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what is the best way to ship an LP...Some say no to media mail. Is there a better method. My greatest concern is that the jackets will bend or the LP will get warped from weather along the journey. So what container do I use? Is the bored sandwiched between the medial mail sturdy enough?
Follow Ups:
Hi there, I have been selling records that I end up with and don't need for a few years now and I am pretty fussy about packing and shipping. Here is what I do and why:1. I use USPS Media Mail w/delivery confirmation + if warranted insurance -- I spoke to a few different postal clerks about the service and they all told me that basically media mail is the same service as first class just discounted because it is media. I can't say for sure if this is so, but I have had no trouble with media mail and the cost savings is significant. If something is valuable and you don't have cash to burn, go media mail insured. I have not noticed a difference in shipping time between media mail and first class mail except to some off the beaten path destinations. Not so much total distance. In these cases, I believe first class or priority would get there more quickly.
2. Mailers -- I make my own mailers out of tall wine boxes from the liquor store. They are easy to make and cost less than if I bought the boxes + there is the benefit of recycling and even more importantly extra corner protection -- I like to have plenty of space around the records so I can wrap them with tissue paper or bubble wrap and apply extra material to reinforce the corners or double box. Most mailers don't allow enough room for this. To make them you can open up a mailer and use it as a template adding an inch to the center square and adjusting from there. Below is a link to a thread at www.recordcollectorsguild.org with a discussing including an image of a template for the mailer.
When I re-use a store bought record mailer, I wrap a second layer of cardboard around them. Pizza boxes are better for their size in this but again I avoid buying cardboard when I can recycle it so easily. I do go through a lot of tape however. And I like to use strapping tape as well as packing tape. One of the folks with whom I trade called my packing Bomb Proof -- which made me proud!
3. I do remove the lp from the jacket for shipping and I never ship a record that has not been cleaned and placed in a new inner sleeve. Also, outter sleeves offer good protection for truly minty lp's but cost.
Well, that is my 3 cents. Best, Stephanie
I have received even New sealed LPs with split seams due to rough shipping. If it is ultra valuable LP, double the box.
good luck, HJ
A new one, of course.
nt
Use the LP mailer. You can get this in a few places, Bags Unlimited, Sleevetown and others.
The reason media mail isn't recommended is because that stuff is lowest priority, so the records may end up sitting around in the post office for awhile, with all the heat, cold, temp changes, etc. I've used the postal service for records several times with Priority Mail/first class and no problems.If you are worried about jacket damage (and rightly so), invest in an actual lp mailer. Don't be afraid to use some extra corregated sheets inside the mailer as well. The easiest way to damage anything in shipping is to have it moving around in the container. The second easiest is to have the packing material fail, be it from puntures, the wrong dimensions for the item, etc.
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