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jefflewis · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1512

Anybody have any experience shipping vinyl LP records?
I'm starting to sell LP copies of my albums thru my website and today is the first day I'm shipping some out to various countries... experimenting with different ways to pack them safely... some in flat boxes, some in bubble envelopes... the flat boxes are hard to find! I'm just re-using LP-mailer boxes from albums I've bought on ebay that were shipped to me... but now I've run out of these and I can't find a local store that sells them. So I'm also using some giant bubble-lined envelopes, though they are somewhat too big just for one or two LPs, and they are kind of expensive to buy.
Also I don't know if I can trust these bubble-envelopes, so I'm also packing extra bits of cardboard and other stuff into these packages to keep the records safe, but all of this will make the packages more heavy and expensive to ship.

SO if anybody has any tips for the best/safest/most affordable ways to package LPs for worldwide shipping, let me know!
Thanks!

misshelenc · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:32 pm Post subject:

I don't, but I have to say, it is very impressive that you get your merchandise personally packed and sent by JL, it's certainly a bonus! I want Jeffrey post in my letter box! heehee xxx
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Dav · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:09 pm Post subject:

I've just ordered a bunch of stuff on the website. Smile

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jefflewis · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1512

Hi Dav! I just saw your order, thanks!! I usually pack and ship all my Shopify orders at the beginning of each week so it'll get posted to you in the next day or two... you'll have to let me know how rapid/effective the delivery is (or not!).
I'm still having a hard time adjusting the shipping cost properly, the current system is that the Shopify site adds up the estimated weight of the items and adds $2 for packing materials (and the weight of the packing materials), sometimes this works pretty close to the actual cost, but sometimes the customer has paid too much money compared to what the actual shipping cost it, and other times the amount charged for shipping ends up being a few dollars less than what i actually have to pay for the shipping. It seems to be the case that the lighter the order weight is, like if somebody just buys a couple of zines, then it's more likely that the customer will be charged a bit too much for shipping; and the heavier an order is, like with LPs and a bunch of heavy comic books, the more likely the shipping cost doesn't actually cover the amount I am charged at the post office (especially for overseas orders). I am continually adjusting the Shopify method of charging for shipping, but it is very difficult to adjust it to a perfect balance!
Anyway, thanks again for the order, I hope it didn't charge you too much for shipping!!

Dav · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:09 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a boring process for you. I got fairly charged for shipping, like 13 bucks or something, plus Euro is cost more than dollars do it'll all good. I'll let you know when i'll get it.
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Dav · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:38 am Post subject:

I received the package yesterday, pretty fast!
Shpping cost were 13, just as i paid.

I've read the Fuff 0 so far, real cool one. I had no idea about the small comics and the gums ones.
Also had a big laught at the rom robot with a beard, amongst other...
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Dav · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:45 am Post subject:

I received the package yesterday, pretty fast!
Shpping cost were 13, just as i paid.

I've read the Fuff 0 so far, real cool one. I had no idea about the small comics and the gums ones.
Also had a big laught at the rom robot with a beard
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jefflewis · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1512

Yeah, I was happy the shipping cost was really pretty exact!

Glad it arrived so fast.