How to Safely Ship Your Consoles for Repair

Last updated: July 2026

Please do not ship your item until your estimate has been approved and the initial invoice has been paid. Your shipping address and intake instructions will then be provided through the customer portal.

Shipping Availability

Your secure order page provides the current shipping instructions, order-specific packing slip, approved inbound shipping method, and the applicable mailing address or prepaid shipping label.

Do not mail or deliver anything until your order page shows that shipping is available or Retro Regen has specifically asked you to send the item.

Shipping is normally unlocked after the required initial invoice, evaluation fee, or service deposit has been paid. Retro Regen currently accepts repair shipments from United States addresses only.

Do not use a mailing address from an old email, previous repair order, website screenshot, saved label, or earlier shipment. Always use the current address or prepaid label shown on the applicable order page.

Recommended Carrier for Valuable Items

For valuable, collectible, rare, or difficult-to-replace items, Retro Regen strongly recommends using UPS or FedEx with tracking, adequate declared-value or insurance coverage, and Signature Required delivery.

USPS is not currently recommended for valuable inbound repair shipments because of previous delivery-reliability problems affecting our mail-receiving location.

When purchasing your own shipping label, you are responsible for:

• Selecting the carrier and service level
• Packaging the item securely
• Purchasing adequate insurance or declared-value coverage
• Adding Signature Required service when appropriate
• Entering the carrier and tracking number on your portal order page

Retro Regen is not responsible for damage, loss, delivery errors, or inadequate carrier coverage occurring before a shipment is received.

Packaging Instructions by Item Type

General Packaging Guidelines

• Use a sturdy corrugated shipping box that is in good condition.
• Avoid thin retail boxes, shoe boxes, oversized boxes, and previously damaged shipping cartons.
• Wrap each item separately with several layers of large-bubble bubble wrap.
• Provide cushioning on every side of the item, including the bottom and top of the box.
• Fill all empty space so nothing shifts when the sealed box is gently moved.
• Packing paper or additional bubble wrap is preferable to loose newspaper.
• Do not rely on air pillows or loose packing peanuts as the only protection for heavy equipment.
• Do not place packing tape directly on a console, handheld, controller, cartridge, label, screen, shell, or cable.
• Do not allow separate items to touch each other inside the package.
• Photograph the condition and serial number of each item before packing.
• Photograph the completed packing arrangement before sealing the box.
• Save your shipping receipt and tracking information until the service order has been completed.

Consoles

• Remove all games, discs, memory cards, SD cards, adapters, and other removable media unless they are directly related to the reported problem.
• Do not include controllers, power supplies, video cables, sensor bars, or other accessories unless they were requested or listed in the service request.
• Wrap each console separately with several layers of large-bubble bubble wrap.
• Protect corners, cartridge slots, disc-drive areas, buttons, ports, and other protruding parts from impact.
• Use a box large enough to provide substantial cushioning around every side of the console.
• For multiple consoles, separate boxes are the safest option.
• When multiple consoles must be shipped together, use a heavy-duty double-wall box with strong internal separation between each console.
• Do not place one console directly on top of another without a rigid divider and substantial cushioning.
• Heavy consoles must not be allowed to place direct pressure on smaller consoles, controllers, or accessories.

Handheld Systems

• Power the system off completely before packing.
• Remove game cartridges, memory cards, SD cards, styluses, adapters, and other removable accessories unless they are needed to reproduce the reported problem.
• Leave the installed battery in place unless your order instructions specifically state otherwise.
• Do not include loose spare batteries unless Retro Regen has specifically requested them and your selected carrier permits them.
• Protect screens with a clean, nonabrasive layer before wrapping the system.
• Do not place pressure directly on the screen, hinges, control sticks, shoulder buttons, or charging port.
• Wrap each handheld separately and prevent it from moving inside the box.
• Do not ship a handheld loose inside a padded envelope.

Cartridges, Discs, and PCBs

• Place cartridges in protective cases, small boxes, or individual layers of bubble wrap.
• Do not allow multiple cartridges to strike or rub against one another during transit.
• Place optical discs in proper disc cases whenever possible.
• Do not mail loose discs in paper envelopes or unprotected plastic sleeves.
• Protect exposed circuit boards with an antistatic bag before adding cushioning.
• Do not place adhesive tape directly on a cartridge label, disc, circuit board, component, or connector.
• Protect edge connectors, pins, chips, batteries, and fragile components from bending or impact.
• Group small items securely so they cannot become lost inside the shipping carton.
• Clearly identify each item on the order packing slip when multiple cartridges, discs, or circuit boards are included.

Accessories and Controllers

• Wrap each controller or accessory separately.
• Protect analog sticks, triggers, shoulder buttons, cables, plugs, and protruding connectors from pressure.
• Do not tightly wrap attached cables around a controller or accessory.
• Secure cables loosely with a reusable tie or soft fastener.
• Do not place heavy consoles directly on top of controllers, power supplies, adapters, or accessories.
• Include only the accessories listed in the service request or specifically requested by Retro Regen.
• Identify each included accessory on the order packing slip.

Shipping and Portal Details

Use the following sections as collapsed accordion blocks.

Final Before-Mailing Checklist

Complete this checklist before handing the package to the carrier:

• Confirm that the order page says the item is ready for shipment.
• Open the latest estimate or work-order PDF.
• Pay any required initial invoice, evaluation fee, or service deposit.
• Review the Order Address & Shipping Options on the secure order page.
• Print and include the order-specific packing slip.
• Include all items and accessories listed in the service request.
• Remove unnecessary accessories, games, discs, cases, cables, and memory cards.
• Package all items securely with adequate cushioning.
• Verify the destination and return addresses on any Retro Regen-provided label.
• Enter the carrier and tracking number when using your own label.
• Save your shipping receipt until the service order has been completed.

Do not use an address from an old email, previous repair order, website screenshot, saved label, or earlier shipment. Always use the current address or label shown for the applicable order.

Using Your Own Shipping Label

When using your own carrier label:

1. Open the applicable order in the Customer Portal.
2. Confirm the shipping address shown for that order.
3. Print the order-specific packing slip.
4. Package the item securely.
5. Purchase a tracked shipping label with adequate coverage.
6. Ship the package.
7. Return to the order page and enter the carrier and tracking number.

You do not need to email tracking information after it has been entered successfully through the portal.

For valuable items, UPS or FedEx with adequate declared-value or insurance coverage and Signature Required delivery is strongly recommended.

Retro Regen Prepaid Inbound Labels

When a Retro Regen prepaid inbound label is selected during estimate approval, the estimated label cost is calculated using the address and shipping preferences saved for the order.

The applicable shipping charge is added to the initial invoice. After that invoice has been paid, the portal will generate the shipping label and tracking information.

Before mailing:

1. Open the label PDF from the order page.
2. Confirm the Retro Regen destination address.
3. Confirm your return address.
4. Verify that both addresses are complete and correct.
5. Print the label only after reviewing the entire label PDF.

Do not use the label when either address is incorrect. Contact support with the order number and corrected address so the label can be replaced.

Only confirm the label-review checkbox after opening the PDF and verifying both addresses.

Order Packing Slip Requirements

Every inbound repair shipment must include the order-specific packing slip provided through the Customer Portal.

The packing slip allows Retro Regen to match the package with the correct:

• Customer
• Service request
• Estimate or work order
• Payment record
• Return address
• Included items and accessories

Do not substitute a packing slip from another order or an older shipment.

Place the packing slip inside the shipping box where it can be found when the package is opened. Do not attach the packing slip to the outside of the package.

Return Shipping Preferences

Return-shipping preferences may be reviewed or updated from the secure order page. Signed-in customers may also maintain their default preferences through their portal profile.

Available preferences may include:

• Preferred carrier
• Shipping service level
• Insurance or declared-value coverage
• Signature confirmation
• Shipping notes
• Return address

Retro Regen uses these preferences when preparing return-shipping estimates and final invoices. Actual carrier availability, package dimensions, destination, value, and service restrictions may affect the final shipping method or charge.

Address Corrections

Review the Order Address & Shipping Options before paying for or generating a prepaid label.

When an address shown on a Retro Regen label is incorrect:

• Do not alter the label manually.
• Do not use the label.
• Contact support with the order number and corrected address.
• Wait for confirmation that the label has been corrected or replaced.

When using your own label, make sure the destination address exactly matches the current address displayed on the applicable portal order page.

Contact Support

Email Retro Regen when you need help with:

• Customer Portal access
• A missing or expired payment link
• An order that has not changed to ready-for-shipment status
• A prepaid label that was not generated
• An incorrect address
• A packing-slip problem
• Tracking or delivery issues
• A return-shipping question

Email: support@retroregen.com

Include your order number whenever one is available. Screenshots and tracking details may also help explain the problem.

Terms and Warranty

Service work is subject to the Retro Regen repair terms and conditions. Warranty details are also available on the warranty policy page.