How to Ship Vinyl Records: The Complete Guide to Shipping Records
Vinyl records are making a comeback and they are no longer just for hipster record stores in the back alley! Record players are a popular fixture in homes around the world today, and in order to use them you need…well, records. Increased demand has created new opportunities for online record stores, and as a result, sellers find themselves needing to ship large quantities of vinyl records everywhere. If you’re one of these shippers, we’ve got you covered. This guide is about how to ship vinyl records, how to protect them from damage in transit, and how to save you the most money at the cheapest price. Let’s start spinning!
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USPS Media Mail is the cheapest way to ship vinyl records
By far, USPS Media Mail is the cheapest way to ship vinyl records. Media Mail was basically created for shipping vinyl records (as well as other things like books and printed educational materials) for prices ranging from just over $3 Every batch! Since rates are already so low, you won’t get any additional discounts from USPS on media mail rates…and you won’t find any cheaper service anywhere else to send records.
The thing about media mail is that USPS is very strict about the kinds of items that qualify for these rates. If your shipment contains any items that are not eligible for Media Mail, USPS will disqualify your shipment and you will be charged a higher rate for one of their other services, such as First Class Package or Priority Mail. To see the types of items that are eligible for Media Mail, check the USPS website.
Media Mail is slower than other USPS services, but vinyl is the cheapest
Media Mail is the best way to save money when shipping vinyl, but on the other hand, it’s also one of the slowest services the USPS offers.Delivery time is between 2-8 business days, depending on how far your package needs to be shipped, delivery may take even longer. In our experience it is not uncommon for these shipments to take up to 2 weeks! Still, if you’re trying to save the most money when sending your records, you won’t find a cheaper price anywhere else. In the shipping world, you get what you pay for!
Protect your records with the right packaging
This is where it gets tricky. Vinyl records are fragile, and in addition to walking around in their sleeves, they can crack if there is too much pressure. It’s up to you to save vinyl records to prevent them from breaking, so it’s important to use the right kind of packaging material – namely bubble wrap, and many more.
Use a cardboard vinyl record mailer
before you do anything, do not Pack your record in the case it came with! Instead, use a dedicated cardboard vinyl record mailer. When you do this, not only do you get a second layer of protection for your records, but you also get more room inside the record envelope, giving you enough room to add as much cushioning packing material as possible .
You can pick up a dedicated album mail on the ULINE website.
Wrap record sleeves with plenty of bubble wrap and tape
The next step is to wrap the record inside its sleeve with as much bubble wrap as possible. Wrap it once, twice, three times (or as many times as possible) and try to leave as little space as possible inside the cardboard record mailer when sliding the wrapped record in. A good test is to shake a few times to record the time inside; if you feel it moving, you need more bubble wrap.
Once it fits and the record doesn’t move at all, stick the bubble wrap firmly to itself and you’re ready to go.
Mark the package as “fragile”
Finally, while this may seem obvious, you should always Mark your vinyl shipment as “fragile” on the outside. At the very least, you can write it on your record envelope with a marker so it’s big and legible. If you can spend some extra money, you can also pick up a special handling label from the USPS at your local post office to let staff know to be careful when handling packages. However, you can only buy these stickers at the post office, so you won’t find them online!
How do I get media mail rates?
You can access Media Mail rates at any local post office and anywhere you buy postage online, including through Click N’ Ship or any third-party shipping software. If you use online shipping software, you will need to select “Media Mail” when entering your package information or you will not be able to see these special discounted prices when you get a quote.
If you walk into your local post office, keep in mind that you probably won’t see a media mailing ad on a large poster or counter; instead, you’ll need to specifically ask the clerk to access these rates. Then, the postal worker assisting you may check your package to make sure you’re really shipping vinyl records and nothing else. If they find anything else in your package, you won’t be able to ship at Media Mail rates!
