Just last week, a seller sent a folded poster to me in one of those thin party gift envelopes with gift wrapping on the outside, and a very thin layer of tiny bubble-wrap on the inside. It was actually more floppy than a plain paper manilla envelope, and without any cardboard to stiffen it. I paid $10 for Priority Mail with insurance, but it was shipped regular mail without insurance for $1.35 (seller claimed his girlfriend didn't follow his instructions). My mailman folded up this floppy envelope and jammed it inside my mailbox along with a bunch of other mail. Needless to say, I had no idea how many of the numerous folds and wrinkles were already present before the seller shipped it out. I'll give this seller the benefit of a doubt since he did accept my return and has issued a refund.
The incident reminded me that I need to be more consistent in sending out my shipping/packaging instructions to sellers I've never purchased from before. Some one-time or occasional sellers truly don't have a clue and I've had a number of positive responses from sellers who wrote that they appreciated receiving it. I think only once or twice out of many hundreds of transactions have I received a poorly packaged or damaged poster from a seller I had sent these instructions to at the close of auction. My packaging instructions are copied below (some of the sellers on this list have no doubt received it from me). Fellow collectors, feel free to use it or revise it as you like.
-_David
*******************
RE: Ebay item #
Hello,
I just submitted payment for $
Please ship to:
(your address)
After a couple of bad experiences, I'd like your assurance that you package and ship your posters appropriately. DEALERS AND OTHER EXPERIENCED POSTER SHIPPERS, DO NOT TAKE OFFENSE--a simple acknowledgement that you will pack adequately is all I'm asking for. SHIPPERS WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THESE SIMPLE GUIDELINES AND PRECAUTIONS, PLEASE READ--you'll save yourself a lot of potential headaches, and your customers will reward you with positive feedback.
IF YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE PROPER PACKING MATERIALS IN YOUR SHIPPING CHARGES, I WILL GLADLY PAY THE DIFFERENCE.
Standard Folded Posters:
-----------------------------
Most poster dealers know how to properly package a paper poster to reduce the chances of damage in transit. For those who don't, if you must use your own packaging, you should always carefully sandwich a folded poster between at least two sheets of sturdy corrugated cardboard and write or stamp "DO NOT BEND" all over the outside envelope. In my experience, the U.S. Postal Service is really good about obeying this demand! If you don't put it inside a cardboard sandwich, it will be folded up and jammed into the mailbox. If you don't have a plastic poster sleeve to protect it from getting wet, wrap the cardboard sandwich in saran wrap so it will at least be water resistant. The majority of movie poster sellers that I have received posters from use a regular USPS Priority Mail box. They first sandwich the folded paper poster securely between cardboard (usually cut from another free Priority Mail box), then place the sandwich inside the Priority Mail box, using crumpled paper to prevent it from moving around inside. Some slide the cardboard sandwich into an unassembled Priority Box, leaving it flat, and have "DO NOT BEND" stamped all over it. This is not as safe as putting a cardboard sandwich inside an assembled Priority Box, but if you must do it this way, DO NOT REMOVE THE WAX PAPER STRIPS OVER THE BOX'S SELF-ADHESIVE TABS! Leave them alone and seal the flat box ends with packing tape on the outside only. Better yet, run a piece of clear packing tape over the adhesive strips to make sure the wax paper doesn't come off. If you remove the wax strips from the adhesive tabs to seal the ends, the poster will wiggle in there and become stuck to the adhesive, making it difficult to remove and damage to the poster can occur while trying to open the package.
Tri-folded Posters:
---------------------
Tri-folds are desirable precisely because they lack the additional fold down the vertical center. Obviously, they should not be folded to fit an envelope or box. Tri-folds are too long to send in a Priority Mail box, but should never be placed unprotected in one of the long Priority Mail triangular boxes because these are easily punctured or crushed. (I received one tri-fold packaged this way and it was virtually destroyed) Tri-folds should be rolled carefully and sent in a cardboard tube as described below.
Rolled Posters:
-----------------
Of course, rolled posters should always be shipped in a sturdy cardboard tube, with something soft placed inside the both ends to prevent the poster from sliding up and down and crushing its edges. (wadded paper towel or plastic grocery bags seem to do the trick) If you place an unprotected rolled poster in one of those triangular Priority Mail boxes, you're asking for trouble, since the box can be punctured or crushed very easily. Some poster sellers place a cardboard tube inside one of these triangular Priority Mail boxes, padded with crumpled paper. In all cases, the key is to prevent movement, which will damage delicate paper edges. BEWARE THOSE CHEAP THIN WHITE CARDBOARD TUBES SOLD AT OFFICE DEPOT AND STAPLES. They are VERY easy to crush and the contents WILL get damaged. If these are all you can find, it's better to stick one of these inside a triangular Priority Mail box and crumple up some newspaper to prevent it from moving around in there.
PLEASE do your part to help preserve these irreplaceable vintage collectibles. Thank you for your care and attention!
*************
on 3/24/06 12:40 PM, Doug Ball at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I usually do not air my dirty laundry to MOPO, but this is got to be one for the books.
I won two original glass slides on ebay last week and was VERY EXCITED, that not only I won them, but what they were.
One was an original release from Pinocchio and the other was the 1940 re-release from Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs.
The seller is "ins3549", the winning amounts were only 7.00 each and he charged 5.00 for shipping, which was almost twice the amount stated in the auction. By the way I'm not complaining about these amounts what so ever...only that not complaining about the shipping, I'd hoped he would show a little TLC for the glass slides.
The slides were put together in a white legal letter size envelope with a very, very thin piece of gray cardboard and mail as if he was sending a letter.
Needless to say.... both slides are totally shattered!!!
I'm sure they went through a letter machine and hard telling how many tons of mail went on top of this envelope!
Not only were these pieces rare & some what valuable, but irreplaceable!
I just want to scream....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Doug Ball
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