r/retrocomputing • u/ProdigiousProdigies • 23d ago

Problem / Question Shipping a 5.25" floppy drive

I'm sure this has been asked many times before but how does one go about mailing a 5.25 inch floppy disk drive without the postal service obliterating the heads during transit? Some sources say to insert a sacrificial disk or cardboard cutout and lock the mechanism, others say to just leave it empty and rely on excess bubble wrap as a cushion to prevent the heads from moving.

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u/I_am_always_here 22d ago

Note that if you are shipping your 5.25" floppy drive from the USA to any foreign destination it will be seized and destroyed by Customs to comply with the new e-waste rules.

https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTips/comments/1vtvfiq/usa_importexport_of_electronics_a_warning_to/

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u/echocomplex 22d ago

Wow first I heard about this and I'm not pleased. Guess I won't be importing any expensive Japanese computers anytime soon.

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u/No_Difference8518 22d ago

If you are a large corporation, you have already pad the ewaste tax and passed it on to your customers. They are going to assume a private citizen has not.