Comments on: Getting it there in One Piece: Tips on Packaging and Shipping Antiques http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles Sat, 18 May 2013 04:06:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Larry Quirk http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques/comment-page-1#comment-119548 Larry Quirk Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:52:51 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2506271#comment-119548 While this is a good article espicially for expensive items, when you are selling at the lower end of the scale especially on ebay, it does not always work. The main reason is that bubble wrap and plastic peanuts are EXPENSIVE to buy. Just go to Staples and take a look. If you cant get them free in other packages or from friends, then you have to resort to newspaper or other inexpensive packing. The trick is to wrap a more fragile item in bubble wrap but pack the box all around it with paper so that the item is suspended in its own firm but not tight cocoon. Alos, invest in a roll of red and white FRAGILE stickers and plaster the box with them for a delicate item. While this is no guarantee, I think it gives the handler some pause before he/she tosses another box on it. Since you have to keep your shipping costs down to be competative, I would not add weight with a catalogue which a smart buyer will realize that they paid for it to be included in the package. While this is a good article espicially for expensive items, when you are selling at the lower end of the scale especially on ebay, it does not always work. The main reason is that bubble wrap and plastic peanuts are EXPENSIVE to buy. Just go to Staples and take a look. If you cant get them free in other packages or from friends, then you have to resort to newspaper or other inexpensive packing. The trick is to wrap a more fragile item in bubble wrap but pack the box all around it with paper so that the item is suspended in its own firm but not tight cocoon. Alos, invest in a roll of red and white FRAGILE stickers and plaster the box with them for a delicate item. While this is no guarantee, I think it gives the handler some pause before he/she tosses another box on it.

Since you have to keep your shipping costs down to be competative, I would not add weight with a catalogue which a smart buyer will realize that they paid for it to be included in the package.

]]> By: Allen Fritz http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques/comment-page-1#comment-119253 Allen Fritz Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:31:36 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2506271#comment-119253 Hello, great article! I agree with everyone so far and certainly double box clocks and extremely fragile items. In addition, I can offer a few tips I have learned over the years of packing and shipping. 1. Turn the bubbles on bubble wrap out, not towards the object you are protecting. 2. Try to use only the large bubble wrap. The small bubble wrap has very a limited use for small items. 3. If you are using recycled bubblewrap, double check the bubbles to ensure large areas are not deflated already. (This is easy to miss) 4. It is a good idea to place items that are subject to water damage inside of plastic bags or other waterproof protective sleeves when shipping in envelopes or light boxes. These get dropped in the snow and rain and quickly saturate. Boxes do not soak through as quickly, but certainly can when left on wet surfaces for prolonged periods. 5. Always try to allow at least 2 to 3 inches of packing material between the outer edge of your wrapped object and the inside edges of the box. 6. Ensure multiple items can not knock against each other. 7. Notes and effective communication to the buyer should accompany complicated packing jobs, such as multiple parts or if you disassembled an item and packed them within the box separately. 8. Strap or thread tape is always a good idea on large, heavy boxes used in criss-crossing the box. 9. Ensure that items that have sharp points or edges are blunted with cardboard or foam; or it will punch through the package. Do not ship anything sharp in envelopes. 10. My last recommendation....If you have a large or unusual sized object, I recommend you find the matching box before you sell it. :) Allen Hello, great article! I agree with everyone so far and certainly double box clocks and extremely fragile items. In addition, I can offer a few tips I have learned over the years of packing and shipping.
1. Turn the bubbles on bubble wrap out, not towards the object you are protecting.
2. Try to use only the large bubble wrap. The small bubble wrap has very a limited use for small items.
3. If you are using recycled bubblewrap, double check the bubbles to ensure large areas are not deflated already. (This is easy to miss)
4. It is a good idea to place items that are subject to water damage inside of plastic bags or other waterproof protective sleeves when shipping in envelopes or light boxes. These get dropped in the snow and rain and quickly saturate. Boxes do not soak through as quickly, but certainly can when left on wet surfaces for prolonged periods.
5. Always try to allow at least 2 to 3 inches of packing material between the outer edge of your wrapped object and the inside edges of the box.
6. Ensure multiple items can not knock against each other.
7. Notes and effective communication to the buyer should accompany complicated packing jobs, such as multiple parts or if you disassembled an item and packed them within the box separately.
8. Strap or thread tape is always a good idea on large, heavy boxes used in criss-crossing the box.
9. Ensure that items that have sharp points or edges are blunted with cardboard or foam; or it will punch through the package. Do not ship anything sharp in envelopes.
10. My last recommendation….If you have a large or unusual sized object, I recommend you find the matching box before you sell it. :) Allen

]]> By: Debra http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques/comment-page-1#comment-119171 Debra Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:12:40 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2506271#comment-119171 Linda, I have a vintage shop on Etsy and use Shipsaver to insure my packages. You may want to check out this link to a company who Shipsaver partners with. http://www.shipsurance.com Hope this helps. I am not affiliated with either company; just a satisfied customer of Shipsaver. Best, Deb Linda,
I have a vintage shop on Etsy and use Shipsaver to insure my packages. You may want to check out this link to a company who Shipsaver partners with.

http://www.shipsurance.com

Hope this helps. I am not affiliated with either company; just a satisfied customer of Shipsaver.

Best,

Deb

]]> By: Linda Odom http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques/comment-page-1#comment-119131 Linda Odom Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:12:10 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2506271#comment-119131 Hi Nick, How do you insure expensive artwork? I have not found a company that will do so..ie Auctiva or USPS, FedEx for say $3,000 to $5,000. Any advice? Thanks! Linda Hi Nick,
How do you insure expensive artwork? I have not found a company that will do so..ie Auctiva or USPS, FedEx for say $3,000 to $5,000. Any advice?

Thanks!

Linda

]]> By: paradeantiques.co.uk http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques/comment-page-1#comment-119122 paradeantiques.co.uk Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:48:02 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2506271#comment-119122 Hi Nick, Double boxing is an excellent way of ensuring the item is safe and with something as precious as clocks I'm not surprised you use it. We have had a few requests to do that and nothing untoward has ever come of it so far, I hope it never does! I like the use of plastic bags as a stuffing material, I'm all for saving money and if recycling them helps the planet and my pocket then its win-win. Do you sell your clocks online? Id love to have a look at a website if you could link it. Kind regards, Rob Hi Nick,

Double boxing is an excellent way of ensuring the item is safe and with something as precious as clocks I’m not surprised you use it. We have had a few requests to do that and nothing untoward has ever come of it so far, I hope it never does!

I like the use of plastic bags as a stuffing material, I’m all for saving money and if recycling them helps the planet and my pocket then its win-win.

Do you sell your clocks online? Id love to have a look at a website if you could link it.

Kind regards,

Rob

]]> By: nick ryan http://www.worthpoint.com/article/getting-one-piece-tips-packaging-shipping-antiques/comment-page-1#comment-119074 nick ryan Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:38:09 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2506271#comment-119074 Hi, good article, I always double box my clocks, by this I mean wrap the clock in cling wrap to keep any components that may come loose in one area, (obviously pendulum, key etc all removed and packed separately) then place that item in a box with bubble wrap and peanuts or paper around it and seal, then I put that box inside a larger box again with peanuts and paper or scrunched up supermarket plastic bags to form yet another cushion, you may think this over the top but 100 year old clocks with irreplaceable glass need protecting properly. I have never had one break using this method YET. Regards, Nick Hi, good article, I always double box my clocks, by this I mean wrap the clock in cling wrap to keep any components that may come loose in one area, (obviously pendulum, key etc all removed and packed separately) then place that item in a box with bubble wrap and peanuts or paper around it and seal, then I put that box inside a larger box again with peanuts and paper or scrunched up supermarket plastic bags to form yet another cushion, you may think this over the top but 100 year old clocks with irreplaceable glass need protecting properly.

I have never had one break using this method YET.

Regards, Nick

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