I think the USPS is runing my memory cards

Last year at the end of wedding season, I second shot for a woman and she sent me two CF cards back in an envelope. Upon arrival to me, they were completely dead. The camera wouldnt read them and it froze any computer program I tried to use to open them. I wrote it off as a strange coincidence because Ive shipped and sent many memory cards before without issue. Now, I just got another set of cards back from a different photographer and this time, one of them is trashed, exactly like the others. I dont remember if that last ones were like this but it gets burning hot if you leave it attempting to read in my card reader for too long. WTF? What would cause the cards to get ruined?

I've mailed them as well with no issues, I know film is susceptible to x-rays but I don't think CF cards are.

All the one's I've purchased have also came in the mail and no issues yet.

I have had some cards get hot in the reader before, but not burning hot.

Maybe they run them through some special thing because I live outside of DC?

Usps does not X-ray packages unless you live in one of the secure government buildings.

losangelino wrote in post #16934569
Usps does not X-ray packages unless you live in one of the secure government buildings.

Yea, thats what I figured. I wonder what is trashing them...

JakAHearts wrote in post #16935405
Yea, thats what I figured. I wonder what is trashing them...

don't know but I've received SD cards thru the mail without problems

Yea. I had two in the exact same package and one is fine the other is junked.

How were they shipped? Parcel post or a letter mail? Anything that is NOT flat and flexible in nature should be shipped by a parcel post method, even if it fits within the confines of a common letter envelope. Modern mail sorting is done by high speed machines, and something like a CF card is going to take a few bumps, flexes, and impacts that could potentially call minor physical damage to the card. If you knock internal connections apart then the card will die.

Luckless wrote in post #16938436
How were they shipped? Parcel post or a letter mail? Anything that is NOT flat and flexible in nature should be shipped by a parcel post method, even if it fits within the confines of a common letter envelope. Modern mail sorting is done by high speed machines, and something like a CF card is going to take a few bumps, flexes, and impacts that could potentially call minor physical damage to the card. If you knock internal connections apart then the card will die.

That does "ring a bell", since the OP said the cards were received in an "envelope". To the OP and others seeing this, don't send cards (or have them sent) as if they were just letters or post cards or whatever! All kinds of things get sent via the USPS, but anything of value and especially something that may be sensitive with "handling" should be packaged accordingly!

The problem seems to be in the return. Regardless of how the OP sends the cards it sounds like they are being returned in an envelope. You should explain to the other photographers what you have been experiencing and request how you want the cards returned or provide a return mailer with the cards. Hopefully in the future they will listen to your request.

I asked about the method because I've received many parcel packages that arrived in a padded envelope, but would not have been processed by the automated letter mail system.

As for returns from people then it can be good to provide suitable packaging that can be easily reused, and ideally prepaid if you can so there is no temptation to skimp on postage. Assuming you want the media back that is.

Since you said one card was dead and the other one fine, isn't it possible the damage was done before it was mailed? Perhaps the other photographer sent you a different card or somehow damaged your card in error?

First off what brand are the cards? SanDisk has a lifetime warranty if you can provide proof of
purchase from a authorized dealer. I'm sure all name brand cards offer the same warranty. You
return the cards they will let you know what the problem is.

Furlan wrote in post #16938900
First off what brand are the cards? SanDisk has a lifetime warranty if you can provide proof of
purchase from a authorized dealer. I'm sure all name brand cards offer the same warranty. You
return the cards they will let you know what the problem is.

Well, Sandisk does offer a warranty on the card, but the only guarantee is that they will replace the card! They do provide an image recover app, which I found useful on the one time that a memory card got corrupted, although there are various choices out there.

To the OP, check out image recovery programs!!

Theyre transcend cards. They did come in a regular envelope but they were inside the plastic packaging containers. Id imagine they would have cracked before the card would become damaged. The CF card from the first incident was sent in a padded envelope and again, inside the plastic container.