Have you ever ordered something online, and when you received it, you couldn't believe the lack of care that went into the package? Yup, I've seen it more times than I can remember, but how about the opposite end of the spectrum?
A few years back, I wanted to switch from sending my games in poly bags to bubble mailers. So, I bought a case of EcoLite bubble mailers. I shipped a bunch of my recent orders with these mailers, and then I got a few complaints about the quality of the mailer and the overall care of shipping. At first, I was upset and was like, "WTF," these are brand new mailers; I didn’t understand.
So I analyzed the Ecolite mailers, and then bought another box of Bubble Lite mailers, and compared their quality. The difference was notable; the Bubble Lite mailers certainly had a thicker layer of protection. I switched again. I cut up the old Ecolite mailers and started the double packaging standard below. Here's exactly what we use and how we do it.
The Table of Contents
Shipping and Packaging Video Games to Buyers
Here are the packaging materials we use at The Old School Game Vault.
Bubble Mailers We Use:
- Bubble-Lite Mailer [#0 6.5 x 10 inches]
- Bubble-Lite Mailer [#1 7.5 x 12 inches]
- Poly Bag Mailer [#0 6.5 x 10]
Make sure to buy Bubble-Lite, as the other mailers that don’t say "Lite" on them offer zero protection.
Pro Tip: The USPS offers free shipping and packaging supplies at most post offices. What we do is order a box of 100 Priority Mail Flat Rate® Padded Envelopes from usps.com. You can get these mailed to you for free in packs of 10.
At The Old School Game Vault, our Double Packaging Standard works like this: We put a game disc or cartridge in a poly bag mailer or a padded priority mail envelope. We put that inside a standard bubble mailer.
Standard Package of Game Discs
- A standard bubble mailer will work; we recommend the Bubble-Lite [#0 6.5 x 10 inch] mailer, which is a good, solid mailer.
- Anyhow, before packaging any disc games, cut one mailer into 6 sections. So you're going to have 6 small squares. Place one of these squares inside the game case between the game disc and the manual. This will ensure the game disc doesn't come loose during shipping.
Packaging Expensive Disc Games
- For more expensive games, we will use the same method as above, but we will double-pad our envelope. For this, we will use a Bubble-Lite [#1 7.5 x 12-inch] mailer.
- Then, we will wrap the game in a Priority Mail Flat Rate Bubble Mailer and stick this inside the larger mailer. This is our double-packaging standard with padded envelopes.
Packaging Game Cartridges
- For standard game cartridges like the Nintendo NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and N64, we use a 6.5 x 10-inch Bubble-Lite mailer. First, we put the game in a 6.5 x 10-inch poly bag mailer. Then, we place the poly bag mailer with the game inside the Bubble-Lite mailer. This shows our double packaging standard.
Packaging Video Games Manuals
We save our old video game cases and use them for shipping. This is a great use for game cases that are covered with stickers or have some sort of cosmetic flaws. But the cases are intact and offer excellent protection.
For bigger manuals or inserts, cover the top and bottom with cardboard. Then, use our "double packaging standard."
Packaging Complete-in-Box (CIB) games for shipping
Complete in-box cartridge games and larger boxed games need extra protection. Loose cartridges or disc games don’t need as much care. Here’s how we ensure the safe shipment of CIB games:
Items Needed:
- 8x6x4 Corrugated Box (for boxed cartridge games)
- 12x10x4 corrugated box (for larger games like the Sega Saturn or long-case PS1)
- Packaging Paper or Peanuts
- Strong Packaging Tape
- Razor blade or box cutter
- Bubble Wrap (½ inch thickness recommended)
For Standard Boxed Cartridge Games (NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis CIB)
- I find it's best to use an 8x6x4 corrugated box and about 4 feet of ½-inch bubble wrap. Trim the bubble wrap a bit to fit in the box. If you place the 4 feet of wrap inside, you'll make a secure nest for the game.
For Larger Boxed Games (Sega Saturn, Long Case PS1):
- I'd use a 12x10x4 corrugated box and fit in as much bubble wrap as you can. Place a cushion between the disc and manual in the case. This will stop the disc from moving around.
- Wrap the game case in 3 feet of bubble wrap. Next, place 2 feet of bubble wrap on the bottom. Put the wrapped game on top, then cover it with 1 to 2 more feet of bubble wrap.
For Super Rare or High-Value CIB Games:
- Here we use another Double Packaging Standard. I’ll usually trim the 8X6X4 corrugated box to 8X6X3. I place the CIB game in this 8X6X3 box and add the necessary bubble wrap as described above.
- Then, place this box inside a 12x10x4 box. You can certainly do this with large games or if you have several complete in-the-box games to sell. You can fit a 12x10x4 box inside a 16x12x6, which is the standard size box we use for video game systems.
- Then fill in the spaces with some paper or packaging peanuts. This way, you have double-boxed your game, and there is a zero chance of damage in transit.
Which Shipping Services Are Best for Video Games?
Can you ship video games using Media Mail?
No, you cannot use USPS Media Mail to ship video games. This is a common question we get. Media Mail is only for educational materials like books, manuscripts, and educational films. People consider video games merchandise, not educational media.
If you try to ship games via Media Mail, the post office can reject or delay them.
Best Shipping Options for Video Games
- USPS Ground Advantage now replaces First-Class Mail. Ground Advantage is the best choice for heavier packages. It now takes the place of Parcel Post.
- USPS Priority Mail - Fastest option, for which you can usually get free supplies, as I outlined above
Final Thoughts
How many times have you gotten a package and you're like, "Whoa!"? They really put some love into the packaging. That's our philosophy at the Old School Game Vault. I would rather overpackage your item than underpackage it.
When customers receive a well-packaged order from us, they’re far more likely to come back for future purchases.
Quick Video: Covering all the Points Above
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