Use a double-walled box, wrap every piece individually, fill every void so nothing can shift, and put nothing on the outside that indicates what is inside. Seal all seams with strong tape, include a note with your name inside the parcel, and post it with the Royal Mail QR label we issue. Each consignment is covered up to £5,000.
The InstaSilver packing standard
Follow these five points and your parcel meets the standard our cover is based on. They exist because Royal Mail can refuse a compensation claim if it decides a parcel was not packed adequately, and on the way to us we never see how it was packed.
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wrap | Wrap every piece individually in bubble wrap or paper | Stops scratching, and stops metal clinking so the parcel is quiet |
| 2. Contain | Put the wrapped items in a plastic bag, taped closed | If the outer box splits, nothing escapes through the gap |
| 3. Box | Place the bag inside a double-walled cardboard box | Single-walled board is what knife points and dense metal work through |
| 4. Fill | Pack every void so nothing moves when you shake it | Movement in transit is what causes damage and burst seams |
| 5. Seal | Tape every seam, including pre-glued ones | Taped seams are what a claims assessor looks for first |
Then photograph it. Take one photo of the open box with everything wrapped and padded, and one of the sealed box. Upload both at instasilver.co.uk/track using your email and surname. It takes a minute and it is the evidence that defeats a packaging-based claim rejection. For parcels above £1,000 these photos are required for full cover.
Why it matters more than it sounds
Silver is dense, hard-edged and unforgiving. A canteen of flatware concentrates two kilos into a small footprint, knife points and fork tines will work through a single-walled box given a few hundred miles of vibration, and hollowware crushes if a heavier parcel is stacked on it. Packing badly risks damage to the pieces, a burst parcel, and a claim you would rather not have to make.
There is a second reason. A parcel that rattles, or that is labelled in a way that advertises its contents, is a parcel that attracts attention in a sorting office. Good packing is quiet packing.
What you need
- A double-walled cardboard box, comfortably larger than the contents. Reuse is fine if it is sound, but remove or cover old labels and barcodes.
- Bubble wrap or foam for individual pieces.
- Newspaper or packing paper for void fill. Scrunched, not flat.
- Strong parcel tape. Not sellotape, not masking tape.
- The original fitted box for a canteen or service, if you still have it and are not keeping it.
Packing, step by step
- Wrap each piece individually. This stops scratching and, more importantly, stops metal clinking against metal, which is the sound that tells anyone handling the parcel what is inside.
- Bundle flatware in small groups once wrapped, six or so at a time, taped into a block. Loose cutlery migrates to the corners of a box and works at the seams.
- Cushion the knives especially well. Points and blade edges are what puncture boxes. Wrap them blade-to-handle in alternating directions so no edge sits against the wall.
- Pack hollowware from the inside out. Stuff teapots, jugs and bowls with scrunched paper before wrapping so the shape is supported and cannot be crushed. Wrap lids separately, and pad spouts and handles, which are the parts that snap.
- Build the box in layers. Padding on the bottom, contents in the centre and never touching a wall, void fill packed firmly around and above, padding on top.
- Shake it. Close the box and give it a firm shake. If you can hear or feel anything move, open it and add more fill. This is the single best test there is.
- Seal every seam with tape, including the ones that came pre-glued. Tape along the centre seam and across both ends.
- Put a note inside with your name, address and email, in case the outer label is damaged or detached.
Keep it discreet
Write nothing on the outside of the box about the contents. No "silver", no company name of your own, no fragile stickers that invite curiosity, no reused box printed with a jeweller's branding. The QR label we issue carries our fulfilment address, which is a commercial unit and does not advertise what is inside.
Heavy and awkward parcels
Weight is the usual problem with silver. A twelve-place canteen with servers, or a five-piece tea service with a large tray, can exceed what is sensible for a single parcel once packaging is added. Splitting across two boxes is often better: each is easier to handle, less likely to burst, and the cover applies per consignment.
| Sending | Suggested approach |
|---|---|
| Jewellery, odd small pieces | Small double-walled box, wrapped and void-filled. A padded envelope is not enough. |
| Part set of flatware | Bundled in groups of six, single box. |
| Six-place canteen | Single box, contents removed from the fitted case and bundled, or the case itself boxed with padding all round. |
| Twelve-place canteen | Consider two parcels. Two labels, requested together. |
| Tea service with tray | Tray flat at the base well padded, hollowware stuffed and wrapped above it, or split into two. |
If you need more than one label, say so on the form or email us and we will issue them together so both parcels are tracked against your submission.
Posting it
Take the parcel to any Post Office and show the QR code from your phone. The counter scans it and prints the label, which selects the correct tracked and signed-for service automatically. There is nothing to pay and nothing to print at home.
Keep the receipt: it carries your tracking reference and is your proof of posting. Your rate is locked for 48 hours from acceptance, so post within that window. Once it is scanned you can follow it at track your submission, and payment follows within 48 hours of the parcel reaching us.
Frequently asked questions
How should I package silver for posting?
Wrap each piece individually, bundle flatware in small taped groups, stuff hollowware with paper before wrapping, and pack into a double-walled box with padding on all sides. Fill every void, then shake the box: if anything moves, add more fill.
Is my parcel insured?
Each consignment is covered up to £5,000, and the label is tracked and signed for from the first scan. Keep your posting receipt as proof of postage.
Should I write 'silver' on the parcel?
No. Put nothing on the outside indicating the contents, and avoid reusing boxes printed with jeweller's branding. Discretion is part of packing it properly.
Do I need to print the label?
No. We issue a Royal Mail QR code that the Post Office counter scans from your phone and prints for you. Nothing to print, nothing to pay.
Can I send more than one parcel?
Yes, and for very heavy lots it is often better. Tell us on the form or by email and we will issue labels for both so each is tracked against your submission.
Should I send the canteen box?
Only if you do not want it. The box has no metal value so it is not paid for, and it adds bulk and weight. If you might sell the set as an antique later, the original case is part of what makes that worthwhile.
What if my parcel is damaged in transit?
Contact us with your tracking number. Cover applies up to £5,000 per consignment, and adequate packaging is a condition of that, which is the practical reason for the double-walled box and the shake test.