Before We Arrive
Packing Tips
A few minutes of prep keeps your bags safe, identifiable, and moving smoothly from your Vineyard door to your home. Here's how to get ready for pickup.
Quick Pickup Checklist
- Lock every zipper or clasp before pickup
- Attach a luggage tag with your name, phone & destination address
- Place a contact card inside each bag (name, phone, destination)
- Remove or secure all loose straps and handles
- Weigh and measure each bag to confirm it matches your booking
- Keep valuables, electronics & medications with you — don't ship them
Secure Your Bags
We photograph and condition-log every bag at pickup, but a well-secured bag arrives in the same shape it left. Lock it, cinch it, and clear anything that could snag.
Soft-sided & duffel bags
Zip every pocket shut and cinch all compression straps. We box every soft-sided bag at pickup for protection, but a securely closed bag keeps contents from shifting and prevents snags in transit.
Hard-shell suitcases
Lock all latches — a TSA-accepted lock is ideal since it won't be cut for inspection. Check that the handle retracts fully and wheels spin freely so nothing catches during handling.
Loose straps & accessories
Tuck away or remove shoulder straps, backpack harnesses, and external clips. Anything dangling can snag on conveyor belts or get torn off. When in doubt, tape it down or remove it.
Tag Your Items
Every bag gets a shipping label from us at pickup — but your own tags and contact cards are your safety net if a label is ever lost or torn in transit.
Outside: a luggage tag on every bag
Attach a sturdy tag to each piece showing your name, phone number, and the destination address — not your Vineyard pickup address. This is what gets your bag back if a label is lost in transit.
Inside: a contact card
Slip a card with your name, phone, destination address, and your order number (e.g. VBC-20260815-123) into an outside pocket of every bag. If the outer tag is torn off, the bag can still find its way home.
Photograph each bag
Snap a photo of every bag — including its tag — before we arrive. It settles any question about condition or contents quickly, and gives you a record for your own peace of mind.
Don't Ship These
For everyone's safety and to keep your shipment moving, certain items can't travel in checked luggage. Keep these with you:
Hazardous materials, perishables, cash, jewelry, high-value electronics, prescription medications, firearms, and illegal substances. Fragile or temperature-sensitive items can be shipped but aren't covered by our $500/shipment coverage — pack them accordingly or carry them. See our Terms of Service for the full list.
Still unsure how to prep a specific bag? We're happy to talk it through — call (508) 954-0771.