Are you shipping floppy disks to me so that I can transfer them to modern media? Or perhaps you’re just shipping some floppy disks, and arrived at this article? In either case, I can provide some guidance!
When shipping floppy disks, the most important objective is to package them securely to prevent damage during transit. Physical trauma is by far the most significant danger.
If you’re shipping disks to me, please ship to this address:
Follow these steps for safe and efficient shipping.
Shipping One or Two Disks
Place the disks between two flat pieces of cardboard with a rubber band to prevent bending and protect the disks from minor impact. Make a protective floppy disk sandwich!
Place the cardboard-wrapped disks in a padded envelope and mail. Kraft Bubble Mailers are a good choice for shipping small numbers of disks, but make sure the envelope isn’t too roomy, as you don’t want them sliding around inside.
Shipping Multiple Disks
Your goal is to keep the disks physically secure, but cushioned should they be buffeted. Floppy disks are more likely to be damaged by physical trauma than magnetic fields.
Use a cardboard box for better protection.
Bundle the disks in sets of five using rubber bands to keep them secure. This helps to prevent them from rubbing and sliding on each other.
Wrap the bundles in bubble wrap for added protection. Imagine the shipper using your box for an impromptu soccer ball with a coworker, kicking it back and forth. This probably won’t happen, but it’s a helpful visual. Make sure there’s cushioning around the disks.
And finally, fill any empty space in the box with dense foam, crumpled paper, or extra bubble wrap to prevent movement. If you gently shake the box, you shouldn’t hear anything rattling about inside.
For extra protection from magnetic fields, try to keep disks bundled at least two inches away from the edge of the box. Although floppy disks are vulnerable to magnets, those fields decrease at a cubic rate. In other words, even an inch or two of separation creates a considerable amount of protection.
Shipping Services
I’m a huge fan of Pirate Ship. It lets you print shipping labels at often deeply cut rates. The service itself is free. Depending on where you’re located, UPS or USPS might be better. I use both regularly. These floppy disks, used, typically cost about $25-$60 per disk, so make sure to include adequate insurance.
Additional Tips
Label the packages “Fragile,” “Magnetic Media” or “Do Not Bend” to prevent mishandling. I like to put a fragile label on both sides.
Avoid using packing peanuts, as they offer poor protection and stability.
Floppy disks are temperature sensitive. Don’t leave the box in your car for days! Very cold and very hot temperatures can destroy the disks.
If you happen to have a floppy disk case, or if you purchase a floppy disk case on eBay, these make superb boxes. Although I wouldn’t purchase one just to ship it to me, if you happen to have one handy, or if you’ll be wanting long-term safe storage for your floppy disks when I return them, it might be worth it!
Further references: RetroFloppy’s “How do I package my disks?”