How to Ship a Phone: A Few Helpful Tips
So you need to send your phone in for repair. Or you want to sell your old phone to offset the cost of a new one. Or you want to give a phone to a loved one who lives far away. In all of these cases, you should know how to properly pack and ship your phone so that it gets to its destination in one peace.
Back Up Your Data and Delete Your Personal Info From the Phone
If your phone contains valuable data that you may need (contacts, passwords, photos, videos, etc.), back it up to the cloud or an external hard drive. Then perform a factory reset so that no one can access your sensitive personal information. Even if ship your phone to someone you trust, there’s always a chance it could fall into the wrong hands, and you don’t want to take that chance.
Choose the Right Carrier and Shipping Service
You can ship your phone using either the United States Postal Service or a private carrier such as UPS or FedEx. Both options are reliable and acceptable, so the choice is mostly a matter of personal preference. However, you should check the carrier’s policy on shipping used cell phones. For example, the USPS does not allow customers to ship used, defective, or damaged cell phones (or other devices containing lithium batteries) by air, which means that you have to go with Ground Advantage. The good news is that ground service is less expensive; the bad news is that it is slower than air delivery.
Choose an Appropriate Box (Or Two)
It is generally recommended that the phone be packed in a small box, which is then placed inside the shipping box. The original box that came with your phone should work, as long as it is in good condition. If you don’t have it, use a sturdy cardboard box that will fit your phone and all of its accessories (chargers, cables, etc.), with some space left for cushioning material. The shipping box should be slightly larger than the box that contains the phone.
Pack the Phone
Turn the phone off and place a piece of tape over the power switch to prevent it from turning on accidentally during transit. Then wrap the phone in at least two layers of bubble wrap and place accessories in separate plastic bags. Do not remove the battery from the phone! As long as it remains inside the phone, it will stay grounded. It is also recommended to keep the battery at a low charge, no more than 30%. If you’re concerned about electrostatic discharge, you can place the phone in an anti-static bag before wrapping it in bubble wrap.
Place a layer of bubble wrap or other packing material on the bottom of the box, arrange the phone and accessories inside, and fill the remaining space with packing material. Then line the bottom of the shipping box with packing material, place the smaller box inside, and fill the remaining space with packing material. Close and seal the box with packing tape to ensure that it remains closed and to protect the contents from moisture.
Finally, place a “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” label on the box to ensure that your package is handled properly. If you’re shipping just one phone, you don’t need to indicate that the package contains a lithium battery; however, packages containing two or more batteries must have a UN3481 warning label, which you can obtain from the carrier.
Consider Purchasing Additional Insurance
Most carriers include limited coverage of up to $100 in the shipping cost, but a cell phone, even a used one, is worth more than that, so you may want to purchase additional insurance from the carrier or a third party to protect the package against loss, theft, or damage. You may also want to pay for additional services such as Signature Confirmation.
Take Extra Steps When Shipping a Phone Internationally
Lithium batteries are classified as dangerous goods by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), but they can usually be shipped by air as long as a) they are installed in the phone and are not defective, and b) you take all necessary precautions and follow all rules and regulations. Don’t forget to check the import regulations of the destination country and make sure that your package has a proper customs declaration.