Headphones are light and easy to post, but they're also easy to damage in transit if they're packed badly. A cracked hinge can get worse, and an ear cup can be crushed. Here's how to send them so they arrive in the same condition they left you.
Can you post headphones with the battery inside?
Yes. Royal Mail's rules allow lithium batteries when they're contained in the device they power, subject to limits on the number of cells and batteries in each package. Wireless headphones with their battery fitted come well within that.
What you mustn't do is post a loose lithium battery on its own. Leave the battery in the headphones.
If the battery looks swollen, or an ear cup bulges, don't post them. Get in touch first.
Before you pack them
- Charge them to around half, if they'll still charge. Not full, not flat.
- Switch them off fully.
- Unpair them from devices you won't need, if you can.
- Take a few photos of the headphones from all sides, showing their condition and the fault. It's useful for you, and helpful if anything goes wrong in the post.
How to pack them
- Use the hard case if you have one. It's the best protection there is.
- No case? Wrap them in bubble wrap, with the ear cups protected and the headband not under strain.
- Use a sturdy box, not a padded envelope. Envelopes get crushed.
- Fill the gaps with paper or bubble wrap so nothing moves when you shake the box.
- Tape it securely.
If a hinge is broken, support the loose ear cup so it can't swing about and pull on the cable inside.
What to include
- A note with your booking reference and your name, so the parcel is matched to your booking straight away.
- A short description of the fault, if it's different from what you wrote when you booked.
- Only what's needed. Unless you've been asked for them, keep cables, adapters and the box at home. Fewer items means less to go missing.
Which postal service?
Use a tracked service, so you can see when it arrives. For valuable headphones, check the compensation limit of the service you choose, and pick one that covers what they're worth.
Keep the proof of postage and the tracking number until the repair is complete.
When they come back
With my repairs, return postage is included and tracked, and you'll get an email when they're on their way. When they arrive, pair them again, check your settings in Sony's app, and give them a proper test.
Questions people ask
Can I post wireless headphones with Royal Mail?
Yes. Royal Mail accepts lithium batteries inside the device they power, within its packaging and quantity limits. Don't post a loose battery.
Should I send the case and cable?
Send the hard case if you have one: it's the best protection. Keep the cables and other accessories unless you've been asked for them.
Is a padded envelope OK for headphones?
It's better to use a box. Envelopes can be crushed, which can damage ear cups and hinges.
My recommendation
Case, box, padding, a note with your reference, and a tracked service. That's all it takes to get headphones to a repairer safely.
If you're sending Sony headphones to me, the Sony headphone repair page has every repair and its price.