The MLP Arena
TCB => Trader & Shipping Support => Topic started by: mshesha on March 30, 2012, 07:01:21 PM
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Hello, I just started trading and realized minimizing shipping cost is a must. I've received some cool packages lately like inside out boxes, paper bag mailers, customized priority mail boxes... what other tricks do you all know about and would like to share? Or where do you get your supplies from?
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Most bubble wrap sheets are easily recycled, just remove any existing tape :) I always re-use bubblewrap as long as it's not ripped.
I'm really conscious of the carbon footprint created by my buying/selling so I recycle almost everything. Boxes that are too beaten up to be reused go in the recycling to be picked up; boxes that can be re-used get reinforced with tape around the middle. And you can re-use priority boxes as long as the "priority" label is covered up (either by turning the box inside-out or just putting paper over them) if you want to ship non-priority. And you can get priority boxes for free from the post office in large quantities :)
I always save styrofoam packing peanuts I receive too, I keep them in a huge cardboard box and stuff them in packages I send as needed. I've also noticed that I get tons of plastic bags in buying, so I save them and use them when I ship ponies too.
So far I haven't spent any money on boxes, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or styrofoam. I shift the savings to buying tissue paper and pony stickers, because people really enjoy that personal touch.
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Thanks babystarz, that's very eco-conscious. :satisfied:
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Go to a dollar store type place for stuff :) I get my bubble mailers that way :)
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Just be aware that some places are trying to ban those packing peanuts since they are non-degradable.
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In which case, head to the kids crafts and pick up some of those corn based nugget things. Fun and function!
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I am pretty sure people are not supposed to be using priority boxes for non-priority mail.
Anyway, I get boxes + bubble wrap from a friend who gets them at her office. I reuse all the boxes/bubblemailers that get mailed to me. I /never/ buy boxes or bubblewrap. And I buy my bubblemailers in bulk if i have no spares. (I try to buy the smallest possible for less waste).
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I am pretty sure people are not supposed to be using priority boxes for non-priority mail.
Ha, yeah, I asked a woman working at the post office about this and she told me that while they're not supposed to tell people it's ok, they really don't care as long as the labels are covered up.
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I save lots of stuff from the grocery store I work at. When I see small boxes that would work then I will bring them home. I use plastic shopping bags to pack with along with reused peanuts. I reuse all of my padded mailer envelopes. I use the used ones first but I bought a case of them from staples for fairly cheap.
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I do the same as the others mentioned here TBH - recycle wherever possible- especially boxes and bubble wrap and packing noodles. I sometimes reuse bubble mailers as well if they are in good condition, but I also keep a supply of new bubble mailers in that I buy cheap from the local discount shops for much less than they are at the PO ;) I also get my tape from there.
Parcels I get from online shopping such as at the Disney store, tend to have tissue, or those air bag thingies in them so I'll save those and reuse those as well as the boxes :relaxed:
Local shops will often have cardboard boxes that they will let you have free of charge if you ask - that way they dont have to worry about getting rid of them/recycling them so they are often happy to let you have them :)
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Thank you. Those are very good tips. I'll start saving my bubble mailers and check out the dollar stores and Staples. :satisfied:
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I am pretty sure people are not supposed to be using priority boxes for non-priority mail.
Ha, yeah, I asked a woman working at the post office about this and she told me that while they're not supposed to tell people it's ok, they really don't care as long as the labels are covered up.
I don't know about this. I know a friend who did this and the PO opened it to look and tried to charge the buyer the extra money for Priority. So I would not suggest doing it.
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I would not suggest using Priority boxes for any mail other than Priority. They give those away for free IF you are using their Priority service... it's just kinda a slap in their face to use them for non-Priority mail. Because of people turning them inside out they have had to resort to printing on the inside of the boxes as well. I prefer to listen to the warning on printed on them and not violate any federal laws.
That being said there are plenty of places you can get free boxes to use for First Class and Parcel Post! Check with your local 24 hour grocery store and see when they stock shelves. If I need boxes I just go up to my local grocery store in the morning and they will have carts full of the empty flattened boxes and I can take whatever I want. There are usually a good variety of sizes which then requires less packing material if you find a box close to the size of your items.
If you are looking to save money on actual shipping costs then definitely take advantage of online shipping through Paypal or through the USPS website. You get shipping discounts, free or discounted delivery confirmation and if it's an ebay item you can even print First Class International shipping online.
If you know anyone who works at a location that receives a lot of shipped items you can always ask them to save bubble wrap or packing peanuts. My dad works at a college and has been able to get me plenty of free packing peanuts that way and sometimes bubble mailers too for items he receives. You can also post on places like your local Freecycle and see if anyone has any packing materials to give away. Heck, I even posted on Facebook about it once when I was running low and I got 2 huge bags of supplies!
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One more question: When should I use First Class and when should I use parcel post? Let's say I want to mail a bubble mailer with a few ponies, can I send them first class (sometimes cheaper and faster, according to the online quote)? Thanks for enlightening me :)
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Parcel Post comes into play when something is too heavy to go First Class. It's always quoted at 7 - 10 days for delivery, and Priority Mail, more often than not, is within $2 of the PP cost and quoted with half the delivery time. Usually if I can't go first class, I just ignore Parcel Post and go straight to Priority. Especially if you buy it online (usps click n ship) where you get a discount and free delivery confirmation, sometimes Priority comes out cheaper (or nearly the same cost) as Parcel Post at the PO!
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I've only ever used recycled priority mail boxes, so I disagree that it's a "slap in the face" to the post office, at least after the first use. The boxes are presumably paid for in the first shipment. But if post offices elsewhere are opening them and checking, I guess I can't recycle them any more as I wouldn't want to stick a buyer with paying fees.
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Use First Class for anything weighing 13 oz. or under (there's also a size limit but that's usually not an issue for ponies). I wouldn't use Parcel Post at all - the estimated delivery time may only be within a day or two of Priority but it can take much, much longer - nearly a month the one time I did use it, and it's known for rougher handling of packages. For lighter weight packages, the difference in price is minimal anyway. If a package is over 3 lbs. or over 1 cubic foot in size (triggers the "balloon rate"), I always check into FedEx and UPS as alternatives. I do always check with the buyer to make sure those are OK by them since some people have trouble receiving packages through those. This is only for within the US though - international is another matter altogether.
You've already gotten good advice about packing materials, but I'll add Sam's Club as another place to check for padded envelopes. I also recommend not using Priority boxes for anything other than Priority shipping - if you get caught they will charge you the full Priority cost. (Whether they'll actually check or even care is probably dependent on your local office though.)
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Thanks ristvak and breyer600 for answering the First class vs parcel post question.
Regarding priority boxes: I bought a playset online and the seller took one of the mailing boxes from the post office that are the same size as the medium flat rate priority boxes, cut it in half and paid exact priority mail postage , not the flat rate. Is that still legit ? I thought it was genius!
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Just wanted to second everything Emery said. They will find out and it is kind of wrong if you try to use Priority boxes for something other than priority mail. They give the free boxes so you use the more expensive service that they provide.
So please don't do that everyone.
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My understanding of what babystarz posted may be different, but it's a similar vein of questioning....
If I get mail in a priority box in the mail from someone, and turn it inside out/slap brown craft paper on it/whatever, is it okay to reuse the box and use it to send stuff to someone else?
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My understanding of what babystarz posted may be different, but it's a similar vein of questioning....
If I get mail in a priority box in the mail from someone, and turn it inside out/slap brown craft paper on it/whatever, is it okay to reuse the box and use it to send stuff to someone else?
Unfortunately, the Post Office will still take issue with that even if the box has obviously been previously used.
Regarding priority boxes: I bought a playset online and the seller took one of the mailing boxes from the post office that are the same size as the medium flat rate priority boxes, cut it in half and paid exact priority mail postage , not the flat rate. Is that still legit ? I thought it was genius!
If it was an actual flat rate box - I don't know. Since it is no longer the size the flat rate was meant for and since it still went Priority, it's probably OK but I would avoid it just in case they do have a problem with it. If it was one of the plain Priority boxes, I don't see that there would be any issue with that as long as it still ships Priority.
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My understanding of what babystarz posted may be different, but it's a similar vein of questioning....
If I get mail in a priority box in the mail from someone, and turn it inside out/slap brown craft paper on it/whatever, is it okay to reuse the box and use it to send stuff to someone else?
Sadly, it sounds like even this could be a problem, although I have received boxes this way. Which makes me really bummed, because like I said, I really want to reduce my carbon footprint and reusing is even better than sending boxes to be broken down and recycled, but I guess we'll have to find a different source for boxes to reuse. The idea about asking stores for their old boxes sounds like a good one for this!
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My understanding of what babystarz posted may be different, but it's a similar vein of questioning....
If I get mail in a priority box in the mail from someone, and turn it inside out/slap brown craft paper on it/whatever, is it okay to reuse the box and use it to send stuff to someone else?
Unfortunately, the Post Office will still take issue with that even if the box has obviously been previously used.
Regarding priority boxes: I bought a playset online and the seller took one of the mailing boxes from the post office that are the same size as the medium flat rate priority boxes, cut it in half and paid exact priority mail postage , not the flat rate. Is that still legit ? I thought it was genius!
If it was an actual flat rate box - I don't know. Since it is no longer the size the flat rate was meant for and since it still went Priority, it's probably OK but I would avoid it just in case they do have a problem with it. If it was one of the plain Priority boxes, I don't see that there would be any issue with that as long as it still ships Priority.
It was one of the plain ones, not the kind that say "flat rate" not like the ones USPS mail to your house, but the ones you have to get from the P.O. yourself. .. I hope she recycled the rest of the box. Anyways, I don't think I'll be doing this (custom box). Sounds risky.
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In my opinion it's not worth the risk. ;)
There are alot of online stores that offer boxes, mailers, etc. in bulk at a pretty good price. And there is always the option of checking your local stores and asking them to keep boxes for you. I don't think they mind as long as you come and pick them up on a regular bases.
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On the bright side, that type of paper product is highly recyclable. (when I was in Ontario, many of the things we would recycle, would end up in the trash anyway. some plastics even though marked because they were tinted/coloured wouldn't get recycled. etc.) But corrugate and pop cans are two things that really make sense to recycle in the cost/energy used to process them.
Grocery stores are an excellent place to request boxes. FYI, the boxes that things like mouthwash/shampoo arrive in are usually super sturdy. And, on the smaller side. Pretty much anything coming out of the beauty isle would be more ideal for pony mailing.