If a mold weighs more than about 20 pounds, it is a good idea to ship it by itself. However, if you have a large enough box, you can pack up more than one together. Yes, professionals do ship multiple molds in one package, but the operative word is “Professionals” … they have the experience, materials and knowledge. HOWEVER, even they encounter breakage.
The main things to remember:
1 Use a good, sturdy box of adequate size
2. Have plenty of light weight packing material.
3. Tape or band the mold parts together so that they are tightly bound..I MEAN TIGHT. Do not use belts.
With e-commerce being the prime business for many ceramists in today's market, Shipping is one of the greatest headaches and most costly parts of the business. There are many nightmare stories out there of molds or bisque that have arrived shattered and unusable. As a concerned seller, there are some basic steps that can help make shipping a positive experience for both seller and buyer.
Molds are heavy so you want the packing materials as light as possible. Some of the best are Bubble wrap, Styrofoam sheets, Styrofoam peanuts, recycled plastic grocery bags, and anything similar.
Step one: Find a box of adequate size. Make sure there is AT LEAST 2 inches of space on ALL 6 sides of the mold. You don’t need oversized boxes. Some people like to double box their items. That is to say: pack mold in one box and then pack that box inside another. This is a matter of preference, however IF you pack securely, one box is adequate.
Step two: Tape or band the mold together as tight as you can. You want to make sure that if there is a sudden bump or jar, the pieces do not bump or bang into themselves.
Step Three: Wrap the mold in several layers of bubble wrap and tightly tape around the mass.
Step Four: Use wads of additional bubble wrap, or recycled plastic bags with a cup or so of peanuts in each one (tied loosely shut) on the bottom of the box. Place the mold* on top of them and then wedge additional packing on all four sides tightly, then, finally place packing material on top. You want enough packing in there so that there is NO WAY the mold or packing will shift during transit. Test: close the box and shake it, if you can discern movement, then add more packing. Shake it again to make sure ;)
Step Five: Tape the box closed securely. You cannot over tape it.
*Note: if you ship two molds together, make sure there is a sheet of Styrofoam or layers of bubble wrap between the two molds AND band them together securely and tightly. You don’t want them to bump into each other.
CAUTION: Do not use packing materials that will allow your mold to shift during shipment. Example: shredded newspaper collapses and mashes together and therefore your molds can ‘move.’ Besides that, paper is HEAVY. Packing peanuts, when put in loose, can move and the mold itself can work itself through them. Bubble wrap around the mold does decrease this somewhat.
DISCLAIMER: I am sure there are as many tips and ideas about shipping as there are people who ship, so the above is only my opinion from many years experience as a most effective method of shipping.
A Word About Shippers
There are many carriers out there and the prices continue to skyrocket. I encourage you to find methods that are less expensive for your customers. Yes, USPS priority boxes are greatly convenient, but the costs are becoming unmanageable and discourage folks from buying our products. Grocery stores are a great resource for sturdy boxes and if space is a problem, they can be broken down and stacked the same way priority boxes do. Check online for carriers close to you who may ship less costly via ground (UPS, FedEX, NHL to name a few) Compare prices and insurance and when possible, give your clients the option of speed vs cost. A happy customer is a repeat customer.
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