PREPARING CANS FOR TRADE
The most obvious way in getting cans together to trade is to just open them and drink them. Some
collectors prefer their cans bottom opened. I don't mind if cans are top opened. It would also be
nice if the cans are cleaned and washed.
HOW TO PACK EMPTY CANS
Empty cans are strong vertically, but they are very fragile on the sides. The important thing
is to pack cans STANDING in the box, and not lying down. As most weight is from other packages on
top while it is being shipped, there will be a better chance that the cans will be undamaged if
they are packed standing.
The sides of the boxes may be reinforced with other cardboard to provide side protection. I always
put protection around the cans in the form of crushed newspaper or styrofoam pieces. Although,
beware that some harder types of styrofoam pieces will actually damage cans if some pressure is
applied. I find that crushed newspaper strips are best.
Cans should be put in the box this way:
O O O O O O O
O O O O O O
O O O O O O O
O O O O O O
Instead of this way:
O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O
You will save some space and the cans will absorb the shocks better (I think!). Before you seal the
box, test it by shaking the box, or pressing your hands on the side of the box while observing
if any cans move around or get crushed. You should not hear the cans banging together, otherwise,
add more protection.
HOW TO MAIL THE BOX
There are two types of mail: Airmail and Seamail. Sometimes, there is also Economy Air (or SAL)
available, which is airmail to the country of destination, then surface to the town. I have no
particular preference, as I leave it to the initiator of the trade to pick the type of mail, and I
will send it the way that they choose. Airmail is faster but more expensive. If only small amounts
are involved, this should be okay. Seamail is slower but cheaper. Most collectors use this, especially
if a lot of cans are involved.
The trick to keeping costs down is to make sure you have the box under a certain weight. I suggest
you check with your post office. Package weights here in Australia are classified into 250g, 500g,
750g, 1Kg and so on. It is a good idea to weigh your package before bringing it to the post office.
Sometimes, you'll find that the weight will be something like just 5 grams over the limit, and it
might be half as expensive if you had kept it under the limit.
Finally, always write "0" when asked the value of the contents of the box. If you write more than a
certain amount, the person who gets the box will have to pay customs fees! And that can ruin a trade.
You also don't want to attract attention to your package by giving it a high value.
Happy Collecting!
(Acknowledgement: Parts of this text have been extracted from Benoit Clairoux's web page.)
(For the benefit of others, other collectors may use this text on their web pages. Please let me know first.)
(
geocities.com/heartland)