Not impressed with UGC

[Moviefan2k4]

Shattering on low-level impact is hardly what I'd call "durable". Have they always been this way?

[wiggy]

They're pretty robust otherwise.  They're pretty thin, so it's to be expected.  At .42 a pop, they're a lot tougher than I thought they'd be.  I grabbed some of the cheapy DS cases and those things are weak, weak, weak.  You can ripe 'em apart with your bare hands.  By accident 

[Moviefan2k4]

OK, when you use the word "shatter", I'm thinking of what happens when you drop a glass plate or mirror on the floor. Is this what you're talking about?

[wiggy]

No no no, nothing that severe. 

These are examples of the best and worst damaged cases from the last batch.





The top pic is likely what will happen if you drop one on a hard floor (and that's been my experience when dropping one from about 5-6').  The other is what can happen if an entire case gets dropped.  The boxes that they come in are SUPER crappy.  They sorta feel about as tough as 2 paper towels laid on top of each other 

[WolfAlmighty]

The top pic is likely what will happen if you drop one on a hard floor (and that's been my experience when dropping one from about 5-6').  The other is what can happen if an entire case gets dropped.  The boxes that they come in are SUPER crappy.  They sorta feel about as tough as 2 paper towels laid on top of each other 

Mine have always come in singlewall corrugated boxes with no packing material.  I worked as a shipping manager for nine years and if I would have packed things like that I would have been fired. :p  If it were me, given the weight of a box of these things, I would use doublewall with a layer of bubble paper surrounding on all sides (the thicker bubbles, not the dinky ones).  Shipping things with no dunnage is never a smart idea, and even less so when it's something that can break like this.  Given that they ship via FedEx Ground it's a wonder there aren't more messed up when you get them.

[AppleQueso]

If those are the newer cases, it looks to me like the texture on the sleeve isn't actually all that different from the old UGC's at all...

[soundwave925]

If those are the newer cases, it looks to me like the texture on the sleeve isn't actually all that different from the old UGC's at all...

I was just thinking the same thing. didnt someone say they were smooth now?

[AppleQueso]

If those are the newer cases, it looks to me like the texture on the sleeve isn't actually all that different from the old UGC's at all...

I was just thinking the same thing. didnt someone say they were smooth now?

From the pics, they look a little smoother to me, but I imagine it'd be the sort of thing you wouldn't actually notice unless you're trying to and have them side-by-side or something.

[WolfAlmighty]

If those are the newer cases, it looks to me like the texture on the sleeve isn't actually all that different from the old UGC's at all...

I was just thinking the same thing. didnt someone say they were smooth now?

From the pics, they look a little smoother to me, but I imagine it'd be the sort of thing you wouldn't actually notice unless you're trying to and have them side-by-side or something.

They're also more reflective due to this, as side-by-side you will notice the new ones reflect light more than the old ones.  I have them side-by-side on my shelf and if you shine a light directly on it you can tell them apart.  As a result, the new ones are slightly clearer than the old ones but, again, you won't notice it until you shine a light directly on it.  Otherwise, the difference won't be seen from a galloping horse.  You'd have to know what to look for and be actively looking for it to notice the difference.

[soundwave925]

well i guess its no big deal then, not that i would really care anyway. i havnt ordered any UGCs in well over a year now and am surprised to see all the comments of how cheap they are along with those pics. all the ones iv ever received were pretty sturdy. is this something thats been happening more recently or has it always been this way and i just got good batches?

[Moviefan2k4]

I can't even tell what's wrong with that top pic Wiggy, but the second one is atrocious. Anyone who would sell something like that should be ashamed of themselves.

[soundwave925]

I can't even tell what's wrong with that top pic Wiggy, but the second one is atrocious. Anyone who would sell something like that should be ashamed of themselves.

the rim on the top part of the case is broken off

[wiggy]

Yeah, the boxes totally suck. I knew there was gonna be trouble when 2 boxes showed up on Wednesday and the 3rd on Friday.  It didn't even show up in the original box :/

Anyway, I'm sending one to Australia and you better believe I repacked it with a double wall box and reinforced corners (which is where the cases usually get damaged).

With EVERY case I've ordered there were a few with chipped edges and whatnot. I don't care about a few mildly busted cases, but there were 25 in that last order that were severly busted. They need to tell their Chinese manufacturer to put them into beefier boxes.

[Moviefan2k4]

Either that, or start using more durable plastics.

[tiktektak]

Believe me tha plastic is as durable as it gets. I always thought even too thick a bit.

The real problem is damage in the process of shipping. Wiggy is absolutely right the boxes they come in are a joke. Thin cardboard and no bubblewrap at all. No nothing.
so if the big box with 100 cases in it gets thrown around or dropped, and you can bet this will happen, it is more or less logicla that some cases will gete damaged badly.
It's just the mass of 100 cases hitting each other when thrown.