How to pack CPUs and RAM safely for shipping

Most damage we see at the testing bench is preventable: bent CPU pins, snapped RAM clips, scratched contacts. The cause is almost always packaging that didn't anticipate Royal Mail's automated sortation. This guide is what we'd ask of every seller — follow it and your parcel will arrive ready to test.

What you'll need

• Anti-static bag (or a clean ziplock if you don't have one — better than bare contact)
• Bubble wrap or foam (at least 2cm thick on every side)
• A sturdy box, sized within our small-parcel limit (max 45 × 35 × 16 cm) — corrugated cardboard, not a padded mailer for CPUs
• Strong parcel tape

Packing CPUs

1. Place each CPU in its original tray if you still have it. The tray is engineered to protect pins and is by far the safest option.
2. If no tray, lay the CPU on a flat foam surface, pins-down, and wrap pins-down. Never tape directly to the chip — the residue ruins resale and tape can pull pins.
3. Slide the wrapped CPU into an anti-static bag (or ziplock as a last resort).
4. Surround with at least 2cm of bubble wrap on every side.
5. Place in the centre of a sturdy box (max 45 × 35 × 16 cm to fit our small-parcel limit), with bubble wrap or scrunched paper filling any voids.

Packing RAM

1. Lay sticks flat in an anti-static bag — never bend them to fit a smaller envelope.
2. If you have multiple sticks, stack them flat with a slip of foam between each, then place in the bag.
3. Wrap the bagged sticks in a single layer of bubble wrap.
4. Box with at least 2cm of padding around the bundle.

Sealing and labelling

• Use proper parcel tape — Sellotape isn't strong enough for transit.
• Print and attach our prepaid shipping label clearly on the largest face of the box.
• Drop a slip inside with your order reference (you can find it on your dashboard).
• Take to a Post Office and ask for a free proof-of-postage receipt.