We frequently get customers who've purchased something at eBay but didn't receive

the item in expected condition due to either negligent descriptions or negligent

shipping/packaging practices. Sometimes they've purchased from a fraudulent

seller and never received anything.

Often eBay sellers are inexperienced with shipping vintage flatware sets, and other collectible items,

resulting in irreparable damage. Interestingly, eBay offers packing and shipping tips to sellers on its web site (a link to this page is included later in this article).

Here's a shipping horror story from a reader.

Image of auction item

Clearly the wooden flatware chest shown in the above auction image is in very

good condition.

Here is what the interior of this flatware chest looked like upon delivery to the

buyer due to negligent packing. Additionally, the chest lid had broken away from

the 2 hinges. The lid no longer stays open on its own.

What happened?

1. The depth of the chest is 3 inches while the shipping box depth is 10 3/4

inches, leaving 7 3/4 inches for the chest to shift around inside the shipping

container.

2. The only packing material used was 7 plastic grocery store bags. There was no

cushioning.

3. The length and width dimensions of the shipping box are less than one inch

larger than the chest leaving inadequate room for cushioning materials. Again,

in this case, the only cushioning material used was plastic grocery store bags.

4. The seller shipped the flatware unsecured inside the chest. The lid of the

chest was also unsecured with plenty of room for it to open and close during

shipment, resulting in broken hinges and flatware thrown about both inside and

outside of the chest. Note the damage the knives did to the knife holders inside

the chest lid. There was so much movement of the flatware, all other utensil

holders were broken as well.

The value of this collectible, vintage flatware chest has been destroyed and it

is now unusable. Fortunately, the flatware survived reasonably well, although

there are some dents on the hollow handle knives which could have happened during

shipment as they were thrown about (the seller did not mention dented handles in

the auction description). Naturally, there was some scratching of the flatware

surfaces as they were tossed about.

What can the buyer do? The seller refuses to acknowledge the problem in this

case, as they do in many cases. A good seller would work to resolve the problem

and make restitution, but a good seller would never have shipped an item in this

manner in the first place. The buyer is forced to fork out more dollars to buy

another chest (if they can even find the same one) and replace the dented knives.

Don't let good feedback for an eBay seller fool you. This seller had good

feedback.

The seller is responsible for ensuring safe delivery of your item. If packaged

improperly, the shipper will not honor an insurance claim for damage. It's the

seller's fault, not the shipper. A shipping company will only honor a claim for

damage as a result of its negligent handling of a properly packaged item.

Tips for Proper Packaging:

A wooden flatware chest is fragile and can break, crack or otherwise suffer

damage from improper packaging.

If you are shipping flatware with the chest, remove the flatware and wrap

separately with bubblewrap. Use extra padding for hollow handle pieces so they

won't get dented or crushed during shipment. Do not ship the flatware inside the

chest.

Wrap the chest with large 1″ bubble wrap and secure it so the lid cannot move or

shift during shipment.

The shipping box should be 3-4 inches larger than the chest on all sides, top and

bottom, to allow for sufficient cushioning material. The chest should be

surrounded with cushioning material such as foam packing peanuts. Any additional

space in the shipping box should be filled with foam packing peanuts or other

appropriate shipping material so that there will be no room for the contents to

shift. If anything in the box moves or rattles when shaken, unpack and start

over.

eBay offers the following tips and more on its web site, located on this page

Follow these simple steps for successful packaging:

1. Wrap It: Individually wrap items and provide lots of cushioning (bubble wrap,

peanuts, foam, corrugated dividers, or crumpled paper). Foam peanuts may shift in

transit, so overfill your box-you don't want to hear any rattle.

2. Box It: Use a new, corrugated box with rigid sides, intact flaps and plenty of

room for cushioning on all sides. Don't exceed the maximum gross weight of the

box (usually printed on bottom flap). If you must use an old box, remove labels

and shipment markings and keep in mind the maximum gross weight may have been

diminished by wear and tear.

3. Seal It: Use strong tape designed for shipping rather than masking tape,

cellophane tape, string or paper over-wrap. Experts suggest pressure-sensitive

plastic, nylon-reinforced, or water-activated paper tape (60-pound grade at least

three inches wide).

Some items require special packaging consideration, including:

Antiques & Art: Remove any glass and cover with “glassmask” or “glass-skin” and

package separately (note: do not use on non-glare glass as it will damage the

surface). Do not let artwork contact paper, hardboard or corrugate. If declaring

a value, be sure to have a current bill of sale, invoice, or a statement from a

certified appraiser in case you need to file a claim with your carrier.
Coins, Stamps, or Jewelry: Be discreet. Use a larger box that will travel easily

and insure your shipment appropriately. Special limitations may apply for

international shipments containing jewelry and gemstones, so check with your

carrier.

Collectibles/Pottery/Glass: For fragile items, the outer box must be large enough

to allow at least 3″ cushioning all around the item. Wrap and box items

individually to protect them from each other. Position items in the center of the

box and away from the bottom, sides and top of the box to prevent damage. If the

item has a hollow center (a vase), fill the area with paper to make the item more

solid.