I have been getting alot of packages that are torn open during shipping. Lucky for me so far none were lost. I tape mine up completely which also make it pretty much water proof at the same time. Word of advice for all you bubble mailer shippers. If it has more than 1 or two books there is a good chance it will get ripped open enroute-especially if it's a reused bubble mailer. Please tape the edges & weak spots in the mailers if you want it to get there intact. On the average 2 out of every 5 I get that are packed in bubble mailers are torn open.

Just figured i'd get that out of my system & hope it helps someone is all. Thanks for letting me rant. lol.

Willow

Thanks for the heads up about bubble mailers. I would like to know if everyone has problems with them. I use them occasionally,  because I think  they are stronger. Is that not true?

Willow, that has happened to me and when I fill out the questionnaire about when it was received I'll put in the notes to the shipper that it was torn and they might want to reinforce the sides and such so the book doesn't fall out. They appreciate the comments and it isn't like you are reporting them to R&R, you are just letting them know so they can watch their future shipments

Rose, it depends on how tightly the book fits in the bubble mailer.  If it is a close fit you should be fine but if there is a lot of room and you don't try and pull the flap down to make sure it is secured in the bubble mailer it could get caught on the machines.  I'll pull the flap down and then using packing tape over the sealed part and the sides because it could easily come undone or get caught

I know when I put two books in a mailer I tape the "corners" where the book corners will rub.  The paper bubble mailers aren't invincible.  I discovered that when I ripped one open just by sliding the book in.  It caught; it ripped.

I only use new bubble mailers, and I also tape them. I haven't heard of any of them tearing during shipping (knock on wood).

Oh, using a bubble mailer today and I'm going to put more tape on it right now!!  Thanks for the thread Thomas.

I always put a couple strips of tape across the seal of bubble wrappers.  I have no confidence in the glue they put on those things.  I've also heard one too many stories about people who get empty bubble wrappers in the mail with no book.

I just got book in a reused bubble mailer that was torn open while the post office had it.  Thankfully the book arrived just fine even though the end of the package was ripped wide open.

ETA:  I don't believe it was a problem with a sender.  She seemed to have taken care to reinforce the entire envelope with tape.  The post office must have tried extra hard to tear that envelope.  :)

I think it might also be that time of year.  I know last year, I got several books with packages that were ripped open between the middle of November to the end of December.  I have had my account on hold for the last few weeks because I was moving and considered keepinig it on hold until the new year started because I was afraid of getting a lot of ripped packages.  I got at least 5 last year.  Thankfully none of the books were damaged.

Same here. I too am a boxer and I can't tell you how many I have gotten lately that say "Recieved in damaged condition" & "Recived unsealed".  I too have been lucky not to lose any books but I have gotten about 4-5 packages like that in the last 2 months.

I make a point to use A LOT of tape. I have only heard from 1 person about my package been reicved damaged. I apoligized ofcourse and let her know I did tape it up carefully. She did remark that is was taped up very well and hard to open even though it was torn. lol

But I am shocked at some of the packages I get and how little tape the people use. One person used what looked like band aid tape! It was so thin I am amazed that it made it to me with all the books!

Ashley

I get lots in bubble mailers, many without tape that were sealed fine with the adhesive on the flap - all came through fine.  You never know if it was the PO where the package got either ripped or even opened for inspection and then resealed sloppily.  I've received some of those that you can tell were retaped with inspection stamps, and two with the damaged notice from the UPS (luckily, the books were fine and not damaged).

I also get many in regular flat envelopes, not padded like the bubble ones, and they all arrive in tact.  That partly makes me think it could be postal handling along the way.

I get a lot of ripped bubble mailers, as well as manila and tyvek.  It's not that they come unsealed, it's that they're loose.  The loose material is what gets caught in the processing machines.  If you use these, make sure to tape them tightly around the book.  It also causes extra wear on the book to move around inside a loose envelope.

The ones that arrive in the best condition are the ones in a PBS wrapper or a box.