Shipping structured hats (fedora)

[gino22]

I usually avoid hats in general, but I just found a nice vintage fedora I'll be able to get good money for. No idea how to ship it it even keep it safe in the interim... one wrong move could cause a nasty dent. How would you ship an old, nicely structured felt fedora?

 

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[Beans]

Box inside another box. Good solid outside box that has some strength. I some times go the extra mile on packing some items to prevent shipping damage.

 

[gino22]

That's what I was thinking too. Surprisingly hard to find a sturdy box that isn't excessively large, though. Even harder to spend less than $10 on one. Might be time to check some dumpsters...

 

[JustinNH]

Really that much? Are you looking at boxes designed for hats or generic cardboard ones?
I would think you could get a stack of cardboard ones for $20 or so shipped. I get 7x7x7 ones for pretty cheap to sen dout more expensive or collectible hats. Too small for fedoras though. The few I have sold just went in re-used boxes I saved.

I just wrap it in tissue paper and put it in the box. Fill any free space with paper or air pockets.

Just this year I have sold 97 hats. Only maybe 20 went out in boxes and I think only one was a structured one like a fedora, so I don't have a lot of experience with them.

 

[releventchair]

Automotive parts sometimes come in heavy boxes.
A light weight box could be used as a pattern if you are handy with a razor knife.
A heavy produce box could work for material.

 

[huntsman53]

As stated, double boxing would be the best! Since I ship most items I sell via Priority Mail, I just pick up the free boxes at the Post Office and when I need something much bigger, I build one out of 2 or 3 Priority Mail boxes or purchase shipping or storage boxes at Walmart. Also, filling and covering the hat with tissue paper will help protect it and help hold it's structure. However, you might want to make a ring out of cardboard to go around the crown and pinch that will rest against the top of the brim but also extends slightly above the crown to protect this extremely important part of the hat before placing it into the internal (1st) box.


Frank

 

[deserdog]

Same thing that I do when I ship mugs for the crown of the hat. A ring of cardboard inside the interior box.