posted on January 29, 2006 03:37:34 PM
Hi, all: I've been online for about an hour, trying to find a good price for 100 #4 bubble envelopes. No matter how the eBay sellers figure it (low BIN but high shipping, high BIN but low shipping), it always seems to come out to 40 cents per envelope for me (I live on the west coast and mailing costs are usually higher).
I found one seller on eBay, Haddaways, and for $9.99 per 100 envelopes, plus $24 shipping from Kentucky to Calif., I'm getting the envelopes for 34 cents each. For those of you who live closer to Kentucky, it'll be less than that. Just search for seller: Haddaways, on Ebay.
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in Haddaways, and in fact had never heard of them until today. But in the spirit of passing along good buys, I've posted this message.
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posted on January 29, 2006 05:55:40 PM
They cost more to mail than what they are worth. Try to find them at a local discount/dollar store for about 3 or 4 for $1.
posted on January 29, 2006 06:12:51 PM
I'd love to find them for 4/$1--but we don't have a decent dollar store within an hour's drive, dang it. And they've always been even more expensive at Staple's. I'll keep looking.
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posted on January 29, 2006 06:48:03 PM
try a local auction house...www.auctionzip.com
we have one that runs a staples overstock/return/whatever auction every other month. filing cabinets $5...envelopes by the tote full....pallets of paper....
All comes from area Staples...(probably a return center), most of the product is brand new. Best deal I got was a case of assorted monitor glare/privacy filters(10 pcs)---$2/box.
Other great deals, were file folders (wierd, obsolete ones)...great for sending media mail books.
posted on January 29, 2006 07:01:43 PM
papermart or paddedshippers are two great sites...just depends on the amount...but if you know you are going to use them..go for the free shipping and quantity. Heck...you can always turn around and sell the excess on eBay
posted on January 29, 2006 07:21:46 PM
ULINE shipping and supply at www.uline.com .
Uline brand Self Seal Bubble Mailer
Size #4, order number S-9988 100 to a case
1 case $37.00
3 case $35.00
5 case $31.00
10 case $30.00
20 case $28.00
30+ case $(20 case price and free frieght)
I buy all my shipping supplies from ULINE. I just make sure I have a large enough order and shipping via freight is a flat $50.00 to commercial address or $100.00 to residential address. Flat rate shipping via freight has no limit on how much you order. 1 box or a entire 53 foot trailer full is the same charge.
They say your memory's the second thing to go, I just can't remember what the first thing is.
posted on January 29, 2006 08:33:55 PM
Why purchase the more expensive bubble envelopes? When you can make your own bubble envelope for a lot less.
1. Go to your favorite name brand discount store and purchase a box or container of your favorite size manila envelopes. A good example would the be the 9 x 12 or 10 x13 size manila envelope. 2. Purchase a roll of bubble wrap. 3. Trim the bubble wrap to match the size of item to be mailed and wrap the desired amount bubble wrap around it. 4. Take two of your manila evelopes, place one inside the other. Yes, you can do this. Once you have one envelope partially inside the other, hold one hand at end of the outside envelopesas a brace and push with the other hand to force the inside envelope into the other. Walla, you now have a two ply thicker envelope. 5. Now, you're ready to place the previous bubble wrapped item inside the double envelope. Once the bubble wrapped item is inside the double envelope, moisten both flaps together and allow them to stick. You can also place a strip of scotch tape across the flaps to additional secure the flaps. Result: you now have a bubble envelope for a lot less than you would pay for a ready made bubble envelope. I do this method all the time and it really works. I have saved a lot of money by not having to buy the pre-made bubble envelopes. Try this method. It works and your Welcome
posted on January 29, 2006 09:02:04 PM
I usually mail my postcards in regular envelopes inside rigid sleeves but when people have big orders I use CD mailers - a great size for pc's and I got 400 of them for 21 cents apiece (including shipping) from esuppystore on ebay. I checked on the #4 to California and an order of 200 would come to about $75 including shipping.
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posted on January 29, 2006 09:16:05 PM
I have four boxes of manilla envelopes, bought them for mailing rubber stamps & they are not really strong enough. I switched to bubble envelopes.
Bought them at Quills. Anyone remember that terrific buy-out they had. It was posted here & darn if I can remember who posted it, but I want to thank you again for saving many of us a lot of money.
Thanks jellis for a great idea on how to use those leftover manilla envelopes & I have a roll of bubble wrap I need to use up too.
posted on January 29, 2006 10:04:22 PM
Mcjane: Thanks for the thanks! I was the one who discovered the Quill deals. Keep going back to see if they're doing it again (like a squirrel on his regular route looking for nuts), but no luck, alas.
Mikes4x: You suggest $37 for a case, not counting shipping, when I paid $34 total for 100. I always factor in the shipping for the total amount I'm paying for those envelopes. Wish I could use quantities, but probably 300 at a time is all I could store.
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posted on January 30, 2006 07:21:31 AM
I know roadsmith. It get's cheap when you buy in quantity. I myself have just come to the decision that when I buy my shipping supplies I now do it once or twice a year. Buy huge quantities, prices go way down and pay almost nothing for freight. Luckily I have alot of storage space to store my excess shipping supplies until they are needed.
What would be nice is if in each state we could get groups of ebay sellers together that need shipping supplies on a regular basis. Combine our packing supply order needs and place one big order every month or so. People would then only have to drive a few miles to pick up their supplies but it would be alot cheaper than shipping the supplies directly to them. Kind of a ebay shipping supply buyers co-op.
They say your memory's the second thing to go, I just can't remember what the first thing is.
