Best Packaging Practices
Get your records to us safe and sound
How to package RECORDS in bulk
Example One:
The following step by step is based on 50 x 12" records
Firstly construct your box - we can supply these to you HERE. You should ensure all edges, corners, creases, and flaps are secured with strong postage tape.
Line the bottom of the box in some filler. This could be scrunched up newspaper, shredded paper or foam pellets. We have used purpose made brown paper lattice in this photo.
Close the box and secure all the edges and seams together with strong postage tape. Theres no such thing as too little tape, double it up - wrapping in three bands like for the bubble wrap step is a good idea too.
The bottom of the box should be secured with postage tape by either criss crossing it, or securing in three bands like how the bubble wrap is secured in step four.
Place the bubble wrapped records into the box, it should fit snugly and be cushioned well by the filler undernearth.
Finally give your precious cargo a fragile warning for the postal service workers. Fragile tape along the seams or a large fragile sticker (or two) are the best things for this.
Wrap the records in bubble wrap, it should cover every side and overlap slightly to fit snugly around them, as if you were wrapping a gift.
Stuff filler into the gaps around the edges of the records so as to cushion the sides. This should make them fit even more snugly and prevent the stack from rattling about.
Secure the bubble wrap in three perpendicular bands of postage tape. This is to stop the stack sliding around, the idea is to keep them firmly together in a neat stack.
Stuff more filler onto the top of the records. The amount of filler on top and underneath the records may vary according to how many you are sending. The example shown is for 50 records but much more may be needed for smaller quantities. Again this is to stop the records moving around inside the box.
We can supply packaging materials to you here - We sell these at the cost price to sellers because it's records we are interested in, not packaging.
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Example TWO:
The following step by step is based on 4 x 12" OR 8 x 12" records
Firstly separate the records from their sleeves and place them on top of one another. The sleeves can tear if you skip this step.
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Fold close the mailer. The folds are usually preset for you but there should be some give so that you can adjust to the size of the contents. Fold it closed as snugly as possible around the records, but not overly tight so that they could bend. Some mailers have a sticky sealing strip and some don't.
Use more postal tape to secure both mailers together along the edges. There is no such thing as too much tape, it keeps everything in firmly place and together.
Place the records, now separated from their sleeves, into a plastic insert or bag. This could just be a plastic shopping bag - make sure its clean and dry. Wrap it snugly around the records while avoiding to fold it too much or making large creases which could cause the records to bend/warp.
Seal all of the edges with strong postal tape. Ensure your parcel has a fragile warning, a sticker or tape. Sealing along the closing seam with fragile tape is best practice.
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Provided everything is firmly held together, without any rattling, slipping, sliding, bending or lack of fragile warnings - you are good to go. Be sure to check out our packaging materials PAGE for anything you need to get your records to us safe and sound.
Unfold and lay out a record mailer, place a cardboard stiffening sheet the same size as the sleeves. Only one should be necessary with one or two records but any more than this should be sandwiched between two stiffeners.
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So far you have seen how to send up to four records. To send up to eight records, repeat the process on a second mailer. Anything more than eight should follow the process from the steps in example one all the way up to 50 records.
Place your separated and plastic wrapped records onto the mailer. Keep everything aligned, straight and tight. The idea is to stop things from rattling around in transit. ​
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The two mailers should be neatly, squarely and snugly placed on top of one another.