Greatly increase your odds that your cue will arrive safely...

Bob 14:1

Bob 14:1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm a 30 year retiree of the U.S. Postal Service, and I've seen a lot. Yes, parcels can get mishandled; something not entirely unique with using the USPS as your carrier. These points apply to any carrier you might choose.


I'll be prepping a cue for shipping shortly. My packing method is certainly not the only way to do things. I detail my packing method below, but the primary reason for this thread's relevance is this.


Clearly and boldly mark the outer carton on each side, and the ends as well, with the word "GLASS". The airport baggage handlers, semi tractor trailer loading crews, and anyone else handling your cue along to its final destination haven't a clue that it's not glass.


Contrary to the widely held belief that government employees cannot read, most actually can to a limited degree, well, except for the supervisors. This is close to a sure fire way to get your parcel thru the system without any catastrophic damage inflicted. Boldly applied with a RED Sharpie, I haven't had it let me down yet. Yeah, there's always an exception, but I've rarely seen it fail.


Lightly immobilize the cue parts in a nearly bulletproof and indestructible heavy duty tube; enough so it won't move within the tube, yet so as to not put any unnecessary lateral pressure on the cue. I weigh 190 pounds and I can stand on this tube without it collapsing. The tube provides a real physical barrier for the actual cue against assorted impacts via conveyor belts, tossing, etc.


Enclose your barrier tube in a cardboard carton. Using bubble wrap, cushion the tube on all points of its circumference; not forgetting a bubble wrap cushion on each end of the carton. The point here is to use the bubble wrap as a material to perform as a shock absorber. Your cue has already been immobilized in the tube, so now the tube is also cushioned against any shock or movement inside the carton.

Just thought I'd tho' that out there... :shrug:
 
Great advice, Bob. By-the-way, did you ever work with Newman? He was from New York City.
Another helpful hint is to do what I did. I bought a Schon from Seyberts and was fearful of rough handling through the mail so I drove all the way to Coldwater, Minnesota to pick it up. I miss-calculated my arrival time and got there early on a Sunday morning. Did you know that isn't much going on in Coldwater, Minnesota from early Sunday until Monday? :smile:

P.S. I know this wasn't much of a story folks, but it's been a slow day.
 
No. But Jerry and I became great friends...

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I've been packaging Cues that way for several years now. The extra-thick tube is the
key, along with bubble wrap. I then package everything inside a Priority Tube.
I always wanted to write "GLASS" All Over the package but was told by a driver that
they single those out for special treatment, as in "Beat the Shit out of it".
Maybe I'll try it next time.
 
Str8PoolPlayer said:
I've been packaging Cues that way for several years now. The extra-thick tube is the
key, along with bubble wrap. I then package everything inside a Priority Tube.
I always wanted to write "GLASS" All Over the package but was told by a driver that
they single those out for special treatment, as in "Beat the Shit out of it".
Maybe I'll try it next time.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. What's it cost going with a Priority tube? I always found that nobody wanted to hear the glass rattle on their watch. Sort of like asking who was the last person to see the victim alive... :thud:
 
Bob 14:1 said:
That's interesting. What's it cost going with a Priority tube? I always found that nobody wanted to hear the glass rattle on their watch. Sort of like asking who was the last person to see the victim alive... :thud:
Click to expand...

The last cue I shipped by Priority was a thick tube inside a Priority Triangle Tube.
It cost $24.00 insured for $500.00 from California to Massachusetts.
 
Thanks for the post Bob. Good to hear from a veteran.

I ship cues in 3" schedule 40 PVC tube. Shafts and the butt gets wrapped individually in bubble wrap. Two shafts and a but slides in the tube slightly snuggly but not tight. They will not slide around. If one shaft, just add a little more bubble wrap to make up the difference. A small chunk of bubble wrap at each end of the tube. Both ends of the tube is capped with a "test cap". It is a plastic lid that fits inside and flush with the end of the tube, sold at Lowes. A little tape on the ends, though the lids fit tightly.

The tube then goes in a 3 foot priority triangular box. The ones that are about 5.5 inches on the side. The tubes are a tight fit in the box (box needs tape), so the cues are immobilized in the tube and the tube is immobilized in the box. The corners of the box will absorb a lot of impact if the box is dropped or thrown.

This is the only way I ever ship a cue, unless I ship one in a case.
 
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Thick tubing

I go down to the local flooring and carpet store, they are always happy to give me one of those big thick card board tubing out of the center of a carpet roll .
I take a hand wood saw and cut in in half to lay it down in the bed of my pick up and if I am in my car I cut it so to length but its tuff to hold the tubing and hand saw it at the same time .
Someone holding the tubing is helpful .
PS take a tape measure with you and cut 4 inches long or 34 to 36 inches long .

I had a customer in Taiwan that I had ship a pretty nice cue to him and as usual he didn't want the cue insured.

If this cue would of gotten damaged he would of been out well over 1K .
He didn't need issues like that so I packed it the best I could.

Keep in mind customs might be opening this so don't glue both ends shut and I drilled a hole so the pressures would be equal and the tube doesn't collapse from flying .

It cost 86.00 to priority ship USA sewer pipe to Taiwan , Go figure ..



I couldn't believe it the cue got to Taiwan, thru custom and to the customer from Nevada in 48 hrs :thumbup: Big thumbs up for USPS.

Its really the best to ship priority or faster because its less time for them to beat your stuff up ...
 
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Tramp Steamer said:
Great advice, Bob. By-the-way, did you ever work with Newman? He was from New York City.
Another helpful hint is to do what I did. I bought a Schon from Seyberts and was fearful of rough handling through the mail so I drove all the way to Coldwater, Minnesota to pick it up. I miss-calculated my arrival time and got there early on a Sunday morning. Did you know that isn't much going on in Coldwater, Minnesota from early Sunday until Monday? :smile:

P.S. I know this wasn't much of a story folks, but it's been a slow day.
Click to expand...

Isn't Seyberts in Michigan?
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Is it that important to you Armstrong? Do you get a kick out of tripping other members up? Of course it's in Michigan.
Click to expand...

I was just asking. I knew Seyberts had a location in Michigan. Your post said Minnesota. I simply asked a question. Don't get your panties in a bunch. Sheesh.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Is it that important to you Armstrong? Do you get a kick out of tripping other members up? Of course it's in Michigan.
Click to expand...

Google maps work well.
Use it everyday to get back and forth to work.
21 miles each way on the same highway.
Have not got lost in the 11 years I've made the drive.
Never had to use the note my Daughter taped on my dash board.
" If found call ###-####"
 
Str8PoolPlayer said:
The last cue I shipped by Priority was a thick tube inside a Priority Triangle Tube.
It cost $24.00 insured for $500.00 from California to Massachusetts.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that. I had also wondered if insurance would break the bank. I suspect, being triangular, that such an outer box/tube would be superior to a square, elongated box., although the outer box is really meant to absorb hits without transferring much force to the valuable object within.

Between these techniques, I don't think it's humanly possible to pack and ship any better than what we've mentioned. Thank you for your comments and valuable input...
 
Last month I had 2 custom cues shipped the same way all of my cues are shipped....packed safely
and delivered using the USPS next day 24 hr delivery coast to coast.........I've shipped over $30k
in cues this way and my last two were insurance valued at $3500 & $2500 & shipped next day arrival.

Both cues arrived on time like all my other pool cue shipments and totally problem free. Coast to coast
next day signed delivery with insurance......runs between $45 and $60 depending on the insurance value
and when shorter distances are involved, the cost is less than coast to coast.


Matt B.

p.s Total cues shipped USPS (14 pool cues).
 
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