Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

twitter.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 255 posts

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#81

Post by seoaeu »

deepspace wrote: post #51

Since I discovered the availability of anvils on Amazon, I have always wondered about the economics of shipping them. Right now, I can order a 66lb "Happybuy" anvil for $153 with free prime shipping. One assumes that the $153 includes the cost of shipping it all the way from China in the first place. For comparison, a similarly sized anvil from a reputable local dealer costs $949 plus tax and shipping at the lowest r…

The transportation from China probably isn't the issue. Google suggests that moving a 40-foot shipping container across the Pacific Ocean costs several thousand dollars. You can fit a whole bunch of anvils inside a shipping container [citation needed], so the cost for this part of the journey may be pretty low.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#82

Post by nullc »

chiph wrote: post #10
radicality wrote: post #6

Semi related - a few months ago, while not fully sober, I was aimlessly browsing through Amazon and ended up owning a set of two 1.5inch cubes - one aluminium, one tungsten. It’s kind of a silly purchase considering it’s a lot of money for 2 metal cubes, but it’s honestly very impressive just how heavy that small cube is - both objectively, and when compared to the aluminium cube. Also makes for a great talking point…

When I heard that the crypto millionaires were buying Tungsten cubes for fun, I checked into the prices. Amazon lists a 1.5" cube (weighs 1 kg) at $199 and a 4" cube (that weighs 18.9 kg [0]) at $3499. There's no way I'm spending that, but I will admit to wanting to experience their density for myself. [0] free Prime shipping for the win

You can get large pieces of tungsten (well, tungsten alloys since pure tungsten isn't very machinable it isn't that widely used) pretty cheaply by contacting a machine shop directly.

People putting listings on amazon are exploiting what a particular market will pay.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#83

Post by nullc »

Ekaros wrote: post #33
chiph wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I heard that the crypto millionaires were buying Tungsten cubes for fun, I checked into the prices. Amazon lists a 1.5" cube (weighs 1 kg) at $199 and a 4" cube (that weighs 18.9 kg [0]) at $3499. There's no way I'm spending that, but I will admit to wanting to experience their density for myself. [0] free Prime shipping for the win

I wish I was a millionaire. I could fulfil my wish of owning replica of IPK that is small cylinder of Platinum-Iridium weighting very very close to kilogram.

Before the standard was changed, I spent a while trying to get one of the prototype silicon sphere kilograms-- slightly misshapen would have been fine-- without success.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#84

Post by scarface74 »

deepspace wrote: post #51

Since I discovered the availability of anvils on Amazon, I have always wondered about the economics of shipping them. Right now, I can order a 66lb "Happybuy" anvil for $153 with free prime shipping. One assumes that the $153 includes the cost of shipping it all the way from China in the first place. For comparison, a similarly sized anvil from a reputable local dealer costs $949 plus tax and shipping at the lowest r…

I’ve ordered a set of 50 pound kettlebells from Amazon and watched the delivery person struggle on my security camera.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#85

Post by SturgeonsLaw »

leviathant wrote: post #41
Blackthorn wrote: post #22

That said, it sure wasn't fun for the mail person when they had to deliver me those two boxes of lead ingots.

Not part of the USPS small box story, but I ordered a bundle of steel plates that unfortunately fit through our mail slot on our front door, and absolutely destroyed the ceramic tile floor when the delivery person dropped them through that slot.

Sounds like that was some malicious compliance on behalf of the delivery person who had to carry them

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#86

Post by R0b0t1 »

jmyeet wrote: post #78

What many may not realize is that there's a thriving industry in sending passengers on planes for the sole purpose of them taking things from A to B. Years ago, you could get discounted flights to Europe where you couldn't check in any luggage. Why? That allowance was taken up by documents for various clients. This was usually quicker than any courier services at the time. I've had friends who worked in the oil and g…

Can verify, I've seen engineers flown out with parts to oversee repairs. Just looking at a flight tracker site and looking at how much checked baggage costs should show you it's an obvious choice.

Customs in most countries is hilariously broken, they can seize or sit on your stuff for months with no recourse and no due process.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#87

Post by mynameisash »

mikestew wrote: post #27
jotm wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got a pair of dumbbells once (30KG total) that were very efficiently packed in one small box and felt kinda bad about the guy

I'll raise you a 114lb/52Kg battery (not USPS, though; FedEx, IIRC): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RPOI7F4/ I, too, felt bad for the guy until I saw him toss it on his shoulder like it was nothing, carried to the garage and gently set it down. Not a big guy, either. :-)

My dad made a black walnut coffee/end table for me, and instead of waiting for the next time he drove out here, he decided to ship it via FedEx. It was like 100 lbs, but due to the very large size and somewhat wonky shape, he then built a plywood encasement for it with some used carpet to keep the epoxied table from getting scratched. It was quite a sight to behold. The FedEx guy had no problem hauling 100+ lbs of large, awkward object, but he was curious as can be as to what on earth he was delivering.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#88

Post by paxys »

jmyeet wrote: post #78

What many may not realize is that there's a thriving industry in sending passengers on planes for the sole purpose of them taking things from A to B. Years ago, you could get discounted flights to Europe where you couldn't check in any luggage. Why? That allowance was taken up by documents for various clients. This was usually quicker than any courier services at the time. I've had friends who worked in the oil and g…

This is more due to safety and security requirements of the package than the economics or shipping itself. FedEx and UPS will be very happy to ship you something for a steep discount without any assumed liability, but there would be no takers for it. Providing a trusted chain of custody for the package all the way from point A to B is the real value add.

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#89

Post by s1artibartfast »

perihelions wrote: post #57

An implosion-type nuclear weapon can compress matter to some multiple of the density of osmium. This isn't useful for USPS box packaging; I just think it's neat. edit: Also, inertial confinement fusion plasmas go up to about 1,000 g/cm³, https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0008231 ( "Unified first-principles equations of state of deuterium-tritium mixtures in the global inertial confinement fusion region" )

I'm guessing that is a value for a hyper localized volume of the plasma

Re: It is physically impossible to exceed the weight limit for a Small Flat Rate Box

#90

Post by R0b0t1 »

Blackthorn wrote: post #53
Doxin wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does lead actually absorb through the skin? I always heard the main pathway was getting lead dust on your hands and then eating/inhaling that.

Seconding this question, as unplated lead is very common for handgun-caliber bullets.

It's also in the brass
Post reply on HN