Shipping an all metal vintage sewing machine is not to be taken without precautions. Damage during shipping is an all too common problem in machines delivered to us. Improper packing and packaging materials used is always the cause. I’m sure that there are many factors at work here. Maybe the person packing the machine doesn’t realize the packing isn’t sufficient for a 35 of 40 pound hunk of cast iron with things like bobbin winders, take up levers, tension knobs, spool pins, etc sticking out of it. Perhaps the cost of packing these things is high and corners are cut to save material or boost profit. Maybe the order is rushed and secure packing takes more time. Maybe folks think bubble wrap forms a force field that will repel any and all attempts to damage that which is wrapped inside it. Maybe it is a combination of these or other things I can’t even conceive of. One thing I do know is that sewing machines need special care in packing to survive the shipping. The percentage of machines shipped to us is high.
A lot of our inventory is bought online. The advantage is that we find a large variety of brands, styles, models, and features that we can service or recondition and then offer folks looking for their preferred choice of a high quality vintage sewing machine. If you are one of those folks, chances are, you will purchase your machine online as well. Unless you are fortunate enough to find one locally, you will hopefully pay a fair price for a good vintage machine that has been serviced or reconditioned and pay for shipping to your home.
2 or 3 days later a box will be delivered to your door. You will be excited to unpack, set up, and sew with your “new” high quality all metal vintage sewing machine! But wait… maybe you hear something rattling around in the box and don’t think anything of it because your machine is wrapped in bubble wrap. Then, you carefully remove all of the bubble wrap and find this…
Broken in half… 
It came in this box…
Box was labeled “Fragile”… How did this happen? 
It did have 3 wraps of bubble wrap…
Or this…
It came in a box wrapped like this…
Or this…
Bentwood, I mean Bustedwood Case 
There she lay in the box… and the box was big enough!
Or this…
Boy, it was wrapped in a bunch of shrink wrap. and put in a big box! FYI…Broken Bobbin Winder on 15-91 means a replacement motor…
There are plenty more. The common denominator for all is bubble wrap and a loose fitting box. How does this happen? I don’t think its done on purpose. Well, here’s what I think. Bubble wrap alone gives a false sense of security. It is a great protective layer for packing most things, but bubble wrap alone versus the force generated by a cast iron sewing machine in a loose box falling from a truck is a no contest. The bubble wrap loses every time, The answer lies in the laws of physics… A Singer 15-90 weighs 35 pounds. A good ‘ole sledge hammer weighs 8 pounds. If you drop a box with a 35 pound sewing machine (or 5 sledge hammers) wrapped in a few layers of bubble wrap in a loose fitting box, the force of impact from even 2 or 3 feet will be considerable (pile driver comes to mind). The bubble wrap will pop at the point of impact and something is going to break. Bottom line is that many people think a few layers of bubble wrap and a box is plenty of protection… the real bottom line is that it is not. I only show a few examples. Oh, forget buying a vintage sewing machine in a nice case packed this way…. we stay away from them because 8 out of 10 times, the case is damaged, but the bubble wrap looks great!
In my opinion (taking no offense to others who disagree), the only way to ship a vintage sewing machine is to fill all the gaps between the machines body and any protruding knobs, levers, etc., remove the spool pins, wrap the sewing machine in 2 directions with cling wrap, wrap with 6 or 7 layers of bubble wrap, wrap with cling wrap again, and put the package in a tight fitting box and wedging more bubble wrap in the box to make it tight. Then, put that box in an another oversized box lined with bubble wrap, and wedge it tight with more bubble wrap (or other packing material) to prevent the first box from shifting. Then seal the box with multiple layers of packing tape. It would look like this…
This is a machine with case. Case is wrapped like the machine! 
Wrapped tightly 
Ready for 1st box
Or this…
Double box 
Wrap 
First Box
Box
Each machine is a little different, but the steps are the same, and it works… I have never had a machine damaged in shipping. Now, here’s the thing …
To wrap and ship a sewing machine like this is expensive and takes considerable time. On average, the cost is $20 -$25 bucks and it can take upwards of 2 hours to pack. This should not concern you. Why? The cost should be included in the purchase price (not in inflated shipping charges). There is no way to determine the actual shipping charge until the machine is packed and weighed. If it is included in the shipping price at checkout, chances are you are paying too much. Maybe this is the reason one sewing machine is priced higher than the same machine on an online site like Ebay, Etsy, Shopify, or wherever. Perhaps the difference is the cost of packing.
If you are like me, you believe paying good money for something, then paying for shipping, you have every right to get it undamaged. Remember, shipping sewing machines is not like shipping coffee cups. The moral of this story is that when purchasing a vintage sewing machine, the best price doesn’t necessarily mean the best value. You are paying for it one way or another. Consider how it will be packed.
Be informed, ask how your machine is going to be packed. Is it double boxed, is it tight fitting in the box? Is it packed securely enough to survive several shipping hubs and rough handling on its trip across the country? You have a right to know.
Don’t get a false sense of security in a response that says don’t worry, the merchandise is insured for shipping. Be aware, the shipping insurance goes to the seller, and it depends on proper packing (definition is fuzzy) in the first place (we didn’t break it, you didn’t pack it properly). While you may get a refund, you will have to return the machine by the same shipping courier, repack it, and deliver it for shipping back to its origin. You’ll have a return shipping label (hopefully) but it is a big hassle. I have had to do it and believe me, there are better ways to spend your time.
Either it is packed securely or it is not. If it is, you will get your merchandise undamaged (even if the box is), if it isn’t it may still arrive safely, but maybe it won’t. I have no doubt that most vendors selling and shipping vintage sewing machines online takes care in packing. They can’t afford the costs of returns, refunds, and reputation. With a private seller, all bets are off.
Others may do it differently, and that’s okay if it arrives safely. Our experiences are a compilation of many packages delivered to us, you will probably only buy one. My way is my way. I’m comfortable with the results, and we realize that we are competing at a higher price than others selling for less. So be it.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a few examples of my experiences and give you an example of how to pack 5 sledge hammers… I mean a heavy cast iron vintage sewing machine. It is rare for us to get a sewing machine delivery that is packed this well, and not every machine we get is damaged, but the chance has proven itself to be slim… So, I rant and rave.
What do you think?
Professionally Restored Vintage Fine Quality Sewing Machines 