envy
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posted on May 17, 2001 08:04:56 PM new
What do you ship books in? Where do you get your supplies? Any other helpful hints? Thanks in advance!!
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piano29
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posted on May 17, 2001 09:34:35 PM new
Hi - Generally, I use padded mailing envelopes for single books. I wrap the book itself in plain white tissue, and scotch tape it, then put it into the mailer and seal that with clear packing tape. I've even stapled those closed in the past.
In the case of multiple books, depending on the size, I use USPS Priority Mail boxes, with the books in bubble wrap.
I've also received a lot of books from shops all over North America, and they seem to be doing things pretty much the same way.
The padded mailers, labels for the addys, tape, bubble wrap and tissue paper are all available at Office Max, right down the street from me, so I get 'em all there.
Hope this is helpful -- I'm sure there are many other good methods, too! 
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jt-2007
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posted on May 17, 2001 09:34:47 PM new
Something recycled usually. A NEW 5 cent paper bag folded over for cheap paperbacks. I buy them from the grocery 1000 at a time. A used bubble mailer inside that if I can, if not a macaroni cheese box overwrapped. A clean box from a dumpster for hardbacks. Sturdy household boxes. Clear tape.
A friend at a hospital brings me TONS of free stuff that sterile surgical supplies come packed in (bubble wrap n peanuts n stuff)
and the cardboards that go between unexposed x-ray films are heavier than poasterboard and make great stiffeners layered.
All my neighbors save their newspapers and junk mail packaging for me. The post office saves boxes. Texaco clerks deliver them to my back porch. The hardware calls me for pickups. And I DO dumpster dive if all else fails.
I ship actual media rate and I buy actual media rate for books. I ship lots of larger items too.
Only by bags (grocery store)and tape($1 a roll, Dollar General).
T.
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abacaxi
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posted on May 18, 2001 06:24:30 AM new
Envy -
Books have to be protected against water damage and against "corner bumping" (where the cover corners get mashed under by collisions with other objects).
Tape it into a plastic baggie, sealing the seam completely. Then pack it into something so the book is NOT the hardest part of the package.
I use soda flats - it's very easy to slice one partly in half, crease and fold it into a box to cover the book.
Any kind of sturdy cardboard protector will do for most books - cut down larger boxes.
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marlenedz
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posted on May 18, 2001 06:38:01 AM new
I generally buy my packaging material since it's hard to find good free boxes at the grocery store that are suitable for books without having to dump tons of peanuts or bubble wrap in it.
There are tons of places on the net and ebay has some good ones too. Alot of times it just depends on where you live since the shipping costs can be high. You can call in your town for prices (look in the yellow pages under boxes or shipping suppplies).
Here are places that I buy from:
Bookfolds and small depth boxes --www.packagingprice.com
and 123pix.com
Corugated mailers--#5 at buy.com and staples online if I have a coupon. buy.com has #5 for only 65 for a case of 200. The last time I bought 2 and shipping was free. I love these! I really believe that just as much damage can be done by the mailman who trys to stuff the books into the mailbox than at the processing center. You can't stuff these into the box unless its a small one. They don't bend very well like a bubble mailer and they have to take it to your door.
Bubble mailers --123pix.com and pakoutlet.com
123pix has a better quality mailer since the bubbles are a bit thicker than jiffy-lites.
Tape--Viking Office Supply --their sale catalog that gets mailed to my home has better prices than their online products at http://www.vikingop.com/ I bought a case for .50 each of 1.7 mil Buy.com has good prices too. I also buy it at the flea market.
Video mailers--http://www.schragebox.com only .27/each plus shipping.
I stick my books in a plastic grocery bags So far I haven't had any complaints but I did notice that when this topic comes up most people wrap them in poly bags.
So far I have shipped 3500 books and not one has been lost and only one was ripped apart and dropped in water. Knock on wood. I ship about 30/70 priority and media mail.
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eventer
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posted on May 18, 2001 07:19:55 AM new
So far I haven't had any complaints but I did notice that when this topic comes up most people wrap them in poly bags
I use inexpensive freezer bags..seal nicely, should handle most any weather condition & keep the books from freezer burn. 
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skip555
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posted on May 18, 2001 09:40:33 AM new
I double bag them in the plastic bags that grocries come in...they work great wadded up as filler also lighter then newspaper and it keeps them out of the local landfill....
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Oblio327
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posted on May 18, 2001 09:49:45 AM new
I use the USPS prioty video box (large). It fits most book sizes very well. I wrap the book in a plastic zip bag and add paper for cushining. The best this is the boxes are free.
You do have to wrap them in brown paper to get the media rate though.
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engelskdansk
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posted on May 18, 2001 09:54:24 AM new
I wasn't aware that using priority boxes for anything other than priority mail was sanctioned by the post office (i.e., wrapping them in brown paper for media mail)....
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Zazzie
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posted on May 18, 2001 10:09:18 AM new
I know some people who file complaints to the Post Master when they receive 'New' Priority boxes that have been turned inside out and mailed by Media Mail.
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skip555
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posted on May 18, 2001 10:31:11 AM new
using priorty boxs for media rate or anything other than priority is STEALING the box's are for priority shipment only....why not just go to Wall-mart and shoplift some padded envolopes they would be free also!!!
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abacaxi
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posted on May 18, 2001 05:33:15 PM new
Oblio327 -
The boxes are only free if you are sending priority rate items ... if you use a cheaper rate the USPS can and will charge the difference to the recipient.
I have left negative FB for a seller who sent a book by media mail rate, because when the wrapping on the priority box ripped, the USPS charged me the postage due.
A second one just turned the box inside out, and the PO where I get my mail noticed it and charged me extra.
In both cases, the USPS took the name and address of the seller and handed it over to the Inspeciton service.
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plaza
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posted on May 18, 2001 07:37:46 PM new
i had a package to arrive ups yesterday and to my surprise when i opened it it was package in a priority mail box that had been folded wrong side out and then taped. this should work great for the media mail. it will just require a little more tape and the boxes are still free!
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plaza
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posted on May 18, 2001 07:39:05 PM new
i had a package to arrive ups yesterday and to my surprise when i opened it it was package in a priority mail box that had been folded wrong side out and then taped. this should work great for the media mail. it will just require a little more tape and the boxes are still free!
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