How To Ship Vinyl's, Records & LPs
Last updated
Last updated
A great way to make money over the past few years has been flipping limited edition & signed vinyl's. If you have ever flipped any vinyl's, you may have asked yourself "what are the best way to ship these?" as they are kind of awkward. In a pinch, I have definitely cut down a medium u-Haul box, padded the surroundings with packing paper and have made that work for a vinyl however this is not efficient and will likely end up costing you way too much in terms of shipping costs and labour time. There are much better options you can opt for which we will go over in this guide. There are a few things you will want to ensure your vinyl's are packed nice and help prevent any potential damage, these include: 12 1/2 x 12 1/2" Corrugated Vinyl Record Mailers These are the standard way to ship records. For their size, they can be quite expensive but buying in bulk, you should be able to get these for ~$1CAD - $3CAD each depending where they are coming from and the shipping costs (most places will end up charging shipping for these) Amazon: eBay: uLine: Other:
12 x 12" Corrugated Pads/Album Sheets These are used to provide additional padding/cushion around your vinyls. Think of making the package kind of like a sandwich. You should wedge the vinyl in between 2 or more of these sheets to provide a secure and stiff surrounding which will help prevent the vinyl from being damaged in transit.
Amazon: eBay: uLine: Other: Additional Notes Make sure when packing your vinyl(s), that there is no room for them to move around in the package. When you shake the box, you should hear no movement whatsoever. If there is movement, add either additional album sheets or packing paper to secure the package more (if using packing paper, do not put it directly on top of the vinyl or shove awkward scrunched up bundles in the box - put it on top of the album sheets and ensure when pressed from the exterior, it will not damage the vinyl). For higher value vinyl's, you may also want to consider cutting scrap cardboard strips to place directly over the corners of the vinyl before putting into the box and wedging with the sheets for extra protection.
Another popular albeit more expensive option are the Whiplash LP Mailers. These can be a good option for very high value vinyl's that you are extra concerned about. These will cost you in the neighborhood of $3-$5CAD per.