Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: contraste on March 01, 2009, 01:17:29 PM

Title: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: contraste on March 01, 2009, 01:17:29 PM
Hi to everyone from London, England.
This is my first post on this fascinating and informative forum.

I love the style of American phones and will soon (with any luck) have one shipped to me from the US.
I'd be really grateful if someone could post some instructions on how to properly pack a WE 500 so I can politely pass them on to the seller.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Ellen on March 01, 2009, 01:25:55 PM
Snugly packed in a small box, then snugly packed in a larger box.  Plenty of peanuts, popcorn, or entertaining newspaper crumpled all around.  When done, it can be shaken and there will be no noise nor feel of banging.  A nice local magazine always brightens things up.  I sent a pair of tennis rackets to Russia of all places, and put in the local farm and food mag.  I hope they enjoy it.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 01, 2009, 01:38:30 PM
Hello Contraste, welcome to the forum.  Thank you for the compliment on our forum.  I will be glad to put in my two-cents worth of advice on packing.

I would imagine packing for international travel should be no different than packing for domestic travel.  The key is to protect the instrument inside the box in the event the box gets crushed on the corners on from the sides and top.  I know that on very expensive phones that cannot be replaced, double-boxing is very common and does a great job.  It costs a bit more but to protect a valued treasure is worth the extra dollars.

If you are talking about a telephone that has a handset attached by a hard wired cord, the safest method is to pack the body of the phone in a box with adaquate padding to keep it from moving.  With the cord extended out from the box so that the handset can be wrapped separately.  This keeps the handset from being driven into the body of the phone an crushing.  Then the boxed body and wrapped (or boxed handset) can then be put in another, larger box with padding all around so again, when the large box is packed and shaken nothing moves inside.  

For a single box packing one must choose an appropriate size box to allow for padding between the inside surfaces of the box and the telephone.  I like to wrap the body in bubble wrap.  First I put a couple layers of the large bubbled wrap on the bottom of the box.  After the body has been wrapped in some bubble wrap and the handset has also been wrapped separately, I set the phone down inside the box away from the side, front and back with enough room on the opposite side to place the handset, with transmitter and ear piece cups facing up.  I then wad up newspaper and jam it securely around the phone, building a nest around the base and handset, with newspaper between the handset and body of the phone.  So that it is similar to those styrofoam packages that hold a product in place.  I may put two layers of balled up newspaper around the perimeter so that it will not move from side to side.  I then pour in foam peanuts until the phone is just covered.  I will agitate the box to allow the peanuts to settle and lock into place.  I may push down on them to make sure they're firm and then fill up the rest of the box with peanuts until they are nearly heaping.  I may have to skim off a few before I close the top flaps.  Again I shake the box to let them settle.  Then I cut one or more pieces of bubble wrap the size of the box and lay it atop the peanuts.  I then close the lids.  The box should not bulge.  If it is bulging, remove some peanuts.  Then with the flaps taped with just two small pieces (in case I want to reopen the box) I give it a good shake from every direction.  I may bang it on the table.  Just pretend you are an unconcerned postal worker loading boxes into an airplane.  It may be dropped, kicked, shoved and anything else you can imagine.  If you are satisfied with it then put the final amount of tape on the box for the trip.  I use no less than three lengths of packing tape across the bottom and top flaps to secure the box.  Again, none of the six sides should bulge.

Actually the U.S. Postal Service does a pretty good job.  For all the joking about their service, here with Priority Mail a box usually travels across Country in 3 days.  Many times I have sent a package to the West Coast from here (Michigan) and had them arrive in 2 days.  Often the boxes don't even look scratched when they arrive.

So there's my tips.  Aren't you sorry you asked now??  Let me know if you have questions.

Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 01, 2009, 01:39:29 PM
Ellen, it looks like we posted at the same time.  You pretty much gave the same advice as me and in less words! :)
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HobieSport on March 01, 2009, 02:22:43 PM
Hello and Welcome, Contraste.  I really like some of the mid-century British telephones with the little slide-out note-writing shelf thingy.  My only European phone is a Dutch PTT.  What kind of American phone did you get?  It's nice that we are getting more members from around the world.

I once had a phone shipped by a professional phone person and they packed it well like Dennis and Ellen mentioned, and they also covered it in a soft cloth, lightly taped on, to avoid any scratches in transit, since it was a pre-polished phone.  Personally I prefer bubble wrap to packing peanuts, just because the peanuts are messy. :)
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: contraste on March 01, 2009, 06:01:19 PM
Ellen, Dennis & HobieSport, thanks very much for your welcome and great advice.

If I can persuade my seller to pack the phone as you have described (especially Dennis) it will arrive here safe and sound.

I'm gradually reading my way through the forum and the breadth of knowledge on display is incredible and entertaining.

I'll be in North Carolina later this year so I'll be hitting every thrift store I can find in hopes of finding something interesting.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: McHeath on March 01, 2009, 11:09:14 PM
Hi and welcome.  All my phone phriends advice about packing is spot on.  I've had a couple of rare and semi-rare phones broken by bad packing, one of them, a 1951 WE 500, arrived in a little box that had clearly been thrown into something and broke the dial bezel.  (moment of silence)

There are a lot of finds in thrift stores, happy hunting when you hit North Carolina.  If you are coming in the summer be sure to pack a portable AC unit to drag about behind you, or a spare space suit, as the humidity and heat of the American South is something that has to be felt to be believed. 
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 01, 2009, 11:19:33 PM
And, to add to McHeath's comments, if you find so much you can't bring them all home, just shoot me an e-mail.  I'll help you arrange for shipping to my home!
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: mienaichizu on March 02, 2009, 08:24:39 AM
Hello and Welcome Contraste! Its good to hear we have a new member from London, England
I'm from the Philippines
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: rp2813 on March 06, 2009, 12:53:21 PM
Contraste, welcome to the forum.  When you are here in the U.S. later this year, you should also check on when and where any "swap meets" or flea markets are held.  In my area I rarely find rotary phones in the thrift stores but on the other hand, I see them in multiples in antique/collectible co-ops and at swap meets.  Happy hunting!

Ralph
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: contraste on March 10, 2009, 07:20:41 AM
Thanks for the replies, suggestions and messages of welcome.
All most appreciated.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: contraste on March 13, 2009, 06:49:16 PM
Took the plunge and bought a black September 1955 (month and year of my birth) WE500 from ebay and had it shipped over to London.
Tried to use the knowledge gained from reading this forum in selecting a phone to bid on and $20 later it was mine.

I asked (politely) the seller to pack the phone as per suggestions in this thread and was assured it would be done correctly. Parcel arrived in one piece but the phone was rattling around inside the box. I tentatively opened the box and and was relieved to see the phone had survived the ordeal despite being only loosely covered in bubble wrap and with minimal 'peanuts' (the seller told me he'd used a ton of them).

Well what the seller described as 'near mint' was hardly that but I already knew that from the ebay photos. However, in the flesh, the phone was an even sorrier sight than I expected, filthy, scratched, unloved and absolutely reeking of tobacco smoke.

A challenge was the best way to describe it but that's what I wanted and so my voyage of discovery began. After dismantling the phone I found the base, network, bells, dial and soft plastic case all had matching dates (9/15/55). The handset cord was from '63 and the handset itself along with receiver and transmitter were from '65.

The curled handset cord was stretched so after cleaning it went in the oven for a couple of hours to bake and then into the freezer. I was delighted to find this technique really worked well and the cord was looking new and tight again.

The case, dial faceplate and handset were washed and polished for hour after hour until my fingers were sore.

Cleaning and polishing finished, the phone was re-assembled and tested. Although the seller had described the phone as tested and working properly, I found that the bell didn't ring and there was an obvious problem with the handset cord.
The bell ring was easy enough (black bell wire moved from G to L1 - thanks Ben) but the cord was more tricky. There was a break in the black wire which gave only intermittent connection. After much sweat and tears I got it fixed  and finally the phone was working the way it should. Those bells are loud!

I'm happy with the phone now it's clean, shiny and working properly and I enjoyed the restoration process. It's not a collector's ideal item I suppose but it's honest and still working really well after 53 years (with help from the younger handset).

If you will indulge me I'd like to ask another question. How do you get the smell of tobacco smoke out of the leather feet?

Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 13, 2009, 07:30:49 PM
Contraste it sounds like you did well with turning a sow's ear into a silk purse.  From your description it sounds like the handset is a G3?  Otherwise your assortment of parts doesn't sound bad.

I have never tried specifically to get smoke odor out of leather feet but what I do to clean leather feet is to use a product made by Kiwi.  It's a suede cleaner.  There are many commercial suede/leather cleaners out there.  Read the can and make sure it is safe for suede.  The kind I like best comes out of the can in the form of foam....I let it soak into the suede and apply many coats until the leather is saturated.  I then use the scratch top that comes on the can, a stiff bristled tooth brush followed by a brass bristled brush.  Just be careful not to tear the soft leather.

I have been told by other collectors that dabbing hot water on the leather will do just as good a job of cleaning/softening.  Perhaps a washing followed by some airing out will take care of the odor over time.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: BDM on March 13, 2009, 09:35:09 PM
Well, congrats on your determination. Sounds like it paid off. You can locate a G1 handset if you're set on making everything correct. Any pics?
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 18, 2009, 04:36:02 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on March 01, 2009, 01:39:29 PM
Ellen, it looks like we posted at the same time.  You pretty much gave the same advice as me and in less words! :)

LN;
You should be proud of yourself. Being of the softer gender, and prone to shall we say, expressing themselves at length. :o
D/P
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Ellen on April 21, 2009, 09:26:01 PM
At length, eh?  Like a month and a half of length?  Where you been, buddy?
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 21, 2009, 10:32:54 PM
LN;
I didn't notice the date.
I am very proud to be your Buddy....
D/P
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Sargeguy on May 04, 2009, 12:06:26 AM
http://www.paul-f.com/SaveThePhones/
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HobieSport on May 06, 2009, 09:07:53 PM
Thanks Sarge!  Good packaging techniques there.
I like the pictures of Pauls' broken phones too.  Sad but true. :'(
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: foots on May 16, 2009, 11:14:35 PM
I recommend wrapping phones/parts with cheap disposable diapers. I have shipped some delicate items in the past using this as wrapping material then stuffing the rest of the space in the box with wads of old newspapers or those fabulous packing peanuts.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HobieSport on May 17, 2009, 10:55:44 AM
Balls of tightly waded newspaper can work okay to fill any extra space in the box, but they have to be tightly waded.  Peanuts are best, but messy.  Disposable diapers is something I hadn't thought of, but hey, if it works... 8)
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: bingster on May 17, 2009, 01:55:41 PM
I'm surprised at the preference for peanuts.  I find that most items (especially heavy items) packed in peanuts have settled to the bottom of the box by the time they arrive.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: BDM on May 17, 2009, 01:58:39 PM
Quote from: bingster on May 17, 2009, 01:55:41 PM
I'm surprised at the preference for peanuts.  I find that most items (especially heavy items) packed in peanuts have settled to the bottom of the box by the time they arrive.

I agree. I tend to use bubble wrap. But, peanuts are a great filler when needed. I tend to pack peanuts heavily into the box. Makes for closing a sealing a little tough, but it tends to avoid the settlement issue.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dennis Markham on May 17, 2009, 02:51:51 PM
I use bubble wrap, newspaper and peanuts all at the same time.  Once I have packed wadded up newspaper around the object to secure it...a nest so to speak, I then fill around and on top of the item with peanuts.  I do create a base first using either newspaper or the heavy bubble wrap.  I put enough peanuts in that they're very tight.  Nothing shakes.  Generally it works pretty good.  The peanuts are lighter and cuts down on the weight if shipping by the pound.

But I cannot explain why a handset I just sent to "foots" arrived broken.  That's the first item I've shipped that was damaged along the way.  I've shipped a lot of stuff.  He said the box was undamaged so it must have happened internally.  I hate when that happens.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: foots on May 17, 2009, 03:10:06 PM
Dennis, I told you already, its magic. The Post Office uses some form of magic to break very well wrapped stuff without any damage to the box its in. I should know, my oldest brother is the Post Master in the next town east of here.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HobieSport on May 17, 2009, 03:28:19 PM
Yes, it must be some top secret big evil smoking black device that the post office keeps in a creepy back room, like a microwave type doohicky that excites the molecules to certain frequencies causing them to snap, while the box remains pristine.  They do this enough times and customers start blaming their own careful packaging instead of the Post Office for rough handling.  Yeah...that's it... :P
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: McHeath on May 17, 2009, 03:34:05 PM
QuoteDennis, I told you already, its magic. The Post Office uses some form of magic to break very well wrapped stuff without any damage to the box its in. I should know, my oldest brother is the Post Master in the next town east of here.

Back in the mid 90's our local post office was out of control on damaging stuff.  We even got a couple of things delivered with car tracks over them!  They were wrapped in a plastic baggie and had a sorry note from Uncle Sam saying the item was damaged in shipment.  Amazing.  And mangled, shredded, and smashed letters and boxes was the norm for a few years.  It was like they hired that ape from the American Tourister commercials when he needed a new job or something. 

That's weird that something mailed by Dennis was damaged, I've gotten a care package of phone parts from him and they were packed expertly. 
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dennis Markham on May 17, 2009, 04:26:01 PM
Thanks Heath.  I guess it happens to the best of us. 

I have had really nothing but good experiences with the Postal Service.  Maybe I am lucky here where I live.  The only time I've had trouble was with poor packing, not as a result of their negligence.  I think overall it's a great buy for the money.  I mean if someone handed me a box and said here, here's $20, take this to California...and make sure it gets there in 2 - 3 days.  I have noticed that boxes going to certain parts of the Country from here (Detroit) travel faster than those going to other parts.  I put a box in the drop box on a Saturday evening once and the guy in Atlanta, GA got it in his mail on Monday.  That's pretty good service.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: McHeath on May 17, 2009, 07:07:36 PM
Oh no disagreement on me that the Post Office is one of the bright spots of shipping stuff.  That's why it was so odd when for a few years our stuff was just being bashed about, even the local paper did an article or two about it, things got that bad.  Not anymore, it's back to usual and no problems are the norm.  And it is cheap to ship.  Though I still marvel at that fellow sending me that English style 706 from Israel to California for 5 bucks using the Israeli post office. 
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HobieSport on May 17, 2009, 07:44:43 PM
The postman is my friend, delivering phones right to my door like Santa Clause, only year round.  I've never had problems with damage.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: AET on May 17, 2009, 10:50:59 PM
I can see Hobie sitting in his trailer "Please Mr. Postman, look and see, is there a 500 in your bag for me? You know it's been so long, since I've had a new rotary dial to call mine"
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: McHeath on May 18, 2009, 01:02:57 AM
QuoteThe postman is my friend, delivering phones right to my door like Santa Clause, only year round.  I've never had problems with damage.

You must be in league with the Forces of Darknessā„¢ to never get any broken phones at the doorstep.  ;) I guess the Force is strong with this one... :)
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HobieSport on August 21, 2009, 12:55:55 PM
I'm noticing some sadly damaged phones in shipping these days; Stephen's Kellogg 1000 and Heath's moss 500. So maybe it's time to revive this thread a little? I just came across this article from a fine company that regularly packs and ships valuable vintage clocks, and they have some good simple suggestions to save time, money, and shipping damage:

http://tinyurl.com/packaging-for-Shipping

Bubble wrap, Saran wrap, and Balloons.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Ed D on March 19, 2011, 12:24:41 PM
I had two phones from two different eBay sellers arrive in February with almost identical packing.  Slim to none!  And both were 500 sets with the handset sitting in the cradle.

One was carefully wrapped in a plastic grocery sack with a single overhand knot to tie it tightly closed around the phone, and about eighteen more of these bags crumpled up in balls and placed around the phone.  Of course, when I picked up the box, the phone slid around as the bags had compressed further in shipping (I am being charitable and giving the seller some benefit that when he packed it, the phone did not move around much.)

The second phone had a thin plastic bag wrapped only around the handset to protect it, the phone body was not covered.  Somehow, when I opened that box and pulled out the balled-up newspaper padding, the handset was still sitting in the cradle.

LUCKILY, neither phone suffered any damage.  I must have been living right or something!

Ed


Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Adam on March 19, 2011, 04:51:41 PM
After I received two broken phones (one heartbreaking), I now attach this text as a note to every PayPal payment:

IMPORTANT!  PLEASE READ!  When you box up this phone for shipment, please DO NOT pack the phone up with its receiver sitting on the phone's cradle.  The receiver will knock into the body of the phone during shipment and it is GUARANTEED that the phone will be received broken into several pieces.  PLEASE wrap the receiver of the phone separately. Thank you.

Since I have started doing this, every seller has payed attention to the instructions, and luckily no broken phones since.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HarrySmith on March 19, 2011, 07:30:47 PM
Thats a pretty good page! I always send a not about packing. I always use bubble wrap without tape and air pillows when I ship. Now my supply of air pillows is gone so I will probably go with the baloon idea!
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: deedubya3800 on June 05, 2011, 02:02:35 AM
I've currently got something on the way to me I'm a touch worried about. I sent a message just as we've discussed asking that the handset be wrapped separately from the mount, but I've had virtually no response from the seller, except that it was marked as shipped, and that only after I requested an update on its status, but still didn't get a direct reply. No tracking number and no words. I'm just hoping it gets here Monday morning. No reason it should take any longer just coming from Oiho.

I've never had a bad experience yet with anything I've bought, and I really hope this is no exception. But I know it does happen. Things arrive that aren't as described and things get broken due to poor packaging. They're among the main reasons I usually like to pick out items in person.

In person, I can inspect them with my own hands, eyes, and nose, so there's no chance of an incomplete or inaccurate description; there are no shipping charges or waiting period; and I bring it hoam myself, so its arrival condition is my own responsibility. But sometimes I just can't resist something I've seen on eBay.

This will be the seventh telefoan I've bought on eBay, by the way.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Adam on June 05, 2011, 10:28:07 AM
Buying something sight unseen from eBay is always a gamble.  Even if you receive your item undamaged, it might not be what you expected.

I don't like to spend a lot of money on phones, I'm always trying to pick up a bargain.  In the  past I've gotten some of my really nicest Western Electric 60's and 70's phones that way.  But I've also gotten some duds.  TWICE now, I've tried to purchase a nice aqua blue 2500, and TWICE I've received a phone I cannot display because of discoloration.  (I don't have the time to do the magic some of you here have shown.)  But, I do not send these phones back because I didn't pay a lot of money, and the phone wasn't "misrepresented", it just wasn't described hardly at all, the picture was fuzzy or too bright, etc.  But I gambled in an effort to score a beauty.  Many times it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.

So, it's all a big game, most times you win, sometimes you lose.  But all in all, the object is to keep having fun.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: deedubya3800 on June 05, 2011, 12:30:35 PM
I completely understand you there. I've never bought anything that wasn't at least fairly well photographed, and if I have doubts about something, I'll usually pass, or at least wait till I get some questions answered before I bid, especially if there's real money involved. I don't mind paying the going rate for something I want, but I'm not going to lay down big money when I don't know what I'm getting, and it's also nice to find a bargain.

I just realized I don't have a single WE phone later than 8-56, aside from refurb dates. Sorry, that was random.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: deedubya3800 on June 08, 2011, 06:25:37 AM
Quote from: deedubya3800 on June 05, 2011, 02:02:35 AM
I've currently got something on the way to me I'm a touch worried about.

Update: I'm glad to report that everything is okay with this transaction! :) Here is the thread! (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=4941)

Quote from: deedubya3800 on June 05, 2011, 12:30:35 PMI just realized I don't have a single WE phone later than 8-56, aside from refurb dates. Sorry, that was random.

Update: I shall soon have a WE phone from later than 1956. Not sure of the date yet, but it'll have its own thread soon.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HarrySmith on October 03, 2012, 08:55:50 PM
I know we have discussed eBay telephone packing many times. I remember some of you have instructions you send to sellers when you buy a phone. I just did that with the unusual intercom phone I just purchased. I searched eBay for guides to safe packing and found none on phones! There are several on packing old radios but none on telephones. I want to put one up. I would like your feedback and your instructions. I will put together all the best parts and put the guide up on eBay. Whenever we buy a phone we can refer the seller to it.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: AE_Collector on October 04, 2012, 02:19:08 AM
A quick search of "Packing" on the home page comes up with endles packing, bad packing, more bad packing, packing horror story etc etc threads. Someone had an on line packing instructions site I believe but I didn't spend much time looking for it. I think I may have to combine a whole bunch of "Packing Horror Stories" into one giant "Bad Packing" thread guaranteed to depress everyone!

Terry
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: TelePlay on October 04, 2012, 07:34:33 AM
I think that's a great idea.

Search the site and add your own experience to come up with the best of the best way to ship a phone and post it where it can be referenced. Having one sure fire way to ship is better than a bunch of alternatives that can leave a new shipper confused and possibly open up the chance to skip or miss something resulting in a damaged phone.

You may need a method for each type of phone but one method for each would be great. Box size, acceptable packing materials, assembly of pieces within the box and packing material to insure safe passage and, believe it or not, taping the box.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Greg G. on October 04, 2012, 03:47:22 PM
The challenge will be to get the shipper to comply with the instructions.  I gave good instructions and even pictures regarding my Beehive, both over the phone and via email, even offered to pay a little extra.  Did they comply?  No. 
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Doug Rose on October 04, 2012, 04:14:03 PM
I sent the seller the same instructions I always do.

"Please wrap the phones in bubble wrap and wrap the handsets separately in bubble away from the phones so they do not hit. Use plenty of newspaper so they do not move around in the box. I appreciate you packing them this way."

I got cellophane and a couple of Styrofoam boards. Everything was rolling around inside the box. I got a full refund, but histroy was destroyed. Seller will only do what seller wants to do. I am seller more than buyer, so I know packing is top priority. That's why Janet does it. She is the best

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7612.0

Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Dave F on October 04, 2012, 04:31:17 PM
Shown below is the general message format I use when I win an eBay phone auction.  This particular message relates to a Card Dialer I recently won, but it is easily customized for the particular auction item you are dealing with.  I send the message to the seller through the eBay message system (limit is 1000 characters), and I always wait for a reply before paying.  Sometimes it makes a difference and, as we are all so painfully aware, sometimes it doesn't.  I have not yet received this Card Dialer, so I don't know if the message has had its desired effect.  Feel free to critique the message or modify it for your own use.

Hi (insert seller's name here). Before I pay you, I want to say something important about packing: Card Dialers are among the most delicate of all vintage phones. The plastic housing and the large faceplate are really very fragile, and they can easily be broken if not packed well. Trust me -- This has happened more than once in the past. PLEASE use MULTIPLE LAYERS of large-size bubble wrap (NOT crumbled or shredded paper), and wrap the handset and the metal cord connector separately so they can't rattle around and bang into the phone. Also, please use a box that is large enough to absorb the abuse it will get from the P.O. without hurting the contents, and fill any void spaces with additional packing material to keep things from rattling around. I will wait to hear back from you before paying to be sure you have received this important message. This is a great phone and I will be happy to add it to my collection.  Please let me know if you have questions. Thank you for the auction. Dave F.
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HarrySmith on October 04, 2012, 04:56:54 PM
Thanks Dave & Doug. That is exactly what I am looking for. Anyone else have a message they send? Mine goes something like this:

I just purchased this phone from you. I am very happy I won and very excited to get it. Please, Please be sure this is well packed to protect it. It has survived for 50 or more years it would be a shame for it to be destroyed now by the Postal Service! Please wrap each piece, phone, handset & ringer box seperately with plenty of bubble wrap and make sure there is no space for them to move around in the box. Thank you very much for this consideration. Harry
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: paul-f on October 04, 2012, 08:14:11 PM
An internet search for "Telephone Packing Guidelines" turns up this page:

   http://www.paul-f.com/SaveThePhones/ (http://www.paul-f.com/SaveThePhones/)

Many years ago, several of us who received too many broken phones tried putting together a simple statement on how to safely pack phones.

After receiving more broken phones, we added more and more material, and the statement evolved into a set of guidelines.

It became obvious that packer indifference was resistant to our efforts.

Here is some text I have used more recently:

Phones are surprisingly susceptible to damage in shipment.  Please make sure the base and handset are separately padded (no need to disconnect any wires), and that the padding covers all sides of each item and is firmly held in place.  Following any shipper's on-line guidelines, there should be several inches of firm padding between items and each box side.  Ignoring their guidelines voids any insurance coverage, so I have found their insurance useless.  Before closing the box, make sure it's padded tight enough so that nothing can move around when you shake it vigorously.

Thanks for your careful attention to packing to help preserve a piece of telephone history.  Even if you've shipped phones before, please view a packing checklist and photos of damage that can occur, at:
http://www.paul-f.com/SaveThePhones/

These are the guidelines I use when I ship phones, and have had no damage problems when they have been followed.

Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: HarrySmith on October 04, 2012, 08:44:01 PM
Well, I guess some people just don't pay attention. I just got a reply from the seller about packing:

Hi,
The phone is wrapped with the receiver on it and the ringer box is wrapped seperately all in a generous amount of bubble wrap and all are placed together inside a box surrounded with packaging peanuts for added cushion. I have several photo's of the packaging process and will be happy to email them to you however I will need an email address. I will be shipping tomorrow and will get back to you with the tracking #
Thank you for your purchase & enjoy your evening

UPDATE!!
Finally got the phone packed correctly. Very good seller, he followed my instructions perfectly. Here is the entire thread:


Hello again,
I re-wrapped so all 3 pieces are wrapped seperately and here are the final photo's. Given the packaging all should arrive safe & intact as long as the post office doesn't mishandle it.
Thank you again for your purchase and enjoy your evening.
mainlywoods


- mainlywoods Click "respond" to reply through Messages, or go to your email to reply



   




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: d_and_h_cool_stuff
To: mainlywoods
Subject: Re: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-05-12 08:39:27 PDT


Dear mainlywoods,

OK, everything looks really good with the exception of the handset. The handset sitting on the cradle can almost guarantee the cradle ears broken off or the handset split in half. Please remove it from the cradle and wrap it seperately. I really appreciate all this effort and it will be reflected in my feedback for you.
Thanks Again, Harry


- d_and_h_cool_stuff 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mainlywoods
To: d_and_h_cool_stuff
Subject: Re: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-05-12 08:01:47 PDT


Dear d_and_h_cool_stuff,

Hi,
Just re-sent the photo's, let me know what you think. The entire piece is surrounded with packaging peanuts all around sides, top & bottom inside the box.
ter4den@hotmail.com
Thanks ,
mainlywoods


- mainlywoods 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: d_and_h_cool_stuff
To: mainlywoods
Subject: Re: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-05-12 07:11:05 PDT


Dear mainlywoods,

Hi,
I did not receive any email from you. I checked my spam folder also just in case and cannot find anything. If you want to try again my email is: harrysmith1957@gmail.com. If you have the handset, phone body and ringer box all seperately wrapped and no space in the box for them to bang around it should be good for shipping. Thank you for the extra effort to protect this old phone! I appreciate it!
Harry


- d_and_h_cool_stuff 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mainlywoods
To: d_and_h_cool_stuff
Subject: Re: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-05-12 05:21:35 PDT


Dear d_and_h_cool_stuff,

Goodmorning,
Just checking to see if you received the photo's regarding the packaging of the phone. My email is *******@hotmail.com and I sent them late last night. If you are satisfied with the packaging it's ready to ship.
Thanks again and enjoy your day,
mainlywoods


- mainlywoods 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: d_and_h_cool_stuff
To: mainlywoods
Subject: Re: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-04-12 17:49:40 PDT


Dear mainlywoods,

Hi,
Thanks for the reply and thanks for trying to protect the phone. One thing, if at all possible, can you remove the handset and wrap it seperately? Take a look here: http://www.paul-f.com/SaveThePhones/ this is a good example of what can happen. My email is harrysmith1957@gmail.com
Thanks, Harry


- d_and_h_cool_stuff 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mainlywoods
To: d_and_h_cool_stuff
Subject: Re: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-04-12 15:57:25 PDT


Dear d_and_h_cool_stuff,

Hi,
The phone is wrapped with the receiver on it and the ringer box is wrapped seperately all in a generous amount of bubble wrap and all are placed together inside a box surrounded with packaging peanuts for added cushion. I have several photo's of the packaging process and will be happy to email them to you however I will need an email address. I will be shipping tomorrow and will get back to you with the tracking #
Thank you for your purchase & enjoy your evening
mainlywoods


- mainlywoods 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: d_and_h_cool_stuff
To: mainlywoods
Subject: Shipping: d_and_h_cool_stuff sent a message about Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK** #290782062804
Sent Date: Oct-03-12 17:39:25 PDT


Dear mainlywoods,

I just purchased this phone from you. I am very happy I won and very excited to get it. Please, Please be sure this is well packed to protect it. It has survived for 50 or more years it would be a shame for it to be destroyed now by the Postal Service! Please wrap each piece, phone, handset & ringer box seperately with plenty of bubble wrap and make sure there is no space for the to move around in the box. Thank you very much for this consideration. Harry


- d_and_h_cool_stuff 

                   
Antique Western Electric ? Or Graybar Desk Inter-Phone 12 Dial **LOOK**
Item Id: 290782062804
End time: Oct-03-12 13:25:26 PDT
Seller:
mainlywoods (449)
100.0% Positive Feedback
Member since Jul-04-00 in United States
Location: ME, United States

Listing Status: This message was sent while the listing was closed.

Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: AE_Collector on October 05, 2012, 12:37:05 AM
If you go through the CRPF "Bad Packing Awards" compilation that I just merged together you will find many suggested phone packing instructions for ebaY sellers in there as well.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=717.0

Terry
Title: Re: Best way to pack phones for shipping.
Post by: Greg G. on January 27, 2019, 12:12:29 AM
My contribution to the successful packing thread.  An AE 50 and a "Fatboy" made it all the way to the UK intact, 9000 miles!  I'm real proud of that, if I do say so myself!

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21345.msg217640#msg217640