Albion's packaging
Feb 18, 2024 14:56:29 GMT
Post by tomtx on Feb 18, 2024 14:56:29 GMT
Albion packaging is surprisingly inadequate considering how much the swords cost and their 'higher end' status... For that matter, if you buy direct from Albion, shipping is pretty expensive at $65 per sword. You'd think for that amount they could package them decently.
I've gotten more than a handful of swords directly from Albion over the past 3 years, and all of them except one had punctured the guard ends (and sometimes the pommel peen block) through the box. Maybe two, since the Earl guard ends aren't really able to puncture very well. But the other was the Sempach, which actually jumped completely out of the foam and stabbed the tip into the cardboard during shipping.
I've also noticed scuffs on the blades that might be from rubbing across the foam.
It's not right for a relatively expensive, relatively 'high-end' item to be packaged this way, and it's not safe for the shipping people who have to handle it (although, after all, they are the cause of the abuse that leads to the swords sticking through boxes). I made an email comment to Mike about the packaging and my experiences, but he didn't say anything.
It just seems to be something Albion must know about but chooses not to address for some reason. It wouldn't be difficult to secure the swords better so they stay suspended in the middle of the box (the key is to keep the sword from being able to move at all to begin with, not to add more padding to the sides of the box to hopefully stop punctures once the sword has built up momentum flying around inside the box). It's not a surprise by now that shippers are really abusive, and the current foam setup isn't good enough...
Maybe if everyone who orders one from Albion and finds the box punctured when it arrives could send a comment to Albion, something might be done after enough comments? Couldn't hurt...
I've gotten more than a handful of swords directly from Albion over the past 3 years, and all of them except one had punctured the guard ends (and sometimes the pommel peen block) through the box. Maybe two, since the Earl guard ends aren't really able to puncture very well. But the other was the Sempach, which actually jumped completely out of the foam and stabbed the tip into the cardboard during shipping.
I've also noticed scuffs on the blades that might be from rubbing across the foam.
It's not right for a relatively expensive, relatively 'high-end' item to be packaged this way, and it's not safe for the shipping people who have to handle it (although, after all, they are the cause of the abuse that leads to the swords sticking through boxes). I made an email comment to Mike about the packaging and my experiences, but he didn't say anything.
It just seems to be something Albion must know about but chooses not to address for some reason. It wouldn't be difficult to secure the swords better so they stay suspended in the middle of the box (the key is to keep the sword from being able to move at all to begin with, not to add more padding to the sides of the box to hopefully stop punctures once the sword has built up momentum flying around inside the box). It's not a surprise by now that shippers are really abusive, and the current foam setup isn't good enough...
Maybe if everyone who orders one from Albion and finds the box punctured when it arrives could send a comment to Albion, something might be done after enough comments? Couldn't hurt...
