As long as the gasket has a gentle bend, and not a kink, it will be OK. That gasket was shipped between 4 pieces of heavy cardboard, and that has always been ok, on prior shippments. That said I will get some other type of stiffener, for furture shippments. I did offer to send a new gasket, if that one is questionable, and the buyer can wait for the new one to arrive.