Thread: shipping razors

The other day I received a razor in the mail from a member here @ SRP. I opened the package to find that a scale was broken, the package itself was not damaged and the razor had been wrapped quite well in newspaper. How it was broken in transit I have no idea. I immediately Pmd the member asking him if the scale was damaged when he sent it(being the bearer of bad news sucks)and no it wasnt damaged when he sent it. Thus the reason for this thread:

OK guys what I am asking for are your ideas on safely shipping a razor, I intend on shipping them sandwiched between two small slabs of wood such as a ripped 1x2 and then the usual newspaper/bubble wrap. What are your suggestions?

Well, from now on I’m shipping razors in titanium alloy cases and packaging made from Kevlar

Wild quess, temperature changes and tensions?
Maybe somebody sat over the package or loaded the old style tv on your package but in that case the package itself should be also suffered.
Have you seen any pictures before buying?
Your idea of wooden slabs sounds good.

You are not too far off in what I was thinking, the scale cracked at the end of the blade. I think someone sat something heavy on top of the razor, the blade supported the scale along the length of the blade, where the blade ended was not supported and could not bear the weight and cracked.

This is a good thread, sorry about your broken scales, though. I have yet to ship a razor, but I collect vintage fountain pens and they must be well wrapped to protect them in shipping. Most pen collectors use USPS Priority Mail and ship in the Priority Mail boxes provided by USPS. At the very least, the pen is wrapped in bubble wrap and floated in a layer of styrafoam peanuts or newspaper within the box. There are special plastic shipping tubes some collectors use, similar to the plastic boxes that Dovo uses. The truly paranoid of us use PVC tubing. A length of PVC tubing is about 6-8 feet long and costs about $2 at the hardware store. Use a hacksaw to cut off a length of PVC an inch or two longer than the pen (razor). Wrap the pen (razor) in bubble wrap and stuff it into the PVC tube. Tape the ends of the tube shut with tape and float it in styrafoam in the Priority Mail box. I write my name and address on the tube with a Sharpie in case the box gets destroyed so USPS can return the pen (razor) to me.

I hope this helps.

Dave

@ Tonsor, I like this it sounds almost nuke proof!

I've never shipped a straight but have sent out a few DEs. I"never used wood but I kinda do the same thing with cardboard. Line the envelope on both sides with stiff cardboard. Stuff "peanuts" or paper in the bottom thicker than the razor and keep stuffing all around untill the razor is sort of floating in the center and is not touching the sides.

I have shipped many razors. I wrap the blade in bubble wrap and then put it in a tight (important) fitting Jiffy bag. No problems to date. Touch wood.

I have received razors packed in a similar manner.

I have also received razors in a box also bubble wrapped within the box. This suspended animation approach cost at least five times as much as the Jiffy bag. But is probably bullet proof.

The middle of road is approach is a Jiffy bag plus insurance which is the best value for money.

So it all depends on how much you would be upset by a loss.

The bottom line is it all come down to money.

I get upset with the E bay sellers who charge the tops for boxing and post out rubbish razors that don't even deserve a jiffy bag.

One idea came into my mind. It's useful to take a break and walk the dogs out in the fresh air instead of staring the screen.
Take a newspaper and fold the decent amount of paper between the scales and close the blade. Be sure that the newspaper sit really tight inside the scales and there is absolutely no gap or free move of the blade otherwise it's worthless. This should prevent the scales bend inwards and break. Don't pack too much paper between the scales because it could bend the scales outwards and here we go again.
Next step is to wrap the whole razor tightly to the newspaper or to the bubble wrap.

Final step is to take a newspaper or two and roll them tightly to the one tube shape where you put the razor package and close with the tape. One envelope and to the post office.

The main word is tight as mentioned several times not sloppy. The cost should be as cheap as possible. It's not the invasion proof but should take the first line easily.

Originally Posted by English

The bottom line is it all come down to money.

Its not just the money, If somebody ships me a razor to hone or anything else for that matter, I feel a degree of responsibility to that person, they have entrusted me. Even though it may be out of my hands at the moment and in no way a fault of mine it may still reflect on me in a negative manner, and that is something I wish to prevent, as well as somebody losing a razor. I have razors I have spent good money on and then there are the ebay specials, it doesnt matter the $ value, if its my razor its special and I doubt if Im the only one who feels that way, or we wouldnt be buying the things. Just trying to explain my position!