Breakable Blues

One thing I learned a loooong time ago is that if you don't overpack a fragile item it is a GUARANTEE that USPS or UPS will damage it in one way or another! Trying to save someone shipping charges by using the smallest box, while honorable, isn't always the wisest. Spend the extra dollars to wrap fragile items several times in heavy duty bubble wrap. Then select a box that will allow you to put a layer of styrofoam peanuts at the bottom, along the sides and at the top of it. Not a heavy layer but enough to cover not only the bottom but the top and keep the item from touching the sides of the box you are packing it in.

Also, encourage the purchase of shipping insurance then make sure the winning bidder knows what to do in case, God forbid, the box is damaged in shipping. The insurance makes the broken item USPS/UPS's responsibility. If they pass on the insurance then do the best you can.

Good luck!

I always leave 2" around the product as per USPS specifications. I wrap everything fragile in two layers of large bubble wrap and then put peanuts on the bottom, around the sides and over the top. I have a fragile stamp, and I put fragile on all sides of the box. If you give it to the post office they just put fragile on the top.
Hope this helps.

Good luck

Actually, double boxing is exactly what you need to do for the really fragile items. Very fragile items are wrapped in bubble wrap (lots of it), then wrapped in cardboard and tapes. Then that piece gets one cover of bubble wrap and placed in a larger box full of packing peanuts or crumpled paper. All 6 sides of the box get Fragile written in red marker.

I've only had one item break in the past few years, and that buyer said the box arrived quite damaged by the PO, in spite of the fragile markings. Thankfully, that one was insured! :)