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Antique Masterpieces: Let's Get Packing! (or How to Pack Defensively)
October 28, 2009 - 3:47pm
Christmas season is upon us, and hopefully we'll be selling lots of stuff in the coming months. It's up to us to make sure every item gets to its destination safely. There's nothing worse than selling something valuable just to have it arrive in pieces. Sellers always blame the post office. I blame the sellers. If something is packed right, it shouldn't break ... even if a piano falls on it! Here are timely tips from someone (me) who has never had ANYTHING break in transit: 1. Always wrap item in lots of bubble wrap (big bubbles are best), and then pack in a STURDY BOX that's much bigger than the size of the item. An item, and particularly a breakable, needs lots of styrofoam "peanuts," or newspaper (scrunched up, one page at a time) all around it so that it is NOWHERE NEAR the sides of the box. The top, bottom or rim of the item should never be too close to the wall of the box. It has to stay firmly IN THE MIDDLE with lots of packing material all around it, so it can't move around when box is jostled. 2. If packing MULTIPLE items, each item should be well-padded on its own and separated from the other item(s) so they don't bump into each other. 3. DOUBLE BOXING is always recommended for breakables, but even with two boxes, never skimp on the padding. When I can't find two boxes that nestle into each other well, I use 1cm. thick styrofoam board, which I cut up to the size of the box, and line all sides of the box (top and bottom too). It's expensive, but when you consider that you are protecting a rare and valuable antique, it's worth the extra investment. 4. Writing "FRAGILE" on a box does absolutely no good! All packages are treated the same. Do you really think that handlers along the way treat your package daintily because it's marked "fragile?" Yeah, right! Don't rely on them. Rely on your packing. You have to pack as if you expect a piano to fall on your package. And a piano doesn't care if the box is covered with "fragile" labels. 5. The "Sturdy Box" rule also applies to small items, like jewelry. Sturdy boxes are the key! Don't just put a small item into a bubble envelope and think it's enough. It should be well protected in a little box INSIDE the envelope, which is often stuffed into a mailbox, or at the mercy of various postal stamping machines. Now that you know how to pack ... good luck with your sales, and hope you have lots and lots of packages to apply your new skills to. Erica Harel |
Shop Spotlight |
Comments
Packing
Erica's suggestions certainly cut down on damage.
However, if the item has any flaws, like cracks in pottery or wood, loose pieces,or easily bent bits, no matter how well you pack these items have a fair chance of breaking in shipping. Heavy items with stress points also have a habit of breaking, as do loose mirrors, picture glass etc. Use cardboard, foam, wadded tape, to make sure all loose peices are held firmly. Reinforce cracked pottery in cardboard sandwiches in addition to bubble and tape them firmly.
It's good to remember when packing that the box is routinely dropped as it goes from point to point. Yeah, they drop fragile items more gently (uh hunh).
I've shipped many items over the last thirty years and there has been breakage. Thankfully only 6 items among hundreds. Because they were packed securely, reimbursement was easy and 100%.
Janet Marcus
The Antiques Company
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/theantiquescompany