Packing for Shipping

We Care.

It is vitally important that shipments of books (and any merchandise for that matter) be appropriately packed so as to arrive at its destination undamaged and suitable for sale.

New books should always arrive in Mint, As New condition. 

To that end, here are my tips for packing your books for shipping:

  • Use a rigid heavy-duty box with flaps intact
  • The length and width of the box should be at least 4 inches larger in each direction than the book itself (a 7x10 book needs a 11x14 box)
  • Bag or wrap the books as a bundle (or series of bundles) to form "bricks"
  • Stack the book "bricks" in the center of the box with a 2 inch void between the books and each interior wall of the box
  • Use an adequate amount of cushioning material (packing peanuts, wadded newspaper, bubblewrap) to fully fill the void between the box and the books 
  • The contents should not shift inside the box when it is closed
  • Use strong tape designed for shipping
  • Do not use string or paper over-wrap

How your package should look

The books should wrapped and placed in the center of the box. Fill the space with packing material.

When shipping a carton of books, place the carton in the center of a bigger box with space between the inner and outer box (this is the "crush zone").

Fill the space completely with packing material.

Now the box is ready to be closed and sealed.

Another example of good packing:

  • product is in the center, wrapped, and well padded on all sides.

Books are very heavy.

Heavy boxes receive the most damage in shipping. Shipping handlers are not gentle with a heavy box. A box will be thrown, kicked, and dropped from waist height. All eight corners of the box will be smashed before it arrives at its destination. If your contents are not sufficiently cushioned, that damage will pass from the box to your contents.

The printer ships books to a publisher in boxes on a pallet, neat and shrinkwrapped.

But if the publisher then ships out the books in the same boxes individually via UPS, FedEx, or USPS, these heavy boxes receive very rough handling in transit.

Tip: Use new, heavyweight boxes

This seller packed his books in a used, lightweight box which was inadequate for the weight of the books being shipped.

Several books were damaged. 

Tip: Reinforce Pressure Points

These boxes split open along the fold

Tip: Include cushioning around the inside perimeter of the box

This book came in a cardboard mailer without any additional protection or padding.

Nobody wants to see this before they even open the package!

The UPS website has a webpage "How To Prepare for Shipping" that goes into in great detail: 
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/how_to.html

"Each item should be surrounded by at least two inches (5.08 cm) of cushioning and be placed at least two inches (5.08 cm) away from the walls of the box. This prevents product-against-product damage and protects contents from shock and vibration, which can pass from the outside of the box to the contents.

"Please use proper cushioning material, combined with a strong outer container, to protect your shipment fully. Make sure you use enough cushioning material to ensure that the contents do not move when you shake the container."