"Shipping my Figures" Topic

Hey all, I have a decently sized 15mm collection and want to unload it since it just collects dust anyway. Before I advertise the sale and such I just had a quick question about how to ship these things. I am in the mainland United States and have no idea/experience with International shipping, so would prefer to keep it in the US. Second, It's around 150 figures, some loose, same based, some un-assembled. Also, 12 vehicles. Is my best bet Priority Flat Rate boxes? If so, should I put them in plastic bags with some packing peanuts and such? I would like them to make it to the intended buyer safely. Any tips appreciated, E.

Yes, priority mail in US is your best choice. It's often cheaper than regular mail because of the weight or distance.

After much experience, IMO, the best method is to wrap your figures in paper towels. You can wrap several figures at once or several stands, depends on what kind of figures you have. You can then wrap several paper towel rolls in a plastic shopping bag. Use plastic shopping bags instead of peanuts. If you don't have enough plastic bags, use crumpled up newspapers.

I have used the tried and true GAJO method of packing using Puffed Rice Cereal for ages. It fills in the spaces between the figures and keeps them completely safe. I suggest lining the shipping box with a plastic bag to keep any cereal from leaking out.

If so, should I put them in plastic bags with some packing peanuts and such?

AIIIEEEE!!!!!! NONONONONO!!!!!!!! Your little lead men will be crushed, bent, busted and lose much paint. Just smash them with a hammer yourself and save everyone else lots of aggravation.

What IGWARG1 said. Wrap each individual stand or figure in several layers of toilet paper secured with transparent tape. Yes, it's fiddley, but it's the only way to protect them. Put the wrapped stands in a strong cardboard box, a Priority Mail box will do, fill any void space with plastic peanuts. And pray.

Thanks everyone, appreciate it.

When wrapping stands I first put a tiny bit of rolled up paper between the individual figures, for a stand of four a cross of two bits of paper for example. This keeps the figures from bending towards the center of the stand.

If there are bayonets or fragile guns I slide a small piece of drinking straw over the guns to offer some additional protection.

Otherwise wrapped as above.

I use bubble wrap, which you can find in huge rolls at any office supply store. I cut it into strips 3" wide, then roll each stand of figures in one strip. I then pack the rolled stands into Ziploc baggies, making them snug so that nothing will move around. Finally I take all the baggies, wrap them in a large sheet of bubble wrap, and place them in the box.

I've shipped hundreds, thousands of figures this way and rarely have any breakage. It costs very little, but it does take time.

Concur with nnascati – the GAJO method of puffed rice has always served me well – the generic stuff is cheap and it packs them well and tight.

Puffed rice has never let me down.

DM

I have been shipping figures packed in puffed rice for decades and have never had a single one damaged. I tried the tissue paper wrap when coming home from Korea the last time. It had about a 10% failure rate, but nothing catastrophic.

They throw and drop boxes during shipping, so keep that in mind when packing them.

With what Mako said sometimes it pays to pack the puffed rice box inside another box packed with foam peanuts.

DM

The best thing to do is to wrap them in toilet paper. You wrap them so that all points are supported. It takes quite a bit of toilet paper and some time to do it but you won't disappoint your customer with broken figures.

For command stands with flags, I double over some clear shipping tape inside a smaller box. Then I place the stands in the small box, adhering to the tape. Then I fill in the space with either puffed rice or shredded paper. Then the small box goes into to the main shipping box. The rank and file stands get bubble wrap and toilet tissue.

Try toilet paper and scotch tape. I did it shipping painted Zulus one time and a 15mm FPW army another time.

Blake

The puffed rice method is crap, try unpacking them and getting all that cereal out from under every rifle or between every base, plus cleanup is a mess- go with the plastic grocery bags.

Better than repairing broken rifles and bases.

DM