Hotel 3 Apha's Packing Job! (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I recently purchased some very rare K & C Glossy from Hotel 3 Alpha, John, and since these were New South Wales Lancers, I was a little nervous, to say the least, about their arriving in one piece.

Well, I received the package yesterday and I thought I was a good packer but John took it to a higher level. Getting to the Lancers was like one of those Russian dolls; you have to go layer through layer until you reach the core.

John must have spent a long time packing the Lancers because it took me about 15 minutes each to get to each Lancer.

A packing job like this must be recognized ^&cool ^&cool

So if you ever have the good fortune to buy some rare items from John, rest assured you will get them in the condition you bought them in.

Brad

 

[zblang]

He and Markeytmaker should have a competition!

I couldn't believe how well my Chinese Wedding Party was packed by him!

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I recently purchased some very rare K & C Glossy from Hotel 3 Alpha, John, and since these were New South Wales Lancers, I was a little nervous, to say the least, about their arriving in one piece.

Well, I received the package yesterday and I thought I was a good packer but John took it to a higher level. Getting to the Lancers was like one of those Russian dolls; you have to go layer through layer until you reach the core.

John must have spent a long time packing the Lancers because it took me about 15 minutes each to get to each Lancer.

A packing job like this must be recognized ^&cool ^&cool

So if you ever have the good fortune to buy some rare items from John, rest assured you will get them in the condition you bought them in.

Brad

Sounds like a great story.... The old shipping rule of thumb..............If you shake the outer shipping box and the item(s) inside rattle around it needs to be corrected ! :wink2:

 

[hotel3alpha]

Brad,

Thank you for the accolades on my packing prowess. Especially since it is coming from one of the "Founding Fathers" of the Forum. I learned my craft from a Japanese lady (true war story coming...) who taught me the art of origami and washi paper wrapping. In Japan, some gifts are wrapped with no tape as they are wrapped by perfect folds that are tight enough to hold the paper together. Unwrapping them is kind of a riddle with out tearing the paper. Once, I gave some Christmas gifts to a Japanese family who "adopted" this GI while I was there. I expected them to tear *** through the paper like I (and many of us) have done during birthdays and Christmas. But no, they picked at each and individual tape and carefully unwrapped it and admired the paper, the box and of course the gift. I was taken aback by their patience and more so by the fact that each and every part of the gift was given its "due".

On the flip side of that, on many occasions I watched Japanese movers gently pack, bubble, and cut to fit card board to make a piece of furniture or knick knacks while one got orders back to the states. It was amazing watching these guys build a complete packing system that was form fitted for a chair, odd or end. I guess they approached it with the attitude that they were literally putting their name on it via stamp or company name and did not want to shame themselves or company. When I finally got my household goods out of storage years later, my items were in pristine condition and yes I had to through layers of packing materials to get through them.

So, out of respect for the soldiers and those who buy them I try to put a little Zen Buddha on them. If I get lucky enough to sell a piece then I really want to make sure it shows up intact and with out damage. I think when you buy a piece and it shows up busted and disgusted it is not just heartbreaking but...well it just plain sucks. So, when I was on the opposite side of that situation and one of my buddys (Mr. Tim) reported to me that a piece I sent him showed up damaged I was so sad for him and I was devastated. So, to make it right I found the piece, bought it on my own dime and am sending him a new one with out charge...period...end of story In this instance, its just the right thing to do and frankly thats how I roll. Hell, I may meet the guy one day and I don't want him to pissed at me!

Anyways, thanks Brad for the kudos I greatly appreciate it.

John from Texas

 

[Alex]

very interesting story !
in december of last year, I sent back a figure to Russia (made there) because it was sent to me by error. it took me at least 15 min to pack it well with tissue paper, custom cut foam, cardboard, more tape than you could imagine on the outside...
fast forward 4 months later, the figure came back to me because the receiver never went to the post office to pick it up..
he told me to keep it.
so 4 months later I was there unwrapping it... and guess what, after travelling back and forth between canada and Russia and sitting somewhere in between, it was in the same condition as it was in December !
so packaging makes all the difference !

cheers
alex

Brad,

Thank you for the accolades on my packing prowess. Especially since it is coming from one of the "Founding Fathers" of the Forum. I learned my craft from a Japanese lady (true war story coming...) who taught me the art of origami and washi paper wrapping. In Japan, some gifts are wrapped with no tape as they are wrapped by perfect folds that are tight enough to hold the paper together. Unwrapping them is kind of a riddle with out tearing the paper. Once, I gave some Christmas gifts to a Japanese family who "adopted" this GI while I was there. I expected them to tear *** through the paper like I (and many of us) have done during birthdays and Christmas. But no, they picked at each and individual tape and carefully unwrapped it and admired the paper, the box and of course the gift. I was taken aback by their patience and more so by the fact that each and every part of the gift was given its "due".

On the flip side of that, on many occasions I watched Japanese movers gently pack, bubble, and cut to fit card board to make a piece of furniture or knick knacks while one got orders back to the states. It was amazing watching these guys build a complete packing system that was form fitted for a chair, odd or end. I guess they approached it with the attitude that they were literally putting their name on it via stamp or company name and did not want to shame themselves or company. When I finally got my household goods out of storage years later, my items were in pristine condition and yes I had to through layers of packing materials to get through them.

So, out of respect for the soldiers and those who buy them I try to put a little Zen Buddha on them. If I get lucky enough to sell a piece then I really want to make sure it shows up intact and with out damage. I think when you buy a piece and it shows up busted and disgusted it is not just heartbreaking but...well it just plain sucks. So, when I was on the opposite side of that situation and one of my buddys (Mr. Tim) reported to me that a piece I sent him showed up damaged I was so sad for him and I was devastated. So, to make it right I found the piece, bought it on my own dime and am sending him a new one with out charge...period...end of story In this instance, its just the right thing to do and frankly thats how I roll. Hell, I may meet the guy one day and I don't want him to pissed at me!

Anyways, thanks Brad for the kudos I greatly appreciate it.

John from Texas

 

[MarkeytMaker]

He and Markeytmaker should have a competition!

I couldn't believe how well my Chinese Wedding Party was packed by him!

Zach, Thanks for the compliment...preserving these rare sets is important to me and there is nothing worse than receiving a poorly packaged set! It baffles me that some seller's just toss some of the rarest figures in a small bubble envelope or a cheap thin little priority box. My latest was a glossy USMC pilot...he was free floating in a 4x4x4 box with bubble {eek3}

 

[tdubel]

Zach, Thanks for the compliment...preserving these rare sets is important to me and there is nothing worse than receiving a poorly packaged set! It baffles me that some seller's just toss some of the rarest figures in a small bubble envelope or a cheap thin little priority box. My latest was a glossy USMC pilot...he was free floating in a 4x4x4 box with bubble {eek3}

AGree on packing as has been said, well worth the time. However, one thing to note, after sending out more than I care to count small flat rate priority boxes for single figures, if properly packed, these can be some of the best traveled boxes around. They allow for tight packing, no settlement and no movement. They work quite well. Again, all about the packing, if that is off, then forget it.

Tom

 

[zblang]

I have to pile on here...

Hotel3Alpha, John, is a master packer.

I just received some older K&C figures from him and not only were they packed well, but he wrapped them all with wrapping paper to protect the boxes. It served to protect them and also was fun bc I got to open three little presents today!

Buy with confidence from my bruthah from Tejas!!!

 

[hotel3alpha]

I have to pile on here...

Hotel3Alpha, John, is a master packer.

I just received some older K&C figures from him and not only were they packed well, but he wrapped them all with wrapping paper to protect the boxes. It served to protect them and also was fun bc I got to open three little presents today!

Buy with confidence from my bruthah from Tejas!!!

Mr. ZB Lang,

I am once again humbled by a customer who gives me accolades for my packing job. I really appreciate the compliment and I hope to do more packing for you sir.

However, the real truth of the matter is that I feared getting sued in Federal Court since my package went across state lines and I was concerned that Mr. ZB Lang (ESQ) would present some stipulation in the Interstate Commerce Act of 1897 in court. Therefore, with that in mind I ensured that I had a clause that read the following:

"Only selling to a qualified collector who, upon purchase, has the skill, were with all, and knowledge to receive (and repair) thus Toy Soldiers in what ever condition they arrive in during shipping. If, in fact, the piece arrives busted, disgusted and rusted it is incumbent upon the buyer to take any and all responsibility for it and fix it. I, the seller, hold no responsibility whatsoever in the receipt of said piece and am not culpable for anything that happens to it once I put a stamp on it. Thus, the enforcing the "qualified" and "collector" in the first sentence of this disclosure is paramount in understand where you stand in the sale transaction. Whereby, you have no standing, just pay and shut your mouth"

So, thank you Mr. ZB Lang for the compliments and I am glad that you did not drag me from Texas to Mass a chew sets to appear in court. Whew!!!

John from Texas