Step by Step Shipping Guide

 

There are two ways to pack your items for shipment. You can pay a professional shipping company to pack and ship your dinnerware or you can safely pack it yourself if you adhere to the following recommendations.

 

First, we recommend that you wrap each item in bubble wrap, or several sheets of newsprint (avoid newspaper if possible, they don’t protect well and can damage the dishes). Start at one corner and wrap diagonally. Each piece needs to be wrapped separately, except when nesting two or three flat pieces (like plates) together with bubble wrap or newsprint in between each piece, which is okay. All crystal stems should be wrapped individually. NEVER nest cups, bowls or serving pieces. You should not be able to feel cup handles, lid finials etc. once you have wrapped them. Nothing should be sticking out.

 

  1. Wrap each piece separately
  1. Wrap so nothing is sticking out
  1. Wrapped product

 

Once all of your pieces are safely wrapped, put them all in a strong, well-constructed box and secure them with crushed peanuts. Put heavier pieces in the bottom of the box, but if you have pieces with vastly different weights, use more than one box!! Remember that the bottom of the box may end up on top. Many people with big sets send cups and serving pieces in one box and flat pieces like plates in another. Use packing tape to seal the box, taping multiple times, crisscrossing the tape. Shake it. Make sure nothing moves.

 

  1. Line the bottom of the box with crushed peanuts
  1. Put heavier pieces on the bottom
  1. Fill the rest of the box with crushed peanuts
  1. Tape the box shut multiple times

 

 

The following helps but is not required if you’ve packed it well. Place the box inside a larger box with Styrofoam peanuts or crushed paper between the boxes. UPS recommends at least two inches of packing material between the two boxes. Shake again and make sure nothing is moving. Remember that multiple smaller, lighter boxes are easier to handle safely than one giant, heavy box.

 

Mark every box as “fragile” on as many sides as possible. No need for stickers you can write it with a marker as well.

 

For a fee, UPS and FedEx will come to your house to pick up packages that you are sending. The US Postal Service works well, too, and has rates comparable to UPS and FedEx. Please be sure to insure your boxes for the values that you are quoted.

 

Keep in mind that all the major carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS offer good shipping service for a reasonable price (packing is another story). When you hear horror stories about the various carriers and delivery services damaging items in packages, it is usually because the items were not properly packed in the first place. It is in the best interest of these carriers to deliver your package intact. You should feel confident that if you adhere to the recommendations above that your pieces will arrive safely.

 

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