packaging for repair

Hi.

I will bee sending my camera and 4 L lenses for repair next week. Does any one have any tips on the best packaging for safety. I don't the lenses or the camera to get damaged on the way to the repair center.

thanks in advance

If you have the original boxes, stuff them in that, then bubble wrapped in a larger box to hold everything.

If you don't have the original boxes, get plenty of bubble wrap from an office supply store and use waded up newspaper or packing peanuts to surround the equipment.

Whenever I ship something that I really want to protect, I do the following:

1: Find box that allows for a couple of inches of space between the item and all 6 sides.
2: Apply duct tape to outside of box.
3: Wrap the item in heavy duty cling film.
4: Cover the bottom of the box with a few inches of expanding insulation foam (the spray kind).
5: As it starts to set, place the item in the middle of the box (the foam should have set enough that the item does not sink completely, but not be fully hardened).
6. When the foam is hard, cover the top of it and the item with cling film (corner to corner).
7: fill the rest of the box with foam, let it harden and trim of the excess.

Takes about 45 minutes, but nothing short of WW3 can possibly harm your camera. And if you did it right, the top part should be easy to take of.

Edit to ad: Wrap item in both bubble wrap and cling film.

If I'm not using the original box, I place the item in a ziploc bag, in case it's exposed to rain or any other liquids. I then wrap in bubble wrap, place it in the shipping box, and fill any gaps with peanuts. I don't use newspaper because it gradually compresses and loses its cushioning ability.

Good call on the ziploc; forgot to mention that. And if all else fails, insure for the full current retail amount. I just got my 10-22 back, which I purchase for ~$660 but had to insure it for over $800.

abuha wrote in post #12963328
Hi.

I will bee sending my camera and 4 L lenses for repair next week. Does any one have any tips on the best packaging for safety. I don't the lenses or the camera to get damaged on the way to the repair center.

thanks in advance

Wow....you have to be the world's unluckiest person....how did you manage to break a camera and 4 Ls at the same time? Not sure what shipper you intend to use, but many places like the UPS and FEDEX satellite stores won't insure the package unless they do the packing.

go to fedex or ups, bring lenses in their boxes and let the shipper package them for you. They wont charge you extra, it's part of their service. And since they packaged it, you wont have any problems if in the unfortunate circumstances you need to make good on the insurance amount you paid for.

Thanks for the reply guys.

I think I might just do what Daedalus34r said.

@ they aren't broken. Just require recalibrating with the camera body.

I haven't ensured the Lenses yet, can't afford it right now, but it's definitely on the agenda.

If you want to keep the original boxes, don't send them.
You probably won't get them back.

I sent my old 30D in its original box when it went for repair, came back in the box. Make sure to write or attach your name and address on the box if you do send it in it.

abuha wrote in post #12964768
I haven't ensured the Lenses yet, can't afford it right now, but it's definitely on the agenda.

We're talking insure it during the shipping process (through the shipping company). Completely separate issue from regular insurance. If you don't do this the most a shipper will usually pay out is something pathetic like $100.