Shipping used games safely

[Fardaza]

I hope to sell several used board games soon. I need to clear some shelf space for the ones I want to get still.

What do you recommend for padding? Packing peanuts? Bubble wrap? Lots of newspaper? etc.

Also, how about boxes big enough to safely ship something like a Gloomhaven sized game?

I don't want to spend $7 or $8 just on shipping materials, plus the postage costs.

Thanks for any advice.

[Anonymous Bosch]

I hope to sell several used board games soon. I need to clear some shelf space for the ones I want to get still.

What do you recommend for padding? Packing peanuts? Bubble wrap? Lots of newspaper? etc.

Also, how about boxes big enough to safely ship something like a Gloomhaven sized game?

I don't want to spend $7 or $8 just on shipping materials, plus the postage costs.

Thanks for any advice.

Shipping board games can be costly, but with some planning, there are ways to keep your costs down. The key is to reuse boxes and packaging materials from previous shipments whenever possible, as long as they're in good condition. This is especially true for materials from Amazon or other board game shipments.

To ensure safe and cost-effective shipping, follow these steps:

1. Secure the components within the game box to prevent shifting or rattling during transit.
2. Wrap the game box in a layer or two of plastic wrap (optional if following step 3).
3. Wrap the game box in a layer of bubble wrap within the shipping container. You can reuse Amazon bubble envelopes by patching them together to create larger sheets, and then wrap the game box like a Christmas present.
4. Use Amazon air pillows to cushion the game box and fill any remaining spaces within the shipping box. These lightweight materials are effective at absorbing shocks during shipping, while also minimizing your expenses.
5. Consider using a web-based shipping service, such as PirateShip.com, to take advantage of more competitive and affordable shipping rates.

Regarding step 1, for additional protection, try to wrap decks of cards with two 1" strips of paper cross-wise and/or place them within small Ziplocs, or wrap them with plastic wrap AKA Saran wrap. When wrapping with plastic wrap, make absolutely sure that it's secure, because a loose wrap can come undone as things shift in transit. Tokens and other bits should also be placed in Ziploc bags. Avoid relying solely on the game's insert to hold components in place, as they may not always provide adequate protection. Sometimes, placing decks or components beneath the insert can offer more protection, though do make sure to inform your recipient if you've done this. Try to fill any remaining space with reused Amazon materials, such as air pillows, crumpled brown paper, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap.

When shipping multiple games to the same person, look for ways to nest one game inside another to optimize shipping efficiency.

USPS will drop their free priority mailing boxes right at your door for free, but Priority Mail shipping costs can be costly. So, if you get these shipping boxes, it's much, much cheaper to poly bag the box after following the steps above, and then use PirateShip.com to ship the package at the poly mailer shipping rate instead.

For larger games like Gloomhaven, there's no getting around the fact that a sturdy, oversized box is vital to accommodate its prodigious size. So, if you don't already possess any suitably-sized shipping boxes that will hold it, it can be worthwhile to contact the game publisher or manufacturer directly to find out if they offer replacement shipping boxes or can provide recommendations for where to obtain appropriately sized boxes.

[Holman]

I've bought and sold a lot of games. Most of them ship to me in packing peanuts or bubble wrap, and they arrive perfectly fine.

However, many games also include inserts that prevent the new components from shifting around inside the box. If you've thrown those inserts away (as I usually do), or if for some other reason there is now significant empty space inside the box, consider adding air pillows or wadded up paper (nothing with ink on it) to cushion movement inside the game box.