At Interparcel, we're used to handling all kinds of parcels. We ship everything from bikes, alcohol, fishing rods and other popular items. One niche item we haven't covered yet are vinyl records.
Vinyl has made a huge comeback in recent years; NME recorded 4.8 million LP's purchased in 2020, meaning that one in five of all albums purchased in 2020 were vinyl! For all the indie, alternative, and retro music lovers out there, sending vinyl can be a profitable business. Still, it is important to remember that vinyl, and the sleeve, is very fragile and often gets damaged during shipment.
For the record, our specialist couriers are on hand to deliver your delicate parcels safely. However, there are a few things you need to do before your vinyl face the music!
Preparing records for shipping
Whether you have sold some LP records online or you're looking to send a favourite album to a friend, we recommend you spend some time packing your item correctly for shipment.
How do I protect vinyl for delivery?
First, you'll need to carefully 'dismantle' the record and its packaging. Start by taking the vinyl out of its outer jacket cover and inside the paper sleeve. Then, place the record -gently- on top of the jacket and place the sleeve on top of the vinyl. This will create a "sandwich" of protection that will cushion the vinyl and stop it from cutting through the jacket in transit.
Then you'll need to place this sandwich into a padded plastic wallet or mailing bag encased in bubble wrap. You will then need to place this in its entirety into outer packaging, such as a cardboard box or a thicker envelope.
If you regularly send vinyl, we suggest investing in record mailers explicitly designed for vinyl records. However, if you're a one-time sender, cardboard pizza boxes are an excellent alternative.
Just ensure that you fill any space inside with packaging materials such as packing peanuts, newspaper or bubble wrap and fully secure the package with durable tape for optimum protection.
Now, let's put all these stages in a handy checklist:
✔Remove vinyl from packaging
✔Sandwich in between coverings
✔Place sandwich in a metaphorical sandwich bag
✔Add outer packaging
✔Filled space inside the packaging
✔Secure with tape
Top tip: If you need to send more than one vinyl, you can place more than one in the same parcel, but make sure each record is wrapped and protected for transit.
How to send vinyl records with Interparcel
We are here to help individual senders or online sellers find the cheapest quotes and ship their vinyl records with trusted couriers. Whether you need to send a parcel domestically or internationally, your package will be in the safest hands.
The quickest way to send vinyl records is by using our Quote Tool to compare prices and services from our range of couriers. All you'll need to do is pop in the parcel's weight, height, length and width to receive the most suitable quotes for you.
We also offer full tracking on all our services that you can view by entering your unique 12-digit tracking code on our portal or via your account.
If you regularly sell vinyl records through marketplaces like eBay or Etsy (to name a few) you can save time and money on shipping by using Interparcel's integration tools. Our powerful Shipping Manager integrates with the biggest names in eCommerce, so you will have access to the most affordable parcel delivery solutions and you can book via your laptop or mobile device whenever suits you.
With us, online sellers can access:
- Advanced Shipping Manager: collate orders from multiple eCommerce platforms into one place
- In-built address verification and correction: no more manual errors or unprofessional mistakes
- Branded tracking: create a seamless brand experience when customers track orders
- New 'Return Parcel' and 'Send Again' actions: send and return orders in a few clicks
How much does it cost to ship vinyl records?
The cost of shipping a vinyl record will depend on the final weight and size of your parcel after you've packaged it for shipping. Senders of vinyl records also often opt to insure their parcels with our additional Transit Cover.
Sending vinyl in the UK can cost as little as £2.45* (ex. VAT) with Evri ParcelShop. Parcels can be dropped off at a local convenience store or at your nearest InPost locker.
If you are sending your parcel to Europe, for example France, Landmark Global offer a Global Economy service from £11.95. Your parcel will be collected from your door and delivered between 5-16 days.
For a reliable and cost-effective international service, FedEx Express Economy can deliver your record to the USA for only £22.45. With delivery aimed in 2 – 6 working days, your friend in the Big Apple can be dancing away to your favourite album in no time!
All of our services come with a level of transit cover between £20 - £100, but when shipping expensive or collectable vinyl records, it's worth opting for a higher level of protection. You will be able to add this amount to the booking process for a small fee.
Book with us
Interparcel makes sending parcels easy. We ensure shipping won't break the bank (or your vinyl) with our easy quote tool and range of affordable courier services. If you have any questions about the booking process, speak to our friendly parcel experts by phone, live chat, or email 8 am - 8 pm Monday to Friday, or 9 am – 1 pm at the weekend to get all the information you need on packing and sending your vinyl records.
*Quoted prices based on 0.5 kg parcel with dimensions 32.5 x 32.5 x 4cm
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