Poor USPS Handling Fragile Items CLEARLY Marked Fragile as Glass

[genesee-valley-vintage]

Helo just Somewhat frustrated Lately Last month Or so Have Had Only Positive experience With Good Comments On My Packing Tec. for Fragile items  but Seems Lately No Matter how much bubble wrap you use Or Paper In Corners Cardboard tops The USPS Finds ways  with Negi ligate Handling  not Sure If Donr Pay attention to LG RED Glass Fragile stickers Or is It They don't Really Care Raise rates Yet handle Your Shipped boxes with Little Care in Shipping USPS Ground  Don't Know if new Workers or Possible illegals? That Cant Read English Or just Poor attitude Employees In USPS Handling Of Boxed Order.. RESPONSE Question Has Other experienced this same seem to Be a non Caring attitude By USPS Handling of Fragile shipped items  Any New Ideas for Safer Shipping?? Or Switch to UPS Any recommendations By Ones Who Used that service? On Arrival safe of shipped order?? Thanks for your time Comments Ideas appreciated Thanks~  

[pls-consignments]

I learned long ago that writing "fragile" on on packages just invites disgruntled carriers and warehouse employees to take out their frustration during times of low morale. 

[relicpeddler]

Your fragile sticker is worthless the sorting machines can't read.  All the carriers are rough on the packages. My post master told me himself that the sorting machines are very rough on the packages so you have to pack with that in mind. That's one reason why I avoid selling glass items.  Not to long ago I was at my local FedEx drop off place and there was a FedEx pickup guy there with a cart full of boxes for pickup and he was picking the boxes up and throwing them into his truck from 10' away. He seen me watching him and couldn't care less. 

[robbie31415]

Its all about insurance now that they will probably deny due to insufficient packaging and would require your buyer to jump through hoops that they aren't required to and many probably not willing.

USPS discontinued their special handling for fragile in 2022. Now all packages are handled equally.

From the USPS.

Special Handling — Fragile was an extra service that offered preferential handling of packages for a fee but did not include insurance.

After a thorough study, USPS concluded that operational concerns warranted ceasing the service entirely.

Customers should be encouraged to package their items carefully and consider purchasing insurance to cover any packages they are concerned about. Additional insurance is available for all mail classes.

[mam98031]

@genesee-valley-vintage 

This can be a hard thing for us sellers to accept.  But we are responsible for the item until it gets delivered and the condition it is in when it is delivered.

Think of it like this.  If you ordered something from Walmart and it arrived damaged, would you say OH Well that is the way it goes and just accept it.  Or would you contact Walmart and let them know it arrived damaged and you want a refund or new products.

The important thing is make sure you have enough insurance on the package that you send out so you can at least go back on the carrier.

[slati_2013]

There is an unspoken rule that you never put a "fragile" sticker on a package. It will get special treatment alright. Just not the kind you are expecting. And no, the USPS does not hire illegal immigrants. Those are Americans handling your package. 

One thing you need to consider is some fragile things will break no matter how well they are treated if the packing is not 100% perfect. The sorting machines that the packages travel on treat all packages the same. Your package cannot be given special treatment and be hand carried from acceptance to delivery. The only thing that will save your package is to pack it so well that even if it is dropped, it will not break. 

For me expensive and packages that I cannot afford to get damaged go by UPS. Very expensive go by second day delivery and others by UPS ground. You however have to be able to justify the cost. If you are shipping non-expensive items, the USPS is your best bet.

Foam, bubble wrap and be 100% sure there is no movement of the item in the box.  None. Not an inch of space for the item to move. 

[chapeau-noir]

You lost me at "Don't Know if new Workers or Possible illegals?" 

[annadryl]

USPS used to have a service for items requiring more hand-handling. It was about $10 and you got an official Fragile sticker (think it was green) and the package didn't just get tossed in the bin. They discontinued that, and private labels never meant any thing. As mentioned, it all comes down to packaging and insurance. If that can't be worked into the price, some things don't make sense to sell online and ship.

[johnrj1226]

Sellers  are responsible for the packing of all items even the Fragile ones.- can't blame it on the employees or the machines.

It  isn't how you packed stuff in the past.  It is how you may packed that Fragile one and  can prove you did it.  No one is perfect..

[johnrj1226]

Did you  pay the extra fee to USPS or jist  place a sticker on it???

Read this - 

"How to ship fragile items with USPS. USPS offers a Special Handling-Fragile service to ship a fragile package, or multiple fragile packages. There is an extra fee for each Special Handling-Fragile package (currently $11.15), in addition to postage.Jul 8, 2025

Fragile as an extra service, which is not a standalone service but an add-on to other USPS shipping options. This service is designed to provide extra care when handling fragile packages. The fee for Special Handling-Fragile is currently $11.15, in addition to the postage cost for the chosen shipping service. 

Key points about shipping fragile items with USPS:

• Special Handling-Fragile: This service can be added to various USPS shipping options like Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and First-Class Package Service. 

• Cost: The fee is $11.15 per package. 

• Purchase: This service must be purchased in person at a post office. 

• Packaging: Careful packaging is crucial when shipping fragile items, regardless of whether you use the Special Handling-Fragile service. 

• Insurance: USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express include some level of insurance (up to $100). For valuable items, consider purchasing additional insurance. 

• No separate charge for "fragile" stickers: While you can mark your package as "fragile," there isn't a separate charge for using these labels, according to some sources, according to Quora. 

• Dimensional weight: Be aware of USPS's dimensional weight pricing, which can increase costs for large, lightweight packages. 

[christworks]

Fragile stickers are not for the carrier. They are for your buyer. It is that added touch that conveys you value their business and you want their order to arrive as described. When they get their package, that red and white sticker is the first thing they see because it stands out. Before they even open it, you are putting your buyer in a positive mood. 

Case in point...

[pastimpressions]

Utilizing my USPS secret decoder ring, the letters F-R-A-G-I-L-E translate into K-I-C-K-M-E

[pastimpressions]

This^^^^

I literally was receiving a box from a Fed Ex driver in a business capacity.

It was a large/oversized box. I was standing 6 feet away from the delivery person motioning with my arms outstretched to take the box.

Instead, the FedEx associate slammed the box MARKED IN BIG BOLD LETTERS "FRAGILE - HANDLE LIKE EGGS" onto the floor like Sgt. Slaughter taking it to the Iron Sheik.

Immediately, India Ink started pouring out of the box onto the floor.

I retorted: " Hey, Pal, do you see what you just did?"

He pithily replied: "Who cares, report it for a credit!"

True story #1 of 1001 across the spectrum of ALL of the major carriers.

[toysaver]

If you aren't comfortable dropping the box on a granite floor at the Post Office don't bother sending it. 

[dryophelia]

How do you decide which words to capitalize?