scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,149 
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 16, 2014 13:38:46 GMT
Post office has changed their rules, so I can't (honestly) send it book rate. I have a bunch of paper I am sharing with a friend who moved to e other side of the country. Unless I trim off all of the strips on every paper, it won't fit in the large flat rate box.
I took the packed box I had them in (bigger than the large flat rate box) and was told it would cost me $62 to ship! I took it back home.
Any other cheap ways to ship a thick stack of 12x12 papers?
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Aug 16, 2014 17:55:03 GMT
I hope I can explain this clearly on what I did in a situation like this.
I packed a wreath in a box from Lowes to mail...the box had a lot of excess room on top that I just packed with packing peanuts. I went to PO and they was going to charge me like $37 to ship it within US. The lady told me if I unpack it and cut the box down to size instead of having all the excess filled with peanuts it would help out on cost. She said when a box becomes a certain size (not just weight) it really adds up $$. So I did that and went back it cost like $10 afterwards.
If you need instructions on how to cut down a box I can link you the YouTube video I used.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,149
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 16, 2014 18:01:49 GMT
Thanks for the suggestion. I did end up doing that after I switched to a box that was also a more snug fit. I also removed one heavier pack, which I will send with one of her family later. It was still over 16 pounds but after cutting the box down, it ended up $35 to ship.
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NoWomanNoCry
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Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Aug 16, 2014 18:59:19 GMT
Wow...yeah I'm guessing the weight played apart of why it was so much to ship.
I bet she will appreciate your nice gift though!
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
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Post by Peamac on Aug 16, 2014 21:23:16 GMT
Last Christmas I sent my mom a couple stacks of 12x12 paper and it fit in a usps flat rate box. I'd like to know how to send 5-10 pieces of 12x12 paper inexpensively. Anyone know?
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 16, 2014 22:35:26 GMT
From my personal experience, a larger or heavier package might be cheaper to ship via UPS Ground or FedEx Home Delivery. You can check the rates online if you know the dimensions and weight of the package. Big boxes of paper are going to be kind of expensive to ship no matter which way you go, but there can be significant differences between the various carriers so it's well worth the few minutes it takes to check.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 16, 2014 22:40:53 GMT
Last Christmas I sent my mom a couple stacks of 12x12 paper and it fit in a usps flat rate box. I'd like to know how to send 5-10 pieces of 12x12 paper inexpensively. Anyone know? If you can get a flat fold or EZ fold mailer, that would probably work the best. The ones I use are corrugated cardboard and they are about 12.5x12.5x .5" thick and they provide good protection. If it's less than a pound it's cheapest to send it first class, otherwise Priority Mail will probably be the least expensive way to mail something like that. |
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
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Post by Peamac on Aug 17, 2014 0:28:09 GMT
Last Christmas I sent my mom a couple stacks of 12x12 paper and it fit in a usps flat rate box. I'd like to know how to send 5-10 pieces of 12x12 paper inexpensively. Anyone know? If you can get a flat fold or EZ fold mailer, that would probably work the best. The ones I use are corrugated cardboard and they are about 12.5x12.5x .5" thick and they provide good protection. If it's less than a pound it's cheapest to send it first class, otherwise Priority Mail will probably be the least expensive way to mail something like that. Thanks! |
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Post by alexa11 on Aug 17, 2014 6:33:36 GMT
If you can get a flat fold or EZ fold mailer, that would probably work the best. The ones I use are corrugated cardboard and they are about 12.5x12.5x .5" thick and they provide good protection. If it's less than a pound it's cheapest to send it first class, otherwise Priority Mail will probably be the least expensive way to mail something like that. Thanks! I use a priority box -12 x 2.75 x 13.375- the longer rectangular one and flatten it. Cut off the ends that don't have tape on them and then fold taped ends over to close. The box ends up almost square. I pack the paper in 2 of the thin chipboard priority envelopes & slip it inside- I just cut them in half and 12x12 paper fits perfectly. It stays flat-not going to bend at all. Ten sheets usually weigh 15 oz to a lb and costs around $5-6 to ship. It really jumps in price if it weighs over a pound though. |
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Post by meowgal on Aug 17, 2014 14:16:40 GMT
I think I'd do two flat rate boxes and curve the papers a little inside the box with a note to straighten them under heavy books upon arrival. I'm not sure how big the flat rate boxes are though in comparison to the priority boxes. Anyway, as long as the paper is just curved in the box, or laid corner to opposite corner (catty cornered), it shouldn't damage it.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 17, 2014 15:19:12 GMT
I use a priority box -12 x 2.75 x 13.375- the longer rectangular one and flatten it. Cut off the ends that don't have tape on them and then fold taped ends over to close. The box ends up almost square. I pack the paper in 2 of the thin chipboard priority envelopes & slip it inside- I just cut them in half and 12x12 paper fits perfectly. It stays flat-not going to bend at all. Ten sheets usually weigh 15 oz to a lb and costs around $5-6 to ship. It really jumps in price if it weighs over a pound though. I have done that too, but if you use Priority Mail packaging you HAVE to ship it at the Priority rate which might cost more. The other thing is that the EZ fold mailers I use are about 4 oz lighter than a Priority box which might be the difference between paying $3 to ship First Class vs. $5-6 to ship the same items via Priority Mail. Once you get up to a pound then there isn't really any savings so you may as well ship it Priority. |
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ecw519
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by ecw519 on May 7, 2018 21:05:01 GMT
Oh my what great ideas!
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ecw519
Junior Member
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Post by ecw519 on May 7, 2018 21:11:28 GMT
I’m anxious about how to go about putting shipping prices on items in if I place them in an etsy store I’m hoping to get up and running. I’m assuming I’ll have to give a shipping rate each item but don’t know how to phrase really how I can depends really on with they buy and how I can try and make the best rate possible once I able to see what all they would like... but then what if something that they’re wanting sells while I am coming up with the shipping estimate? I don’t know how that would affect the fees for making me end up paying more of them? I’m not looking to make any money off of shipping, it’s one of my least favorite thing to have in my own purchases and so I want to find the cheapest way whether it be a box I purchased, and meant to hold a single kit or if they need to use something bigger with several kits. Just unsure of the best way to mark shipping while creating the listing in order to have the best outcome if that makes sense?
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Post by myboysnme on May 7, 2018 21:20:24 GMT
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,149
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Post by scrapnnana on May 8, 2018 13:30:55 GMT
I appreciate the new suggestions! My friend and I are still doing paper swaps occasionally.
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ecw519
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by ecw519 on May 8, 2018 16:23:56 GMT
I hope I can explain this clearly on what I did in a situation like this. I packed a wreath in a box from Lowes to mail...the box had a lot of excess room on top that I just packed with packing peanuts. I went to PO and they was going to charge me like $37 to ship it within US. The lady told me if I unpack it and cut the box down to size instead of having all the excess filled with peanuts it would help out on cost. She said when a box becomes a certain size (not just weight) it really adds up $$. So I did that and went back it cost like $10 afterwards. If you need instructions on how to cut down a box I can link you the YouTube video I used. I’m amazed! I thought it had more to do with weight than size! thanks for sharing |
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ecw519
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by ecw519 on May 8, 2018 16:25:35 GMT
That’s a new one? And you never have trouble with bending I guess if you have an of papers in there you wouldn’t. How much does it cost yet then to mail that? And do you mean you keep it no less than 12 inches high so it would not be 12 x 12 x 12? |
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ecw519
Junior Member
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Post by ecw519 on May 8, 2018 16:38:26 GMT
I use a priority box -12 x 2.75 x 13.375- the longer rectangular one and flatten it. Cut off the ends that don't have tape on them and then fold taped ends over to close. The box ends up almost square. I pack the paper in 2 of the thin chipboard priority envelopes & slip it inside- I just cut them in half and 12x12 paper fits perfectly. It stays flat-not going to bend at all. Ten sheets usually weigh 15 oz to a lb and costs around $5-6 to ship. It really jumps in price if it weighs over a pound though. I have done that too, but if you use Priority Mail packaging you HAVE to ship it at the Priority rate which might cost more. The other thing is that the EZ fold mailers I use are about 4 oz lighter than a Priority box which might be the difference between paying $3 to ship First Class vs. $5-6 to ship the same items via Priority Mail. Once you get up to a pound then there isn't really any savings so you may as well ship it Priority. I don’t understand what flattening a priority mail box does when there’s a flat rate fee to begin with? Or do you use the priority mail non-flat rate boxes and her saying that you save the way from the flaps that you cut off? Sorry if I sound like a dingdong haha! I’m loving all these new shipping ideas. In a Nother life if I had someone that could clean your rooms I had a jeep to Green I wish it would be that I would be able to choose to select any job I want to work for one week each and definitely the post office would be one of them...its so interesting to me! - also a pilot, Amazon box packer, Maggie Homes personal assistant, trauma nurse, inside the MT washi tape factory, for milligram, a kindergarten teacher, stewardess, a contractor, surgeon and an and obstetrician purely delivering babies, and a police officer just to name a few  |
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on May 8, 2018 16:58:14 GMT
ecw519, when you use the flat rate priority mail boxes, the post office charges a set fee, instead of by weight. It does not matter whether I fill it with rocks or feathers. Rocks obviously would weigh far more than feathers. For normal shipping, post office or other carrier, weight and size both affect the cost to ship.
Priority Mail flat rate boxes are not quite big enough to ship 12x12 paper without bending the paper. However, you can ship the papers in a flattened priority mail flat rate box, and it will be the same set fee. Not all priority boxes are the flat rate, so you have to check the printed infor on the priority boxes at the post office. If you get the wrong one, you can end up unexpectedly paying more. I just tend to want to mail more paper than a flattened priority flat rate box can hold, but the flattened priority boxes can work well for mailing layouts.
I ended up buying some 12.5x12.5x1 inch boxes that can be easily shortened down to half an inch depth. In the future, I will probably use those for my paper swaps. I just can't include so much paper. My last shipment to my friend had too much paper to fit in one of those boxes. Fortunately, I'd gotten something from Amazon that came in the perfect sized box, so I just used that.
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Post by myboysnme on May 8, 2018 17:14:00 GMT
That’s a new one? And you never have trouble with bending I never had anyone tell me their papers were bent. The cardboard on either side prevents that. I printed up my mailing labels on line and I think each pack of about 60 papers was about $7-8 dollars. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 8, 2018 17:18:03 GMT
I have done that too, but if you use Priority Mail packaging you HAVE to ship it at the Priority rate which might cost more. The other thing is that the EZ fold mailers I use are about 4 oz lighter than a Priority box which might be the difference between paying $3 to ship First Class vs. $5-6 to ship the same items via Priority Mail. Once you get up to a pound then there isn't really any savings so you may as well ship it Priority. I don’t understand what flattening a priority mail box does when there’s a flat rate fee to begin with? Or do you use the priority mail non-flat rate boxes and her saying that you save the way from the flaps that you cut off? Sorry if I sound like a dingdong haha! I’m loving all these new shipping ideas. In a Nother life if I had someone that could clean your rooms I had a jeep to Green I wish it would be that I would be able to choose to select any job I want to work for one week each and definitely the post office would be one of them...its so interesting to me! - also a pilot, Amazon box packer, Maggie Homes personal assistant, trauma nurse, inside the MT washi tape factory, for milligram, a kindergarten teacher, stewardess, a contractor, surgeon and an and obstetrician purely delivering babies, and a police officer just to name a few  In the case of a Priority flat rate box, it does nothing to change the rate but it would create a container that 12x12 material can be shipped in without bending it. FWIW, I believe for the actual flat rate, single price boxes, you aren’t supposed to alter the shape of the box either, but you can do it with the non-flat rate Priority boxes that are priced by weight. That is where the Easy Fold Mailers I mentioned come in cheaper to ship, because physically they weigh about six ounces, which is four ounces less than an empty medium Priority box. They are also conveniently the exact right size to hold 12x12 paper, even if it has the branding/UPC strip on it. That extra four ounces of unnecessary cardboard might bump the total package weight up over to the next pound price threshold needlessly, and when that happens the cost to purchase the mailer (about 65¢ each) is much lower than the increased cost of the shipping using the heavier “free” boxes from the P.O, especially if the package is traveling across multiple ship zones. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 8, 2018 17:23:38 GMT
That’s a new one? And you never have trouble with bending I never had anyone tell me their papers were bent. The cardboard on either side prevents that. I printed up my mailing labels on line and I think each pack of about 60 papers was about $7-8 dollars. That’s amazing! Like I’ve mentioned, I use the corrugated Easy Fold mailers that wrap around the stuff and I have had situations where the customer told me their carrier actually FOLDED IT IN HALF to cram it in their mailbox!  I think that’s absolutely crazy, but weird stuff happens sometimes! (But then again, I’ve also had UPS leave six 13x13x13 boxes full of textured cardstock outside, directly under the edge of my roof in a rainstorm to get soaked instead of putting them in my unlocked enclosed front porch, so now I don’t trust any of them to use any common sense.) |
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Post by 950nancy on May 8, 2018 18:20:03 GMT
Last Christmas I sent my mom a couple stacks of 12x12 paper and it fit in a usps flat rate box. I'd like to know how to send 5-10 pieces of 12x12 paper inexpensively. Anyone know? Can you find a large enough tube that would just curl the papers? |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,149
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Post by scrapnnana on May 8, 2018 19:05:03 GMT
I suggest that if you use the thin plastic mailers, even with cardboard sandwich inside to protect the papers, you write in huge letters on the front: "PHOTOS! DO NOT BEND!"
Technically they aren't photos, but they may as well be. It's about the only way to make sure the mail carrier doesn't try to fold it, bend it, or whatever to cram it into the mailbox. They have to treat it like a package that way. It will cost more, because they have to take it to the porch, but it is less likely to get folded in half and shoved into the mailbox. Unfortunately, some mail carriers are lazy and will wedge anything into the mailbox that they can make fit to avoid having to come to the porch. Mine does, anyway.
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on May 8, 2018 19:24:07 GMT
I suggest that if you use the thin plastic mailers, even with cardboard sandwich inside to protect the papers, you write in huge letters on the front: "PHOTOS! DO NOT BEND!" Technically they aren't photos, but they may as well be. It's about the only way to make sure the mail carrier doesn't try to fold it, bend it, or whatever to cram it into the mailbox. They have to treat it like a package that way. It will cost more, because they have to take it to the porch, but it is less likely to get folded in half and shoved into the mailbox. Unfortunately, some mail carriers are lazy and will wedge anything into the mailbox that they can make fit to avoid having to come to the porch. Mine does, anyway. I had to request a new college diploma once, the mailman managed to fold it in half to get it into the mailbox... Definitely, make the package as unbendy as possible. |
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Post by Basket1lady on May 9, 2018 5:35:25 GMT
Ok, I gotta ask. When I get my orders from A Cherry On Top, they come in a flat rate Priority box. They put the 12x12 papers in a ziplock bag taped to a 12x12 piece of cardboard and put it in the box. It isn't bent at all. Aren't 12x12 papers with price/identification strip at the top still 12 inches wide and 12 1/2 inches long?
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on May 9, 2018 17:55:00 GMT
Ok, I gotta ask. When I get my orders from A Cherry On Top, they come in a flat rate Priority box. They put the 12x12 papers in a ziplock bag taped to a 12x12 piece of cardboard and put it in the box. It isn't bent at all. Aren't 12x12 papers with price/identification strip at the top still 12 inches wide and 12 1/2 inches long? Head smack! Why didn't I think of this? By taping the ziplock bag to a 12x12 piece of cardboard, they can angle the papers in the box, and keep them from bending but still have them fit. It would be just enough space. The priority mail box is longer than wider, so the slightly longer paper side shouldn't be a problem. |
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Post by gale w on May 9, 2018 19:05:12 GMT
I've shipped 12 x 12 in a medium flat rate box and they didn't really bend at all. I think the box is something like 11.75" wide but they kind of went in diagonally. Other options are the regional rate. I think regional rate B is big enough for 12 x 12 paper. For smaller amounts I bought cardboard mailers from amazon and I think 12 or 14 sheets is less than a pound in them.
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Post by gale w on May 9, 2018 19:06:13 GMT
Did not even realize this thread is almost 4 yrs old.  |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,149
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Post by scrapnnana on May 9, 2018 21:13:34 GMT
Did not even realize this thread is almost 4 yrs old. I was surprised to see it re-surface, too, but I am still doing paper swaps with an old scrapping buddy once or twice a year. I just sent one off to her, but I will keep these suggestions in mind when I mail the next one. The last one was very heavy, and very expensive! |
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I think that’s absolutely crazy, but weird stuff happens sometimes!
