Bought an Alpha on ebay.....venting I guess...

[T-Rex]

I have never built an Alpha. I was scrolling through e(vil)bay and came across what looked like a good deal... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Estes-Alpha-Model-Rocket-Kit-1225/142422844576

I receive the order in today's mail. This moron shipped it wrapped in bubble wrap in a padded envelope. He did write do not bend on the outside, but really??
I can probably re-round the crushed end with the motor mount, but it shouldn't be that way.
I have sent a note to the seller. Will wait and see what the response before I send neutral/negative feedback.

Y'all have a great day!

 

[Gary Byrum]

Only a dumba** would ship a rocket in anything other than a box with said packing materials. You go bust his balls man! Honestly, I hate it for ya. Truth be known, it would have been a safer bet to just clone something that simple.

 

[MALBAR 70]

I'm with you. I recently won an Estes Cobra 1500. The seller shipped it in a plain unpadded brown paper envelope. When it arrived, the envelope was ripped and two of the three Bt55 tubes were crushed beyond use. To top it all off the package wasn't even marked "fragile" or "do not bend".

 

[K'Tesh]

I had a seller pull the same thing as the OP once. I wasn't surprised at all when I opened it, and the body tube was smashed. Being that the rocket was a sealed bag, vintage kit, I was refunded when I asked for one. I didn't leave feedback for the vendor since I was quickly refunded with no problem (I did send photos and a recommendation that he never use bubble wrapped envelopes again). I ended up replacing the body tube and building it, but I still don't have a mint condition, sealed bag, vintage collectible.

 

[jimzcatz]

Not an excuse, but I found out recently putting "fragile" on a box shipped with usps costs extra.

 

[Bat-mite]

Here's the problem with buying an Alpha on eBay. If the shipping is free, you are going to get the cheapest things the seller can find. If you have to pay for shipping, then why not just buy it from AC Supply or Hobby Linc?

 

[TangoJuliet]

I recently shipped two kits in the USPS box without having "Fragile", "Do Not Bend", "Top Load Only" on it. When the buyer received it, it was flat as a pancake . Everything except the BT's survived! He was able to use the original tracking number to get some compensation from the USPS, fortunately. I made the mistake of assuming that the USPS would be more careful than they were. Never assume!

 

[Gary Byrum]

I recently shipped two kits in the USPS box without having "Fragile", "Do Not Bend", "Top Load Only" on it. When the buyer received it, it was flat as a pancake . Everything except the BT's survived! He was able to use the original tracking number to get some compensation from the USPS, fortunately. I made the mistake of assuming that the USPS would be more careful than they were. Never assume!

Maybe it's an area problem with deliveries. USPS where I'm at almost never has crushed boxes or any type of damage. UPS and FedEx on the other hand can be quite abusive. I never ship with them either, just because.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Maybe it's an area problem with deliveries. USPS where I'm at almost never has crushed boxes or any type of damage.

Shipped from Mobile, AL, to California.

 

[jadebox]

Not an excuse, but I found out recently putting "fragile" on a box shipped with usps costs extra.

The USPS offers a special Fragile shipping service which costs extra, but that doesn't mean you can't put a Fragile sticker on other classes of mail. The only time it would cost extra is if you purchase the special handling service or use the USPS's "Special Handling - Fragile" stickers.

The USPS expects you to package the item to survive shipment. So, writing "Fragile" or "Do Not Bend" on a package isn't going to have much effect. The carrier delivering the package to your mailbox might pay attention, but the machines and people handling the package in route are not likely to do anything different.


I have, unfortunately, received rockets mailed in padded envelopes a few times. Even Amazon has done it. I think of the four or five times it has happened, only once did the rocket arrive undamaged.

-- Roger

 

[T-Rex]

Update:
Seller got back to me and is sending another kit, in a box. So he has made good, maybe learned something, and will get positive feedback from me.

Normally, yes, I would have just cloned it. Given the cost of nosecones, it seemed like a break-even proposition. I also prefer to purchase a kit if it is still in production before I clone or upscale. Just a personal thing, I believe in making sure the manufacturer gets the credit for the R&D.

 

[Peartree]

Maybe it's an area problem with deliveries. USPS where I'm at almost never has crushed boxes or any type of damage. UPS and FedEx on the other hand can be quite abusive. I never ship with them either, just because.

I can't remember the last time that any of these shippers delivered a package that was damaged. Regular mail and large envelopes on the other hand have arrived "repackaged" in a plastic bag with almost no sign of the original envelope (address label and a few remaining bits).

 

[Woody's Workshop]

For that price, like you said, the nose cone and decals are worth it.
Now you have 2. If your like me, you have a mile of BT from 5 to 80 so replacing crushed tubes isn't a problem.
The Centuri Spirit of America kit I bought off ebay a couple years ago was shipped in a triangle box. It got folded.
The guy refunded my $5.00 to replace the tube. I did, cloned it, and Mark at Stickershock to dupe the decal.
I have an open kit now, but I opened the bag behind the hang tag so it's hard to spot. But I don't plan on reselling any kit I've bought.
And it helped K'Tesh out with his files.