[ChunkyMC]

Thinking of ordering a helmet online, but am afraid of how UPS/USPS would handle it. I have a friend that packed the UPS trucks in the morning and he told me that packages were hucked/chucked from the semi trucks into the delivery trucks (dont ever buy a flat screen TV online) & helmets can be pretty fragile. Anyone else had any problems?

 

[Resist]

I ordered a Giro XEN helmet from Amazon and it arrived just fine with no damage. They pack their stuff really well.

Oh and I also bought a 61 DLP TV online 5 years ago and it also arrived with no issues.

Get Fed Ex to deliver if UPS is an issue.

 

[Dinosaur]

I've ordered a couple of helmets. They are packed in styrofoam. No problems.

 

[caterham]

helmets tend to ship very well. they have very little mass so can be dropped and jounced quite severely without damage.if it's sent in the original packaging, you should not have any issues unless the box was punctured or severely crushed.

 

[GerryR]

I would suggest you never order anything that needs to be shipped. Helmets, cameras, lenses, iPods, laptops and the like are extremely delicate and always explode during shipment.

 

[heathb]

This is pretty funny. There's little you can do to damage a helmet that is packed in the original box and then placed in another box.

I've shipped $6000 saxophones via UPS packed well and they've arrived and been returned just fine and those are much more delicate than a helmet.

Of course I've had bone heads that just throw stuff in a box and of course that stuff will and can be damaged.

Packing is everything. FYI never let the UPS store pack your stuff, over priced and p--- poor packing jobs.

 

[Dinosaur]

Another way to look at it is if you don't trust FedEx or UPS how are you going to trust wearing it on your head?

Well, I can sort of see your point. I was leery about ordering a built up wheel online. Arrived in box, intact from UPS. Slapped a cassette on it, put it on my bike, no problems.

Most stuff I have read about damged goods is built up bikes. No experience. Probably depends on the packaging.

 

[Dave Hickey]

How did the helmet get from the manufacturer to the online store's warehouse?

1. loaded on a truck from some plant in Asia to an ocean port
2. loaded in an ocean container
3. unloaded on the west coast and loaded into a truck to manfacturers US warehouse(probably transferred 2 or 3 times in transit)
4. loaded on a truck to the online stores warehouse(probably transfered 2 or 3 times in transit)



I think you'll be ok with step 5

 

[rward325]

I think Hickey summed it up pretty well. If it hasn't been destroyed by the time it got the the resellers warehouse odds are it is going to get to you okay. BTW I have had Plasma screen TV from Tiger Direct, Wheels, frames and assorted other breakables shipped and nothing broken so far.

 

[Ray_from_SA]

Most shipping internal to the US from the main distribution center to the bike shop is by UPS trucks.

I suppose, if shipping by UPS is dangerous, we also shouldn't be buying helmets and such from our LBS.

 

[velodog]

Insurance!
I shipped a $3200 rifle back to the manufacturer for some work and when it got back the box was bowed and theree was no way that the rifle wasn't gonna be damaged. I told the driver to take the package and get off my property. He insisted that he didn't see anything wrong with the package.
The builder rebuilt the rifle and it was returned unharmed. I don't know how long he had to fight with UPS but I won't ship with them anymore.
It was shipped in a 6"x8"x52" very rigid hard aluminum case that I thought would have been almost indestructable.

If the box looks damaged enough that the contents may have taken a big hit you';re better off refusing the package. Once you open it it falls to you to prove that it wasn't damaged by your-own-self.
I know a fellow that fought that fight for a good number of months.

 

[russotto]

I suppose, if shipping by UPS is dangerous, we also shouldn't be buying helmets and such from our LBS.

Just make sure it was in the middle of the case, so the other helmets protected it.

One UPS rejected slogan: "We put the 'drop' in drop shipment".

 

[Resist]

If an item is packaged correctly then any UPS rough handling won't hurt it. The problem is that most people don't know how to box stuff right.

 

[moabbiker]

I would suggest you never order anything that needs to be shipped. Helmets, cameras, lenses, iPods, laptops and the like are extremely delicate and always explode during shipment.

Good one! And never order packing boxes online either, as they might get damaged during the shipment.

 

[JCavilia]

helmets can be pretty fragile.

This is a joke, right?

 

[alpha_bravo]

Insurance!
I shipped a $3200 rifle back to the manufacturer for some work and when it got back the box was bowed and theree was no way that the rifle wasn't gonna be damaged. I told the driver to take the package and get off my property. He insisted that he didn't see anything wrong with the package.
The builder rebuilt the rifle and it was returned unharmed. I don't know how long he had to fight with UPS but I won't ship with them anymore.
It was shipped in a 6"x8"x52" very rigid hard aluminum case that I thought would have been almost indestructable.

Solid advice about not accepting packages with possible damage. It's much easier to return an unopened package and file for an insurance claim. Also if you do open a box and find the contents damaged, be sure to retain all the packaging. Often times shipping companies will not warrantee a product unless all shipping material is still there.

My experience has been very similar with golf clubs. It seems that long boxes are extremely susceptible to damage during shipping. Although my local UPS has always been very good, I've heard of plenty of horror stories with $600 drivers arriving in dented boxes with caved in crowns and snapped shafts.

However, in a standard sized boxe a helmet should ship in, I doubt there will be any issues. Besides if a helmet can't take the g forces of shipping, I'd hate to see what happens during an accident.

 

[Kuma601]

I don't see an issue with having a helmet shipped. I've had my share of issues shipping but places that ship sensitive items regularly tend to know how to pack them for safe arrival. The extreme handling is what causes problems. Like any item of value, so long as it is insured, it will help you. When in doubt, buy local.

Curious, how much a savings are you getting on the helmet mail-order vs. local?

 

[Resist]

I know huh. If helmets are so fragile then I sure wouldn't want them protecting my head.