[Larkston Zinaspic]

I'd like to start selling some audio components, but never have before. I'd want anything I've packed for shipping to be double-boxed and secure to avoid problems. The problem is that I don't have all the original boxes for my stuff.

I know some of you here are sellers...where do you get the packing materials for the gear you're selling?

[JLM]

Pack tightly, especially the corners.  Provide a 2 inch cushion all the way around.

The best stuff I've seen used for packing is the nearly rigid closed cell blocks cut to fit between component/box or box/box.  Dusty at Channel Island Audio uses it.  Styrofoam breaks easily in comparison.  Make sure to do all the corners, but the more the better. 

Avoid packing noodles (they shift too easily).  Plus the material they're made from tends to either compresses or break.  Tightly crumpled newspaper is superior to the noodles.

[satfrat]

I know it's a little late now but #1 rule with audio components is you keep the original boxes & owners manuals ,, always. Boxes can be purchased at Staples and U-Haul along with bubble wrap. Styrofoam blocks are always good for corners if you can find them,,, all the more reason to keep them orginal boxes w/packing.

Cheers,
Robin

[zybar]

You can line your boxes with hard insulation that can be found at Home Depot.  Buy the stuff that is 2" inches or more thickness and it will substantially help your gear arrive safely.

George

[*Scotty*]

I use 1 inch thick styrofoam bead board,the same material that inexpensive ice-chests are made of. You want to use something that is compressible and absorbs shock when the shippers drop or throw your box. I put the gear to be shipped in a plastic bag and line the first box with with bead board with no gaps. The second box gets the same treatment,a lining of bead board with no gaps. So far this has worked for gear that weighs up to about 30 lbs., but I wouldn't guarantee this approach for heavier pieces.
Good luck.
Scotty

[Bemopti123]

I know it's a little late now but #1 rule with audio components is you keep the original boxes & owners manuals ,, always. Boxes can be purchased at Staples and U-Haul along with bubble wrap. Styrofoam blocks are always good for corners if you can find them,,, all the more reason to keep them orginal boxes w/packing.

Cheers,
Robin

Another place that sells large boxes, that are more apt for sending components (with some imaginative cutting and folding) is the Container Store, if you have a store available near you.  

[TONEPUB]

Here's what works for me:

Pack in the orig fact carton if you can, then get one size bigger box and
line with about 3" of packing peanuts.

Also, if you have anything that has big transformers, if you can pop the
top and make sure everything heavy inside is tightened down.

If you have to make your own box and packing, check out the 3"
Styrofoam insulation at Home Depot. Bag the piece with a heavy
trash bag (Glad Lawn bags work great), line box with that styrofoam
then do the double box with peanuts for cushioning.

So far, I've been having excellent luck with that.  And tape really securely!

The extra 20 bucks you spend in packing material will save thousands
of hassle on the other end.  I've been shipping with Fedex for 20 years
and have never filed a claim.

I shipped a ModWright Phono preamp to one of our reviewers in the
factory carton (which is very good), it got trashed because they dropped
it so hard the toroidal transformer ripped out of the chassis and they
told me to pound sand.  3000 down the toilet.

Unless Fedex loses or completely trashes your box, they won't pay!

[tanchiro58]

Nobody mentioned about shipping and packing the speakers (including floorstanding and monitors) especially the heavier one. I suggest every corners of the baffle you should use hard styrofoams or card boards to protect the corners in case you threw away or "lost somewhere" the original boxes then double boxes with peanuts or styrofoams in between. Then always get insured no matter what!!!

[CSI]

1. Avoid peanuts as your primary packing material. I know of at least one mfg. that will not accept amps from dealers that come back packed only in peanuts.
2. Save all original boxes and packing forever. If you don't have room in your garage, invest in one of those overhead storage racks that fit above your car. They hold about 500 lbs. Use half the space for your boxes and tell your wife the rest is brand new storage space just for her. Double points!

[chadh]

Unless Fedex loses or completely trashes your box, they won't pay!

This isn't completely true.  One option is not to pack the item yourself, but to have FedEx pack for you.  In fact, if you provide the materials, this may be the best option.  Once the FedEx people have packed it themselves, they record the fact that the item was fedEx packed.  Any damage during delivery, then, will be compensated with no questions asked.

Chad

[bacobits1]

When I shipped a Sony XA777ES almost 40lbs with no original packing (it was all busted up) I used a roll of bubble wrap. The larger bubbles the size of a quarter. Worth the $14 and peace of mind from Staples.
Wrapped front to back and  on the sides all he way around the item till it fits in a box with a couple inches all around. It will be cushioned on all sides.
I just had Boris from Vista Audio do my shipment that way and not a problem. Never use the peanuts on anything heavy.
For speakers you will need a double corrugated box if possible especially heavy speakers.
Some places will let you order a custom size and spec. Of course at a price.
I have Brines FT1600's and I would not want to ship those at 80lbs+ ea.

Bubble wrap and lots of it. Double box too if you can.
DO NOT use UPS!

D

Oh, I just got an audio rack in. All 1/2" glass shelves. 2 packages, Fed Ex, 45lbs and 37lbs. Lots of styrofoam sheets.
Came in perfect from Cali. Again, Fed Ex!

[audiobasics]

I know some of you here are sellers...where do you get the packing materials for the gear you're selling?

I've had sporadic luck talking Radio Shack & Best Buy stores out of boxes before. They usually toss the floor model stuff and you might get lucky. However, if the item you are selling is really expensive you might consider letting a local shipping store do it for you. It is more expensive for the buyer but there should be no issue on the insurance claim if, saints forbid, the unit is damaged in shipping. If you do consider packing it yourself, layers & layers of bubblewrap as previoulsy stated is a good bet.

[jrebman]

Unless Fedex loses or completely trashes your box, they won't pay!

Actually, you just have to keep bugging them, and asking to kick it up a notch (can I speak with your supervisor", and eventually they will pay.

Like health insurance companies, they deny claims initially and if you bug them enough (3 times is the rule with healthcare) they pay.

I have a friend who works for fedex and he said that this is corporate policy -- because a very high percentage of people will give up right then and there, and that percentage more than pays for those who follow through and get their damage claims approved.  I got reimbursed in full for a pair of speakers I returned and the box was barely damaged and only one corner of one speaker was dented in.

FWIW

-- Jim

[jrebman]

Another place to get supplies online is:

http://www.uline.com/

I reuse boxes as much as possible, as well as quality packing materials -- foam, bubble wrap, etc., but when I need special size boxes, more beefy packing materials, extra wide bubble wrap, etc. there is a real great shipping supply company not too far from my home, and I can get just about anything I need there.

Thepink insulation foam from home depot, as well as the thicker "cooler foam" that others have mentioned, is also very useful for large, heavy items.

I've sent turntables, large, heavy speakers and tube amps, and just about everything else audio related you can think of, and aside from one pair of speakers, neverhad a problem (but I don't use UPS).

You can bet that when I'm finished restoring my vintage JBL L-300 Summits, my Marantz 4400, and my Akai GX-747D open reel decks, that they will get custom made hard crates for them.  The business next door to the shipping supply house I use, does high quality crating (they made the crates for the Hubbel telescope mirrors), and they're pretty reasonable -- approx $225 for a custom crate for the pair of JBLs, with a final weight of about 500 pounds.

Their is a national chain called "craters and freighters" -- they are outrageously expensive, and refuse to insure anything unless they wrap their solid gold crates around it.

HTH

-- Jim

[giantsteps]

 
 I used to have nightmares concerned that the buyer would receive my merchandise in proper order. I finally found the solution. I simply hand over the item to UPS and let them do the packing. They do a very good job. And because they pack they assume 100% responsibility.The policy gives you piece of mind over any damage caused by shipping accidents.


 Frank