Moving your collection tips

schweaty · 07/23/2015, 10:50 AM

This will be my first big move with my collection. If anyone has any good info to pass along, please let me know. I should add that everything will be packed and shipped by a moving company.

I'm most concerned about my boxed stuff. I'm not a cardboard whore, but at the same time, I have a couple really nice boxes I don't want pummeled to death by some ham-handed movers. If I do the damage, that's one thing, I can live with that. I want to set the moving company up for success and minimize my frustration.

bob · 07/23/2015, 10:55 AM

Oh man. I would really consider packing the good stuff yourself. And if possible, dont have movers take it. You keep it in your possesion the whole way. I know that might be impossible, but try and find a way if you can. At the very least, pack it yourself. Movers dont give a shit. Its all about being quick to them.

Just saw in another thread...you might want to insure it.

DragonmasterDan · 07/23/2015, 10:56 AM

Quote from: schweaty on 07/23/2015, 10:50 AMThis will be my first big move with my collection. If anyone has any good info to pass along, please let me know. I should add that everything will be packed and shipped by a moving company.

I'm most concerned about my boxed stuff. I'm not a cardboard whore, but at the same time, I have a couple really nice boxes I don't want pummeled to death by some ham-handed movers. If I do the damage, that's one thing, I can live with that. I want to set the moving company up for success and minimize my frustration.

I don't know how much stuff you have.

I moved about a year ago, but moved most of my personal possessions myself. Here are some recommendations.

Here's the key thing. for your important possessions pack them yourself.
Inventory what you're putting in a box. Then put a sheet at the top of the box listing the contents, this makes it much easier to know what's in a particular box than having to dig through the contents. So if you put 30 games in a box, list all 30 and put that on top of the box, it will make it much easier to unpack and set up.

schweaty · 07/23/2015, 11:40 AM

Quote from: DragonmasterDan on 07/23/2015, 10:56 AMI don't know how much stuff you have.

I moved about a year ago, but moved most of my personal possessions myself. Here are some recommendations.

Here's the key thing. for your important possessions pack them yourself.
Inventory what you're putting in a box. Then put a sheet at the top of the box listing the contents, this makes it much easier to know what's in a particular box than having to dig through the contents. So if you put 30 games in a box, list all 30 and put that on top of the box, it will make it much easier to unpack and set up.

just to make matters worse, i'm actually moving from overseas back to the states. i can't hand carry much of anything. i'm considering packing all the good stuff into a hard-sided footlocker and shipping it separately. at the very least i will probably pack all the boxed stuff myself into other boxes and try to convince the movers to pack the boxes.

CrackTiger · 07/23/2015, 11:50 AM

I pack everything myself and rent a truck. I don't trust strangers with my non-valuables. I recently moved and just bought a bunch of clear plastic bins for games. Some of the lower priority and sturdier stuff went into cardboard boxes. I didn't give games with collectible value any special treatment, I just packed everything the same and kept libraries together as much as I could. I honestly can't tell you where Magical Chase is, but it should be in one of several stacks of loose HuCards hidden throughout my game room. It's still around after 5 moves in 20 years.

roflmao · 07/23/2015, 08:00 PM

Last time I moved, I packed all my gaming stuff into big, plastic tubs with the tops that snap on. They're a lot more expensive than cardboard boxes, but much stronger, stackable, more resistant to the elements, and you can kind of see what's inside. If I were you, I'd pack all gaming stuff myself.

I purchased CLZ Game Collector so I could inventory my game collection and print out a list of what went into each container. I kept a master list with me and kept a copy of the contents inside of each container. http://www.collectorz.com/game/

cr8zykuban0 · 07/24/2015, 12:11 PM

''Inventory what you're putting in a box. Then put a sheet at the top of the box listing the contents, this makes it much easier to know what's in a particular box than having to dig through the contents.''

couldn't have said it better myself. this is what i did when i loved from my moms house to the house i purchased over 4 years ago. just properly package your games, bubble wrap any fragile items you have, and you will be good to go

esteban · 07/24/2015, 12:55 PM

Quote from: guest on 07/24/2015, 12:48 PM
Quote from: cr8zykuban0 on 07/24/2015, 12:11 PMthis is what i did when i loved from my moms house
i loved from your mom's house, too.

i loved long time!

I'm still loved his mom

ClodBusted · 07/25/2015, 07:18 AM

Only lovers left alive.

schweaty · 07/25/2015, 08:38 AM

thanks for the tips, guys. i think i will end up packing it all myself in plastic tubs and praying...

esteban · 07/25/2015, 11:37 AM

Quote from: schweaty on 07/25/2015, 08:38 AMthanks for the tips, guys. i think i will end up packing it all myself in plastic tubs and praying...

The tops of the plastic bins can easily pop-off (even the ones that "click" to latch), so I would use two quick passes of packing tape around the "circumference" of each bin (length-wise and width-wise) to ensure everything stays intact. BEFORE SEALING LID, be sure to FILL IN ANY GAPS with bubble wrap or the equivalent. Basically, you want to prevent any SHIFTING/SETTLING of items in the bin (shifting can lead to damage...imagine an item shifting and a third item WEDGING into the newly-formed gap...this pressure can crush/crack).

I moved several times, including 3 times across the country, and I learned quickly that filling in gaps/securing lids with tape were easy fixes

GOOOD LUCK

I imagine your stuff will be shipped via freight (boat)? Are you leaving Germany for U.S.?

YES I AM NOSY

PRO TIP: If you are worried about high humidity, I'd throw some dessicants into each bin (those little packets).

Mathius · 07/25/2015, 11:29 PM

I actually shrink wrapped my Tower of Turbo with the games still inside for my move. It was crazy but it worked beautifully.

schweaty · 07/26/2015, 07:57 AM

Quote from: esteban on 07/25/2015, 11:37 AMI imagine your stuff will be shipped via freight (boat)? Are you leaving Germany for U.S.?

PRO TIP: If you are worried about high humidity, I'd throw some dessicants into each bin (those little packets).

Yes, my time in Germany is at an end. Back to the big PX. and, Yes, I am very concerned about heat and humidity. The desiccants are a good call.

xcrement5x · 07/27/2015, 02:30 PM

Yeah, I can't imagine international shipping a lot of stuff, even moving locally is an insane amount of work. I hope you don't have a lot of US Saturn/Sega CD stuff, those cases are so friggin easy to break.

gekioh · 07/27/2015, 03:37 PM

I would consider packing and moving anything of any substantial value game wise your self. I would never trust a moving company to do it for me, but than lots of my collection is CIB I suppose if it weren't I'd be less afraid of the idea. When I moved 7-8 years ago I wrapped every 6-8 games in some kinda wrap (paper, towels, bubble wrap etc etc) depending on what it was and did small boxes of no more than like 30-50 games per box so it wouldnt be to heavy to lift. Luckily I was just moving like 6 blocks down so didn't have far to go, but my factory stock tv from the store display xbox console kiosk did sustain some minor damage to my not securing it good enough.

esteban · 07/27/2015, 06:49 PM

I find that Saturn cases make the best oars.

Mathius · 07/27/2015, 07:44 PM

A X68000 on a chain makes a great anchor.

If you are building a life raft you could use the cart slot of a Neo Geo as a shelter from wind and rain if you should hit a tropical depression or worse.

viper0hr · 07/27/2015, 08:42 PM

Everyone here has said it already, pack the good stuff yourself. Make sure to wrap/cushion stuff too, jewel cases tend to break easily in moves.

goldenpp72 · 07/31/2015, 10:15 PM

This might just be me but, i'd never let movers handle my game collection for a myriad of reasons (theft, damage, etc). Thing is, most people don't think to take any particular care of that sort of stuff because it's just 'old junk' like a DVD movie to them. My personal advice would be to do it yourself.

I just recently moved in January and had to do this myself, though my move was only about 20 minutes away so I was able to do multiple trips. My solution though was to buy these fairly large black totes that are incredibly durable I imagine, I then lined up the totes with bubble wrap and layered the games in them in a non crushing fashion, and kept enough space at the top so that if the lid bowed at all it wouldn't damage anything. I think i was able to fit most of my stuff among maybe 12 totes or so. Still a lot, but in this instance I would always recommend handling it yourself if possible. Things like humidity and temperature can also become an issue depending on what you have (Sega Saturn games seem real bad with this)

Then again, i'm kind of a nervous wreck with my stuff, but I want it to stay nice since I did a lot of work to keep them nice as is.

goldenpp72 · 07/31/2015, 11:01 PM

Quote from: guest on 07/31/2015, 10:56 PM
Quote from: goldenpp72 on 07/31/2015, 10:15 PMThis might just be me but, i'd never let movers handle my game collection for a myriad of reasons (theft, damage, etc). Thing is, most people don't think to take any particular care of that sort of stuff because it's just 'old junk' like a DVD movie to them. My personal advice would be to do it yourself.

I just recently moved in January and had to do this myself, though my move was only about 20 minutes away so I was able to do multiple trips. My solution though was to buy these fairly large black totes that are incredibly durable I imagine, I then lined up the totes with bubble wrap and layered the games in them in a non crushing fashion, and kept enough space at the top so that if the lid bowed at all it wouldn't damage anything. I think i was able to fit most of my stuff among maybe 12 totes or so. Still a lot, but in this instance I would always recommend handling it yourself if possible. Things like humidity and temperature can also become an issue depending on what you have (Sega Saturn games seem real bad with this)

Then again, i'm kind of a nervous wreck with my stuff, but I want it to stay nice since I did a lot of work to keep them nice as is.
Dude, that sounds like it would make an awesome raft for intercontinental seafaring. I'm totes stealing this idea if I move to overseas.

They might not make it far filled with videogames :p Prepacked solid totes would be a lot easier for a mover to deal with than having them package it on their own though. Movers have odd policies when it comes to damage and I imagine even more so when it comes to video games that are more than 2 dollars.

esteban · 08/01/2015, 07:02 AM

With enough bubblewrap in each tub, I bet there would be minimal saltwater damage from crossing the Atlantic as a makeshift pontoon (or raft).

schweaty · 02/03/2016, 10:01 PM

Just wanted to update this post to let everyone know that after an arduous 6 week journey across the pond and 3 months in storage, all my stuff made it in-tact and with no damage. Everything is in its new home now. Thanks for all the responses I got to this thread. Here's a pic all cozy n' shit:

BTW - if the first reply isn't a collectard blast, I will be disappointed in you

CrackTiger · 02/04/2016, 07:22 AM

That's a pretty slim selection of games, where's the rest of your collection?

esteban · 02/04/2016, 08:31 AM

Is that an orange TurboExpress soft case? If so, can you tell me how everything fits inside...like, what pockets/straps/zippers are available.

Oh, and I'm glad your stuff doesn't smell like pickles after its journey.

Gentlegamer · 02/04/2016, 11:11 AM

Look at all that cardboard!

xcrement5x · 02/04/2016, 11:34 AM

Looking good!

It's funny this was reposted because since I've got a second child on the way I've been moving a lot of stuff around/out of my house right now to clean up for the new bedroom. Using plenty of plastic totes for the boxed and more fragile stuff, but a lot is just going into regular old cardboard boxes.

Medic_wheat · 02/04/2016, 11:35 AM

I've seen better collections.

Photoshoppes more magic chase games in collection pictures.

Yeah.

Jk

Glade to hear everything is how you packed them.

schweaty · 02/04/2016, 12:38 PM

Quote from: guest on 02/04/2016, 07:22 AMThat's a pretty slim selection of games, where's the rest of your collection?

Compared to you, all of us are pretty slim on games. It's your world, BT. I'm just a squirrel tryna get a nut

MotherGunner · 02/04/2016, 12:46 PM

Every time I read the title of this topic from the main page, I read, "Moving your schweaty collection tips."

Balls.

Mathius · 02/04/2016, 09:11 PM

Forgot about the boat trip! I had mental pictures of a kraken attacking with a Turbo game in each psychotically waving tentacle.

waynedoodle · 02/04/2016, 09:40 PM

My PCS back from Germany was great. The German movers were great and I buttered them up with coffee, free coka-cola, and bought them lunch. I watched them pack my Black Forrest Grandfather clock, I bought after OIF1, like a hawk. All in all, Germans were better with my stuff than the US commercial haulers. I did hand pack 4 black footlockers I accumulated with my valuables and put a pad lock on them. Good luck with the move back CONUS!

God, I miss Germany.

schweaty · 02/04/2016, 10:22 PM

Quote from: esteban on 02/04/2016, 08:31 AMIs that an orange TurboExpress soft case? If so, can you tell me how everything fits inside...like, what pockets/straps/zippers are available.

Oh, and I'm glad your stuff doesn't smell like pickles after its journey.

OK, Este i will give it a shot. Here's what it has: 1 long adjustable strap which is most likely for the waist but I could see it being used as a shoulder strap. 2 belt loops on the inside (kinda big, I would say 3 inches tall). 2 pockets. the larger pocket is padded so i assume this is where the TE goes. the outside pocket is not padded and about half the size of the larger pocket.

hope this helps.

-dan

esteban · 02/05/2016, 12:19 AM

^ Hmmmm... I think it would be fun to use that case if it isn't too bulky. Then again, my kids might be attracted to the fluorescent orange...making it a sitting target to the DestructoTwins.

TheClash603 · 02/05/2016, 12:31 AM

I recently moved all my stuff and I had a better experience with boxes. Those plastic totes are rounded on the sides and this means there will always be gaps. Boxes are square and cases are square which meant flush packing. For $1 more per box you get the heavy duty ones which don't bend under pressure, these are the best way to move games.

Now everything is secure in my new house in piles on the floor where it belongs.

Vimtoman · 02/05/2016, 04:10 AM

Just stick it all in a bag and put it in the boot of your car when you move.

xcrement5x · 02/08/2016, 12:11 PM

Quote from: TheClash603 on 02/05/2016, 12:31 AMI recently moved all my stuff and I had a better experience with boxes. Those plastic totes are rounded on the sides and this means there will always be gaps. Boxes are square and cases are square which meant flush packing. For $1 more per box you get the heavy duty ones which don't bend under pressure, these are the best way to move games.

Now everything is secure in my new house in piles on the floor where it belongs.

The Clash returns!

I've been running into the same issue. I packed some stuff in totes if it was more loosy goosy, but the rest has really been in boxes so far. Also, I have tons of boxes already so that helps.

johnnykonami · 02/08/2016, 01:49 PM

I am moving into a new house, however, it's down the street. Literally in the same exact neighborhood, so I'm not too worried. Packed some of my games in plastic bins, have some cardboard boxes too. I figure I'm going to handle the moving in my car for this stuff. Now I am thinking about vertical vs horizontal storage.. I read a little bit about it and most recently I was storing horizontally in tall stacks. But it's been suggested that's a bad idea due to weight. Some of my Saturn and Sega CD manuals are sagging a little, it's no big deal though I don't think, they are clean. Worried if I store vertically, some of the looser CD spindles will drop the disc out. I know this is a little bit collectardy, but just trying to take care of what I have.

Also, when I have received games from members here, many of you put a little piece of bubble wrap between the CD and the lid. Just for the mail or do you keep your games like that all the time?

NecroPhile · 02/08/2016, 03:32 PM

I've done that for shipping but never for my own games. If my shelves move around enough for the games to jump free, I'm gonna have bigger problems to worry about.

xcrement5x · 02/08/2016, 04:31 PM

I leave the piece of foam in there all the time, it hasn't hurt anything yet and the CD case is always still able to close.

I leave it in there because I've seen plenty of games before where they were stacked and then the overall weight put the impression of the CD spindle on the back of the manual. OCD, yeah I know but I have tons of foam so I see no reason not to avoid it if I can.

But yeah, SegaCD/Saturn stuff is notorious for drooping manuals over time. I use the original foam if I've got it or a bit of bubble wrap, but I also have everything vertical to avoid issues.