"The Packing of Minis for Shipment" Topic

I take care when shipping out minis I sell. I am really bothered by two types of packers. One well intentioned but troublesome – at least for me – and another that is beyond comprehension.

The first takes each painted figure wraps it carefully twice around with tissue paper, and then tightly mummifies it with tape. Can't tell what the figure is, and often can't even tell by shape or feel where the base is. Can't just unwrap the tape as doing so may well bend or break something inside. Takes time, a very sharp exacto like blade, time, care, time, a steady hand and time to unwrap.

But, for all that they do arrive safely.

OTOH, I recently received a mixed lot of painted minis from a seller who is either the laziest person on earth, or one of the most ignorant. Box was a sturdy Amazon shipping box, about 10 x 14 x 3

There were close to a hundred minis in a very mixed lot, going from what(originally) were well painted Rackham figures, to tabletop quality from a number of companies, to unpainted. It appears as though they put a (very) used piece of small bubbled bubble wrap on the bottom of the box I say very used as a good number of the bubbles have apparently given up the ghost entertaining someone who liked the sound of them as they were popped. The minis were then laid on top that and a second sheet was placed on top of the minis. That only left two thirds of the box above them as empty space. There was also nothing that prevented lateral movement. To solve this, the seller put in a few of the mini air pillows that are used for packing. Two of the seven were actually fully inflated and intact.

Fully predictable results when package was opened.

Way back when I used to ship mini's, I used dust free
breakfast cereal. Wrap the mini in tissue or paper towel,
secure with SMALL piece of tape, put a layer of mini's in
the box, cover with the cereal, repeat until box is full.

You'll need to shake down the cereal periodically to make
sure the pack is tight.

Ed,

I too use that method, learned as a result of ordering from GAJO decades ago.

Many years back, I had won a nicely painted 15mm ancients army, and I had discussed in detail with the seller how I wanted them shipped, based on the successes with GAJO's shipments.

He apparently couldn't find any of the Puffed Wheat or Puffed Rice cereals, so used Rice Krispies instead.

YIKES!!!!

Was as bad as you can imagine…and then some.

I also despise the paper/tape mummification process.

Well, as I posted some years ago, I received a 15 mm Napoleonic Spanish battalion in the mail. It was entombed in a Sugar Smacks sarcophagus. Apparently the kid who sold it asked for Rice Krispies and his mother (who 'fessed up when I told them about the problem) either told him to use the SS they had or got the wrong thing at the store and told him to use it. Needless to say, shipping from Kansas City to St. Louis in the heat and humidity of August fused them into a solid mass.

Looking for a tip on what not to do, when I saw who the poster was, I got a dread fear that it was minis I had sent. Fortunately, not.

From my last move, I have a practically infinite supply of shredded paper (that I already paid for as packing material) that I am reusing. Before that, I used stuff from our shredder at home. Layer in the empty box until the minis compress and don't hit bottom. Add minis, rinse repeat. Before taping the box, shake it like you mean it. If there's no motion, you're done.

…I got a dread fear that it was minis I had sent. Fortunately, not.

Nope, we're good!

I received a couple of modern, naval fleets from a guy, second-hand, with inadequate packaging.

Virtually all the masts were destroyed, sadly, marring what was otherwise a very nicely painted collection.

Haven't bothered to sort them out, and/or try to order replacement parts, since it was so horrific.

Appears the shipping company rolled the very heavy box along all sides, and/or played catch with it, and someone dropped it, while upside down.

Very sad.