posted on March 4, 2001 08:51:53 AM new
I'd like to know how big a box I need to pack a plate or plates. I've read that when packing you need two inches between the item and the box. Plates to me are a real problem because with some of them running ten and one half inches in diameter that means you need a fourteen inch plus box on the sides. One professional told me he uses 14" x 14" X 14" boxes. That means a lot of packing material. Thin boxes aren't that easily come by.
I've seen some eBayers say "We bubble wrap and use styrofoam peanuts." Their shipping rates are always expensive. I'm sure shipping rates cut into the amount people are willing to bid. It seems that the professional china people use paper to wrap their glass.
Does anyone know the actual percentage weight difference in a box packed with peanuts, bubblewrap, or newspaper.
Any help on this subject would be appreciated. Thanks
posted on March 4, 2001 09:21:33 AM new
This is a toughie and will probably start a big argument.
First, let me say that I use bubblewrap on everything; as far as I'm concerned, there is no substitute, and it really isn't that expensive.
But for packaging materials, I use peanuts or shredded paper, or sometimes a combination of both.
If a plate weighs a pound, or nearly a pound, I know there is no way I can pack and ship it for less than 2 pounds, right? So I will usually go with my shredded paper. A teapot, on the other hand, which requires a lot of "dead" space, I may can save a pound of shipping by using peanuts.
I don't quite trust peanuts in the bottom for a very heavy item (though a lot of people do, and I don't want to argue with them), so I'll sometimes pad the bottom with shredded paper, then finish out with peanuts.
To get an idea, weigh your object and the box it is going to be packed in, and consider what would be a reasonable expectation for packaging materials. (If that isn't clear, let me know and I'll try to explain it better, though experience is really the only way to get a "feel" for these things.)
I've never had a complaint about my packaging (in fact, most buyers praise it in my feedback), either in cost of shipping or the way a shipment was packaged.
BTW, my bank president came up with the idea of saving the bank's shredded paper for me, and I am over-supplied with it. It's free, it's clean (unlike newspaper), and it works wonderfully....again, sometimes with peanuts, and sometimes without.
As far as the boxes for a plate or plates, this is sometimes a problem for me too. If I had a place to store a skid or more...however many you have to order....I would have USPS custom make me some about 14-15 x 14-15 x 6 or so...then cut them down as needed. I'm always on the lookout for boxes that will make good plate-shippers, but have successfully used the 12x15 flat box for a single plate, and the 12x12 for multiples...but always with lots of bubblewrap. I just can't get around the need for bubblewrap.
Have you ever noticed that manufacturers ship plates standing up? When I have multiples, I try to find a box they will stand in. If stacked, their own weight can damage them if handled roughly.
There was a link in here that showed a picture of a big sack of peanuts alongside a small stack of newspaper, both of which weighed the same. Does anyone know where I saw that?
posted on March 4, 2001 09:30:03 AM new
gc2 has given excellent advice. There is no "easy" way to do this to save on costs. We also put a styrofoam or soft foam pad in the bottom of the box. Bubblewrap is the best item to use around the plates.
We moved 8 times in 3 years and saved a lot of money each time by doing our own packing. The movers advised me to pack the plates on edge because of the weight and none were ever broken.
Not to say that your package won't be flipped many times on it's way to it's destination but if the address is on the top hopefully it will spend part of the route standing the right way. Just make sure it is padded well on all four sides plus the top and bottom.
posted on March 4, 2001 09:57:40 AM new
When packing plates I always put tissue paper or pattern paper around them and then bubble wrap them. I put the tissue paper around them because I had a piece of pottery craze one time when I stored it wrapped in plastic. I also use masking tape instead of priority or packing tape. There is nothing worse than unpacking something that's wrapped in bubblewrap with lots and lots of priority tape on it. It's tricky getting these packages open without damaging the item. Another pet peeve I have is receiving something wrapped in newspaper only. Sellers should know that newspapers can leave black marks.
I have had lots of good feedback on my packing skills and haven't lost anything yet. Knock on wood!
posted on March 4, 2001 10:07:13 AM new
All of these are good and diverse ideas, and some of them could save some real headaches. Plese keep them coming.
posted on March 4, 2001 10:17:17 AM newbck, I didn't even want to mention it here, as most may think it's frivolous, but I always wrap a piece in white tissue first...buy it just for this.
One, it's a nice touch. Two, sometimes the edges of the bubblewrap feel sharp or rough to me, and I'm always afraid it might scratch the piece. I never say anything about it, because I've always thought it was probably 'overkill' on my part, but I'm glad to hear someone else does it, too! LOL!!
abacaxi I stayed out of the "shipping in pizza boxes" debate here while back, but the truth is....at one time I had stacks of unused, unprinted pizza boxes, which I used extensively until the better sizes were gone. All I have left are the little bitty ones and the huge monstrous ones. Long before eBay, I shipped plates and records across the country in them. (For multiple plates, I would pack one or two in a box, then stand the boxes in another box.
But, Getalife, please don't use pre-used pizza boxes with food and ants in them, or you may be reading about yourself here!
Also, bck, does the masking tape turn loose more easily? I've been using my priority tape (if it was a priority shipment), thinking nothing would turn loose of that bubblewrap easily. I always turn a 'pull-tab' down on the tape though, in hopes the customer can get hold of it and rip.
posted on March 4, 2001 11:03:09 AM newI would have USPS custom make me some about 14-15 x 14-15 x 6 or so...then cut them down as needed.
Will the post office do this? I had no idea! Is a skid the same thing as a pallet? I have a continual need for boxes large enough to hold 4 Priority Box 7's inside (yes my PO knows I do this--they deliver them to me for this purpose--and the big box ships via priority) and I am continually scrounging or paying big $$ for big enough boxes.
posted on March 4, 2001 11:13:55 AM newPsyllie, yes, the post office claims they will custom make priority boxes at no charge, but I've never checked into it, although I have seen some that were non-standard. But like I said, it's a huge amount you have to take.
They will also custom print your labels (with your return only, of course), but, again, I haven't done it.
Perhaps someone else on this Board can tell us more?
posted on March 4, 2001 01:24:33 PM new
Thanks gc2--I will check out those custom boxes!
I have had the labels printed with my return address. Nothing special--but does save a little time.
I have had good luck with packaging 2 to 4 plates in the Box 7--I've done it once or twice with the large dinner plates getalife mentioned, but usually do it with smaller plates. What I do is bubblewrap each plate and stack with a thick square of cardboard between each plate (on top of the bubble wrap) and then "band" the stack of plates with a strip of cardboard that's an inch or so wider then the plates all the way around--sort of creates a custom box for the plates. I pad the bottom of the box with a couple of inches of newspaper, put in the packed plates and pad all around that with newspaper (including the top). Nothing moves in that box once I'm done. So far so good.
posted on March 4, 2001 01:58:18 PM new
There's masking tape and then there's masking tape. The kind I'm using right now is sticky and I've never had a problem with it. I wish I could tell you what brand it is but I bought a boxful at an auction for $2.00 and have plenty to last for a long time. When I started I had some crummy stuff I tried and ended up giving it to the kids. After that I bought a name brand but unfortunatly I can't remember what kind it was-too long ago. Another bonus to masking tape is it tears-no scissors needed!
posted on March 4, 2001 02:08:59 PM new
I have sent over 2000 items. Mostly pottery and glass. NO BREAKAGE. I put 1 layer of bubble wrap between each plate and stack them. Then bubble wrap TIGHTLY around the whole thing. I have found about 1" of peanuts are sufficient. Just as long as you use enough bubble wrap and STUFF the peanuts tightly along the edges. The important thing is that everything is firm so it doesn't shift around.
posted on March 4, 2001 02:52:54 PM new
I sell records and of course my wife has me sell her items also..for shipping her plates i use record album boxes..you can get them from 1" deep to 4" deep..they are 13" square and are lots stronger than pizza boxes..use bubble wrap of course..never had any breakage yet..boxes cost 60 cents each..
posted on March 4, 2001 03:18:33 PM new
I have not shipped many plates, but the ones I did I wrapped in bubble wrap individually, then together, then I cut two pieces of styrofoam insulation board so it just fit into the box, and was larger than the plates, and put one on top the other on the bottom and taped the whole thing together. then pack peanuts all around. It wasn't pretty, but the buyer liked it. You can get a 4 foot by 8 foot by 1/2 inch sheet of the stuff at a building center for 7 or 8 bucks and the whole sheet only weights about a pound and a half.
posted on March 4, 2001 03:35:19 PM new
If you want slabs of styrofoam, your grocery store receives certain produce items (particularly grapes, for some reason) in nice styrofoam flats, with a top and a bottom; they aren't re-used, so the store is usually happy to give them away.
posted on March 4, 2001 10:11:59 PM new
If you are shipping a lot of plates on eBay you may want to get a roll of polyethylene foam. This comes in big rolls or varying thickness like bulk bubble wrap and can be perforated and cut to size by your local packing supply company. Then when you have a stack of plates you just rip off a sheet and insert it between the plates. You can get it cut to varying sizes for different plates, saucers, etc. Replacements (The big china matching company) uses this stuff. If the stack of plates is very heavy, like Pfaltzgraff, you may want to ship the stack vertically instead of one atop the other. The accumulated weight may break the bottom few plates no matter how well you pack.
posted on March 4, 2001 10:57:55 PM new
I shipped an entire service of Herend (6-piece settings for 8). I used the thin foam mentioned above wrapped around each piece and taped then a sheet of bubble wrap between each plate, saucer, whatever.
I cut up one of those foam egg crate mattress covers and put it on all sides of the box.
Amazingly, it was MUCH cheaper to ship the set in six priority boxes rather than one big one! It's size more than weight that seems to run up shipping costs.
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Five cents is fine! FVF? Forgedaboutit!
