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Have a question regarding shipping a slot machine from coast to coast. How to package and who to use for shipment. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - David
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Volcano Digital Vaporizer

I put the machine in a fiber barrel and ship it via Fed Ex.

DON'T USE UPS. They are famous for busting up slot machines, no matter how well they are packed.

I have had them shipped in a fiber barrel, cardboard boxes and wooden crates. The important thing is to ensure there is a good layer of shock-absorbing cushion (like peanuts) on ALL sides of the machine, including the bottom. I have had machines shipped to me that were set in a box and filled with peanuts but with nothing placed UNDER the machine base. A good drop will damage the base or machine. I agree with Dave about UPS -- use FedEx.

Had good luck in a fiber barell and pad the insides with full rolls of paper towels. There might be a cheaper way to pad the machine. I use FEDEX although ups has worked with this method.

Rich

Wrap machine in plastic ( large garbage bag etc. ) Double box with lots of strofoam .
FedEx
Avoid UPS

UPS is brutal I agree however I have shipped well over 500 machines with them over the last 15 years. I do not ship though after November 1st due to part time holiday help.
The trick is in the packaging and here is how I pack:
I use a Uhaul Dish Barrel (heavy duty 3 ply 18 x 18 x 28 box) and in the bottom I put a full size bed pillow.
I wrap the machine in a mattress pad, shrink wrap it and bag it in a 55 gallon trash bag.
That box is inside a Uhaul Shorty Wardrobe box ( heavy duty 3 ply 20 x 24 x 34 ) and in the bottom of that box is a 2" thick piece of expanded styrofoam insulation which the Dish Barrel sets on. I fill the difference of the two boxes with Dow Corning pink rigid insulation so that the inner box is tight, does not move in the outer box. I stuff pillows all around the machine so that it is suspended in a soft cloud of pillows and it does not move at all. I then seal the inner box and cap it off with a piece of 2" styrofoam rigid insulation then close the outer box. I also use first Uhaul brown box tape (very good adhesive) then go over that tape with 2" nylon reinforced tape. I put a band of the reinforced tape around the top and bottom of the box so that if it is dropped it won't burst.
This method works very well for me, I ship from Michigan to the east and west coast and out of all the machines that I have shipped I have had two claims in which both were paid in full because UPS could not say insufficient packing.
I buy my pillows and mattress padding at Goodwill, Salvation Army and thrift stores for very little money.
The total packaging cost runs me right around $35.00 per container which is cheap comfort to know that the machine will arrive safely. I charge $165 to ship in the 48 states.
I also photograph my packing process for each machine to document.
I do not have any ties to UPS or Uhaul and i just thought others might benefit from my technique.
One thing I learned with FedEx is that although they will take your money for insurance is if you read the fine print they state in order to receive a damage claim the item must be brand new and packed in the manufactures original packaging, well we all know these vintage machine are not new nor in their original packaging.
Thanks,
Bill

This is why I NEVER use UPS

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Video-shows-UPS-driver-kicking-and-throwing-packages-268692772.html?tab=video&c=y

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/10/29/ups-driver-caught-on-video-kicking-package/

One of these days I am going to post a YouTube video on how to pack a machine for shipment.