your preferred shipping container and shipper

<p>What is your preferred shipping container for unmatted prints of up to say, 11x14? Tubes, flats? Your favorite packing material? Best shipper? USPO, UPS etc?</p>

<p>In my experience UPS has better online package tracking than USPS. UPS delivery estimates are more reliable than USPS. UPS is more responsive to lost or damaged parcel claims than USPS. YMMV.</p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

<p>Regardless of the shipper, pack those prints like... like... remember the Samsonite luggage commercials from a few decades ago where the caged gorilla couldn't hurt the suitcase? Pack your images like that.</p>

<p>Pelican case. That ought to work.</p>

<p>In the past couple years I've had more bad luck with receiving shipments of whatever from wherever. In the past 6 months, I've had damaged shipping claims against UPS for goods from both B&H and Adorama (they both took very good care of me). Not the seller/shipper's fault, UPS just felt it necessary to destroy my boxes. And the fact that the boxes contained camera bodies and lenses didn't help their reputation in my mind. Just a month ago, an overnight(!) delivery of a lens, and UPS still somehow managed to punch a 1.5" diameter hole right though the box. The punching device missed the lens, fortunately, so I got to keep that shipment, but what the h---? And another lens I had shipped to me by USPS, and that box got to me looking like someone used it as a step stool. I just don't get it how poorly these freight companies treat the goods they ship, the goods that are their sole bread and butter. No packages to ship, no reason to be in business.</p>

<p>Retailers/shippers, please get on the case of your shipping representatives to start doing a better job. I even sent a letter and photos to the North American president of UPS back several months ago. "We're so sorry... blah, blah." No improvements.</p>

<p>Sorry, getting away from myself. Pack for the worst, hope for the best.</p>

<p>For un-matted prints I'd go with tubes, insured for a low value with a tracking number for safety reasons. Personally I use USPS un-insured for some of my camera sales and have not had a problem yet, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I do comparison shop with FedEx and have found their rates cheaper at times for standard ground shipping. You'd probably be better off with FedEx then either USPS, or UPS of whom there have been horror stories for as long as I can remember. All in all, shipping is just an industry where there can be problems. With an insured value on the item you have recourse, albeit you may have to jump thru hoops to get your money.<br>

Btw, USPS insurance I don't necessarily trust. Their procedures for recovery are pretty much slanted to their favor and does need to included documentation as to the condition of the product being shipped. If you can run off new prints at low cost maybe just FedEx standard at a product valuation of $100, which gives you $100 of insurance, would be the way to go.</p>