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, then 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 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
Use a cardboard box for better protection.
Bundle the disks in sets of five using rubber bands to keep them secure.
Wrap the bundles in bubble wrap for added protection. Fill any empty space in the box with dense foam, crumpled paper, or extra bubble wrap to prevent movement.
Your goal is to keep the disks physically secure, but cushioned should they be buffeted.
For extra protection, try to keep disks bundled at least two inches away from the edge of the box. Although floppy disks are vulnerable to magnetic fields, those fields decrease at a cubic rate. In other words, even an inch or two of separation creates a considerable amount of protection.
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 security.
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?”