Advice for Successfully Shipping NIB Barbies—How to Get it to the Buyer with No Damage

[retired_weirdo]

Hi everyone,

I’m a relatively new seller. I have sold several items to buyers that no longer had their packages.

However, I have put off listing other NIB dolls I need to sell because I have been unable to wrap my head around how to ship them without their boxes getting smashed.

Can anyone offer any insight on how to ship vintage Barbies, often with an irregularly-shaped boxes, while maintaining the integrity of an item’s structure?

Thank you in advance for your help 🙂

[wastingtime101]

Wrap the doll package sufficiently with bubble wrap. Place in an appropriately sized sturdy box. Use filler so the item isn't banging around loose inside the box.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Wrap in bubble wrap and put it in a USPS Priority Shoe Box (15x8x6). 

[mtgraves7984]

Plan on putting the Barbie box into another sturdy cardboard box. I'd allow for a couple of inches of bubble wrap between the boxes, too. (You don't want any 'voids' in the package... no shifting, etc.) Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Ship the boxed doll in another box with some stuffing for protection.  Review the methods of shipping costs when you make your listing to see the most cost effective.  The NIB will not get damaged if it is shipped in another box.

[fairdeal*lb]

We've sold 100's of NIB Bratz and Barbie's without any issues.

(1) Test that the doll box fits inside of the shipping box without making contact. 

(2) Put the item in a clear plastic bag, (a printed bag can transfer ink). 

(3) Pack it with foam peanuts/popcorn, make sure the contents are encapsulated. 

If it shakes it breaks.. 

Happy Selling      

[toysaver]

If you can go to the grocery store on restocking day Bagel Boxes are perfect for most NIB Barbies.  At 16" x 12" x 8" most will fit with bubble wrap and filler.   Even though you're selling it NIB make sure to include close up pictures of the box.  There is usually considerable shelf wear that the buyer needs to know about before hand.

[katzrul15 · Accepted solution]

@retired_weirdo 

We sell a lot of Barbies and other collector dolls.

To a Barbie collector, the box is typically as or more important than the doll itself.  Barbie Collectors do not like for the clear plastic of the boxes to be scuffed or the corners damaged.

We usually wrap the box in 2 layers of tissue paper (like you are wrapping for a gift) and then we bubble wrap (multiple wraps) the doll itself.  Doll is placed in a sturdy cardboard box and we use air pillows and packing peanuts, stiffeners, etc to keep the doll 2" from all sides of the box.  We do use strapping tape to tape the boxes - especially USPS free ones, as they often come unsealed.

You need to pack like 2 Gorillas will soccer drop kick that box from your post office to the post office of your buyer.  And often, it is.

Have never had an issue, but with Barbies - over describe, under-promise and take pix of ANY areas of the box, including price stickers/stick residue, etc.  Doll collectors are VERY picky, but they will certainly lay out the MOOLA for the dolls they want.  We recently sold a nice early release Bratz doll that went well over $200 for a $14 original doll.  We paid $3 for it.  Box was Good +, Doll was mint.  

My best advice is use ALL 12 pictures and do close-ups of where something is not pristine.  

BTW - if the doll is not in their factory box, it is USED, not new.  If the doll has been opened, removed - it is used or at best NOS, but I would only call something New/Factory Sealed, as "new".  If the box is damaged, we list the doll as USED and state why.

Good luck!

[katzrul15]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

Wrap in bubble wrap and put it in a USPS Priority Shoe Box (15x8x6). 

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We never use these boxes - ever - they are flimsy and thin boxes and often arrive looking horrible.  Worst USPS box out there - FINE for a shoebox to slide into - HORRIBLE for a collector doll to be shipped in.  ymmv

[retired_weirdo]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind advice. Very, very much appreciated. 

A couple more questions. What constitutes a sturdy box? One of you mentioned bagel boxes. @katzrul15 what kind of boxes do you use? Not the shoe box, but the other USPS boxes are okay?

Anyone else? I have been buying boxes from UPS (because they have 1000 different sizes), but I am very open to suggestions. 

Packing peanuts, air pillows, bubble wrap...any other packing materials? When air pillows are used, should they be inflated fully? Will this put too much pressure on the box if other things are stacked on top of it?

These are factory sealed. I've had them since I was a child, which is part of the reason I'm so concerned. It would be very upsetting to me to keep them all these years only to have them destroyed by the mail.

[fairdeal*lb]

Most USPS boxes are to small for the buffer of space needed, though we've used box#7 'Large' 12.25"x12.25"x8.5" for some smaller doll boxes. You can order them free from the USPS website. The box we use 90% of the time is the eBay box 16"x12"x8", which we happen to get free as well with our store subscription.  

Generally, these boxes have all worked well without extra reinforcement, as long as you have at least a 2" buffer of space from all inner walls. If you wish to have that extra insurance, sure double-box it or use double-wall. Another tidbit like a car crumple-zone, you want to absorb the impact or shock especially with doll parts. Therefore rigid packing material is a no-no, avoid implosion..

All good- Packing peanuts, air pillows, bubble wrap and even crumpled shipping paper has worked well with lightweight fragile items like this. You still have to follow that (buffer rule) with all of them. Like @katzrul15 we've sold some Bratz dolls in upwards of $300, and have shipped them all over the world.

You brought us an important topic @retired_weirdo 👍..          

[fairdeal*lb]

Lastly, the box should be packed just firm enough to where you don't hear anything when you shake it. You have to build up to that point, as you (do not) want it to be compressed.          

[retired_weirdo]

Thank you, @fairdeal*lb ! I feel much better about making these sales now. 🙂 I will be referring back to this thread often, I think.

[fairdeal*lb]

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@retired_weirdo wrote:

Thank you, @fairdeal*lb ! I feel much better about making these sales now. 🙂 I will be referring back to this thread often, I think.

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Reach out anytime.. 

You'll do great 

[sandra100862]

so helpful and i was able to order 25 for free!