A grandmother’s china, a mantel clock, a hand-painted vase. These are the shipments people worry about most, and with reason: a cross-country trip can involve several trucks, multiple sorting hubs, and close to a week in transit. Customers at Newport Beach Mailboxes & More often bring in family pieces headed to relatives in other states. These seven tips cover how to protect them, and what to do when money can’t replace what’s inside.
What should you do before packing an heirloom?
Photograph the piece from every angle in good light, including any existing chips, cracks, or repairs. Measure it and note its weight. If it has significant monetary value, get a written appraisal. These records support a damage claim and help a restorer if repairs are ever needed.
Will the carrier fully cover an antique?
Often not. UPS and FedEx limit declared value for antiques, artwork, and similar items to much lower amounts than standard packages, and some items may be excluded entirely. Read the carrier’s terms for items of unusual value before shipping. For a piece worth thousands, a third-party shipping insurance policy or a specialty fine-art shipper may be the better route.
What should touch the surface first?
Wrap the piece in acid-free tissue paper before anything else. It protects polished wood, silver, gilding, and painted finishes from scratches and from moisture trapped against them. Avoid newspapers, which can transfer ink, and keep tape off the item itself. Bubble wrap goes on after the tissue, secured to itself rather than to the surface.
Should you take the piece apart?
Yes, wherever it comes apart easily. Remove lids, stoppers, lampshades, clock pendulums, and glass inserts, and wrap each one separately. Fill hollow pieces like vases, teapots, and cups with crumpled paper so their walls are supported from the inside. Label the small parts so they can be reassembled.
How much padding does it need?
Double-box anything breakable. Pack the wrapped item in a sturdy box with at least two inches of cushioning on all sides, then set that box inside a larger one with another two to three inches of cushioning between them. Shake the outer box gently before sealing. If anything moves, add more padding.
When does an heirloom need a crate?
Large mirrors, framed art with glass, grandfather clocks, and heavy ceramics are often safer in a wooden crate than in cardboard. A crate keeps weight off the item and resists punctures from other freight. Crating costs more, but it is usually the right call for anything tall, heavy, or valuable enough that a broken corner would be a real loss.
How do you reduce risk on the road?
Ship early in the week so the package is less likely to wait in a warehouse over a weekend. Choose a service with full tracking and require a signature at delivery. Summer heat is a factor too. A truck crossing the desert can get hot enough to soften wax, warp veneers, and damage old photographs, so faster service may be worth the cost for sensitive pieces.
Where can you have an heirloom packed near Newport Beach?
These local shipping centers offer packing and shipping services:
- Newport Beach Mailboxes & More
- The UPS Store, Westcliff Plaza
- The UPS Store, Lido
- The UPS Store, Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa
- AIM Mail Center, Huntington Beach
1. Newport Beach Mailboxes & More
Newport Beach Mailboxes & More has served Newport Hills from 2618 San Miguel Drive for about 15 years, under CEO Joseph Swan. The store packs and ships fragile items and artwork, so customers can bring in a family piece and have it wrapped, double-boxed, and sent with tracking to another state. Mailbox rentals, notary services, document services, and LiveScan fingerprinting are available at the same location.
2. The UPS Store, Westcliff Plaza
This franchise location in Newport Beach’s Westcliff Plaza offers packing and shipping services.
3. The UPS Store, Lido
This franchise location on Via Lido offers shipping and mailbox services.
4. The UPS Store, Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa
This franchise location on Harbor Boulevard offers shipping and mailbox services.
5. AIM Mail Center, Huntington Beach
This location of the AIM Mail Center chain on Atlanta Avenue offers shipping and mailbox services.
Give it the care it deserves
An heirloom carries more than its price, and most of the risk in shipping one can be managed before the box is sealed. Good records and careful layered packing do most of the work. When an item is too valuable or too awkward to box at home, have it packed by people who handle fragile shipments every week. The extra care costs far less than a piece of family history that arrives in shards.