tomwiii
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posted on September 11, 2000 04:52:01 AM
Well, I finally broke down & changed my shipping terms! For my first 4 mos. on eBay, I've offered ONLY Priority with DC.
Why? Because I felt that, for the price, it was a fast & secure method for shipping my audiobooks & videos & cd's.
Now with the rate hike looming, I've decided to also offer Book Rate ("Media Mail" ! Makes for a lot more work & expense as I now have to PURCHASE the boxes!
Anyhoo, the ? is: does anybody know a CHEAP source for SMALL (10x7x4 approx) boxes that can be purchased in small quantities -- say 50 at a time?
THANK YOU guys! 
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loosecannon
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posted on September 11, 2000 05:41:42 AM
You might try your local Office Supply stores. Especially the large "warehouse" type like Office Max and the like. They have shipping supplies. That's where I purchased a supply of small check-sized boxes for shipping small items First Class. Nice boxes I got for about .17 cents a piece. You might find a similar deal but yours might be a little higher than that.
[ edited by loosecannon on Sep 11, 2000 05:47 AM ]
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abacaxi
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posted on September 11, 2000 05:43:56 AM
Check into using "b-flute" ... rolls of single faced corrugated cardboard. And a BIG pliers type stapler.
Bought in a 30-350 ft roll of 12" wide, you can wrap 100+ videos with several layers of the stuff for 7-10 cents a foot, and it will adapt to all sizes of items.
For those items that need extra protection, grab a bunch of sorda flats from the grocery store and slice chunks of cardboard.
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losttoys
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posted on September 11, 2000 07:36:25 AM
tomwiii,
I buy all of my boxes from uline. They have a website (http://www.uline.com/) that makes it a breeze to order.
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Linda_K
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posted on September 11, 2000 07:49:50 AM
tomwiii - I'm sure your customers are going to appreciate the lower cost shipping.  I do whenever a seller gives the choice of PM or bookrate (soon to be Media Mail).
Another suggestion for boxes would be to do a search on ebay, Yahoo, etc. There are many sellers, on ebay (with FB near and over 10,000) who sell all types of things sellers need to ship their items.
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tomwiii
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posted on September 11, 2000 08:13:15 AM
THANK YOU ALL!
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eventer
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posted on September 11, 2000 08:44:46 AM
tomwiii,
Don't pay Office Depot/Max/Warehouse prices. If you are in a big enough city, check out your yellow pages "box manufacturers" or "shipping containers". Find a local manufacturer of boxes
I buy "overruns" (they usually make more than an order requires, then get stuck w/odd amounts) from them at a fraction of the price the Office places want for theirs. And now, they even call me when they suspect they might have an overrun in the size I need.
They also sell other supplies, bought 500 count of bubble envelopes for $.13 each from them. Check it out...
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barrelracer
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posted on September 11, 2000 10:12:21 AM
I second eventer.
Boxes at the Office Max/Depot etc. nearest me want a fortune for their boxes.
I worked out a deal with the lady that runs the local "UPS" branch (she owns it, ships for you) and between the 2 of us we order/buy enough boxes in quantity to get the best price for volume.
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helnjoe
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posted on September 11, 2000 03:47:13 PM
losttoys:
I have the Uline catalog and I ended up buying my padded bags from a guy on eBay. Same bags and they were cheaper, the shipping was less and I got them within 24 hours. Can't beat our buddies on eBay!
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figmente
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posted on September 11, 2000 03:55:10 PM
Notice that especially for CDs first class mail makes even better sense, at 4-6 oz .99 to 1.43.
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preacher4u
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posted on September 11, 2000 05:33:50 PM
BTW
Does anybody knows the cheapest place to buy packing peanuts (besides uline.com) and how much does it costs to ship them?
------------------------------------------------------------
I'm breathing so I guess I'm still alive
Even the signs seemed to tell me otherwise
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/preacher4u/
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helnjoe
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posted on September 11, 2000 07:32:20 PM
I'm willing to bet that any gift store would be glad to have you take them off their hands. I gave hundreds of boxes away to a packaging store. They got free delivery, free peanuts, and then they resold them! 
AND!!!When I needed something packaged and shipped they wanted to charge me for the peanuts! She couldn't even say "duh" when I walked out. Go figure.
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eventer
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posted on September 11, 2000 07:47:59 PM
preacher4u,
You might also try an auto parts place. Sounds odd, but I've found a number of parts come packed in peanuts & they throw them out by the barrel.
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loosecannon
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posted on September 11, 2000 09:21:26 PM
tomwii
When you're through looking all over creation for box manufacturers who are willing to sell overruns at give away prices, try Office Max.
Time is money.
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eventer
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posted on September 11, 2000 10:09:03 PM
Right, loosecannon. It takes a whole 2 minutes to look in the phone directory, then make a phone call & see if they have anything.
Office Max wants $.50 each for the boxes I pay less than $.20 for...THAT is money. And, they usually toss in boxes that look a bit "stained"..as if my customers care, so I end up getting them for even less.
Now if you have money to burn & want to burn it at Office Max rather than a few minutes on the phone...help yourself.
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loosecannon
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posted on September 11, 2000 10:15:33 PM
Eventer
I am not going to argue with you. I paid .17 cents apiece for my boxes, and at Office Max.
His may cost a little more than the ones I needed. I told him that.
Hey, you jumped all over the advice I gave him. Now you're jumping all over me. What's your problem?
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eventer
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posted on September 11, 2000 10:35:30 PM
I don't have a clue where you perceive the problem to be, loosecannon, other than I offered alternate opinions.
IF he has box manufacturers in his town & they have the sizes he needs, he might find them cheaper than Office Whatever. It's worked for me but well might not be the solution for everyone..for whatever reason. Plus I've also found they have a bigger selection of boxes.
As to your second post, again, I offered an alternate opinion which I believe is what this forum is all about.
He doesn't have to run all over town, a couple of phone calls should let him know if they can help him. If not, there's always the Office places.
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Borillar
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posted on September 11, 2000 10:40:52 PM
PAPERMART
http://www.papermart.com
SCHRAGE BOX
http://www.schragebox.com/
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hamburgler
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posted on September 12, 2000 06:06:41 AM
Go to Hallmark and other high traffic gift shops and ask for their boxes....I make a round every week on a specific day. I can get every kind of box size you can think of. They will also have peanuts styrofoam and other odds and ends. As to your specific size.... have you tried your local Blockbust/Video rental store. I know they would get them more then one per box but maybe they also have small ones.
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