Best packing and shipping practices?

danbl68 · Jan 10, 2020

Syrte
Someone once used registered mail to send me as a gift three tiny gold plated Longines lady strap buckles in a padded envelope. I got the envelope all right but it was empty. Someone had opened it, removed the contents, sealed it again and when I got it I signed for it without checking. That’s one of the things I’m trying to avoid.
Registered mail is on average very good but stuff can happen — and I want to minimize chances of it happening.

I can't even imagine! that sucks and thanks for sharing because I have a bad habit of not checking as well and jsut sign then they hand it over

Dms5150 · Feb 19, 2020

Has anyone found a watch online only to find out they don't ship to your country, then found a company to act as a go-between to purchase and deliver the watch? eg Chronext or other? In my case, there are not many 60's Heuers down here in Australia, so you end up looking at Europe and the UK, but as you guys have mentioned there's nervousness about sending long distance.

There may just be a gap in the market for a Parcel Pro oriented pick up and deliver service to take the guess work away from smaller sellers who don't want to deal with customs etc.

danbl68 · Feb 24, 2020

I definitely agree with most members here; I ship with double boxes, extra bubble wrap and sometimes with the Air Bags, and make sure everything is really tight in the box so that they can't shake it and move, and use the anti-deterrant tape on all seams; if using the boxes with adhesive, also tape that flap.

Amg786s · Apr 12, 2020

Dan S
For a nice watch, if I want to go the extra mile, I wrap it in bubble wrap and put it inside an insulated souvenir cup with a lid. Then I put that in a shipping box with additional bubble wrap or other packing material. The cup costs a few dollars at the supermarket or discount store, but I look at it as a small extra gift for the person who purchased the watch, and the watch is extremely safe. You could step on the package without damaging the watch, and it is also safe against water since it is sealed inside the lidded cup.

I have also used the small reusable food storage containers, or other small plastic boxes.

That's a great idea. Both practical and as a gesture.

Amg786s · Apr 12, 2020

Like most, double box, polyestyrene chips and good old fashioned scrunched up newspapers for extra cushioning

cowboyjack · Apr 22, 2020

Double box almost anything of value I ship. AND label both boxes with address.

imageWIS · May 7, 2020

The Parcel Pro instructions on the first page are very sage advice. As is using a membrane box, flanked by tightly-fitting bubble wrap or shipping paper.

Ted1858 · May 7, 2020

imageWIS
The Parcel Pro instructions on the first page are very sage advice. As is using a membrane box, flanked by tightly-fitting bubble wrap or shipping paper.

Agreed. I put the watch in a small bubble-wrap bag, and then tape it to the inside of a small box. That small box then went into a "small" fedex box with newspaper. Finally, the small box went into a medium Fedex box which contained the shipping information attached to the outside...and this box was taped on the flaps. Maybe it was overkill but I felt a lot better about my odds of something happening.

+1 for Parcel Pro by the way for Intl shipment. Better rates than I could get otherwise with Fedex.

imageWIS · May 7, 2020

Ted1858
Agreed. I put the watch in a small bubble-wrap bag, and then tape it to the inside of a small box. That small box then went into a "small" fedex box with newspaper. Finally, the small box went into a medium Fedex box which contained the shipping information attached to the outside...and this box was taped on the flaps. Maybe it was overkill but I felt a lot better about my odds of something happening.

+1 for Parcel Pro by the way for Intl shipment. Better rates than I could get otherwise with Fedex.

It's not overkill at all, I think that's the right way to ship a watch. Additionally, it's not only the shipping rates which are better with Parcel Pro, so are the insurance rates.

alikara · May 18, 2020

Double box and make sure signature required upon delivery. Don't ship over the weekend.

cowboyjack · Jun 18, 2020

ATWG
Oh no, I use a medium FedEx box as the outer shell and a small FedEx box which slides in nicely as the inner box. Both are free at local FedEx stores. You can also look up their dimensions on their site to get an idea.

I also video tape all my packing for insurance purpose.

Now, why didn’t I think of that? I’m going to start videoing while I pack up my watches. What a great idea! Thanks!

eldiano84 · Jul 20, 2020

You know, as an ebay seller and decades of practice, the best way to ship anything nowdays is just to bubble wrap whatever your sending, then fill the rest of the space with packaging paper, if the box is big, cut it or modify it, cubic inches matter in terms of shipping cost. Trust me whatever you are sending will not move because of the packaging paper haha. If you are sending model cars, masking tape will prevent doors from opening without damaging the paint, you can also fill the spaces inside a box with air filled plastic bubbles just in case. I understand someone used registered mail before but still, if you didn’t add the insurance or seals and it got tampered with in transit... you played.. always insure your package, pay the extra bucks, it protects you and the seller, you get your money if the seller steals your package, or the seller gets his money if the package gets damaged in route and you can’t replace it the item...

Cayohuesovespa · Jul 25, 2020

Depends on location. USPS and ups terrible here I. Key west. We have a fedexhFedEx so I always ship FedEx and hold at the hub and pickup. Takes the driver out if the equation and the likelihood of it not making it are nil.

Stripey · Jul 27, 2020

Returning a watch to Sinn in Germany for service, I thought I would send it direct, because it would be quicker than waiting for the local agent to have sufficient watches to send. Quickly realised no-one will insure the watch, so tried Mailboxes Etc. For some reason, their website doesn't let you skip the name section, even though it's a business you're sending it to. And for some other reason, the quote I have got was addressed to the recipient, not the sender. It begins:

Dear Mr Kundendienst

or, in English

Dear Mr Customer Service

That made me laugh inordinately long. Anyway, the price means I'm going to be sending it back to the local service agent to send to Germany - it's just a lot easier.

Syrte · Aug 14, 2020

Sorry this probably doesn’t add much but @Lucasssssss takes the prize for packing engineering- with the unique and custom fitted packet below.

I’ve been at it for a few minutes and after conquering the outer box and the tightly taped bubble wrap I had to take a lunch break to have strength for the last stage.
Thank you dear @Lucasssssss 👍

Lucasssssss · Aug 14, 2020

Syrte
Sorry this probably doesn’t add much but @Lucasssssss takes the prize for packing engineering- with the unique and custom fitted packet below.

I’ve been at it for a few minutes and after conquering the outer box and the tightly taped bubble wrap I had to take a lunch break to have strength for the last stage.
Thank you dear @Lucasssssss 👍

Thank you! I have had one or two mishaps in the past where it appeared that Royal Mail mistook my parcel for a football, so now make sure everything is tightly packed.

Although I cant take too much credit for this parcel in particular; my girlfriend is a teacher and is currently on her summer holidays so she kindly volunteers to pack and ship parcels I am sending, I will pass on the good feedback!

Syrte · Sep 2, 2020

Well, here’s a new concept and the packet vanished for 3 weeks in the depths of the French postal distribution system.

But anyone looking at it will know there’s a nightmare ahead trying to unpack. And it looks unglorious enough that I doubt anyone would suspect valuables inside.

for safety I’ve removed from view the labels containing personal information but they were taped right on there.

30t1 · Sep 9, 2020

I received and used the method of a watch inside a hard case for glasses taped and inside another. Always tape every seam, also once around the box.
For domestic shipping, I try to do it on Monday, covers most of the US in 5 days. I received a watch from overseas, in a tin watchmaker box actually two boxes. All packaged and taped inside another box.

ajn3323 · Sep 11, 2020

This thread should be required reading for anyone who sells and ships watches. I recently received a watch from a longtime member here who sells four- and five-digit priced watches. It was a sad and horrific packing job. The crystal was damaged (scratched, not broken) in shipment and fortunately the case escaped unscathed.

slwoodster · Sep 14, 2020

If I remember correctly... UPS and FedEx both have required their own packing techniques for different types of items such as these in order to honor their shipping insurance.

X350 XJR