Bad News Bow Shipping

[Gatekeeper]

Yep, the bows that go on a journey from my home are wrapped in bubble wrap and put in a schedule 40 pvc tube. Both ends of the tube are stuffed with bubble wrap or cloth to absorb shock and the ends of the tube are sealed with plywood end caps cut to fit and screwed into the ends of the tube.

This setup cost a little more but the reassurance it gives me is worth it.

[Killdeer]

You would cringe if you could see how parcels are sorted in the PO. They are taken from the big carriers and thrown into the hampers of the individual routes. This can be 15-20 feet away. No guarantee that the next parcel in after yours won't be a box of textbooks or grapefruit.

I kinda like that bubble-wrapped one. I can see right off what it is and know that it is fragile. In a box, who knows? Most times, all is well. These breakages are a rarity. I typically ship in cardboard and tons of bubble wrap, and tape all the seams to the point of being obsessive.

Killdeer

[J. Adams]

I think DesertDude posted pics awhile back of how he ships bows... a nice wooden box that looks like it could survive the roughest abuse.  Perhaps he will post some pics...

[phil_des_bois]

My Shrew went from Ron Laclair's Shoppe to Shangai before arriving to France, the PO didn't sorted the bow well. The cardboard was totally tear off, but luckily my shrew was OK.

[Jason Kendall]

PVC is fine for a few bows a year, could you imagine the cost a big bowyer would have if he shipped 100's of bows a year in PVC, I use a 4x4 telescopic box with bubble wrap and with over 500 bows shipped by usps I had 2 tips bust out of the box (with no damage) and one broken one. That one was paid within a couple weeks by USPS.
I used UPS before USPS, now they are hard on bows! It sucks when it happens, lucky for us it doesnt happen to often.

That picture is funny Bjorn, I once had a guy send me a bow he bought used for a refinish, he wrapped it in tyvek! It made it ok, but I told him he probably shouldnt do that anymore.

[potlikker]

Scary! I have a bow in-transit right now.I've got my fingers crossed.

[bentpole]

     :eek:        Yes sir PVC or carpet tube for me.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Killdeer:
...
I kinda like that bubble-wrapped one. I can see right off what it is and know that it is fragile. ...

then, if i'm still thinking about that fight with my spouse this morning, or the boss ticked me off, or i'm just a nasty mean crotchety person, i'll make sure to take extra good care of that bubble wrapped funny lookin' stick .... "doh, hey darryl, look at this warped stick kinda thingy wrapped all purty like - betcha i can flip this sucker in yonder hamper on my first try, doh ..."

 :D

[rlc1959]

Ouch, i just came from the Post office . I shipped a Bow I sold today the exact same way. I Pray it makes it OK.
                         Randy

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by bentpole:
         :eek:           Yes sir PVC or carpet tube for me.

like i said, karma had other plans for that stick.  i'm sure vince can make that bad boy new again, when he gets back from whacking nebraska turks next week.

[Day Dreamer]

Vince will fix'r up right. Can't waite to have Maqua back in the "MOHAWK WAR PARTY"!  

[vtmtnman]

And people wonder why I ship one piece bows in a plywood crate...

[wv lungbuster]

I never even got to shoot her    :(

[Dan White]

I bought a Royal Crown off the classifieds last week from a Tradganger that shipped the bow wrapped in foam and shipped in a schedule 40 PVC pipe with PVC end caps. When it was deliveried USPS had punch a hole in the pipe. Luckey...no damage to the bow. It was new pipe and it looked like it had been to war. So be WARNED they could tear up a anvil in a sand pile with a rubber mallet.      

[joe skipp]

Rob, I ship out all T/D bows, longbow or recurve in the same box I receive them in. The only difference, I double up on the bubble wrap on each end of the limb tips and have a 2" cushion of bubble wrap on each end of the box. So far all my bows have arrived in great shape. I also send everything out USPS Priority....

[bentpole]

:rolleyes:

[Rob DiStefano]

joe,

i pretty much did the same as you - t/d 2pc longbow in a thick double sock, 3 layers of bubble wrap with ends folded over, brand new usps triangular box (stronger than a rectangular box), with a wad of bubble wrap at either end and the bow in the middle.  usps priority, insured w/confirmation.

i'll never ship out any bow - 1pc, 2pc, 3pc - in a cardboard box ... not ever again.

[steadman]

Rob, go to a carpet outlet and get there used cardboard rolls. They are very thick, that is what I use. Just cut the roll 8" or so bigger than the bow and stuff bubble wrap around the ends and the riser. Then duct tape the heck out of the ends. Works great for all the bows I've shipped so far.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by steadman:
Rob, go to a carpet outlet and get there used cardboard rolls. They are very thick, that is what I use. Just cut the roll 8" or so bigger than the bow and stuff bubble wrap around the ends and the riser. Then duct tape the heck out of the ends. Works great for all the bows I've shipped so far.

That is exactly what I have done in the past.  They are almost bullet proof and free to boot! They work great!

[jacobsladder]

You cant beat cardboard carpet tubes...they work great and i wouldnt send any other way....i recieved a 10" piece of one of the triangular priority boxes in a plastic bag..there was a note in the bag from the us postal service...sorry missing contents   :eek:  We never did find the dwyer but fortunately the sender had insured and did recieve his claim........ I also had another custom bow in one of the triangular packages that had a huge tear in the box....i had waited a year for the bow and about crapped when i saw the gouge......fortunately the bow was fine........ Send the bow in tubes...it's the only way to go...The problem with the triangular boxes taped together they get caught on the conveyor belts and ripped to shreds..... another important point... it is up to the "seller" to insure and make the claim....so if the bow doesnt make it to the buyer in acceptable condition....then the seller has to do their part and make the claim.