Getting rid of your record collection can be quite the task, but preparing your records for shipment can be even more difficult. It has become quite popular for people to sell their records online at places like eBay and Amazon. A question that often comes up is “how do I ship the record so that it doesn’t become damaged?” Most sellers who sell large amounts of records are professionals and know how to properly mail the record to their buyer, but every now and then there are some who will ship a record incorrectly and the item becomes damaged during shipment. I am going to share with you the way I ship records to my buyers. If you follow my advice, chances are your shipment will arrive safe and sound. I can’t guarantee damage free shipments however; as well know crazy things do occur that can beyond the shipper’s control.
First thing you must do is obtain the proper material to ship your record in. There are several options available to you. One option is to purchase album mailers which are specifically designed to ship records. This is a great way to go, simply because the dimensions of the album mailer are just right for the job. There are various sizes to choose from, so this works if you are shipping one record, or a whole lot of records. These types of mailers can be easily purchased online through a variety of packing and shipping supply companies. Once you have the record in this type of mailer, all you have to do is add enough packing material to keep the item secure.
If you choose not to purchase an album mailer, you have the second option of obtaining free Priority Mail boxes from the United States Postal Service. Keep in mind that you must ship the item via Priority Mail if you use a free Priority Mail box from the post office. This isn’t a problem for me, seeing that I always ship my records Priority Mail. The cost is higher using this method, but I have never had issues getting my shipments to their destination.
If shipping a single record, you should use the Priority Mail box that measures 12.25″ x 15.5″. There are other sizes available; however this size works the best. Once you have the box, keep it flat. Do not fold it open. Shipping records in a Priority Mail box that is assembled will greatly increase your chances of the record being damaged.
I always wrap the record in a plastic bag. You can use a small trash bag, a plastic grocery bag, or even a jumbo size zip lock bag. This will prevent any moisture from getting inside. I then wrap the record with a sufficient amount of bubble wrap or packaging paper to provide extra protection. The most important thing is to make sure the record fits snug in the box. Shake the package from side to side and up and down before sealing the edges up with packaging tape. There should be absolutely no movement inside. If you hear the record sliding around, you did not use enough bubble wrap or paper. Add what is necessary to keep the record from sliding.
Once you believe the record is secure, tape up the edges of the box with clear mailing or packaging tape. Use enough tape, the last thing you want is to have the edges come apart. Now all you have to do is properly address the package. It’s that simple. Remember; don’t just throw the record in a box with some newspaper and packing peanuts. If you do this, the record you are mailing has a pretty good chance of being damaged during shipment. This method of packaging records might be more time consuming, and a bit more expensive, but will ensure a safer arrival to your customer.
