Sending Glass by courier

hamburger200

Hi, I used Parcel Monkey a few weeks ago and was pleased, they picked up on time and i tracked and it got delivered. I now have to send something else.. A Microwave glass dish, is it okay to send this ?
Reading in their F&Q it says this

"Parcel Monkey will not accept the following items for carriage: livestock, glass, ceramics, perishable goods, liquids, hazardous goods, explosives or dangerous goods. Please refer to our terms and conditions of carriage.

So who do i use?
If anyone can suggest ,, Thankyou

custardy

most couriers dont cover glass
if you send it then you need to package it accordingly

soolin

When i had a brilliant (not) business idea earlier this year to sell art that I could source very cheaply it failed purely because I could not find anyone willing to carry it. Some would carry it at my own risk but others declined to carry it at all. All because it had glass fronting the picture.

martindow

There are two issues here insurance and the risk of someone getting cut if glass breaks. No normal carrier is going to insure glass but providing it is well packed (bubble wrap, box, loose fill packaging, outer box) it should not be of risk. You are self insuring so need to pack it so it will survive rough handling or being dropped.

RM services will not insure but do not prohibit according to this list

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400138&mediaId=36200675

So it could go 1st class or standard parcels if it is heavy.

cyberbob

martindow wrote: »

There are two issues here insurance and the risk of someone getting cut if glass breaks. No normal carrier is going to insure glass but providing it is well packed (bubble wrap, box, loose fill packaging, outer box) it should not be of risk. You are self insuring so need to pack it so it will survive rough handling or being dropped.

RM services will not insure but do not prohibit according to this list

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400138&mediaId=36200675

So it could go 1st class or standard parcels if it is heavy.

I've sent quite a few Glass items via RM. As long as they are packaged well i've had no problems. You just need to assess the risk. Personally I would avoid things with a flat piece of glass like mirrors or picture frames as they are pretty difficult to package well enough for RM's gentle handling.

macfly

Pack it like you would a laptop. Not easy as a one off, but two layers of styrofoam top and bottom in a double walled box should be ok. I used shaped pieces to suspend things like this and put cushioning underneath.

soolin

cyberbob wrote: »

I've sent quite a few Glass items via RM. As long as they are packaged well i've had no problems. You just need to assess the risk. Personally I would avoid things with a flat piece of glass like mirrors or picture frames as they are pretty difficult to package well enough for RM's gentle handling.

I should add that although I gave up on the art idea I do still send glass via RM and self insure. However like you large flat expanses of glass was just too daunting as I could see no way of protecting it both against being dropped and /or crushed.

Birbeck

It's a difficult one - although RM say they don't cover for breakable items, they supposedly will if item was properly packed!
On the other hand, from the day I was to wait from 7am to 7pm for a collection, I regretted using Parcel2Ship - middlemen (first time was fine about a year ago); as it was a light package and so I should have just used RM and gone to the PO. I had assumed Parcel2Ship would accept any item, but when one piece from five glass items was received broken I found out that they also don't cover for antiques, ceramics, glass and 000s of other items! Lesson learned: sit and read the long list of 'exemptions'!
Some times things may appear better value, but end up being a false economy and more hassle. The Company doesn't seem to reply to e-mails and I ended up ringing their 0845 number several times. Worst, they have such a bad attitude. Really best to stick to dearer but trusty old Royal Mail.

Strapped

soolin wrote: »

I should add that although I gave up on the art idea I do still send glass via RM and self insure. However like you large flat expanses of glass was just too daunting as I could see no way of protecting it both against being dropped and /or crushed.

Soolin, you have the packing peanuts now (I take it you still have a few left - a few tonnes, that is) - get some proper double-walled boxes, and you're there. So long as the posties can play football with it then it should get there OK.

hamburger200

Hi, Thanks everyone for your input.. I am now sending it by courier. It will not be insured as it is a restricted item. But i can send it. Some couriers actually do stop you sending glass. Ive packaged it well (i hope) and hopefully it will get there in one piece. Thanks everyone

Pembroke

soolin wrote: »

When i had a brilliant (not) business idea earlier this year to sell art that I could source very cheaply it failed purely because I could not find anyone willing to carry it. Some would carry it at my own risk but others declined to carry it at all. All because it had glass fronting the picture.

Soolin as far as possible I've stopped sending my pictures in their frames, just too much hassle as the OP has found, now I sell most of my pictures unframed and rolled up in a tube. Better for the customer as it costs less to send and they can then choose a frame to match their decor rather than having to make do with whatever the picture is currently in.

Sorry for the thread highjack OP :beer: