Shipping fragile items

[shirlemitchel-6]

I am shipping antique tea set.   Is having shipper package and insure the best?   Will insurance pay full cost if one item is broken in the set?    

[mtgraves7984]

Wow. Personally, I'd do my own packing... but paying another for that isn't out of the question for your tea set. Your call...

At $13.95 s&h, you're already crunched. Yes, insure it, but know that if insurance does pay out on it, they get to keep it.

[soh.maryl]

So someone has actually paid?

You seriously shorted yourself on the shipping.

There are some things that are better off listed as local pickup only.  

[ted_holland4pn4]

Personally, I would never trust another to pack my sold items.  In this case, especially, I would make sure I did all the packing with packing paper wrapping, bubble wrap, then double bubble wrap, in a double box.  If buyer receives any damaged goods, you as the seller are on the hook for it.  Pack it really securely!

[simba6]

Insurance is best if the package is lost by the shipper. Damage not so much as they often try to say it was caused by poor packing.  Items have to be packed so they won't be damaged unless there is severe damage to the outside of the shipping carton.

I suggest using 3 inches of bubble wrap around each item. Then double boxing with bubble wrap between the outer and inner box.   I would do the packing my self as not all those places do a good job.  That will make an over size package and incur higher shipping costs.

You need the good one inch size bubble wrap for that too. Not the smaller stuff.

[toysaver]

Ship this double boxed in multiple packages.  Make sure it can be dropped on concrete without breakage.

[comics-scifi-collectibles · Accepted solution]

@shirlemitchel-6  Adding to the other excellent advice.  You say in the description that the buyer has to pay extra for packing and insurance, which is not allowed, you can not charge the buyer more than stated on the listing.  

Insurance is for the seller, the buyer is covered by the eBay MBG.  

If you don't feel comfortable throwing the box at least 4 feet and having another heavy box land on top of it then you need more packing material. 

[rfmtm]

If you don't have the proper supplies or feel confident in packing yourself, or the item is fragile, expensive or not replaceable, then yes, have a professional service pack and ship.  However, make absolutely sure you use one of the shipping centers that guarantees in writing your item will arrive undamaged with no exceptions or pay the full insured amount.  This can get costly, so get an estimate of packing cost before listing the item.

Otherwise, as already posted, start by listing for Local Pick Up Only.

[shirlemitchel-6]

Excellent.  Thanks.