Courier advice

[diviy]

Any recommendations to send a turntanle and a reel to reel please

[vinylsnail]

Whichever courier you choose, pack the items really REALLY well! So well that its contents can survive a drop from say, the back of a van onto a concrete slab.

[Filterlab]

Alternatively deliver the items (if possible) and ask the same as the courier charges to cover your fuel. Much safer!

When I post MacBooks, they go wrapped in bubble wrap in a box that's two feet deep. Take no chances; couriers don't care as they're generally paid on the quantity delivered rather than how well delivered the packages are.

[Mikeandvan]

Remember to put a spacer between platter and base of TT, so bearing doesn't get damaged.

[Macca]

Take the platter off completely and wrap it separately.

If it can't survive a 6 foot drop onto concrete it isn't well packed enough. The packing is far more important than which courier you use.

[Mikeandvan]

I sense a gap in the cardboard boxes market for hifi boxes............A box within a box...

[Macca]

Bubble wrap is the key. Mummify it in the stuff, then double box with a tightly packed 'crumple zone' between the inner and outer boxes, and make sure the item is packed tight so it can't move at all.

The worst thing that can happen to your package aside from malicious damage is it gets thrown out of the back of a van onto concrete or tarmac. If it can survive that then it will get through unscathed. I always pack with that worst-case in mind.

Having said that I once bought a CD player off ebay and it came in one box with just a couple of handfuls of polystyrene chips thrown in. It could slide around inside freely in all dimensions . Beyond a joke but it was still in working order and without any dings or scratches. From a so-called 'professional seller' too.

[Blackdog]

As some have mentioned, bubble wrap tightly. You don't want any movement inside the box. Think inertia.
I can't stress this point enough - DON'T USE STYROFOAM PEANUTS!
Remove the platter and wrap separately (plug the bearing well with something lint free. Also remove the arms counterweight and wrap separately. I once had a customer's arm snap off the stub that supports the weight. A one piece molded assembly. He had to buy a new arm.
Double box if possible with packing in between the two boxes.
Lock down the suspension if possible.

For the reel to reel, almost all applies. Remove any reels, or easily damaged parts, and wrap separately.

While others may disagree - Don't use UPS. I have several horror stories with these people. Some of them quite impressive in their destruction.

[Pieoftheday]

As some have mentioned, bubble wrap tightly. You don't want any movement inside the box. Think inertia.
I can't stress this point enough - DON'T USE STYROFOAM PEANUTS!
Remove the platter and wrap separately (plug the bearing well with something lint free. Also remove the arms counterweight and wrap separately. I once had a customer's arm snap off the stub that supports the weight. A one piece molded assembly. He had to buy a new arm.
Double box if possible with packing in between the two boxes.
Lock down the suspension if possible.

For the reel to reel, almost all applies. Remove any reels, or easily damaged parts, and wrap separately.

While others may disagree - Don't use UPS. I have several horror stories with these people. Some of them quite impressive in their destruction.
Also,
Double box if possible, I work for Royal Mail and in the main things get damaged because of truly awful packaging,

[Filterlab]

Double boxing is in the text you quoted.

[Pieoftheday]

Double boxing is in the text you quoted.

:doh::lol: so it is

[CageyH]

Also,
Double box if possible, I work for Royal Mail and in the main things get damaged because of truly awful packaging,

I thought things got damaged as they were used in a game of rugby?
I have no criticism of Royal Mail by the way, but have had some truly horrendous experiences with couriers delivering parcels.

Look at this beauty. Packaged reasonably, double boxed but not really good enough. Outer Box almost completely destroyed, delivered open. I was not there to take receipt of it, otherwise I would have said "no".
29082

Trust a courier?

You are having a laugh....

Recommend a courier? For me I have had almost no problems with UPS, either sending or receiving.

[Pieoftheday]

I thought things got damaged as they were used in a game of rugby?
I have no criticism of Royal Mail by the way, but have had some truly horrendous experiences with couriers delivering parcels.

Look at this beauty. Packaged reasonably, double boxed but not really good enough. Outer Box almost completely destroyed, delivered open. I was not there to take receipt of it, otherwise I would have said "no".
29082

Trust a courier?

You are having a laugh....

Recommend a courier? For me I have had almost no problems with UPS, either sending or receiving.

Definitely not saying royal mail are perfect,I can only speak for the depot I work at and the days of throwing stuff around are long gone, no rugby! On my delivery I regularly find parcels left outside and I have to take pics of them because people always blame the postie , I'd be sacked for doing that

[Blackdog]

For me I have had almost no problems with UPS, either sending or receiving.
Story no. 1
Years ago the distributor of Audio Aero in Canada sent a power amp to Las Vegas for the CES audio show via UPS Freight
The amp was boxed, and strapped to a pallet. When the distributor got to Vegas to set up, he saw the poor amplifier.
UPS had used a fork lift and drove one of the forks through box (not the pallet space) knocking one output transformer and the power transformer right off the chassis. Bent the chassis, destroyed the transformers, and effectively scrapped a $10,000 amplifier. Damage was traced back to the UPS depot in Las Vegas. It two years of law suits to get it cleared up.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I sense a gap in the cardboard boxes market for hifi boxes............A box within a box...

That already exists sir, also most makers of high end stuff have 3 boxes nowadays.

My advice is buy some double wall boxes and put 1 inside the other, the boxes need to be 3 times bigger than the item inside, pack with bubble wrap or packing peanuts.

Out of all the couriers this is my experience based on 20 years of courier use and 1500-2000+ packages sent out each month.

1. Fedex
2. UPS
3. DHL
4. DPD Local

Everyone has a tale to tell about couriers but its based on very low usage, ours isn't.

[Getgaff]

As above, thorough packaging is the key. Some of the more expensive items I’ve sold in the past have taken me an hour or more to pack. Then once packed get a quote from these guys;

https://www.overlandexpress.co.uk/courier-for-hifi-equipment

I’ve used them on a number of occasions and all without any issues.

EDIT: For items <2kgs and for pricer items (in excess of £1000) <10kgs I use Royal Mail Special Delivery. Next-day fully insured and it’s treated as an entirely separate channel from the 1st class/2nd class/Parcelforce post.

[Beobloke]

I still use UPS as a first choice as I’ve never had a single problem with them, and NEVER Parcelfarce.

Oh, and bubble wrap is a gift from the gods but do remember one important thing - bubbles must go on the outside and NEVER against the equipment. It can leave small circular marks that are a bugger to shift, especially on dust covers.

[Macca]

I always use Parcelforce as the post office is only a short walk away, never had an issue in ten years, not even a late delivery. Last thing I sent was an amp just before Xmas on the 48hr service, was delivered in under 24 hours.

[Mikeandvan]

That already exists sir, also most makers of high end stuff have 3 boxes nowadays.

My advice is buy some double wall boxes and put 1 inside the other, the boxes need to be 3 times bigger than the item inside, pack with bubble wrap or packing peanuts.

Out of all the couriers this is my experience based on 20 years of courier use and 1500-2000+ packages sent out each month.

1. Fedex
2. UPS
3. DHL
4. DPD Local

Everyone has a tale to tell about couriers but its based on very low usage, ours isn't.

Can they be bought by consumers or just trade? If you have a link to some for sale that would be good thanks. Is your list ascending or descending order!

[walpurgis]

When you buy bubble wrap, does it arrive wrapped in bubble wrap? :scratch:


:D

[diviy]

Many thanks all

[Beobloke]

When you buy bubble wrap, does it arrive wrapped in bubble wrap? :scratch:


:D

I once bought some flat-packed cardboard boxes, and they arrived in a cardboard box...

[Lawrence001]

I once bought some flat-packed cardboard boxes, and they arrived in a cardboard box...If I buy loads of them in single lots it's buy one get one free [emoji16]

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

[struth]

When you buy bubble wrap, does it arrive wrapped in bubble wrap? :scratch:


:D

mine came in not shrunk shrink wrap:eyebrows: lets face it its pretty non destructable by dropping

[Barry]

I once bought some flat-packed cardboard boxes, and they arrived in a cardboard box...

Me too.