Is anyone concerned about the processing for USPS Ground Advantage packages?

[anything_goes_2005]

I have been using USPS GA for a couple of weeks now and have not encountered any issues. Most of the items I sell weigh under 15.9 ounces and ship in small boxes. I'm concerned that all GA packages are placed in the same cart/bin. Does anyone have any insight into the USPS GA sorting process? I'm assuming USPS GA packages are sorted by size, weight etc. and that bulky heavy items are separated from light weight smaller ones. This was not an issue to worry about when USPS First Class was in use.  I already "over pack" all items I ship and just wondering if I need to enhance package protection when using GA. Thanks for any responses.

[heckofagame]

From what I have seen at my post office, all items get tossed into giant rolling bins, rolled onto a truck, hauled to a regional center where the bins are dumped onto a conveyor and then sorted. Nothing has changed. 

[myfrugalboutique]

I wonder. The other day I had a customer email about an  tube of body cream. It was shipped the way I always would . Good padded mailer, and bubble wrapped. The pictures showed it had not even been opened but was smashed and everything had leaked all over. I have never had a problem like this before, and I would tend to think they are not being properly handled. I refunded her the $40 and told her to throw it away. 

‘This type of damage looked like it had been run over by a truck. 

[ms.rodriguez*]

It's the same conveyor belt. You can have a 1 ounce box next to an 70 lb box and both will tumble into the same bin.  It's the same as it was for parcel and first class.  So pack those items securely.

[myfrugalboutique]

I never had a problem before. 

[ms.rodriguez*]

You obviously pack well.  I have not had an issue either as a seller.  I only had 2 packages "harpooned" by the post office and both times, the buyers were going to open up the toy and the toy was not damaged.  

[greatmidwestcoin]

Nope. Not concerned.

[greatmidwestcoin]

You have to expect this as small flexible items like this will get under larger heavier items. Nothing new here. Pack better. Or you could choose a different shipper like UPS or FedEx. Oh, but then they are much more expensive. Darn.

[greatmidwestcoin]

Now you can no longer state that. No big deal.

[gd_vintage_finds]

Thanks for the info. If what you said is true, that packages share the same conveyor belt regardless of size/weight, then there is nothing for me to worry about. USPS GA is just a service name change and the sorting process remains the same...business as usual.  Your reply ties in with the reply from heckofagame.

[yuzuha]

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@heckofagame wrote:

From what I have seen at my post office, all items get tossed into giant rolling bins, rolled onto a truck, hauled to a regional center where the bins are dumped onto a conveyor and then sorted. Nothing has changed. 

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Yep. At my local PO, if you drop something off on the counter, they grab it and toss it into one of the giant rolling bins behind the counter. They don't check to see whether it's First Class or Priority, into the bin it goes to get sorted at the regional sort facility.

[yuzuha]

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@myfrugalboutique wrote:

I wonder. The other day I had a customer email about an  tube of body cream. It was shipped the way I always would . Good padded mailer, and bubble wrapped. The pictures showed it had not even been opened but was smashed and everything had leaked all over. I have never had a problem like this before, and I would tend to think they are not being properly handled.

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I'm honestly surprised you've never had that happen before, because I once had a seller ship me a bottle of shower gel packaged just like that and the exact same thing happened to it. That's what happens when something heavy falls onto a plastic bottle/tube that has zero protection from outside forces.

[pargran3]

I think luck had a lot to do with that packaging. Padded envelopes for a liquid in a plastic container are a horrible choice. Always have been. Always will be. Most will make it. Small miracle. Some will not. No surprise.

First class, priority, or the newly named ground advantage. 

It  IS GOING THE SAME WAY IT DID BEFORE!!!!

Bang crash. There has always been the chance that a heavy package will land point on on top of it.

The change to ground advantage is simply a simplification of what something is called. Nothing changed. The sky is falling hysteria here is astounding.  

[powell-memorabilia]

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@myfrugalboutique wrote:

I wonder. The other day I had a customer email about an  tube of body cream. It was shipped the way I always would . Good padded mailer, and bubble wrapped. The pictures showed it had not even been opened but was smashed and everything had leaked all over. I have never had a problem like this before, and I would tend to think they are not being properly handled. I refunded her the $40 and told her to throw it away. 

‘This type of damage looked like it had been run over by a truck. 

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I think that you have been lucky.  No way I’d put gel or liquid in a flexible mailer.  If that works for you, great - I really don’t doubt that you’ve only had an issue one time.  

[lesegouts]

If you pack it correctly, with no movement of the product within the box (which means adequate cushioning) you should be fine. Can't remember a single item damaged, and I've shipped many thousands.