Football season is back, and so is the stuff that comes with it. Signed helmets and jerseys going to buyers. A game-worn jersey headed to a nephew in Texas. And right behind it, the fall estate-sale season, which means china, figurines, vinyl records, and vintage glass heading to family across the country.

We pack this kind of thing every week at AIM Mail Center in Broomfield, Colorado. Here’s how we do it, whether you’re coming from Broomfield, Thornton, Westminster, or Northglenn.

Rule one: the item never touches the outside box

Every fragile item gets double-boxed. Wrap it, put it in a snug inner box, then float that box inside a bigger one with 2–3 inches of cushion on every side. If the outer box takes a hit, the inner box shouldn’t feel it.

Signed helmets, footballs, and jerseys

  • Don’t wrap the signature directly. Bubble wrap pressed against an autograph can smear it or leave marks on the clear coat. Put a layer of tissue paper or a plastic bag over the signed area first.
  • Helmets go in a box with foam or crumpled paper filling the inside of the shell so it can’t collapse. Face mask up, padded on all sides.
  • Footballs and baseballs should be in a display cube or a small box, then padded inside a bigger one.
  • Jerseys and framed pieces: flat, in a rigid box, with cardboard on both sides. If it’s framed with glass, tape an X across the glass, wrap the whole frame, and add corner protectors. We stock them.
  • Selling on eBay? We’ll pack it, ship it with your prepaid label, and scan it in so you have proof.

China, glassware, and figurines

  • Wrap every piece individually. Yes, every plate. Packing paper first, then bubble wrap.
  • Plates go on edge, not flat. Stacked flat, the weight cracks the bottom one.
  • Stuff hollow items. Cups, vases, and teapots get paper inside so they can’t crush.
  • Heavy stuff on the bottom, light stuff on top, with a layer of padding between rows.
  • Shake test. Silence means it’s ready.

Vinyl records, cards, and comics

  • Records: pull the disc out of the sleeve, put both in the jacket, and ship in a proper record mailer with cardboard stiffeners. Never ship a record loose in a jacket.
  • Trading cards: toploader or one-touch case, then a bubble mailer inside a rigid box for anything valuable.
  • Comics: bag and board, then between two pieces of cardboard, then a box.

Insure it for what it’s worth

Carriers include only a small amount of coverage by default. A signed Elway helmet is worth a lot more than that. Declare the full value at the counter and bring proof: a receipt, an authentication certificate, a recent sale of the same item. Photograph the item before it’s packed. If a claim ever comes up, that photo and a professional pack job are what get it paid.

Which carrier?

For most collectibles inside the U.S., UPS or FedEx Ground with declared value. USPS Priority Mail is fine for cards and small items. For anything valuable, we recommend signature confirmation so it doesn’t sit on a porch.

We ship with USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL from one counter and will show you all four rates.

Don’t want to deal with any of this?

Bring it in. Hand it to us as-is. We’ll pack it with the right materials, box it right, insure it, and stand behind our packing. Boxes, bubble wrap, foam, corner protectors, and record mailers are all on the shelf in our packing supplies area if you’d rather do it yourself.

Questions we get a lot

  • Can you ship a framed jersey? Yes. Framed pieces get glass taped, corners protected, and a custom-fit box. Bring it in and we’ll measure it.
  • How much does it cost to ship a helmet? It depends on the box size, distance, and how much coverage you add. Bring it in and we’ll quote it while you wait.
  • What about really big or heavy items, like a stadium seat or a jukebox? That’s freight shipping, and we do that too. Ask us for a quote.

Visit Us in Broomfield, Colorado

AIM Mail Center, 2205 W 136th Ave Ste 106, Broomfield, CO 80023, at the corner of 136th Ave and Zuni in Broomfield, right by Legacy High School. Easy from Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Anthem, the Broadlands, and McKay Landing.

Open Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 9am–5pm. (303) 280-6245.