Did not read all the comments....but will say to anyone that slams the shipping companies....you do realize that when things are shipped they pretty much are handled by machinery...except when you drop it off and it is delivered. You do realize that your package may be the first one to drop into a container...and then be buried by 1800 pounds of other things in transit? You do realize that if an item is allowed any movement in its shipping package that this movement is going to increase the risk of your item removing itself from the shipping package?
At one point there was a sticky from me about how to ship things...pretty sure it covered packages...but ever since several staff members have developed an issue with me this sticky was removed....
You want your stuff to get there in one piece here is some general guidelines....
If possible, use a double layered cardboard box. If the box has been used several times and has no structural strength
DO NOT USE IT!
OVERSTUFF the box with packing material. If any air space is left in the box this a potential for a cave in, and once caved in the integrity of the box is it risk. This is the thing that leads to more damaged packages than anything else? How do I know? A 20 year sentence with the USPS....
To verify that you have enough packing material a few simple test are in order...
1. Simply shake it. If it moves cut it open and add more......
2. After verifying it does not move hold the package 5' or so above a hard surface and drop it. If the item does not remove itself from the shipping container proceed to step 3...
3. Put some weight on it. If it does not crush carry on....
4. You did include a secondary shipping label, perhaps taped to the item? This insures that IF the item removes itself from the package that it at least stands a chance of getting delivered. Often times a box gets destroyed, to the point that the shipping label is trashed. The shipping company now has an item that is no longer deliverable. In the USPS this item will go to the "Claims" section of wherever this happened. After a set amount of day this item is discarded. If this item would have had a label attached to it directly the company will just put it in a box and send it on it's way.
5. Tape it securely. This does not mean masking tape or scotch tape. It means shipping tape.
6. Shipping label should be
LEGIBLE. The USPS uses what is called an
View attachment apps...jpg
APPS machine that uses a scanner that relies on OCR software...
Always makes me laugh when folks blame USPS/FedEX/UPS/DHL for losing things when people just do not take the time to
PROPERLY pack it. Again, in 20 years of working there I picked up more than my fair share of packages where the item just slammed around in the box.
Quick question to the OP, was there any packing material in the box when you got it? Look on the flaps, is there any evidence (marks) that the part was slamming around in the box? If so, more than likely this is from poor packing. If the centerlink was just put in the box, and the box was not stuffed with material than the shipper is at fault...simple as that. Noticed that the shipper said something about the USPS clerk looked in the box....if they are anything like any of the clerks in the stations I have mailed stuff from they are folks that have no idea what an APPS machine even is, never mind the fact that many Postal Employees are just there for a check and will tell you things are good just to get rid of you so they can go on break.
I have shipped steering linkage parts in the past. Best way to ship them? Pvc pipe with the ends glued on. Sure, it is going to add to the over all price....but then again it would have
GOTTEN THERE!.
The USPS used to allow tours to the public, but ever since 9-11 I think they stopped. What a shame. I used to enjoy the looks on peoples faces when they saw the overwhelming amount of letters/ packages that are moved on a daily basis. Perhaps, if the folks the always point the finger of blame on this site at the USPS were to see how things really are they might not be so quick at pointing blame. Fact of life, very little mail movement is done by hand...other than Registered mail....this means it is up the sender to see to it that there package is properly prepared...not the USPS.....