shipping speakers

pmckeealaska

I may have to ship one of my speakers from my state (Alaska) down to Polk in San Diego for repair. Luckily I still have the original box and all the packaging. I have heard horror stories on here about shipping speakers with FedEx, which is who I'll probably have to go through. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how best to protect myself in case the speaker is damaged in transit? Obviously I'll have them insured, but beyond that, is there anything else I can/should do? Thanks!

MikeC78

I just received my Polk LSi15's from FedEx and they came perfect. They all have bad days with shipping, I'm sure they will come just fine (be optimistic: ). I would just make sure they are insured.

Mike

McLoki

Pack it in its original box with original packing materials. (that should help if there is a claim) then stick that box inside another box with packing peanuts all around it.

I just sent a set of LSi7's that way - we will find out tomorrow if they made the trip ok.

Michael

Early B.

McLoki wrote:

Pack it in its original box with original packing materials. (that should help if there is a claim) then stick that box inside another box with packing peanuts all around it.

Yep. That's the ticket...

pmckeealaska

A bigger box than the one the LSi25's came in? Wow, that would be one big box! I don't know where I'd find one that size!

dorokusai

You should at least "double wall" it internally with sections from other boxes. Throw some fragile stickers on it and roll the dice. Just make sure they get there ok, the rest is on them.

Early B.

Go to U-Haul and buy a wardrobe box. Cut to fit.

VR3

The only person that can answer this is Polk65...

He built a bomb shelter that could house a SDA for a speaker the size of... a RT600i... hahaha

Polk65

I have personally learned a thing or two about shipping this year. Once upon a time I suggested using a UPS store and let them do the packing. There was a great thread posted awhile back for shipping a subwoofer with photos but I can't find it.

You can ship the original box and if your item gets damaged you will most likely be reimbured... someday. Or take the time and extra cost of packing inside another box. Ship and hope or ship to arrive safe. It's your choice.

What has worked for me 100% so far is allowing the item to jiggle in bubble wrap while protecting it in a large outer box.

In your case I would wrap enough large bubble wrap to surround the original box with at least 4" on all sides. Locate a second larger box and line the sides with rigid polystyrene foam at least 1/2" thick. Slide your bubble wrapped inner box inside and you have increased the odds of survival.

I pick up rigid foam made by Insulfoam at a local building supply center which works out well. Insulfoam in Alaska: http://www.premier-industries.com/insulfoam/homeowners/Page.aspx?cid=34

Insulfoam has a factory in Anchorage so you should be able to buy a sheet locally.
http://www.alaskarails.org/industries/insulfoam.html

Early B. is right on the money with U-Haul. Check your local moving & storage businesses. They sell cardboard boxes at reasonable prices in different sizes. The 48" tall wardrobe box is great for cutting to the size you want or buy two and tape them together. Also ask to see their lamp boxes.

Peanuts and nuggets are evil when used alone. If you ship a heavy item and stick it in a box with loose peanuts, the inner box can shift during shipping right against the walls of the outer box. They are ok for filling small gaps between rigid packing material.

My recent overkill box job was for a rare speaker. I chose for it to survive is all.

Joey_V

The least you should do is add foam peanuts to the speaker already packed in the original box. You need to get some shock absorption going on in that box.

Jim Shearer

From experience in shipping telescopes (high end scopes, not Christmas trash telescopes,) the double boxing is the only way to go. And be sure to document each step of the packing with photos! You have a better chance of a timely claim settlement if you can show that the item was packed properly.

Cheers, Jim

bvette94

Go to your local home store and buy a sheet of styraphome and cut it to width. insert the pieces inside the box between the sides.It has worked for me in the past. You cant be sure that it will be returned that way though. It is a $10.00 piece of mind.

Refefer

Out of curiosity, why are you shipping using FedEx? It could very well be different for us continental based folk, but I've found UPS prices tend to be better than FedEx.

Another thing: When I shipped my LSI 7's back to Polk for repair a while ago using original boxes and packaging, I was told that they didn't meet the "shipping standards" required to make a successful claim on them. I don't know if this was a "let's weedle more money out of the poor college student" thing, but you might want to check out your shipping provider's website for their "required" packaging dimensions... otherwise if something does go wrong, they can only be liable for negligence (at least that's the way I understand it).