BitWrangler wrote on 2023-11-14, 19:47:

In my estimation of forces required to do that, it looks like "vehicle ran over it" level of damage or someone 200lb plus did a full weight jump stomp with hard soles. If that were the case, I don't think anything short of highly paranoid packing, the kind that gets dismantled and left in useless state by customs inspectors*, would have done much for it on the first half of the trip if that's where it happened.

Judging by the damage, I wonder if it was potentially levered by something like a door. I could see the package having fallen somewhere and then been crushed by a mechanical door of some kind.

In that circumstance, a bulkier object like a box might restrict the amount of leverage available for such damage to occur.

This is only speculation, but I've never had a boxed package arrived completely flattened out the way this card was.

dormcat wrote on 2023-11-14, 21:11:

I just searched and watched some package mishandling videos caught on security cameras; those people were extremely unprofessional, treating packages like toddlers breaking their toys. I can't understand their minds: you get nothing from tossing packages around, and if you get caught you'll be fired or even sued.

This is why as an Ebay seller, I package everything under the assumption it will be mishandled along the way.

I refuse to use padded mailers and only ship things in cardboard boxes. Depending on the object and travel, I will even add additional reinforcement and double-boxing as needed.

If I am selling something rare and potentially irreplaceable, I'll go the extra mile to guard against travel damage. I've noticed that buyers do appreciate the care that goes into packing something for safe transport.

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-11-14, 22:15:

Judging by the damage, I wonder if it was potentially levered by something like a door. ...

just have a look at some turns the mail has to go through...
https://youtu.be/wG8ULky-NwA?si=eAKzFon6U0_cj7eb&t=50

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-11-14, 22:11:

Another photo of the shattered M3D card with the packaging. It was shipped in an anti-static bag inside the pictured mailing env […]
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Another photo of the shattered M3D card with the packaging. It was shipped in an anti-static bag inside the pictured mailing envelope.

There were multiple punctures as pictured, and the bubble wrap on the envelope was flattened. It offered zero protection versus whatever happened to this card.

I paid approximately $15 USD to have this shipped. For $15, I'd at least expect a cardboard box, not a padded mailer.

I recently shipped a package to the U.S. from Canada. Cost of shipping was about $10 for a cardboard box measuring about 10 x 6 x 6 (inches).

There is no reason this couldn't have been at least shipped in a box.

And the seller is an idiot with a diploma framed in silver.
I'll be waiting for you to update us with his excuses, they are usually funny to read.

Edit: this could easily be solved with a guideline, mandatory to watch, for sellers. There can't be room for this kind of things.

I just got a card in a bubble envelope too and I couldn't believe it. Mine was fine, but WT actual F. Just box it.

Nexxen wrote on 2023-11-14, 23:36:

I'll be waiting for you to update us with his excuses, they are usually funny to read.

I've generally had a good track record any time there has been an issue, so I'm hoping at least they can fully reimburse me for this.

I did message them and got a autoreply saying they are away for the week, so I'll have to wait a bit to see what their response is.

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-11-14, 22:11:

Another photo of the shattered M3D card with the packaging. It was shipped in an anti-static bag inside the pictured mailing env […]
Show full quote

Another photo of the shattered M3D card with the packaging. It was shipped in an anti-static bag inside the pictured mailing envelope.

There were multiple punctures as pictured, and the bubble wrap on the envelope was flattened. It offered zero protection versus whatever happened to this card.

I paid approximately $15 USD to have this shipped. For $15, I'd at least expect a cardboard box, not a padded mailer.

I recently shipped a package to the U.S. from Canada. Cost of shipping was about $10 for a cardboard box measuring about 10 x 6 x 6 (inches).

There is no reason this couldn't have been at least shipped in a box.

Terrible; just terrible...

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-11-14, 22:11:

Another photo of the shattered M3D card with the packaging. It was shipped in an anti-static bag inside the pictured mailing env […]
Show full quote

Another photo of the shattered M3D card with the packaging. It was shipped in an anti-static bag inside the pictured mailing envelope.

There were multiple punctures as pictured, and the bubble wrap on the envelope was flattened. It offered zero protection versus whatever happened to this card.

I paid approximately $15 USD to have this shipped. For $15, I'd at least expect a cardboard box, not a padded mailer.

I recently shipped a package to the U.S. from Canada. Cost of shipping was about $10 for a cardboard box measuring about 10 x 6 x 6 (inches).

There is no reason this couldn't have been at least shipped in a box.

Wow! Just wow! 😳

smtkr wrote on 2023-11-15, 00:18:

I just got a card in a bubble envelope too and I couldn't believe it. Mine was fine, but WT actual F. Just box it.

Seriously. A cardboard box is less than $1 when bought in bulk.

For shipping things that are worth hundreds of dollars, I don't understand why they would skimp on packaging.

Because some people are complete idiots. Or they have no clue what they are selling.

One time I sold a Radeon 3850 AGP card, I even double packed it with two boxes.

Rest of the story, not relevant:
Buyer stated it was DOA, so buyer returned it. Tested it again here and worked fine. It went to Down Under and back. Cost me 150 euros of shipping and customs fees.
Guess it was a bit of my own fault, shouldnt have accepted returns...

Nexxen wrote on 2023-11-14, 23:36:

Edit: this could easily be solved with a guideline, mandatory to watch, for sellers. There can't be room for this kind of things.

I've just uploaded my first YouTube video, and it's about this very subject. It's really disappointing getting broken stuiff through the post... Arghh!

Just to add yet another example. Some years ago I got a full ATX motherboard shipped from Italy, in ONLY a thin bubble envelope(!).
Yeah, go figure...

So when it arrived, it seems to have landed/dropped on a corner at some point, as that corner now was standing up in a 90 degree angle from the motherboard, with a 2-3cm 'triangular' piece, still attached (!). It was a corner with a screw hole, of the computer variety that is 😊.

And amazingly, the motherboard worked fine still, as there were no relevant components in that area, other than said hole.

But we were not amused with that seller, oh no sir.... 😠

bestemor wrote on 2023-11-15, 12:34:

Just to add yet another example. Some years ago I got a full ATX motherboard shipped from Italy, in ONLY a thin bubble envelope […]
Show full quote

Just to add yet another example. Some years ago I got a full ATX motherboard shipped from Italy, in ONLY a thin bubble envelope(!).
Yeah, go figure...

So when it arrived, it seems to have landed/dropped on a corner at some point, as that corner now was standing up in a 90 degree angle from the motherboard, with a 2-3cm 'triangular' piece, still attached (!). It was a corner with a screw hole, of the computer variety that is 😊.

And amazingly, the motherboard worked fine still, as there were no relevant components in that area, other than said hole.

But we were not amused with that seller, oh no sir.... 😠

This reminds me of a GeForce FX 5900 I bought that arrived with quite a bit of corner damage.

NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 triage and repair

In keeping with the current lousy packing theme, though this is not retro, I just received a GTX 690 in a cigar box with gift wrapping for protection. Fortunately, nothing broke off, and it works fine.

Got a Sapphire Radeon 9800 PRO Ultimate with one of these great Zalman passive coolers. 😀

Contrary to the other weird one I have this is a real 9800 Pro.

schmatzler wrote on 2023-11-16, 01:38:

Got a Sapphire Radeon 9800 PRO Ultimate with one of these great Zalman passive coolers. 😀
s-l1600.jpg

Contrary to the other weird one I have this is a real 9800 Pro.

That looks slick as heck, nice!

My partner messaged me a link to some old computer monitors and parts for sale she found locally. I thankfully had a moment during my lunch break to go check it out. I purchased a new in box ViewSonic G90F crt monitor! I never in my life thought I would purchase a brand new CRT. Especially in the fairly remote area I am in. So happy to have it as I had a Dell e773 17” crt die with a faulty flyback recently. Also picked up a pair of Intel 440BX-2 motherboards with the Yamaha XG sound on board. A new in box PowerColor GeForce 2 MX AGP and a black JVC 5.25 floppy.

schmatzler wrote on 2023-11-16, 01:38:

Got a Sapphire Radeon 9800 PRO Ultimate with one of these great Zalman passive coolers. 😀
s-l1600.jpg

Contrary to the other weird one I have this is a real 9800 Pro.

Those passive coolers are fantastic given how loud GPU fans were in that era.

Shponglefan wrote on 2023-11-16, 02:56:

Those passive coolers are fantastic given how loud GPU fans were in that era.

Oh yeah. I can't stand those tiny stock ATI fans' horrible whine.
The Zalman ZM80D-HP is amazing, I use it on an X850 and my 9600XT daily driver.

On these later cards you still need a fan, but you can get a big one and run it at a very low speed to get a little bit of airflow.
I believe the Sapphire cooler is just a rebranded ZM80A a variant of the ZM80D with only one heatpipe.

I hate those coolers with passion. Too weak for X850 series, and too massive for 9600XT (I've seen lot of chipped cores). Optional fan was recommended for 9800 Pro. Would only put them on GeForce3 /4. IMHO, VF900 is better for any ATI card based on R300, R400 even R500 core. Except 9600, which has extremely small core (RV350/RV360).

But then, maybe I'm just too lazy to assemble them 😉.