I've seen several people here comment on how well somebody pack up a shipment so that the items are protected in transit.

Does anybody have some kind of guide (possibly with pictures) on this ideal way to pack modules, books, and similar stuff?

I'd like to think I'm a pretty good packer. I sold off $800 worth of stuff a few months ago, and I didn't hear a single complaint about damage during shipment or poor protection, but it never hurts to hear from those of you who regularly buy & sell $1000 items

Basically assume the package may get wet, so plastic bags wrapped around the item will help protect it.
Assume the package will get banged around, so for thin modules place between stiff cardboard, for other items encase in a smaller box and then package that in a larger box with paper, bubble wrap, peanuts cushioning in between.

ShaneG.

I have never had any complaints about damaged goods on deliver.
I must agree with those above.
Assume that the box will get wet.
Plastic is your first defense.
Sandwich the item between stiff cardboard. A couple of pieces of tape will pinch the edges together to keep the item from sliding out and getting the corners bumped.
If you use a thickly padded envelope or a box tape it up with the assumption that the seams will let go.
Tape is cheap, use lots of it! Make the box hard to open.
If you use a padded envelope, write DO NOT BEND on front and back.
If shipping to another country ask the buyer for a translation of DO NOT BEND.

benjoshua wrote:I believe in recycling as much as I can, and it's really not that hard to do.

Eco-rant:  This is better than recycling.  This is reusing.

I pretend the box is going to be flipped around, thrown, stepped on, and driven over. I then pack accordingly. Oh, and yes, I assume it will get wet, too.

I don't recall ever hearing I had packaged something badly, but I also don't sell a lot and my fiancée does a lot of the shipping for me.

Nothing is damage proof.

However, it is not too difficult to pack something so that it would take some really rough handling to damage the contents.

Many of the above posts explain how to pack stuff, and better than I could, so there is No need for me to elaborate on methods.

I've never really had a problem with incomming mail either.. most of it was however packaged as stated, in a box almost the same size as the inner box with little in the way of movement potential. Others were packed in larger boxes with foam peanuts. Somehow my inner contents have always been ok... odd aye?
Go figure.

I do know that pins, dice and any book that isn't more of a pamplet WILL scuff the edges of other things. I have a damaged comic book thing (it's small and about 50 odd pages) from just this, two books in one box far far too big for them which spent their whole trip across the atlantic smashing into eachother.. bah. Good thing those were bought to read not collect aye?

So moral of the story is, ensure inner contents isn't going to shift about and squash iteself, other contents or damage the box as mentioned by someone else. I'd be inclined to use bubble wrap or something actually... much like I would when sending models and sculptures.. which I do occassionally (I'm a laaazy artist though)
Writing DO NOT BEND on things sometimes helps.. depends how idiotic/uncaring the postal staff are. I've had a postie try to shove a reinforced piece of artwork through out tiny letterbox before now by bending it in half and SHOVING! crazy! seriously... I stopped him before he could do any real damage but jesus. It was like "what part of "DO NOT BEND" can you not comprehend? why not simply knock on the bloody door before trying to shove an a4 bit of card through a letterbox that can barely fit a5 through it!"

g026r wrote:I'm going to recommend the package I just received from JohnGaunt as an example of good packaging:

It was in a box that was filled with packing peanuts that contained another box, that contained a bag, that contained a cardboard sleeve around the book.

(Or was the sleeve around the bag?  I can't recall.)

*rofl*  Thanks.  That book had to travel a long way, so I packed it for every eventuality.  

For normal modules, I have decided to use a board+bag, plastic bag, cardboard, and an envelope.  For paperbacks, I pack the book between two pieces of stiff cardboard or a use a small box.

The most effective miniatures packaging that I have received was foam rubber in a box.  Slots were cut out of the foam rubber, and bagged and carded minis were inserted.  Lightweight, shock-absorbing, foolproof.  Unfortunately, most people seem content to ship minis in a frickin' padded envelope, which means the blisters get crushed.  

benjoshua wrote:I hope you haven't had any troubles with me and my bubble envelopes.    I always put lots of styrofoam popcorn in with the blisters to limit crushing.  I have never had any complaints about my system even though I have shipped hundreds of minis in blisters(maybe thousands).  Of course, if I am shipping orders with more than three blisters, I put them in a box, but for one or two blisters, the bubble envelope with popcorn appears to work fine.  Or am I mistaken?  Help appreciated.

My comment was not directed at you or any Acaeum or DF member.  I don't recall having a problem with any of your items; IIRC, they were always boxed due to quantity.

I have never had a good minis+envelope experience.  All it takes is one good crushing, and the blisters get permanently mashed or split/broken.

People who use plain-paper or padded envelopes generally do not use popcorn, so the popcorn might help.  If no one has complained, then it works for you.