Where can I get LP record boxes that protect the corners

chas_kit

G45 Legend
Joined
Apr 25, 2011
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
Most LP mailers just can't protect the corners of records. Too often LPs arrived with a corner bashed in, even with plenty of cardboard on either side of the record. When I ship domestically I double-box anything very expensive, but that gets expensive to do for international shipments.

A friend demonstrated how a medium size pizza box could be folded to make a flat mailer with sharp corners that leave room for damage. They're cheaper too. This may be my next step if I can't find a decent mailer.
 
Most LP mailers just can't protect the corners of records. Too often LPs arrived with a corner bashed in, even with plenty of cardboard on either side of the record. When I ship domestically I double-box anything very expensive, but that gets expensive to do for international shipments.

A friend demonstrated how a medium size pizza box could be folded to make a flat mailer with sharp corners that leave room for damage. They're cheaper too. This may be my next step if I can't find a decent mailer.
I buy a few pizza boxes from the local pizzaria, and then put the lp box inside with a little padding around the outsides. Works great!!
 
There was a post on Facebook recently about a new perfectly engineered LP mailer. Had some great reviews. I'll try and find it, but I'm about 5 rum and comes deep (rough day at work/sick child recovery mode) lol
 
There's a US mailorder company called Sound Stage Direct that use a custom made LP mailer that seems to do the trick as far as avoiding corner damage goes.

Click the left "slide show" on this page:
http://www.soundstagedirect.com/vinyl-record-packaging.shtml

Also here's a YouTube clip demonstrating how it works (around the 0:40-1:20 mark):
http://youtu.be/keNUnBZrCnw?t=40s

I assume that they weigh a ton and will be expensive to post though...
I've seen those Sound Stage ones. They're good, and not much heavier than a regular mailer. I'd go for something like that if it was available. Or a slightly oversized box and pad, something just a little larger than the usual 12.5"x12.5".
 
Just send it with a regular lp mailer and insure it. You're covered.

That's not just a single-sided approach (maybe the seller is "covered", but the recipient isn't) but also besides the point. Chris wasn't asking to minimize a financial risk but asking for mailers effectively protecting a sleeve. I find these cross-folded mailers that have broader edges very useful. Believe Amazon uses something similar for sending LPs. There are different modells, the only one I could find was this:

http://protected.de/de/LP-Versandkarton--6-Four-Lax_1057

There's surely someone selling these in the US.
 
I've sent over 1000 lp's/45s overseas and have never had a record get damaged. Although, loss is a different matter.
 
I also use for my mailorder (based in germany) the one's from Protected (Four Lax)! They are EXCELLENT and I always have a 100% safety! I even can send some normal weight LPs to abroad for around 5.00 USD and that includes USA.. which is GREAT! Customers seem to like it..though I have to admit..I prefer biiger orders..hahaha!! They also have the same boxes for 7"s...
btw: Amazon .. come on.. honestly..they let the distributors PACK the LPs already..so they don't have to pack themselves..EVIL!!!