Test Equipment Packaging Experiences Good & Bad

[tautech]

There have been a few posts in recent times about concerns of packaging upon receipt of your precious gear.
These have been posted about several brands.

Buyers that acquire product through the mail need to know product is well packaged to withstand any possible bad handling and heaven forbid….weather, if left unattended on your doorstep.    

FYI here are a few packaging photos of my recently acquired SDM3055A bench meter.

Please let me walk you through NORMAL Siglent packaging ex-factory.
Single units ex-factory are double boxed, both made of corrugated cardboard, however when sourced from suppliers that have received a bulk order supply, each unit will likely be supplied in single boxing.
Siglent orders come to me with a single sticker warning showing:  Up, Fragile and Keep Dry in international symbol form.
All box folds and wings are taped closed and one corner will be stapled.



Units are packaged in slip-on foam skeletal mouldings that give substantial clearance from the box to the unit.
Normally these are 2 piece mouldings.



Further protection is offered with goods enclosed in a perforated plastic bag with 4 small holes, double folded and double taped.
This bag will also contain a small bag of Silica Gel.



Power leads, probes, test leads will be in plastic bags, some re-sealable.
The only exception seems to be the USB lead that is only wire tied and loose in the package.
User/Quick Start manuals will have any CD placed inside the booklet for protection. Manuals often come in plastic folders, but not always.
Some accessory modules (GPIB etc.) come in their own small boxes, tucked securely alongside the main unit.



Of the Siglent equipment I have received, the above has always been their standard.

I unpack each item and power for only 1 time and do several checks before forwarding to customers.
I always add Fragile/Keep Dry stickers to boxes that may have come to me in a bulk order and then send with tracking and/or signature required.

I believe this level of care, packaging and shipping/delivery is what you should expect when buying expensive equipment.

Please share your good or horror stories.

[SoundTech-LG]

Good info. My experience has been ZERO damages in properly double boxed packages, that would include some type of buffer between the 2 boxes, usually those pesky peanuts...

[nctnico]

I have never had new equipment arrive in poor packaging. Second hand equipment is a different story. If it is broken a seller quickly learns his/her lesson through a Paypal claim though. I have reiceved fragile logic analyser modules which where wrapped in nothing more than a single layer of corrugated carboard  .