Shipping and packing

[highpuff]

I guess this question has popped up in each and everybody's head pre or post sales. How the f* should I pack the items the very best way?

In my case I am about to sell an Amiga 4000D rev. B with a Cyberstorm MK1 060 with memory and SCSI board. The problem is that the memory board probably will pop out and bounce around inside of the A4000D case and possibly damage a lot.

What is the best practice here?
- Remove any parts that at risk of popping out and ship them in a separate box? This will then open for that the buyer might damage something when installing it.
- Fixate the risk parts with some 3D printed stuff, making the cards stick into place even when shipped?

Suggestions?

 

[Timtheloon]

If I was going to send an A4K

I would remove the Cyberstorm and any other Zorro cards and wrap them up separately and ship all the amiga and components in a sturdy box.

I had an instance of damage caused to a power tower I bought way back and it was badly transported and the cards came loose and the damage caused to the Zorro cards which came loose and the bus-board made them inoperable, luckily for me I had insurance on it and got the money back

 

[Boing-ball]

I guess this question has popped up in each and everybody's head pre or post sales. How the f* should I pack the items the very best way?

In my case I am about to sell an Amiga 4000D rev. B with a Cyberstorm MK1 060 with memory and SCSI board. The problem is that the memory board probably will pop out and bounce around inside of the A4000D case and possibly damage a lot.

What is the best practice here?
- Remove any parts that at risk of popping out and ship them in a separate box? This will then open for that the buyer might damage something when installing it.
- Fixate the risk parts with some 3D printed stuff, making the cards stick into place even when shipped?

Suggestions?

First of all. You should communicate with the buyer your intentions and agree on best practice. If the buyer is willing to take a chance on the accelerator being shipped whilst fitted. Then make it known the item will be protected as best as possible but buyer may need to be aware of possibilities.

Second. Anything like you are shipping, try and double box and layer with as much bubble wrap as possible.

Third. Try and find a trusted courier with best insurance, just in-case of issues with damage.

That is all you can do. Good luck.

 

[highpuff]

Thanks for the advice.

I will remove all cards prior to shipping and put them in separate boxes with proper ESD protection and bubble wrap.

 

[Timtheloon]

If you can keep it all in the same box if shipping to a country which may incur custom charges obviously not a problem if no custom charges occur

 

[qz3fwd]

First of all. You should communicate with the buyer your intentions and agree on best practice. If the buyer is willing to take a chance on the accelerator being shipped whilst fitted. Then make it known the item will be protected as best as possible but buyer may need to be aware of possibilities.

Second. Anything like you are shipping, try and double box and layer with as much bubble wrap as possible.

Third. Try and find a trusted courier with best insurance, just in-case of issues with damage.

That is all you can do. Good luck.

No it is the sellers responsibility to properly package the item(s) and ensure they safety arrive to the customer.

 

[Boing-ball]

No it is the sellers responsibility to properly package the item(s) and ensure they safety arrive to the customer.

All well and good. What I am saying, if the buyer is not confident with re-assembling items such as accelerator boards and Zorro cards which would mean the seller would have to explain the situation in regards to shipping the system as a whole and what could happen. Therefore why I mention the communication between seller and buyer.

 

[tbtorro]

After shipping a dozen or so big box Amiga system over the years:

Whole system shipping is tricky. Lots of work. Bottom line: the parcel should survive (without damage to content) of a drop of min. 30cm on hard surface (including corners)

Delivery people hate large and heavy parcels in retail shipping. In the business world these kind of parcels are usually shipped on pallets or with couriers (UPS, DHL etc.) for an entirely different price and conditions -> hence different treatment.

The rest:
- Insurance is a must (usually won't pay though if you ship electronics in a box of less than 2 layers)
- Remove all Zorro and CPU cards, wrap and pad them tight inside the housing
- Inside box padding minimum 8cm hard foam or tight bubble wrap
- Double box. With minimum 5cm hard foam/flamingo between the inner walls. Outer box must be minimum 2 layers. 3 is preferred.
- NOTHING should be able to shift inside (full padding everywhere, especially corners)
- Massive amount of tight taping (especially corners)
- I usually tape a home made handle (made out of foam and tape) on the box. Tape must be good quality (industrial strength) for this.

 

[kixs]

Shipping large objects is always a problem. In case you want to ship as it is, complete with installed cards, then you have to fill the inside of the case with lots of padding - crumpled newspaper is usually fine - but do it tightly so everything is secured and can't move or pop out. This is my way of shipping complete PC's and never had any problems.