Selling and packing vinyl
Posted by: Fisbey on 22 August 2010
Hope someone can point me in the right direction!
I have some vinyl records that I'm selling need some advice with regard to postage and packing.
Are there any specifics methods or wrappings used to pack LP's prior to postage?
Is there a particular postage class one should use or is it just standard 1st class?
I do hope someone can help - the records in question were my fathers and he would have wanted them treated well.
Many thanks
I have some vinyl records that I'm selling need some advice with regard to postage and packing.
Are there any specifics methods or wrappings used to pack LP's prior to postage?
Is there a particular postage class one should use or is it just standard 1st class?
I do hope someone can help - the records in question were my fathers and he would have wanted them treated well.
Many thanks
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by BigH47
My only bug bear is that people don't pack the record out of the sleeve.
An LP mailer and a couple of cardboard stiffeners seems the best way.
An LP mailer and a couple of cardboard stiffeners seems the best way.
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by naim_nymph
Do a web search on... 'Wrapro Record Mailers'
"Designed by Experts ...to be handled by Maniacs!"
Their mailers are about the safest i've seen. Burning Shed use them.
It looks like the price is £69.99 for 100 ~ so at less than a quid each, and you can pass this cost onto the customer. (i expect you can buy lesser amounts if need be)
The main reason these mailers are so good, it that the cardboard extends well over the size of the records. This gives the packet a good buffer to protect the edges of the records and LP outer-covers.
The size of this packet will be too large for 'letter' or 'large-letter' postage rates, so the postage is for 'small-packet' rate which can be 1st class or 2nd class, and with or with-out recorded (signed for).
The price will depend on weight, if posting many LP's together it may be too heavy for 2nd class (over 1kg) so will need to go 1st class, if the records are very valuable (say over 100 quid?) then Priority Services should be considered.
It's would be better to send records though by 2nd Class in strong packaging than 1st class in lesser flimsy packaging (which quite honestly is not worth the risk).
Hope this is helpful and good luck with the selling! : )
Debs (A Qualified Expert Packet Sorter)
"Designed by Experts ...to be handled by Maniacs!"
Their mailers are about the safest i've seen. Burning Shed use them.
It looks like the price is £69.99 for 100 ~ so at less than a quid each, and you can pass this cost onto the customer. (i expect you can buy lesser amounts if need be)
The main reason these mailers are so good, it that the cardboard extends well over the size of the records. This gives the packet a good buffer to protect the edges of the records and LP outer-covers.
The size of this packet will be too large for 'letter' or 'large-letter' postage rates, so the postage is for 'small-packet' rate which can be 1st class or 2nd class, and with or with-out recorded (signed for).
The price will depend on weight, if posting many LP's together it may be too heavy for 2nd class (over 1kg) so will need to go 1st class, if the records are very valuable (say over 100 quid?) then Priority Services should be considered.
It's would be better to send records though by 2nd Class in strong packaging than 1st class in lesser flimsy packaging (which quite honestly is not worth the risk).
Hope this is helpful and good luck with the selling! : )
Debs (A Qualified Expert Packet Sorter)
Posted on: 22 August 2010 by Kevin-W
Fisbey, I do a lot of buying and selling of records, and, like Debs I find the Wrapro mailers the best. However if you don't want to shell out £70 I find these people (see link) provide very good mailers and stiffeners for 12" and 7" records. They also do mailers which allow you to send box sets, doubles, triples and multiples out.
Covers 33
Good value if you buy in bulk.
A good mailer is absolutely essential - records are fragile and covers get bent.
And, as Howard says, remove the record from the sleeve before packing.
K
Covers 33
Good value if you buy in bulk.
A good mailer is absolutely essential - records are fragile and covers get bent.
And, as Howard says, remove the record from the sleeve before packing.
K
Posted on: 23 August 2010 by Fisbey
Many thanks.
Some of the inner sleeves are a bit naff - what are decent ones to use as replacements?
Also why would you take the record from the sleeve?
Where else does it go?
Sorry to ask (maybe) stupid questions but I've never posted vinyl before!
Thanks again!
Some of the inner sleeves are a bit naff - what are decent ones to use as replacements?
Also why would you take the record from the sleeve?
Where else does it go?
Sorry to ask (maybe) stupid questions but I've never posted vinyl before!
Thanks again!
Posted on: 23 August 2010 by BigH47
quote:Also why would you take the record from the sleeve?
Where else does it go?
So the record does not cut through the outer sleeve during transit.
With sealed items customer must be made aware that this could happen.
Just pack the LP next to the outer sleeve, with cardboard stiffeners (cardboard box cut to size, ie slightly bigger) either side.
Posted on: 23 August 2010 by Fisbey
Ah yes, I see - thanks.
Would paper or 'plastic' inners be best?
Many thanks again.
Would paper or 'plastic' inners be best?
Many thanks again.
Posted on: 25 August 2010 by talltony
I also buy and have sold quite a few records, generally low value stuff, and am well aware that record out of the sleeves is the way it is supposed to be done, but I do not know why to be honest as if it is well covered in cardboard how can it cut through the sleeve? I have had not evidence of that from anything I have bought, and what I dont like about record outside sleeve is that when unpacking you often have to be careful not to put your fingers on the vinyl, the sleeve is often dodgy on old records.
For selling, I do however always pack high value items outside sleeve because that is what buyers expect. I have used bought mailers but it is expensive unless you are selling a load of LZ plums or something, as it seriously cuts into the money when you sell for 99p +say £3 postage (dont forget the paypal fees etc). So what I do is save old cardboard and all the packaging from what I buy for future sales. Recycled packaging is also greenr.
Dont forget stiffening- the record should have two cardboard layers to stiffen with cardboard on top. I have suffered damage from lack of stiffening. If you buy them new up goes the cost again, but if you use recycled make sure the cardboard fits the records well and doesn't leave an unstiffened corner.
But my real hate is over-packaging. There is nothing more frustrating than chipping away at layers of tape etc for 10 mins or even more, all the time worried you might damage the record or sleeve. A good mailer will seal quite adequately without tape.
Tony
For selling, I do however always pack high value items outside sleeve because that is what buyers expect. I have used bought mailers but it is expensive unless you are selling a load of LZ plums or something, as it seriously cuts into the money when you sell for 99p +say £3 postage (dont forget the paypal fees etc). So what I do is save old cardboard and all the packaging from what I buy for future sales. Recycled packaging is also greenr.
Dont forget stiffening- the record should have two cardboard layers to stiffen with cardboard on top. I have suffered damage from lack of stiffening. If you buy them new up goes the cost again, but if you use recycled make sure the cardboard fits the records well and doesn't leave an unstiffened corner.
But my real hate is over-packaging. There is nothing more frustrating than chipping away at layers of tape etc for 10 mins or even more, all the time worried you might damage the record or sleeve. A good mailer will seal quite adequately without tape.
Tony
Posted on: 27 August 2010 by Fisbey
Many thanks Tony - good advice.