maeveronica
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posted on February 13, 2001 09:31:41 PM new
Can someone please provide that link on how to package books properly? I need to educate an online friend...(who shipped me a book loose in a tyvek envelope).
Thanks!
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bigred66
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posted on February 13, 2001 09:58:55 PM new
Hi...I don't have any kind of link but I've shipped tons and tons of books and get great feedback for my packing job. Every book I ship out goes first in a poly bag that I tape shut...just in case the outer packing should get wet along the way...the book will remain dry. Secondly, I use small bubble bubble wrap around the book to protect it against being bumped along the way. Third...I either place the book (depending on it's size and price paid) either in a bubble envelope or padded mailer or a box and I use ALOT of tape along the seams to insure that my package is not going to get opened at any time in transit thru the p.o. I package my stuff like I'm sending it thru WWIII and my customers appreciate the time and effort I put into packaging their item. For all this...I charge my customers an additional quarter on top the actual book rate shipping to help defray the cost of packing materials. Alot of family and friends think I should charge more but heck...I want my customers to remember the great deal I gave them and hopefully come back to buy from me again. Hope this helps you out. You can tell your friend I have over 1700 positives on Ebay and boku experience in the book shipping dept. ;>
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victoria
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posted on February 13, 2001 10:27:01 PM new
Here's the packing thread and instructions I think you are looking for.
http://www92.pair.com/soufla/packingtips.htm
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&id=313602&thread=313428
[ edited by victoria on Feb 13, 2001 10:27 PM ]
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bibliophile
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posted on February 14, 2001 04:41:53 AM new
B-flute (the method described in victoria's link) is unquestionably the cheapest, quickest, and best method to use for books, but I'd add one thing: always staple the ends shut (in addition to using tape), and use heavy duty staples. This is important because it freezes the book in place so that no movement is possible in transit (unlike putting it in a box, which in my opinion is fraught with peril). I can package a book from start to finish in less than a minute at a cost of pennies--and satisfy the fussiest collector as well.
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hinz
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posted on February 14, 2001 04:52:33 AM new
There was a thread here some time ago that mentioned not using too much tape when shipping books as it was difficult to open the envelope without harming the book.
I use to tape the envelopes very thightly around the book so it would not move around in shipping. I now leave about 1/4" at one side so they can snip the envelope open without harming the book.
Gail
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/hinz1/
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keziak
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posted on February 14, 2001 05:24:04 AM new
Victoria -
That is one righteous web page, thanks so much! I am ready to get into the "flute" method because I'm spending too much time/energy scrounging boxes. I'll use boxes for a lot of my books, but there are so many that I think would do fine in cardboard.
Anyone have a favorite online supplier of this cardboard?
Guess I need to buy a heavy stapler, too.
keziak
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kudzurose
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posted on February 14, 2001 07:52:50 AM new
keziak - I got some from U-line; two rolls 18" wide and 250 feet each, for just over 40.00 including shipping. www.uline.com is their web site, but I find shopping from their catalog a lot easier. I am very close to one of their distribution centers, so shipping could be higher for others.
It does seem to me that I have received books in some that is heavier than this (from U-line); I think this is working fine, but I'd be interested if there are heavier weights of it, and where they are available.
KR
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mballai
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posted on February 14, 2001 08:58:36 AM new
Although I have used boxes for some shipments, I have continued to use padded mailers with complete success. A lot has to do with the book: the bigger and heavier ones need nore padding. I know that there are some who will say that it's not enough to use a padded mailer, but I have mailed hundreds of books so far this way with no problem.
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bibliophile
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posted on February 14, 2001 11:17:22 AM new
keziak >>>
I'd recommend looking for a local supplier in the yellow pages. The rolls are big--i.e., shipping cost is a factor via mail order. Also, prices (at least in my area) are quite reasonable: about $9 for a 12" roll and $13 for an 18". I don't know if I was clear in my earlier post, but this method is SUPERIOR to using boxes, even in conjunction with bubble wrap, because it stablizes the book and virtually eliminates the possibility of damage. Obviously this isn't a huge issue with less valuable books, and I suppose even padded envelopes might work ok, as one other poster mentioned, but even in that case you'd spending more time and money getting the thing packed than you would using b-flute.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO ISN'T CONVERTED YET?
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bigred66
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posted on February 14, 2001 11:46:19 AM new
I don't fully agree with a lot of staples in a package only because no one is taking into consideration the mail carriers who handle the parcels who's hands or fingers can get pretty chewed up with staples. On the rare occasion I staple a package, I cover those staples with tape.
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keziak
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posted on February 14, 2001 04:45:46 PM new
Bibliophile - I guess I've been thinking of it as more or less like Amazon shipping - they use a box for larger orders or bigger books, but a folded piece of cardboard for paperbacks.
I'm ready to be converted.
I asked about mailorder because I looked in our phone book and found nothing. Am I misunderstanding...should I call a parcel store? Office Depot? I did call them and they claimed to have something, but I need to go look. I didn't find anything that appeared to be a wholesale shipping products company.
keziak
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marlenedz
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posted on February 14, 2001 06:38:25 PM new
Keziak,
Look under boxes or shipping supplies.
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keziak
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posted on February 15, 2001 03:08:59 AM new
Hi - there's nothing under "shipping" [and this isn't a small town, either], but I'll try "boxes." thanks -
keziak
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abacaxi
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posted on February 15, 2001 04:09:34 AM new
Most heavy-duty staplers will recurve the ends of the staples so there are no sharp ends. Avoid the kind that have a habndle that sticks out over the area where the book will be when the b-flute is in the hjaws. It limits the thickness of the packet you can staple.
I use a hand-held "pliers" stapler so the size of the package is not important.
The reason b-flute works where padded mailers don't is that the ends of the b-flute are hard enough, and extend beyond the book far enough, to take the punishment in a bin of packages. Padded mailers and bubblewrap don't work well because the book's cover is the hardest part of the packet, and a diagonal hit will mash the corners of the book's cover.
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bibliophile
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posted on February 15, 2001 04:29:47 AM new
Good point about the edges of the books, abacaxi. As far as staplers go, I use one with an overhead bar that angles upward. Bostich makes them. If I have an especially thick book, I simply turn the thing 45 degrees or so and staple so as to avoid coming down on the book itself. Works great, and you can bang it with your fist all day.
[ edited by bibliophile on Feb 15, 2001 04:32 AM ]
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keziak
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posted on February 15, 2001 06:18:27 AM new
bibliophile - I am shopping ebay for a stapler. There are several Bostitch models listed. Can you tell me what thickness I should look for, in terms of the number of pages they say it will do?
thanks!
keziak
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bibliophile
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posted on February 15, 2001 06:42:26 AM new
I just looked at my stapler, keziak, and there's no discernible model # on it, but it does say "Heavy Duty" and it will shoot up to 3/8" staples. Also, I've only had it about six months. It's a recent model. The 3/8" is enough to penetrate the double layer of b-flute and still leave enough staple leg to anchor the package firmly.
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keziak
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posted on February 15, 2001 07:53:38 AM new
thanks again! I really appreciate the help I get on this board. : - )
keziak
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laum1
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posted on February 15, 2001 10:59:12 AM new
For the low volume book seller - I have used this technique and it works quite well. Especially for paperback books.
I keep a stock of ready cardboard around - various sizes, usually around 9 1/2 x 13 for the larger books and 7 x 10 for the smaller books.
I find the best place to get these is at Costco - they always settle to the bottom of the bin as Costco only recycle boxes, not flat cardboard. One trip will usually fill your shopping cart. Try to use the thinner cardboard as it will reduce the postage charge. Since book mail is by the pound, sometimes it makes a difference. I usually segregate out the cardboard. Save the thinnest one for books that are under one pound.
When I get ready to pack a book, it goes into a small plastic bag. Cut two cardboards to about 1/8 inch larger than the book, all around. Tape the two cardboard to the book by placing a small strip of tape at the middle of each side. Important to have the book first in the plastic bag. Not only protects from rain and also protect from accidentally taping the carboards to the book.
Throw the book into a regular catalog shipping envelope. These are the regular ones sold by office supply. I use the 28 lb ones. Usually, use thin brown tape at both ends of the catalog enevlope for reinforcements.
This method is ideal for books up to about 1 inch thick and not wieghting more than 2 pounds. If heavier, than I use a box or a recycle bubble mailer.
Method is relatively quick and does not require much space - usually I do it right over the paper cutter. If you are low volume shipper, you do not have to stored the roll of cardboard and have extra room to roll out the cardboard at time of shipping. It is also quite inexpensive for the material.
I ship about 600 books annually with this method and have not yet gotten one complaint.
Mike
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keziak
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posted on February 15, 2001 02:15:46 PM new
Mike - I am not sure what you mean by a catalog envelope, but sounds like you are describing the method I have been experimenting with lately. So far no reports of problems, but I am using it only for lightweight thin paperbacks.
I am going to Office Depot tonight to see if they have this b-flute stuff, because I've called several other places with no luck.
I quit my job at the library where I always could scrounge boxes, so that is why I am looking for alternatives. I might have just as much luck having my old pals there save me boxes on the side that I could pick up a couple times a week.
keziak
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laum1
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posted on February 15, 2001 03:54:19 PM new
Catalog envelopes are what is most often used by companies in mailing out brouchures. They are yellowish in color or sometimes brown. Comes with or without gummed flaps and with or without clasps.
They look kind of flimsy but they hold up well. Just look at any office supplies catalog. Usually run about 5 to 7 cents each. By the way, Costco is cheaper than the office supplies for sizes 10 x 13 inches. On 9 x 12, the Costco and the office supplies are about equal.
I like the Tyvek kind of envelopes but those are expensive.
Mike
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