Just gonna throw my experience of NC in to the mix. I've ordered from them twice (to the UK), and both times my order has arrived in a sturdy cardboard mailer, in mint condition. Arguably they could ship the record outside of the sleeve, but I've had no bad experiences yet.
I don't know if maybe those who get their orders in something more flimsy are ordering from within the USA, so perhaps have a cheaper shipping option?
I would say around half of my orders have had some damage or defect. Sometimes records show up in a large oversized box with bubble wrap and sometimes they show up in a record mailer which may or may not have pads. Got The Nick Cave yesterday and it is warped and dished but the jacket show up fine in a record mailer with one pad.
Official Newbury Comics Reissue Thread
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I would say around half of my orders have had some damage or defect. Sometimes records show up in a large oversized box with bubble wrap and sometimes they show up in a record mailer which may or may not have pads. Got The Nick Cave yesterday and it is warped and dished but the jacket show up fine in a record mailer with one pad.