EditGeneral packing tips
EditUse a box, not an envelope.
We have found through long experience that the single best thing you can do to protect your originals (beside choosing a trustworthy scanning service, like Arcalife) is to ship them in a sturdy box. By "sturdy", we mean the kind of box that books are usually shipped in, as from Amazon.com, or that you might buy at a UPS Store. Occasionally, customers have sent us their originals in department-store garment boxes. Those should be avoided, as should padded envelopes, which are just as flimsy.
EditYou don't have to make a precise count of your originals.
We do ask you to estimate the size of your order, when you place it, but that is mainly to help us manage our work queue efficiently. Every single order at Arcalife is opened, under video surveillance, and counted (and weighed) precisely. That said, we realize that some customers will want to make a precise count, and that's fine, too, if you have the time and the inclination.
EditMake sure your box is filled, even if you need to pad it.
If you don't have bubble wrap or foam "peanuts" handy, some old newspapers are better than nothing. The main idea is that you don't want your originals to slide around in your box.
EditGroup paper photos and use as needed, a piece of cardboard.
Each group should go into a resealable plastic bag (some freezer bags even allow writing on them, which is handy for labeling). If you're sending 8" x 10" photos, it's probably a good idea to wrap them or back them with something stiff, like a piece of extra cardboard, to prevent bending that might occur en route.
