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Secure your shipments— because stuff happens

Syrte
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jetkins jetkins
Functioning self-stick envelopes are practically impossible to unfasten without leaving obvious evidence of tampering. If this one looked like it had simply come undone, then I'll wager that's probably what happened. Those things do have a limited shelf life, after which they tend to become self-nonstick.

OK. So I should not be suggesting people secure their shipments, because envelopes are secure as they are? is that the overall point you're trying to get across?
 
UncleBuck
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Syrte Syrte
OK. So I should not be suggesting people secure their shipments, because envelopes are secure as they are? is that the overall point you're trying to get across?
I'm with you, Syrte!
I doubt I will ever use an envelope again. (regardless of shelf-life, stickiness or whatever)
 
jetkins
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Syrte Syrte
OK. So I should not be suggesting people secure their shipments, because envelopes are secure as they are? is that the overall point you're trying to get across?
No, and I'll thank you not to put words into my mouth for lack of comprehension.

My point - my only point, if you care to actually read what I wrote - is that the loss may simply be attributable to misfortune, not malice. At no point have I advocated against better or more secure packaging or fastening, I have simply pointed out that in the absence of extra securing, envelope seals can fail. Which I think makes us on the same side of this imaginary disagreement, does it not?
 
Vercingetorix
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Just remember this famous commercial when you package things and you will have no problems ever .
 
Jking
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Archer Archer
Of course I have watches shipped in all the time for servicing, so I see a wide variety of care taken with packing them. Some are near fortress level packing, and others are at the other end of the scale...like this one...



Just a watch head tossed into a very thin plastic padded envelope....amazing.

Cheers, Al
That has to be someone hoping it gets stolen for the insurance money. Either that or they just figure if anything else breaks you’re about to fix it anyway...‍
Edited:
 
larryganz
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jetkins jetkins
I'll offer up a third option, which is that the envelope may have simply come unstuck in transit and deposited its contents throughout some musty distribution center, after which some "helpful" postal worker noticed it and taped it up. My wife hates the taste of envelope glue, so she licks them only lightly, resulting in them often coming unsealed again before they even leave the house, so she always tapes as well. Perhaps your sender has a similar distaste for glue.

Too bad George Costanza's fiancé didn't hate the taste of envelope glue, or she'd still be around.
 
Dan S
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GuiltyBoomerang GuiltyBoomerang
I have received stuff in all sorts of packaging - probably the most surreal one was finding a reasonably priced watch head wrapped in jeweller's paper inside a cut PVC pipe.

The PVC pipe doesn't sound like a bad idea, although better padding inside would be necessary. As you may know, there is a seller who ships well-wrapped watches inside promotional insulated plastic coffee mugs with lids. Good protection, actually.
 
glownyc
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jetkins jetkins
My wife hates the taste of envelope glue, so she licks them only lightly, resulting in them often coming unsealed again before they even leave the house, so she always tapes as well.
Running a wet finger over the glue works just as well as licking it 😉
 
larryganz
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larryganz larryganz
Too bad George Costanza's fiancé didn't hate the taste of envelope glue, or she'd still be around.

Seriously, nothing?
 
kkt
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9:30 in the morning and already with the dirty jokes...
 
gemstar
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As a 17 yr old old comics dealer in Canada back in the mid 80s I had the rude awakening of theft of the postal system. A few thousand dollars of 2 old comics I sent registered mail was not accepted by a crook dealer. On its way back to me suddenly it disappeared.Before I went to small claims court to sue I asked the supervisor at the main sorting facility ,could this have been taken by a postal employee? He looked at me and said "How could you possibly suggest something like that?"
Beware everyone.We live in a jungle where no place is safe unless you do your due dilligance.
Human nature is human nature no matter what uniform you put on them.
 
Northernman
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Tape is cheap.
Wrapping materials are cheap.
Fully support @Archer on multiple layers.
I also print recipients and my name/address/phone details on stickers attached to the inner and outer layers/boxes. In case the outer wrapping is damaged and content falls out.

One of the first things I traded on OF was a Longines UltraChron movement. Envelope arrived empty. After that I learned my lesson, and - knock on wood - never had issues again.

And you can always apply a little more tape.... 😵‍💫
 
w154
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I always double box anything of decent value, and have been known to empty a whole roll of brown parcel tape in one go. And I don’t know if I’m right, but I always imagine that naughty postal workers scurry of to quiet corners or the toilet before trying to open up a parcel, so I always use a box that’s big enough to prevent it being hidden up a jumper (think of an adult size shoebox or larger).
 
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