We’ll show you how.
You have to assume the worst.
That means you’ll need to pack your box defensively, guarding against very rough handling.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
How do you achieve that level of protection?
We’ll show you.
What You’ll Need
To safely ship electronics, you’ll need some good-quality shipping materials.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
You’ll probably need to customize these instructions for your item as you follow the step-by-step process below.
It will also make it stronger and less likely to bend or warp if supported gently from the inside.
Apply Bubble Wrap
Next, wrap the item in 1-3 layers of bubble wrap.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
Use small bubbles for smaller items, and bigger bubbles for larger items.
Heavier items should have more layers of bubble wrap.
Tape it in place around the item without getting tape on the item itself.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
(Avoid packing heavy items near lighter items because they can damage each other in the box.
If that’s the case, you’ll need two boxes.)
The amount of free space depends on the weight of the item you’re packing.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
Larger items need more room for shock protection.
In particular, corners often fail, so it’s important to keep the items away from the corners.
You want that damage to be absorbed by the void fill and not the item itself.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
Leave one end open so it’s possible for you to pack the item inside.
Crumple more newsprint and pack it evenly around all sides of the box.
Fill all available space in the box.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
This reinforces the box’s strength.
Picture the strength of a balloon that is filled with air and tied closed versus one that is open.
For heavier items, add two or three straps of tape.
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
For the heaviest items, add straps of tape for every open seam on the box.
The more surface area the tape can grip on to, the stronger it will hold.
You should hear silence.
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Trust us: The box will get far rougher treatment on the way to the destination address.
It’s a tricky balance to obtain.
Why Isn’t Packing Usually This Good?
Benj Edwards / How-To Geek
By now, if you haven’t shipped anything before, you might be thinking this method is overkill.
They can easily ship another item out again if the first one gets damaged in shipping.
If you buy a poorly-packed item from eBay that arrives in perfect condition, you got lucky.
Good shipping is expensive, because good packing adds a lot of volume to the package.
It’s worth it.
Each company has its own benefits and trade-offs that are too complex to go into here.
Related:What’s the Best Way to Buy a Vintage Computer?
It will make the carriers less likely to punt your machine package onto your porch from 10 feet away.
Good luck, and stay safe out there!
