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Pack only the items on your quote, protect each item separately, and use a strong outer box that prevents movement. Remove a lens from the camera before packing, keep personal memory cards out unless they are part of the quote, and retain proof of the courier handoff. Use MPB's current instructions for your booked shipment.
Make a quote-to-box checklist
Open the accepted quote beside the equipment before wrapping anything. Match each body, lens and accessory to a line on that quote. Put unrelated items somewhere else so they cannot accidentally enter the parcel.
MPB's US packing instructions call for detached lenses, individually protected items and a sturdy box with filled gaps. They also specify placing a battery inside the equipment and wrapping any quoted spare batteries individually. Follow the shipment's current battery guidance rather than treating this article as instructions for shipping every battery type or condition.
Our suggestion is to tick off each item twice: once while laying out the gear, and once as it enters the box. This is especially useful when you are selling several similar lenses or have multiple chargers on the same desk.
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Protect the parcel as a complete package
A tidy product box is not the same thing as a complete shipping package. MPB recommends an outer box with protective material around any original packaging, rather than relying on a retail box alone. Once packed, nothing should be loose. It also advises keeping quotes separate rather than combining different quotes under one shipment label.
Before sealing, ask yourself whether unpacking will make the contents obvious. Keep small quoted accessories together in a clearly recognizable packet. Do not hide an extra item in a pocket and assume it will be identified as part of the sale.
| Before sealing | Before handing over |
|---|---|
| Quote matches the contents | Label belongs to this quote |
| Gear cannot move freely inside | Drop-off or pickup matches the booked arrangement |
| Small accessories are protected and easy to find | You know how you will retain tracking evidence |
| Photos record the gear and packaging | Personal records are saved somewhere you can retrieve them |
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Keep proof that the carrier received it
For US seller drop-offs, MPB directs customers to a staffed FedEx location rather than a drop box, using its prepaid label and retaining a printed receipt. Its missing-package guidance explains why carrier acceptance evidence matters when investigating a shipment.
Store the receipt, quote reference and packing photos together. A photograph of a sealed box is useful documentation, but is not itself proof that the courier accepted it.
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Does sending the parcel lock in the first quote?
No. MPB says it inspects cosmetic condition and functionality and may adjust the quote before seeking your decision. Keep the quote and correspondence so you can compare any adjustment with what you sent.
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What if you are only considering a trade?
You do not need to pack before deciding what you want to sell. Start with our MPB US guide and identify the equipment you would genuinely stop using. If a system change is involved, the Canon EF-to-EOS-R guide may help you avoid selling a lens you can keep.
Explore MPB US
MPB buys and trades used camera equipment. Get a quote for gear you no longer need, then follow the shipping instructions for that booking.
Shop MPB US ↗Affiliate linkSources
This guide draws on published product information, not hands-on testing. Sources and check dates are listed below.
- MPB US packing instructionsSource checked Sep 21, 2026
- MPB US missing and delayed packagesSource checked Sep 21, 2026
- MPB US selling and trading processSource checked Sep 21, 2026
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