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When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

bicycling.com

81–90 of 278 posts

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#81
post #34

I've often wondered about what you would discover if you were to send accelerometers through various channels, over various distances, and inside of various packages. A database of carrier/packaging/haul distance/acceleration history tuples would be a valuable B2B product for many manufacturers.

The artist Walead Beshty used the hazards of the shipping system to create art. He would ship glass boxes through Fedex and the damaged result would become art. https://www.artsy.net/artwork/walead-beshty-fedex-large-kraf...

Good one. And it's not a single shipment. He's doing it for years. :)

https://www.boredpanda.com/shattered-glass-sculptures-fedex-...

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#82
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've observed something similar with suitcase handling at airports, where they are thrown around and piled up like it's typically done with bags of rice for example.

The odd thing about this is that it can be much more work to handle things roughly. One time I was waiting for a flight and watching the activity out the window, and the guy who was transferring bags from the little truck-train onto the ramp that slides them up into the airliner was throwing each bag into the air and onto the ramp. It was clear that it would have taken much less effort to just set each bag onto the r…

Treating the bags gently takes more time and effort. For starters you don't know heavy the bag is, so first you have to figure that out, and you have to spend effort managing its downward trajectory. It's more wear on the joints and body to handle it carefully than to just throw each bag with good form.

I don't know what I'm talking about, so treat that with a grain of salt, but it's plausible.

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#83
post #76
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work as a postman. People don't really send letters any more, so a large and increasing percentage is packages. Many (most?) of my coworkers hate their jobs, and their lives, and are deliberately rough with packages, especially if they look expensive.

"I'm unhappy with my life so I'm going to make other people unhappy too." How about these people do something with their incredibly valuable short lives other than being miserable? Unless you're in chronic pain of some kind, being alive is a gift. It's a treasure. Every moment is precious.

I'd rather have my packages broken than my local carrier going postal. I can always get a replacement from the company if my package is busted up.

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#85
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://247wallst.com/aerospace-defense/2014/06/03/why-a-boe... For some perspective a Boeing 747 costs $357,000,000 they have a seating capacity of 416. 416 x $200,000 is only $83,200,000 so...honestly...I could see it.

It's hard to say how much anything actually costs in aviation because no one pays list price and are outfitted per the buyers' specs (why airlines all have their own in cabin look). Discounts are usually north of 50% off "list". Economy style seats don't have a lot going on and definitely don't cost the same as a Lambo. You can even buy your own if you want to be uncomfortable in your own home: http://usedairlineseat…

True. I wasn't saying for sure that was the price. I just wouldn't be too surprised if it ended up averaging out somewhere around there between economy and first class seats. Things you wouldn't expect can be weirdly high priced. Aircraft are just one of those things I could see just about everything being more expensive than you'd think. If only because there's less manufacturers specializing in aircraft parts and the companies buying them tend to be those that have enough money to be buying parts for aircraft.

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#86
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've observed something similar with suitcase handling at airports, where they are thrown around and piled up like it's typically done with bags of rice for example.

The odd thing about this is that it can be much more work to handle things roughly. One time I was waiting for a flight and watching the activity out the window, and the guy who was transferring bags from the little truck-train onto the ramp that slides them up into the airliner was throwing each bag into the air and onto the ramp. It was clear that it would have taken much less effort to just set each bag onto the r…

My favorite from checking guns a few times is that I notice that the only thing they don't toss is the guns (which are obvious because they're marked and padlocked unlike anything else). Guns are set aside, loaded last, unloaded first, and moved carefully. Everything else, tossed.

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#88
post #43
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know these people, so do you have any insight as to why they did this? Is it envy? “Screw this guy getting his fancy TV that I don’t have.” If not, what? It seems needlessly cruel. I assume these are good people?

It’s easier to be rough than to be gentle, so if there are no consequences to being rough, that’s naturally how it’ll end up.

That's not always true. It might seem like it is easier to be careless, but if we're talking about any item over just a couple pounds in weight, you're going to hurt yourself being careless as opposed to being cautious.

There is a monumental difference between throwing 20lb packages all day vs. picking them up and setting them down. Your body will tell you that it's just not sustainable in the long run if you want to live without persistent pain. You can very easily learn this by observing anyone who's done the job for more than a year or two - they might look like they're being lazy but they are really just trying not to hurt themselves. You might throw one or two in anger, but repeatedly throwing packages for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 48 weeks will make you regret it. There is nothing more painful and hopeless on the job than a mechanical injury you feel in every single box you move. You learn to do it without hurting yourself and this almost never involves being careless with the package. The consequences might not come from being reprimanded about broken items, but it will come in the form of injury and pain.

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#89
post #76
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work as a postman. People don't really send letters any more, so a large and increasing percentage is packages. Many (most?) of my coworkers hate their jobs, and their lives, and are deliberately rough with packages, especially if they look expensive.

"I'm unhappy with my life so I'm going to make other people unhappy too." How about these people do something with their incredibly valuable short lives other than being miserable? Unless you're in chronic pain of some kind, being alive is a gift. It's a treasure. Every moment is precious.

Yeah, and why don't depressed people just cheer up? Seriously it's not hard...

Re: When a Bike Company Put a TV on Its Box, Shipping Damages Went Down (2017)

#90
post #40
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know these people, so do you have any insight as to why they did this? Is it envy? “Screw this guy getting his fancy TV that I don’t have.” If not, what? It seems needlessly cruel. I assume these are good people?

I work as a postman. People don't really send letters any more, so a large and increasing percentage is packages. Many (most?) of my coworkers hate their jobs, and their lives, and are deliberately rough with packages, especially if they look expensive.

Iunno, delivering what amounts to be presents has gotta be more pleasant than bills.
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