Shipping Fragile Audio Gear in the USA: Packaging Strategies

[HaveMeterWillTravel]

I almost always save the factory box or foam inserts for almost everything expensive or fragile. Of course that depends on how much storage room you have, but consider at least saving the foam inserts even if it's in an unfinished attic.

Also, even if one does not double box adding additional extra cardboard helps, one square on the bottom, one on each side and the top.

Taping: if a box is used you want to ensure there is tape-on-tape contact. Run the tape all the way around so it wraps around itself again.

Label! Label! Label!
Throw a sheet with contact info inside. Even if you simply write your phone number on every side, if the official ship label falls off at least they knows whose it is.

 

[EJ3]

Right, I wasn't saying to never use it. I was saying that items with knobs/switches and anything protruding should not be wrapped extremely tight, otherwise there is a risk of putting massive pressure on them which can easily cause breaks when a box is dropped from a truck or back of an airplane onto a conveyer belt.

I use a cutout in ridged foam of an appropriate thickness so that the knobs, switches, etc. are only making contact with air and then use softer foam around it.
I bought a couple rolls of different size bubble pack but find myself rarely using any of it.
One of the few places that I use finer bubble pack for is wrapping and taping a TT tone arm into it's normally stationary position (first removing the cartridge, as that gets packed separately). This works well with linier tracking tone arms but for other styles of tone arms you may end up packing them as a separate item within the main boxed item.

 

[Mort]

I used to run an Amazon business, did over a million in sales one year. I've packed a lot of boxes.

Biggest tip: 3 inch tape gun.

 

[sarahm54]

I am moving from Maryland to the UK in a few months and I have a McIntosh 4100 receiver that I am taking with me. I've been scratching my head on how to pack it safely for the container shippers, knowing that whatever I do, the shippers will add their box and padding before it goes into the crate. Because of this fantastic post that is chock full of info I called McIntosh in Binghamton, NY and spoke to their Parts department. For $55 they will be sending me a shipping box, padding, foam inserts, and double boxes - everything I need to make sure my amazing McIntosh is safe and sound for the journey. Now, let's see if B&O can help me out!

 

[Oddball]

I am moving from Maryland to the UK in a few months and I have a McIntosh 4100 receiver that I am taking with me. I've been scratching my head on how to pack it safely for the container shippers, knowing that whatever I do, the shippers will do additional packing before it goes into the crate. Because of this fantastic post that is chock full of info I called McIntosh in Binghamton, NY and spoke to their Parts department. For $55 they will be sending me a shipping box, padding, foam inserts, and double boxes - everything I need to make sure my amazing McIntosh is safe and sound for the journey. Now, let's see if B&O can help me out!

Now that's a great price and excellent service. Good to hear that McIntosh is serious about their gear and mean business.

 

[sarahm54]

When I ship heavy speakers I use edge protectors, shrink wrap, straps and a pallet.
Photo for illustration only
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I'm shipping speakers to the UK from the DC area. I have the original speaker boxes but I need corners/edge protectors for the speakers themselves. I'm thinking of making them out of styrofoam or heavy-duty cardboard. Any thoughts on that? What did you use? Thank you!

 

[Oddball]

Probably both would work with lots of heavy duty tape. However if the speakers are heavy tower form speakers, the only real way is to put them on a pallet with straps and shrink wrap. If they are priceless, custom wooden crate around the box is even better.

 

[sarahm54]

I'm shipping speakers to the UK from the DC area. I have the original speaker boxes but I need corners/edge protectors for the speakers themselves. I'm thinking of making them out of styrofoam or heavy-duty cardboard. Any thoughts on that? What did you use? Thank you!

Thank you! I have professional shippers who will be (eventually) crating it and doing the outside packing of it but I want to make sure it's secure in its box with corners on the speakers.

 

[RickS]

Thank you! I have professional shippers who will be (eventually) crating it and doing the outside packing of it but I want to make sure it's secure in its box with corners on the speakers.

If shipping that sort of distance, would recommend finding thick packing foam. Corners need the most protection. If you cannot find preformed, will need to create using packing tape. If the packers use large foam sheets to line the box, you may be able to get away with corners protectors like these.

The rest can be protected by lining the inside of the box with paneling. You need to have something hard enough to deflect something that might puncture and penetrate the cardboard.

 

[sarahm54]

If shipping that sort of distance, would recommend finding thick packing foam. Corners need the most protection. If you cannot find preformed, will need to create using packing tape. If the packers use large foam sheets to line the box, you may be able to get away with corners protectors like these.

The rest can be protected by lining the inside of the box with paneling. You need to have something hard enough to deflect something that might puncture and penetrate the cardboard.

Many thanks and esp for the link. So, should I have corner protectors placed on the outside of the speaker box as well as inside?

 

[Palmer]

I would like to add (to the great information here) - always add generous insurance to the shipment, when I send cartridges to Soundsmith, for example, I will add more than the re-purchase price to the package - just to be covered, in case something goes wrong.

 

[RickS]

Many thanks and esp for the link. So, should I have corner protectors placed on the outside of the speaker box as well as inside?

I mainly have used inside the box, but have not shipped internationally. They might be hard to get to stay on the outside of the box.

 

[sarahm54]

I would like to add (to the great information here) - always add generous insurance to the shipment, when I send cartridges to Soundsmith, for example, I will add more than the re-purchase price to the package - just to be covered, in case something goes wrong.

Thank you. I will have marine insurance, which covers on land and sea. I'm shipping from DC to the UK. Yikes!

 

[RayDunzl]

I used to run an Amazon business, did over a million in sales one year.

That's one every 31 seconds 24/7

 

[Mort]

That's one every 31 seconds 24/7

Or it's in dollars not transactions