Packing Fragile Items
What you Need to Know

• You sold it!  Now you have to wrap it up. And not just any old way either!  It needs to arrive in the same shape as you sent it.  You will never be sorry you spent the time to wrap your sales well.  Assemble the Supplies you need:
  Two things to consider, do you sell items with a small profit or a larger profit? If you sell mostly fragile things,  with a larger profit certainly invest in a big roll of bubble wrap rather than a few feet from the discount store.  One foot of bubble wrap any size will cost only about $.25 per foot if purchased in a 24" (measured from the center) large roll from a packaging supply company locally. That is worth the trip if you compare the cost to discount chain stores.  I prefer the 1/2" thick bubbles for plates, but small bubbles work just as well and may even be more flexible. Foam peanuts cost about $17 for 2 x 5 foot bag.  Have a small profit per item? If you are using the Flat Rate free boxes to ship, consider using tightly smashed newspaper or paper from a shredder because you can create a good nest for your item with these too.  Using these free items with the flat rate postage can save you money.
• Priority Mail box from your local Post Office or order on eBay link (free). Check around for sizes that suit. The 12 x 12 x 8 size Priority Mail box fits most dinnerware. Box 4 is a small square that not all post offices keep stocked.
  Flat Rate boxes ship any weight for $8.95.  I once sent a full box of nails in a flat rate box...You should have seen the Postal clerks face when she lifted that thing!
  Weight after only 2 pounds usually benefits from the use of a Flat Rate box.  The only catch here is that your item needs to fit into the few Flat Rate box choices with room to spare, a minimum of 1 1/2" for padding. 
  Order boxes online from USPS for free delivery in sets of 10 or 25. They deliver them right to your door.
  ? Recycled boxes - Check the weight recommendation if its printed on it. Previously used are ok if you totally black out barcodes and any numbers printed on the box. Do not use boxes printed with toxic names such as bleach or alcohol products unless you used your black marker over it. My favorite for heavy fragile items such as collectibles, Corning ware and Corelle are Apple boxes. Apple boxes from the grocery are an excellent choice for mailing larger numbers of fragile & dinnerware pieces. A box over a box, they are already double thick sturdy. Tape or stickers with the "Priority Mail" identification will be placed on these boxes at the post office. Or you may find a roll of Priority Mail sealing tape available to take home to use there. It would be nice of you not to take a roll unless you plan to use the whole roll up with your sales!
• Clear Sealing tape. Choose a fairly thick one. One with a dispenser is a good choice. They are refillable. Light weight celophane tape is not strong enough for glass items.
• Paper such as newspaper or white packing paper sheets. Or paper plates for shipping dinner plates are convenient~ if they extend past the edge of your pieces. Be resourceful! Snag that big piece of thin foam. It's perfect to protect protruding parts of fragile items, cut into squares to set between plates, between lids and Corning pans.
TIP: place wrapped items in a plastic grocery type bag with foam peanuts on the bottom and knot it closed. This prevents the item from shifting to the hard bottom because the peanuts are locked to it with the bag.
• Red marking pen or Fragile Stamp or stickers.
• Wrap Flat pieces such as Plates: Wrap each piece in several (3-4) pieces of paper, newspaper is fine if you don't have foam plates or foam pieces mentioned above.. Fold the paper over it covering all edges. Fold a square or fold around toward the center of plates.  Place the loose end side down to keep it from popping open and fold the next, same sized piece. Place it on top, face down, of the previous piece.  You now have a stack of plates or bowls. Five or 6 inches high should be the maximum to go here. Now use Priority tape from the P.O. if you have it and are going to mail Priority to tape around the stack completely while gently pushing it together. Now tape it again as an X so the dishes are now one tight group. Note: You aren't suppose to use a Priority box, partial label or tape inside or out unless the box is going to be paid shipped Priority.  Not even a priority box turned inside out.
  Next, wrap a sheet of bubble wrap around this group and tape it with strong tape at the edges so that it is totally enclosed in the bubble wrap.
  Repeat this for any more groups of like shape pieces.
  Figurines, Cups and other odd shapes need EXTRA paper around any part that protrudes such as a spout or handle. Wrap bubble wrap around each odd shaped item separately. Tape the loose bubble wrap closed so the piece can't fall out of it's air bubble cocoon.
  Flatware will shift to the bottom of foam peanuts alone. It will rub against itself and scratch too. To prevent this just weave light foam or 2 sheets of paper between each piece, tape the group together and use bubblewrap in place of peanuts.

1. Fragile items Box Packing begins with a strong enough box for heavy glass or pottery.  Double tape the bottom seam. Check the bottom of a recycled box to see if its bottom seal is strong enough. An extra strip or two is a good idea.
   Note: A box within a box, with padding in between the two, provides the most protection. It does add more weight to mailing cost. I don't use this method and my items arrive safely. If you must ship fragile items by Parcel Post this is a recommended extra step. 
   
2. Place 2 inches of bubble wrap or foam peanuts in the bottom of the box. Place your groups of items inside without any gaps. You may want to reduce the size of your box by cutting it down if it is more than 2 inches too tall for your items. Peanut and bubble wrap don't weigh down your box and add postage as much as newspaper will.  I have seen lots of plastic bags used for padding.  So far I haven't received any broken items using this method. 
   
3. You need 2 inches of bubble wrap on the top of your items.  The next time you receive something with bubble wrap around it, you may want to try not popping it out. Reuse it instead.  I reuse all wrapping from items I buy on eBay. 
   You need at least 1 inch bubble wrap between the box inside and your wrapped items.
   Fill up any spaces with more bubblewrap. Your goal is to not be able to feel any shifting of contents. When you hand a box marked FRAGILE to a postal worker they will shake it. This is because if it isn't solid, other boxes will smash into the open space inside causing damage to your fragile contents. Don't add so much foam or balled up paper that your box bulges. Too tight is just as unsafe as too loose.
   
4. Now seal the top seam with your heavy weight tape. If you are shipping out of country, seal all seams with tape. For extra security, do that H tape seal on the bottom AND the top of the box. Some countries Require all edges be taped.
   
5. Print "FRAGILE" "GLASS" on every side of the box, including the bottom, with a red marker. Candles can be marked "HEAT SENSITIVE"

Voila!  You did it! If it could possibly break, prevent it with careful packaging.  Remember, a 50 pound box could be dropped on your package after it leaves your hands! See dishes, collectibles and sewing patterns etc at Janet's    I hope this helped!