaging must have been mauled by a wild animal...

Maybe include a stick drive with that railwire.pdf and the waybill for those of us who are techno-savvy...

[peteski]

Including
a permanent identification in the event packaging is destroyed is a great idea.  For many years I have included a business card attached to stuff inside the box when shipping it all over.  On more than a few occasions stuff eventually shows up because it was possible to identify it and send it home. 

USPS, UPS and FedEx have all come through and I'm always impressed that expensive hardware comes home when the original packaging must have been mauled by a wild animal...

Maybe include a stick drive with that railwire.pdf and the waybill for those of us who are techno-savvy...

Yeah, that is true, but Cody states that he attached the permanent return label on the outside of the box itself.  That doesn't do much good if the box is destroyed. Placing an address label on the jewel box woudl work much better for that scenario (or even on the car's underframe).

[Ike the BN Freak]

That box won't cause any problems in the mail system with all of the adornment?

It shouldn't...only issue I see is that being a flat rate box with the self adhesive tab, once opened the boxes are hard to reuse.

You should see how some of the boxes are decorated.  Granny's slap stickers all over boxes when they ship to the grandkids.  As long as the address section and barcode are clear, that is all that really matters.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Permanent?  How will that work supposing that the package is traveling between couple of destinations in a country outside of USA (or between countries outside of USA)?  If it is misplaced (for any reason), can the foreign postal system handle the package with incorrect postage (for return mailing to USA)?  I ask because I think we have several destinations outside of USA.

The other thing is that after about 10 destinations the box will probably be tattered enough not to be usable. It will have to be replaced by a similar box (available free from the post office).  And again, in other countries, they might have to repack the model in their version of postal boxes.  So "permanent return address" might not be a viable option here.

You don't want a "permanent" return label, otherwise...it will be shipped back to Cody no questions asked.  However if one were to use his address as the return, regardless of the who and where it shipped from it would work.  Also the box probably won't make it 10 users, probably closer to 2 or 3.

[peteski]

You don't want a "permanent" return label, otherwise...it will be shipped back to Cody no questions asked.  However if one were to use his address as the return, regardless of the who and where it shipped from it would work.  Also the box probably won't make it 10 users, probably closer to 2 or 3.

So for example, if the box ended up let's say in Germany and it was shipped internally within Germany (between two TRW members residing there), if it had to be shipped back to the sender shown on the return label (for whatever reason), it would be sent internationally to USA, even if the postage paid on that package was only German domestic postage?

[Ike the BN Freak]

So for example, if the box ended up let's say in Germany and it was shipped internally within Germany (between two TRW members residing there), if it had to be shipped back to the sender shown on the return label (for whatever reason), it would be sent internationally to USA, even if the postage paid on that package was only German domestic postage?

Hmm, not sure how that works for international.  I know for us at USPS, if you don't have a forward, and didn't leave a return, it becomes a dead letter, where it sits somewhere for who knows how long...

For domestic, aka within the US, it should work.  And I know some of our members in Germany are with the military, so it would be to an APO/FPO address, which is just like shipping to San Fransisco or Baltimore, if I remember where the ports they ship from.

[VonRyan]

Extra return labels are being included inside the packaging.
The adhesive strip (which has already been used once) will be covered with a slice of tape to prevent it from being the cause of any further deterioration. This has no real effect on the process as each sender will be tape-sealing the box.

-Cody F.

[TiVoPrince]

Is
it actually possible to re-use the USPS priority box?  Once the serial/tracking number is used would it not expire or cause a heathcare.gov type meltdown if it was entered into the USPS system again.

Using a USPS box inside an overpack (to send it via UPS or FedEx) still leaves a reliable size to reuse interior packaging to reliably protect contents.  Each person receiving the package can pass it on with confidence and not spend unnecessary time searching for packaging materials to fit a new box dimension...

[Philip H]

I've reused them a ton.  Just pull off the shipping label, or cover it with a new one.

[wazzou]

This thread is reminiscent of how the Government must operate.   

[peteski]

I too am enjoying this thread! 

The base layer of packaging tape is a good idea but.... if one of the many packers is not really careful, it will start peeling off at the edges of the flaps (when the top player of tape is being removed. It happened to me many times when trying to save old boxes.

Also, don't expect everybody to be as careful as you are. Sometimes the package might not be opened by carefully cutting the tape in the gap between the flaps. Other times, people might not peel the old layers of packaging tape (expecting to preserve the bottom layer).  As it was mentioned, don't expect the box to last many cycles. I said 10 but someone else said it will most likely survive much less trips.

The shipping labels will of course have to be replaced. If the last person used online service, the large label which included postage and tracking barcodes will need to be removed or covered up with a fresh label.  Don't worry, if something is not up to the USPS specs, it will be duly pointed out by the postal employees. 

Now, the only question I have is many pages can we fill with this thread? 

[Ike the BN Freak]

What peteski said...also, you'd have to remove or cover all of the old labels.  If you miss one, its real easy for the package to get lost...and well, I don't wanna be blamed because someone couldn't remove, cover or blank out a label.

I'd say for the "official box" make something the MT car box fits in, and will fit into a small flat rate box.  Its easy to get the flat rates...plus they are really cheap...ala free.