Poor Rod Packaging

[ike8120]

Vendors are going to ship the cheapest way possible. It is 50/50 gamble on how the arrive. Even with poor packaging the rod arrives in good condition, that is a plus for the seller and buyer. If it doesn't they just chalk it up as part of doing business. But if there are enough damaged shipments from a particular vendor, I don't care what the price is buyers will boycott buying from them. On the other hand it also how UPS, FEDX,USPS,Amazon etc. handle your package, They just have a way to destroy any well packaged item.

[NYWayfarer]

I received my Lew's TP 1 spinning rod yesterday from Dick's. I ordered it during their 25% off your entire order and the rod was already discounted so it was an amazing deal with free shipping as well.

 

I took a gamble on Dick's shipping, free or not, as it has been horrible in my experience. This time however was not. The rod came in a heavy duty cardboard tube, sealed at both ends. The rod had the tip and handle bubble wrapped.

The handle wrapped in bubble wrap was zip tied and the zip tie was taped to the tube to prevent the rod from moving up and down in the tube.

 

This was Tackle Warehouse quality shipping from DSG. I was impressed. I can only imagine all the returns on shipped rods made them revamp their shipping system.

[SC53]

Ok, I’ve been a packaging engineer for over 45 years so I have a little insight on how things should ship?

PVC is the strongest but also the heaviest and most expensive.

Fiber tubes are what most use and are almost as strong as pvc.

Corrugated is strong enough as long as it is in a triangle shape and not square.  If its square, it’ll fail for sure.  Being triangle greatly increases its crush strength.

Also, the rod needs to be “suspended” (so to speak) so that it has the ability to flex some with heavy handling.

 

Best packaging I’ve seen is Dobyns rods.  

Solid fiber tube, small piece of foam tubing on the rod tip, plastic sleeve secured around the rod and taped to the ends on the tube so it kinda free floats in the tube.   Best I’ve seen.

 

When I ship a rod I will wrap bubble wrap around it in multiple places so it’s held in place ( but can still move if needed) with a generous amount at each end for tip and butt protection.  Into a fiber tube ( I save mine) and ship it.

 

 

[Paul Roberts]

I had a rod sent to me through Amazon without packing too. Interestingly, there was another rod of lower quality I didn't order in with it. That one had a knife slit down the length of the handle, but the plastic sheath was still intact.  

[JediAmoeba]

I have never had a rod come to me in the mail broken- I have ordered 12 rods online in the past few years too.  I have had them come in triangular boxes, cardboard tubes and only 1 in a box.  I think 6 have come off Amazon without any problems.  

 

Everyone I have ordered from seems to know what they are doing because the rods are usually suspended in the tube with some bubble pack.  

 

Some have come UPS and some USPS.  If they come by way of USPS I have to go pick them up.