Basic tips & Packing instructions

Basic Packing Tips , Make A 12x12x12 Priority Shipping Box , Pack A Cookie Jar , Pack A Plate or Platter ,

Shipping Facts

Priority mail supplies are FREE but
- You must ship the package through the United States Postal Service.
- You must pay for priority shipping when you use them in any way. Inside out, upside down, sideways, inside a plain brown box, whatever. Don't cheat the post office! [and besides, there's a fine if you're caught]
- You must not alter the size or shape of a FLAT RATE Priority [FRP] box, or envelope.

If you do your research, you will find that in most cases the flat rate [FRP] boxes are not a good deal. Even 2 pounds to a zone 8 is less than every FRP size except for the Flat Rate VHS Tape size, and the envelopes. So if it's 2 pounds or less, and doesn't fit in the VHS tape box or FR envelope, ship it in a regular Priority box.
If it's 3 lbs, look it up. If it's 5 lbs to a zone 2, it's STILL cheaper than a FRP box.

If you sell breakables, I can tell you that almost NOTHING will fit in any FRP box safely. The smallest box you should probably use, is the 12x12x8 one, and the biggest FRP box they have is 12x12x5 [$15] - not even big enough for a dinner plate. Maybe a couple salad plates, but then it would probably be cheaper in a regular box after all.

Not shipping USPS Priority?
The grocery store is your friend. Get all the brown boxes you can, and cut the tape on the bottom to store them flat.
Do NOT fold them anywhere there isn't a fold already. If the box is rectangular, and someone folds it in the center, creating a fold on a side where it wasn't before, it is ruined for shipping. You can, however cut it up as needed for other things.

Now for some other things that buying glass has caused me to believe is neccessary to note:

Do not ship breakables in a Flat Rate Priority Padded Envelope! Or any envelope. Yes, I have to say it. Don't ask why.

You must have 2 inches of clearence between the wrapped widget on ALL 6 sides of the shipping box.
That translates roughly to: The shipping box must be 4 inches wider and 4 inches taller than the wrapped item.
Further: an 11 inch wide plate must NOT be placed into a 12 inch wide box, or worse, an 11 inch wide box, or even worse a 10 inch wide box with the plate tipped at an angle. May as well send a refund your customer before they even get it. Or toss the plate out an open window on the freeway. [please bag it first, and toss to the shoulder]

When shipping more than one item in same box, seperate them by wrapping each with bubblewrap, so they won't fight for territory in said box. Nobody wins when that happens.

The secondary crush factor is the top. Yes, those big ol brutes, careless of the priceless bauble contained in the box, will dare to stack many heavy boxes on top of yours! and then sit on the pile and eat their lunch! Like cats, the highest one is king. That is why I sometimes create pillars inside the box to hold the weight of the world off the precious trifle. If you can't sit on your shipping box without seeing dollar signs flying out of your wallet, you want to double wall or make a frame inside the box.

Newspaper is not padding, cushioning or any other valuable form of packing material. It is dirty and heavy and smashes easily, leaving the object unprotected. If you use enough newspaper to actually be of any value in protecting the item, you will easily add several pounds to the shipping weight. If it didn't, then you didn't use enough.
I did the math once, and even though I have to pay for peanuts, I saved more than enough money on the shipping price to pay for the peanuts. Don't even think about using shredded newspaper.

Tissue is for keeping the bubble wrap from causing spots or rubbing on the object. One thin layer is enough. Since it's not padding, and no matter how much you care to use, it will never be enough for padding, you may as well use it sparingly, but please DO use it.

Butcher paper is nice for books, cast iron, and other indelicate objects. Not so much for glass, but you can use it OVER the tissue if you like. It won't hurt, but if you're not careful it may add to the shipping weight. An avg size sheet weighs a couple of ounces, about the same as a half of #7 PM box of peanuts.

Bubblewrap:
The bubbles go TOWARDS the object. Their purpose is to create a bridge of tiny pillows over your lovely thing, and to keep it safely nestled inside until it reaches it's destination. If you push on any part of it, you should feel nothing but the smoothness of a blissfully hibernating treasure. If you feel something else, add more bubble wrap. Which brings me to:
Use short pieces of tape to secure the bubble wrap. It saves you money, but it saves a buyer the possibly of damaging their prize in their impatient attempt at freeing their imprisioned trinket. Tape is NOT packing material. It's only purpose is to make the packaging material stay wrapped around the whatsit.

Large air pillows that comes with stuff you buy from big retailers: Do not re-use it for shipping breakables. You know why they use it? Because they have more of that thing to send you if the first one they sent breaks. If you only have one item, or don't want to waste your time and money sending another one for free, then just avoid these all together.
Actually they are good for one thing: They help hand bags to retain their shape in storage. If hand bags are not your thing, then you can enjoy popping these air pillows so they can't do any more harm. Just take them out of circulation, please.

Finaly, shake the box. If anything moves, open it back up and add more peanuts. Nothing should be moving around in there. It's not a party. Shipping should be a somber event. Receiving an unbroken antique - now that's exciting!

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