Best and Worst Packaging of Auction Winnings

esquiresports · October 16, 2014 4:27AM

I wish I had photos of some of the worse packaging I have received. From the plain white envelopes holding cards to factory sets just wrapped in brown paper and shipped. I don't, but I can start this thread with positive photos of what is, hands down, the best auction house packaging I have ever received. It struck me because I am generally disappointed or underwhelmed in the packing jobs AHs do, especially relative to what they charge. Thanks to Heritage for this.

Please feel free to share some of your favorite/least favorite packaging experiences.

The packaging method for this item:
1. Super heavy duty cardboard box with four full-sized flaps (versus the typical half flaps).
2. Cardboard top and peanuts surrounding.
3. A second super heavy duty cardboard box with four more full-sized flaps.
4. Cardboard top and peanuts surrounding.
5. Approximately 10 layers of bubble wrap completely entombing the item.
6. A high quality plastic bag and dust cover inside the bag.

All this for... not cards, but a handbag for the wife. I hope she likes it!

Edited to remove photos: they are too large.

rcmb3220 · October 16, 2014 4:47AM

Just had one where I bought a single card. It came in a top loader, no penny sleeve, and taped at the top. The kicker was that it was sent loose in a #2 padded mailer (8X11, I think). The bottom left of the card got dinged badly and curled.

I'm sure that's not even close the worst but it would have cost less to package it correctly.

And of course there's the 5 sellers that I emailed asking if they were going to overpack an 86 topps bb rack case if I won and they all said they would, for an additional fee.

Davis · October 16, 2014 5:37AM

<< <i>Just had one where I bought a single card. It came in a top loader, no penny sleeve, and taped at the top. The kicker was that it was sent loose in a #2 padded mailer (8X11, I think). The bottom left of the card got dinged badly and curled.

I'm sure that's not even close the worst but it would have cost less to package it correctly.

And of course there's the 5 sellers that I emailed asking if they were going to overpack an 86 topps bb rack case if I won and they all said they would, for an additional fee. >>

I get a lot of cards in top loaders without penny sleeves. Haven't had anything disastrous happen yet.

begsu1013 · October 16, 2014 5:57AM

gotten some real dewzys in the mail in regards to cards...however I own a wholesale pharmaceutical company and we once had a vendor ship us $100K in solu-medrol 100mg (these are glass vials) and I sh!t you not...had 1 styrofoam peanut in the box. you may think I am kidding, but in all seriousness...1 peanut. ironically product all arrived safe as it fit as tight as could be in the box, but still gives me a good chuckle to this day.

mtcards · October 16, 2014 6:40AM

Had a guy recently re-use a flat rate box, but turned it inside out, so he could put a new address label on it. Paid for shipping via ebay as flat rate, but since it didnt look like it to the USPS worker, they sent it to me with $3 postage due as it was metered as standard post

LarkinCollector · October 16, 2014 6:52AM

Recently received a 90s unopened box sealed in a flat rate envelope (not the bubble wrap ones) floating in a long medium flat rate box with no other packaging materials.

mlbfan2 · October 16, 2014 6:56AM

I bought a bobblehead (for a gift), and it was shipped in a box that was about 1/4th filled with packing peanuts, and nothing else. Apparently the seller thought that the bobblehead would remain upright at all times during shipping. It arrived with the head broken off.

vintagefun · October 16, 2014 6:58AM

Members on this board ship as well or better than anyone I've dealt with.

1all · October 16, 2014 7:04AM

Would this be considered Turduckin style packaging? <wink>

Largentcollector · October 16, 2014 11:39AM

I had a 1979 OPC James Bond box sent from England in a bubble mailer. Guy wouldn't send me a new box, said he didn't ship in bubble mailers. About a month ago I won an auction for .99 he charged $3 for shipping. He sent in a 75pt top loader in a PWE with one stamp so I had to pay the mailman .21 cents lol. I didn't even bother calling the guy out on it.

NickM · October 17, 2014 3:27AM

I'll go with the guy who taped a '62 Topps Venezuelan directly to a cardboard backing. Turned a nice VG to VG/Ex card into a P-F card.

Nick

GWilsh1999 · October 17, 2014 3:29AM

I received 5 sets from a smaller auction house that were thrown binder to binder into a box and sealed up...

itzagoner · October 17, 2014 3:44AM

once received a vintage baseball card inside a dainty folded napkin and a scented greeting card mailed in the greeting card envelope.

the card survived, but my raw collection smelled like the perfume counter at Macy's for a few days afterwards.

MULLINS5 · October 17, 2014 4:21AM

Received a raw Bossy card years ago where the seller used part of a, very, greasy Pizza Hut box as reinforcement. I'm sure there was, at least, part of the box without grease stains.

One time, and I know you guys will not believe me, but I'm going to go ahead and just say it. Well, I bought a raw card and it was sent in nothing but a toploader and plain white envelope. Had the nerve to charge more than a first-class stamp, too.

charrigan · October 17, 2014 4:42AM

I don't even mind poor packaging, since the seller is the one taking the risk in the mail. Perhaps with the exception of taping toploaders with scotch which leaves gross residue--that's a major pet peeve.

I do find it off-putting when sellers charge $3.00 or $3.50 to ship an item via USPS and then it arrives with approximately $.75 total shipping/packaging cost. Stars get dinged for that. Not because I don't consider shipping costs as part of the overall cost when buying, but because I don't like it when sellers are deceptive with hiding additional cost in shipping.

Raulsmaster · October 17, 2014 6:16AM

I bought a set of 3 measly 1989 classic baseball games for around 20/shipped and they were shipped in a box that probably would have cost 20 on its own that was 5 sizes too big, would have been strong enough to ship a car engine in and was shipped fedex overnight. I felt bad because he forgot to include the third set and I told him no rush and that overnight wasn't necessary. What happened you say?...he sent the other one fedex overnight in another box just like the first one. Between the packaging and shipping the cost had to be around 70-80, but I got it....and yes I kept the boxes which I reused to ship some heavy electronics down the road

WhiteTornado · October 17, 2014 9:33AM

<< <i>I bought a set of 3 measly 1989 classic baseball games for around 20/shipped and they were shipped in a box that probably would have cost 20 on its own that was 5 sizes too big, would have been strong enough to ship a car engine in and was shipped fedex overnight. I felt bad because he forgot to include the third set and I told him no rush and that overnight wasn't necessary. What happened you say?...he sent the other one fedex overnight in another box just like the first one. Between the packaging and shipping the cost had to be around 70-80, but I got it....and yes I kept the boxes which I reused to ship some heavy electronics down the road >>

Maybe the seller had easy access to that kind of box and could get reimbursed for shipping? They could have been lumping it in with a large batch of boxes going out from their business, for example.

Same as you, though, I keep any unusually strong or odd-shaped boxes like that. Never know when they'll come in handy!

Ndoggy88 · October 22, 2014 9:08AM

Had one recently with a Psa card in a regular small weak padded envelope with no protection. Back bottom of the holder was cracked a bit but luckily didn't affect the card.

flcardtrader · October 23, 2014 6:50AM

Got these two packages today.

The first had no name or address on it - but somehow got to me. I like the, "try 696 Chestwood Chase Drive", written on it by the PO. No clue how this arrived in my mailbox. Oh, and there was an unopened 79 Topps BB Wax Tray inside of it as well.

The second was a lot of unopened vintage packs won on Ebay....the packs were in the sleeves of the sheets then wrapped in the towels, put into the Medium Sized Flat Rate Box. Egads!

Thanks to those on this board who I have dealt with as their packing jobs have always been top notch.

Southsider · October 23, 2014 7:18AM

<< <i>Got these two packages today.

The first had no name or address on it - but somehow got to me. I like the, "try 696 Chestwood Chase Drive", written on it by the PO. No clue how this arrived in my mailbox. Oh, and there was an unopened 79 Topps BB Wax Tray inside of it as well.
>>

Not bad. The Zip Code Plus 4 can give you a pretty narrow range of addresses. It looks like your PO had a 1-in-50 shot of picking your house based only on the zip+4:

ZIP Code 5 Plus 4: 32065-2572
ZIP Code 5: 32065
Plus 4: 2572
Country: U.S. - United States
State: FL - Florida
County: CountyFIPS: 12019 - Clay
City: ORANGE PARK
Street Predirectional:
Street: CHESTWOOD CHASE DR
Street Suffix: DR (Drive)
Street Postdirectional:
Building or Firm Name:
Record Type: S: Street
Range: 0
Address
Address Primary Low Number: 600
Address Primary High Number: 698
Address Primary Odd / Even Code: Even
Range: 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, 624, 626, 628, 630, 632, 634, 636, 638, 640, 642, 644, 646, 648, 650, 652, 654, 656, 658, 660, 662, 664, 666, 668, 670, 672, 674, 676, 678, 680, 682, 684, 686, 688, 690, 692, 694, 696, 698.

flcardtrader · October 23, 2014 7:42AM

Wow, that really is amazing.

So I guess my penchant for receiving packages frequently must have really helped me out in this case.

Carew29 · October 23, 2014 9:06AM

worst shipping... anything from overseas in those cheeeeeeeeezy cardboard envelopes!!

Best and Worst Packaging of Auction Winnings

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