Is over packing a box bad form?

I don't think so. Some people have expressed frustration over their trade partners using too much tape to bubble wrap their bottles (so it has to be torn and can't be re-used) but I'd rather have to throw out your bubble wrap than have a bottle break.

I've seen people use rubber bands instead of tape, I've started using cling wrap.

 

Do what ever you've gotta do to give yourself confidence that the bottles will make it safely. I could probably be accused of over-packing but then again no bottle I've ever sent has broke in transit

 

No such thing as over-packing. I mean, you are paying for all the materials + the weight of shipping the box, so do whatever you think is appropriate to keep the bottles safe. Using too much tape on bubble wrap is a little annoying, so I try and avoid it so it can be re-used, but I would never complain if someone else taped up tight - keeping the beer safe is the only priority!

 

please use rubber bands not tape, just as solid and the bubble wrap can be used again and its WAY easier to remove.
I do curse a little under the breath when it takes me ten minutes to cut a bottle out of its wrapping plus get the tape off the top. Secure is good but why destroy the bubble wrap while making it secure. but first world problems....

 

Not a silly question at all. The bottom line is getting bottles, bottle, growlers, or whatever you are sending to your trade partner SAFELY! If your trade partner is going to complain that they had to unwrap or cut more tape, bubble wrap,etc away on the box that arrived safely, which is the ultimate goal...right?,....then have them leave you negative feedback for overpacking (insert sarcasm).

 

I have always just used rubber bands and havent ahd any issues with bottle necks breaking I appreciate we all do things differently but you can pack securely only using rubber bands though it would be ludicrous to make any comment about over packing. Though as I lose nails, cut myself to pieces a few mutterings under the breath aren't a big deal.

 

I've used both (prefer tape as a personal preference). Both work just fine. Getting the package to your trade partner SAFELY is the ultimate goal & you can never overpack.

 

@Janeinma should post more often! The goal is to get the bixes to the destinations no matter the why, the who what when the where and the how, of course. BUT rubberbands or saran wrap are soooo much easier to open. Whats wrong with making things easier for your partners to open?

Dmbforever

 

I over used tape in the beginning, then cut down to taping just 3 spots, then when I saw someone used rubber bands, so I tried that too. I just don't feel comfortable with rubber bands being able to hold the bubble wraps. I got a box with the bottles rubber banded and shipped horizontally ended up slipping out of the bubble wrap. For sure it depends on how you tie the wraps up, but for me, a small piece of tape on the side, 1 on top, 1 on the bottom has worked extremely well without making things difficult to my partners to unpack. I actually dislike unpacking Saran wraps because it takes forever to locate the end sometimes. The way I tape my bubble wrap, it's very quick to open. The bottom line is that it's not what you use, but HOW you used it that makes it secured and easy to open.

As for over packing, @Naaberle , trade long enough and you'll discover your comfort zone after seeing how others pack. I used to over pack, but found a happy medium that I'm comfortable with. The equally important thing for me is to take precautions to ensure the box reaches the destination even if something breaks. That means Ziploc bag for each bottle and an industrial trash bag lining each of my box. If you are a prolific trader and want to maintain the hobby, over packing leading to use of larger boxes can lead to significantly higher shipping cost overall, potentially make shipping trade less conducive.

 

I use painters' tape (the blue stuff) to secure bubble wrap around my bottles. It holds the wrap in place but also comes off easily without destroying the bubble wrap. Another option ...

 

I use the shrink wrap method and after I've gone around the bottle a few times, I'll cut off the wrap, twist the end of it and lock it down with a small piece of black electrical tape so it's easy to know where to start unraveling. Otherwise, you're right in that it's annoying to find the end.

 

Having a trade partner complain about over packing is a lot better than having them complain about a broken bottle.

 

I will never complain about how over packed a bottle is. Yes some boxes are harder to deal with than others but I take it as a sense of pride that someone went overboard to make sure the box arrived safely. I think the better question should be when is it time to retire a box. Some boxes I have received are pretty thread bare but well packaged on the inside.

 

I personally can't get rubberbands work with the way I typcally pack (vertically with all bottles as one bundle). I use stretch film on the bubble wrap and then wrap them all together.

I cannot imagine any rational trader complaining about packing as long as it is secure.

 

No such thing as a child's car seat that is too safe, and no such thing as a box that is overpacked.

 

I'd like to personally apologize to all of my trade partners who have had to remove safe beers from taped bubble wrap that I paid for. Must have been quite the ordeal.

 

I usually tape up the bubble wrap. I guess I didn't think about the pain and anguish I was causing my recipients, but I've also had tremendous success so far.