Shipping Lens - Most efficient & effective to pack & ship?

aseno · 04-19-2010, 08:34 AM

All,

I have a need to send my lens to get a repair. I am concern (maybe overly) about how to ship it. What is the most effective& efficient way to pack & ship? My lens is a a wobbly Vivitar Series 1 with no original box, just the lens. I am worried that shipping it would make it worse. What is the best way to pad the thing? Peanuts, shredded paper, bubble wrap, or other combinations? I am in the US, what's the most efficient & safe shipping method, coast to coast?

Thanks,

A

gokenin · 04-19-2010, 08:42 AM

I have used a combination of bubble wrap around the lens itself then placed this in a bed of peanuts and filled the box with additional peanuts, I have never had a buyer complain about damage so it seems to work for me i try to have about an inch of peanuts all around the lens by the way.

**Just1MoreDave** · 04-19-2010, 09:10 AM

I've shipped over 200 lenses using USPS, domestically and to about a dozen countries, with no trouble. I usually do something like this:

put the lens in a plastic bag to keep dust and styrofoam bits out of it
bubble wrap
foam packing peanuts around that

I don't like to use those balloon things that Amazon uses. I imagine them getting punctured and suddenly not providing any protection. Newspaper works in a pinch.
The post office will give you a medium flat-rate box, which has way more room than you need for the lens and packing material. You might pay a buck less for shipping if you have a box and pay by weight. I print labels online so I can get electronic delivery confirmation for free and a slightly cheaper price.

Tuner571 · 04-19-2010, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

I've shipped over 200 lenses using USPS, domestically and to about a dozen countries, with no trouble. I usually do something like this:

put the lens in a plastic bag to keep dust and styrofoam bits out of it
bubble wrap
foam packing peanuts around that

I don't like to use those balloon things that Amazon uses. I imagine them getting punctured and suddenly not providing any protection. Newspaper works in a pinch.
The post office will give you a medium flat-rate box, which has way more room than you need for the lens and packing material. You might pay a buck less for shipping if you have a box and pay by weight. I print labels online so I can get electronic delivery confirmation for free and a slightly cheaper price.

Yep, this is pretty much it. Just make sure you have the lens wrapped in bubble wrap as it is the best protecter of the lens. When I ship a lens it normally goes inside a plastic bag, which is then wrapped good and tight with a good amount of bubble wrap. I then fill a box halfway with packing peanuts, but in my lens, then fill to the top with peanuts to secure it in the box.

JeffJS · 04-19-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by aseno

All,

I have a need to send my lens to get a repair. I am concern (maybe overly) about how to ship it. What is the most effective& efficient way to pack & ship? My lens is a a wobbly Vivitar Series 1 with no original box, just the lens. I am worried that shipping it would make it worse. What is the best way to pad the thing? Peanuts, shredded paper, bubble wrap, or other combinations? I am in the US, what's the most efficient & safe shipping method, coast to coast?

Thanks,

A

I HATE, let me say that again, HATE those damn styrofoam peanuts. They get all over the place and don't taste very good either

... Wrap your lens up in bubble wrap until you cannot get any more in the box. Send it Postal Priority mail with delivery confirmation so you know it arrived. I've yet in over 800 shipments, to have one get lost or damaged (not all lenses of course) within the USA. Worldwide shipments get the same treatment with the same results.

GerryL · 04-20-2010, 01:17 PM

I think popcorn works too if you don't have the peanuts and tastes better too!

JeffJS · 04-20-2010, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by GerryL

I think popcorn works too if you don't have the peanuts and tastes better too!

Yeah but I like mine buttered and it might get the lens all greasy causing more problems than it prevents.

aseno · 04-20-2010, 03:46 PM

Isn't it the 'L' in 'CLA' is for lubrication? Probably organic peanuts makes better lubrication on the blades

Thanks for the input, all. I know get the idea.

bogiesbad · 04-20-2010, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by GerryL

I think popcorn works too if you don't have the peanuts and tastes better too!

So that's how one gets "buttery smooth bokeh."

SpecialK · 04-20-2010, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

I HATE, let me say that again, HATE those damn styrofoam peanuts.

As a recipient of foam peanuts, I hate them too, because they get all over the place. At least put them in a few bags.

04-19-2010, 08:34 AM	#1
aseno Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 210	Shipping Lens - Most efficient & effective to pack & ship? All, I have a need to send my lens to get a repair. I am concern (maybe overly) about how to ship it. What is the most effective& efficient way to pack & ship? My lens is a a wobbly Vivitar Series 1 with no original box, just the lens. I am worried that shipping it would make it worse. What is the best way to pad the thing? Peanuts, shredded paper, bubble wrap, or other combinations? I am in the US, what's the most efficient & safe shipping method, coast to coast? Thanks, A

04-19-2010, 09:10 AM	#3
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	I've shipped over 200 lenses using USPS, domestically and to about a dozen countries, with no trouble. I usually do something like this: put the lens in a plastic bag to keep dust and styrofoam bits out of it bubble wrap foam packing peanuts around that I don't like to use those balloon things that Amazon uses. I imagine them getting punctured and suddenly not providing any protection. Newspaper works in a pinch. The post office will give you a medium flat-rate box, which has way more room than you need for the lens and packing material. You might pay a buck less for shipping if you have a box and pay by weight. I print labels online so I can get electronic delivery confirmation for free and a slightly cheaper price.

04-19-2010, 02:47 PM	#4
Tuner571 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,549	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave I've shipped over 200 lenses using USPS, domestically and to about a dozen countries, with no trouble. I usually do something like this: put the lens in a plastic bag to keep dust and styrofoam bits out of it bubble wrap foam packing peanuts around that I don't like to use those balloon things that Amazon uses. I imagine them getting punctured and suddenly not providing any protection. Newspaper works in a pinch. The post office will give you a medium flat-rate box, which has way more room than you need for the lens and packing material. You might pay a buck less for shipping if you have a box and pay by weight. I print labels online so I can get electronic delivery confirmation for free and a slightly cheaper price. Yep, this is pretty much it. Just make sure you have the lens wrapped in bubble wrap as it is the best protecter of the lens. When I ship a lens it normally goes inside a plastic bag, which is then wrapped good and tight with a good amount of bubble wrap. I then fill a box halfway with packing peanuts, but in my lens, then fill to the top with peanuts to secure it in the box.

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04-19-2010, 08:42 AM	#2
gokenin Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: lowell,ma Posts: 1,899	I have used a combination of bubble wrap around the lens itself then placed this in a bed of peanuts and filled the box with additional peanuts, I have never had a buyer complain about damage so it seems to work for me i try to have about an inch of peanuts all around the lens by the way.

04-19-2010, 08:13 PM	#5
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by aseno All, I have a need to send my lens to get a repair. I am concern (maybe overly) about how to ship it. What is the most effective& efficient way to pack & ship? My lens is a a wobbly Vivitar Series 1 with no original box, just the lens. I am worried that shipping it would make it worse. What is the best way to pad the thing? Peanuts, shredded paper, bubble wrap, or other combinations? I am in the US, what's the most efficient & safe shipping method, coast to coast? Thanks, A I HATE, let me say that again, *HATE* those damn styrofoam peanuts. They get all over the place and don't taste very good either ... Wrap your lens up in bubble wrap until you cannot get any more in the box. Send it Postal Priority mail with delivery confirmation so you know it arrived. I've yet in over 800 shipments, to have one get lost or damaged (not all lenses of course) within the USA. Worldwide shipments get the same treatment with the same results.

04-20-2010, 01:17 PM	#6
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	I think popcorn works too if you don't have the peanuts and tastes better too!

04-20-2010, 03:37 PM	#7
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by GerryL I think popcorn works too if you don't have the peanuts and tastes better too! Yeah but I like mine buttered and it might get the lens all greasy causing more problems than it prevents.

04-20-2010, 03:46 PM	#8
aseno Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 210 Original Poster	Isn't it the 'L' in 'CLA' is for lubrication? Probably organic peanuts makes better lubrication on the blades Thanks for the input, all. I know get the idea.

04-20-2010, 05:23 PM	#9
bogiesbad Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lower AL Photos: Albums Posts: 355	Originally posted by GerryL I think popcorn works too if you don't have the peanuts and tastes better too! So that's how one gets "buttery smooth bokeh."

04-20-2010, 06:25 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Originally posted by JeffJS I HATE, let me say that again, *HATE* those damn styrofoam peanuts. As a recipient of foam peanuts, I hate them too, because they get all over the place. At least put them in a few bags.