John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia

I am considering selling my FM2 and a couple of AIS lenses on UHH (or e-Bay if not successful).

On UHH, the price would be less than e-Bay "selling price" (as opposed to asking price). But, either way, I want to be sure they arrive intact and I have little confidence in USPS.

I have saved some Amazon bubble envelopes for inner wraps, but I am concerned about it settling to one side of the package in "peanuts".

1. How do you package them?
2. What company (e.g., Fedex, UPS) do you trust to ship them?

Quixdraw Loc: x

If I have the original boxes I first put equipment in that / those, if not, a gallon Ziplock, bubble wrap and a sturdy box big enough to surround the object with foam peanuts on all sides. Put a card with shipping and return address inside the box. Tape with filament tape, clear tape over the shipping label. I have sent USPS insured, and UPS same. No problems. I have not used FedEx.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

FedEx uses an expanding foam, similar to Great Stuff, that starts out as liquid contained in a plastic wrapper. Once activated, the foam expands and thus conforms exactly to the contents in the box, giving the contents the best protection possible. FedEx will pack so that all sides of the content are well protected.

ChristianHJensen

Be careful with that - the off-gassing from that foam should not be within miles of cameras and lenses - and it keeps off-gassing for weeks. And it is not exactly an environmentally friendly packing method

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

I've never gotten anything delivered via FedEx in any type of foam packing other than the peanuts.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Very carefully !

Pony up ($$) and use a well experienced PRO shipper ! No shortcuts or cutting corners. Valuable ($$$$) items get double boxed.
.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

I go to UPS with lens and label. I then let them bubble wrap and box it up for additional $2 or $3. Done.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Probably because it costs extra. I sold some equipment to B&H when I upgraded my gear. FedEx packed my stuff in the expanding foam, saying that it offered the best protection against damage.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A sturdy box - or double boxing - and lots of bubble wrap.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

"double wall" boxes .....$$

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I have shipped 30 or more cameras out to various repair services in the last several years. I’ve never had a camera damaged in transit or lost. I always wrap the item in several layers of the small bubble wrap, secured with a rubber band or two. Tape on bubble wrap is a pain to remove and pretty much destroys the bubble wrap, making it unusable for reuse. DO NOT MUMMIFY THE ITEM BY WRAPPING IT IN LAYER UPON LAYER OF CELLOPHANE TAPE! To get to the item a cutting instrument will be needed that could possibly damage the shipped item in the process!

Place the item in a box large enough to provide 2” to 3” of space all around the bubble wrapped item to stuff additional padding. Make sure the bottom of the box has padding before laying the item into the box. Use wadded newsprint, paper grocery bags or other heavyweight paper to fill the space around then item. Use enough that the item is suspended in the packing and will not rattle around in the closed box. Don’t forget to have padding on top of the item. Use good shipping tape, two layers on each flap seam. There is no need to tape all around the closing flaps.

Ship via USPS priority mail. I’ve used the post office for all my shipping for as long as I remember and have never had an issue with damage, mis-routing, or lost items. I can’t say the same for items I have received that were shipped with other carriers. Buy the extra insurance to cover the fair market value of the item.

Any questions?

Stan

Carl1024 Loc: Kaneohe, HI 96744

go to your PO & see if they have flat-rate boxes, if yes, either LRG or Med, should do?

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

BE CAREFUL with expanding foam! It is very STICKY while it cures and can stick to the item you are shipping leaving a mess to clean up. Even if you wrap the shipped item in a plastic the SOLVENTS in the foam may dissolve the plastic wrap (or surface plastic on the item) - again leaving a sticky mess to clean up after delivery. The buyer of the items I shipped was not very happy but he persevered.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I ship using bubble wrap via my UPS account. Been very satisfied over many years. Best of luck.

Nicholas J DeSciose

USPS is the best let them pack it very reasonable price. There’s an automatic insurance which you can increase to your satisfaction