Shipping my M3 internationally -- hints, anyone?

[Justin Viiret]

Hi there,

I'm a bit of a lurker, I'm sorry, but I'm trying to participate more nowadays. 🙂 Hello, everyone.

I'm after some advice; my M3 is behaving erratically at the moment. Sometimes the shutter doesn't fire, while at other times it will, but it stutters a bit and fires half a second or so after I press the release. And then (like all mechanical problems like this!) the problem disappears and the camera works fine for a roll or two.

It's driving me up the wall. 🙂 Two camera techs, both good friends and both with considerable Leica expertise, have looked at it and were unable to fix the fault completely (though it disappeared for a while). So, now it's going to DAG to see if he can work his magic and convince the camera that it's Ok to fire reliably every time.

My question: how do you all pack cameras for sending overseas? This M's travelling from Sydney, Australia to Oregon, WI in the States, and I'm a little worried about sending it. I'm sending it by insured courier, and so far I'm planning to wrap it in a hell of a lot of bubble wrap, box it, then wrap and box it again. Any pointers from those with well-travelled cameras?

 

[Film dino]

My usual method -
Camera body (capped) wrapped & taped in a double layer of bubble wrap, sitting in a bed of polystyrene chips, in a goodly sized robust carton such that the camera is protected from transmitted shock from any angle. I've sent a couple of SLRs from KL to the States this way, without incident

Insured shipping, plus a customs declaration that it's a used camera body, defective, for repair & return.

Here's to getting your M3 back up to spec..

David

 

[Avotius]

bubble wrap and styro peanuts, works great, make sure the box is large enough to give enough space in case it gets crushed a bit

 

[triplefinger]

consider double boxing as well as the other's suggestions. also, pay extra for a reputable shipper with insurance. good luck!

 

[JoeFriday]

Justin, I think the best method is to send the camera to me.. I live only 2 hours away from DAG.. or better yet, send both your M3 and your DR Summicron.. that way I can use the lens while your camera gets worked on 😉

but seriously, the double-box method is fine.. you don't need to worry so much about how it's packaged to get to Don.. after all, he'll fix whatever happens to it enroute, right? 😀

 

[Justin Viiret]

Thanks, guys. 🙂 Much appreciated, makes me a little less apprehensive about the whole process. I'll be shipping it off this afternoon, hopefully!

Keeping the DR so I can look wistfully through it on days with good light, Brett, otherwise I'd take you up on your offer. 😉

 

[Justin Viiret]

Well, it went off this morning (with Australia Post's ECI service) and should arrive in Oregon next Thursday. Double boxed and massively bubblewrapped, and I think things should be fine. 🙂

Hopefully Don will be able to do something to help it once it arrives!