I have received some horrendously inadequate parcels over the years, one pottery item came to me in a Jiffy envelope, no bubble wrap !!!  needless to say, it didnt survive.

 Having sent out my many porcelain, glass ware, bone china & pottery items world wide, i abide by the following simple ground rules to keep everything safe and thought this would help others who are unsure or starting out:

DO'S

ALWAYS WRAP DELICATE ITEMS WELL WITH BUBBLE WRAP OR SIMILAR, EACH AND EVERY ITEM HAS TO BE COVERED, WRAP EVERYTHING SEPARATELY. LEAVE BONE CHINA, GLASS OR POTTERY TO TOUCH DURING TRANSIT AND YOU HEAD FOR TROUBLE BUBBLE WRAP ACTS AS A SHOCK ABSORBER AGAINST POTENTIAL BLOWS TO THE PARCEL (POSTIE MAY BE A FOOTBALLER IN HIS SPARE TIME !)

 ALWAYS LINE YOUR BOX OUT FIRST, WITH B/WRAP, POLYSTYRENE OR SIMILAR AND MAKE SURE THE BOX IS STURDY, DOUBLE BOX IF NECESSARY.

PLACE EACH ITEM INSIDE THE BOX AND PAD AROUND IT. THEN ENSURE THAT YOU MAKE LAYERS WITH MORE B/WRAP IF THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS.

FINALLY, PAD OUT THE BOX WITH RECYCLED PAPER, NEWS PAPER, SHREDDED PAPER, ANYTHING LIGHT WEIGHT REALLY TO KEEP POSTAGE COSTS DOWN, BUT THIS WILL ALSO GIVE THE BOX MORE REINFORCEMENT AND STOP THE ITEM FROM SHIFTING AROUND.

KEEP OLD NEWSPAPER, BOXES, B/WRAP - NOTHING GETS THROWN AWAY IN MY GAFF !!!!!!!

BUY A GOOD SHREDDER !!  FABULOUS FOR RECYCLING ALL THE UNWANTED RUBBISH WE GET THROUGH OUR DOORS EVERY DAY !

MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAPE ROUND THE BOX IN ALL DIRECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT IT HAS AS MUCH REINFORCEMENT AS POSSIBLE, IT WILL PROTECT AGAINST HEAVY WEIGHTS BEING PLACED (OR DROPPED) ON TOP (POSTIE MIGHT GET TIRED AND DECIDE HE NEEDS A GOOD SEAT!)

ALWAYS MARK YOUR BOXES "FRAGILE HANDLE WITH CARE" PROMINENTLY.

ALWAYS ENSURE THAT THE ITEM INSIDE THE PARCEL DOES NOT TOUCH THE SIDES, MAKE SURE THE BOX IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE ITEM SO THAT YOU CAN PAD AROUND IT.

ALWAYS ADD EXTRA PADDING TO VULNERABLE POINTS I.E. TEA POT SPOUTS, HANDLES ETC.

MAKE SURE YOU ADD YOUR SENDER ADDRESS TO THE PARCEL INCASE OF NONE DELIVERY.

DONTS

NEVER EVER ALLOW DELICATE ITEMS TO TOUCH WHEN THEY ARE IN TRANSIT, IF YOU DO, YOU HEAD FOR CERTAIN DISASTER.

REMEMBER, BUBBLE WRAP IS EXPENSIVE, BUT SO ARE BREAKAGES

DONT THROW AWAY POTENTIAL PACKAGING MATERIALS, STORE IT AWAY TILL YOU NEED IT !!

DONT SEND SURFACE, SEND ALL YOUR DELICATE ITEM PARCELS BY AIRMAIL, SURFACE MAIL MAY BE CHEAPER, BUT THE PARCELS ARE TRAVELLING MUCH MUCH LONGER AND GO THROUGH A RIGOROUS AND HEAVY JOURNEY, THIS IS FACT.

NEVER LIE ITEMS, ESPECIALLY PLATES FLAT IN YOUR PARCEL. ALWAYS PLACE THEM AT AN ANGLE, THAT WAY, IF THERE IS A BLOW TO THE PARCEL, THE PLATE WILL BE ABLE TO "SHIFT" INSIDE AND NOT TAKE THE FULL IMPACT

*****************************

Hope this guide is of help, please vote YES ! 

P.S !

Never ever package your items when tired, stop when the boredom sets in as it can become quite laborious and mundane. I know someone who posted the wrong items to different corners of the world !!!   a complete nightmare ensued............................. !

Wasnt me................... honest !  :-)      KATE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX