Electronics are the worst combination of shipping risks: expensive, fragile, sensitive to static and moisture, and - because of lithium batteries - regulated as dangerous goods. The good news is that the failure modes are well understood, and a laptop packed properly survives the network routinely. ## Before you pack **Back up and wipe if you are selling.** Sign out of accounts, disable device-locking features and perform a factory reset. A locked device is worthless to the buyer and generates a dispute even when the hardware arrives perfectly. **Photograph everything.** Serial number, screen powered on, all four sides, and the packed box before sealing. This is the evidence that decides a damage or not-as-described claim. Timestamped photos beat descriptions every time. **Charge the battery to roughly 30 percent.** Air transport rules for lithium batteries shipped alone require a low state of charge, and a partially charged battery is safer and less stressed in temperature swings even when installed in the device. **Remove accessories and pack them separately** inside the box. A loose charger rattling against a screen during a drop is a common and entirely avoidable cause of damage. ## The lithium battery rules, in plain terms This is where most people unknowingly break the rules. **Battery installed in the device** - the ordinary case for a laptop or phone. This is broadly acceptable on standard services, with conditions: the device must be protected against accidental activation, packed to prevent short circuits, and cushioned. Most carriers require the device to be switched fully off, not asleep. **Battery packed loose or as a spare** - much more restricted. Loose lithium-ion cells and power banks are frequently prohibited on passenger air services, and where accepted they require specific packaging, state-of-charge limits, and hazard labelling. Many consumer services simply will not take them. **Damaged, swollen or recalled batteries** - prohibited outright by every major carrier. A swollen battery cannot be shipped, sold or posted. Recycle it locally. Always check the specific carrier's dangerous-goods page for the current requirements before shipping, and declare accurately. Undeclared batteries are the reason parcels are pulled and destroyed, and misdeclaration voids any insurance you bought. ## The packing method **1. Anti-static first.** Put bare components - drives, cards, motherboards - in anti-static bags. For an assembled laptop in its own case the risk is lower, but a static bag costs almost nothing. **2. Wrap the device.** Two to three layers of bubble wrap, bubbles facing inward, taped closed so it cannot unwrap. Pay attention to corners; almost all impact energy in a drop concentrates there. **3. Screen protection.** For laptops, place a thin rigid sheet - foam board or corrugated card - between the screen and keyboard before closing. This prevents keyboard-to-screen pressure marks, one of the most common in-transit complaints. **4. Double box.** This is the step people skip and the one that matters most. Put the wrapped device in an inner box with snug cushioning, then place that inner box inside a larger outer box with at least two inches of cushioning on all six sides. The inner box should not touch the outer walls anywhere. **5. Fill the voids.** Foam-in-place, air pillows or dense paper. If you can hear or feel movement when you shake it, add more. Loose fill peanuts settle in transit and are the least reliable choice for heavy items. **6. Seal with the H-taping method.** Tape the centre seam and both edge seams on the top and bottom with quality packing tape. Never use masking tape, duct tape or string. **7. Remove old labels.** Conflicting barcodes on a reused box cause misroutes. ## Choosing a service **Insure to full replacement value.** Carrier default liability is a small fixed amount, typically a hundred dollars or the local equivalent. A laptop needs declared value coverage well above that. Read the exclusions - some carriers limit or exclude liability for certain electronics unless packed to their published specification, and some third-party insurers offer better terms than the carrier. **Require a signature.** For anything above a few hundred dollars, signature confirmation is the difference between "delivered" and provable delivery. It is the cheapest dispute insurance available. **Prefer fewer touches.** Express air services have fewer sort handoffs than economy ground. For very high-value items the premium buys reduced handling as well as speed. **Avoid weekend dwell.** Shipping Thursday on a multi-day ground service parks your parcel in a facility over the weekend, adding temperature exposure and handling. ## International shipping of electronics Additional considerations apply: - **Customs declarations must be accurate.** Describe the item precisely and declare the real value. Undervaluing to reduce duty voids your insurance and can lead to seizure. - **Battery documentation.** International air movement of devices with batteries may require specific markings and a shipper's declaration depending on the configuration. - **Import restrictions.** Some countries restrict used electronics imports or require certification for radio-transmitting devices. - **Duty and tax** are usually payable by the recipient unless you ship delivered-duty-paid. Tell the recipient in advance; unexpected charges are the leading cause of refused international parcels. ## If it arrives damaged 1. Tell the recipient not to discard the packaging. Carriers inspect packing before approving claims. 2. Photograph the outer box, the inner box, the cushioning and the damage. 3. File within the carrier's window - typically a short number of days from delivery. 4. Supply the purchase invoice or a comparable market valuation. 5. If the carrier rejects the claim on packing grounds, your double-boxing photographs are the counter-argument. ## Bottom line Ship electronics powered off, at a low state of charge, static-bagged, corner-protected, double-boxed with two inches of cushioning on every side, insured to real value and with signature required. Declare batteries honestly and never ship a swollen one. The packing takes fifteen minutes; the alternative is a rejected claim on an expensive device.