How to Pack & Ship Parts for Servicing or Trade
1. If unsure of exactly what should be included to be serviced, call first.
2. Never use a wooden crate to ship parts, no matter how large or strong it is. They are useless for absorbing the shock of rough handling and truck vibration.
3. Use a strong cardboard box. Shoe boxes and thin corrugated boxes are worthless.
4. Use a much larger box than the size of the parts shipped. Figure that the box likely will be crushed 4" on any or all sides, and corners.
5. Make a simple cardboard cover for exposed instruments that do not have a clear lens. Some faceplate lettering smears with even a touch. Needles bend and break very easily. Tape the cardboard cover on, or use rubber bands.
6. Use packing material that cushions shock. Unwadded newspaper, body masking paper, and grocery sacks are worthless packing. Styrofoam peanuts, wadded newspaper, and bubble wrap are good. Do not tape bubble wrap. Shredded paper is bad because its dust particles go inside instruments.
7. Never let any part in a box rub on any other part. 2,000 miles of rubbing usually means severe damage.
8. Tape all seams, including the bottom of your box, with good shipping tape.
9. If your box is a used one, cross out or remove old names and addresses.
10. Put your name, address, phone, e-mail on the outside of your box.
11. Make a packing list: your name, address, phone, e-mail; what services you want (stated simply); and a simple list of all parts sent.
12. Label which parts are actually from your car, and which parts are for credit or to be used for parts.
13. Small parts in boxes can easily be overlooked or hard to find in your packing. Make sure no parts can fall off an assembly during shipping, especially 1968-70 B-body air control “TEMP” buttons.
14. Don’t waste your money on air shipping if there is no great rush for service. But air service, in general, does mean less handling, less transfers, and less chance of damage or being lost.
15. Insure parts for full value, meaning actual cost for you to replace them in the condition you sent them. If you are shipping from another country, you will only be compensated for your loss according to the insurance you purchased, NOT according to declared customs value.
16. Poor box and/or poor packing will result in a denied claim.