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source for shipping boxes

Joined
Jan 18, 2020
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I'm unloading, er... gifting, some of my bowls to family this holiday season, and have just finished packing up a batch in cut-down moving boxes. I tried looking online for a source of appropriately sized and shaped (i.e. square) boxes but can't find much. Where do you guys and gals get boxes for shipping bowls in small quantities?
 
Joined
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Aldi's....walmart when 24 hour operation go in 4 - 5 am, grocery stores early
 
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Staples, Offiec Depot, Home Depot all sell cardboard boxes. If you're not finding the sizes you need you might try Uline, and I bet Grainger and McMaster Carr would have them. If there is a shipping store near you they have boxes. But nothing is cheaper than a grocery or liquor store with unwanted empties.
 
Joined
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Depending on the size of your bowls USPS provides free boxes for their priority mail service. Pick them up for free at the post office or order bundles of them online and they will deliver them in a week or so - don't expect speedy delivery. If you do ship with the post office beware that their shipping times are ridiculous this season. My 2 and 3-day priority shipments all seem to be taking about a week at this point.

Office Max/Depot and Staples usually have an assortment of sizes when buying just a few boxes. Local shipping stores, mailbox places, UPS stores, etc. always have an assortment of sizes at the highest prices.
If you want 20 or 50 of a single size shop online with U-Line or Amazon. Uline.com is easier to find stuff on. Amazon you might have to re-phrase your search a few times to get exactly what you want. Either of these you're going to be stuck with bundles of 25 or more per size.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
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You may also be able to find a local maker of shipping boxes, under 'shipping supplies'. I got a bunch from one person locally. They tend to have more sizes available than the big box stores, and they probably also have big bags of the corn starch/biodegradable packing peanuts.

robo hippy
 
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
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Liquor stores have boxes that with lids and can be cut down. Been told that they are heavier than standard cardboard boxes. Great for moving, too. Don't take a lot to fill so they are easily carried or stacked on a hand truck. You should have seen the looks when I moved in for my first church!
 
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You can never find the right sized box for the items you are shipping, a sharp razor knife can cut a bigger box down to the size you need and reduce the cost of shipping.
Most parcel shippers go off of the dimension of the box and then the weight. Craigslist usually has postings for free moving boxes if you can find some in your area. Most big box stores throw away tons of cardboard each year from products shipped to their locations each week. Appliance dealers are a good source for large pieces of cardboard that the appliances come shipped in.
 
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
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Karl, be sure to let the people know that a box is on its way so they watch for it. I recently sent one to a cousin and did not tell him it was on the way. After 10 days I checked the routing info and it had been delivered but in checking he never got it. We assume it was a porch pirate. Some people never go out via the front porch so don't check unless a delivery is anticipated
 
Joined
Jan 18, 2020
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Thanks, everyone. I've got plenty of moving boxes and Amazon boxes, generally of the wrong size. I cut down as well as I could. I found out (the hard way) today at the post office how important box size is. In the future I think that I may order some boxes from Uline -- thanks for that suggestion, Mark and Forrest.
 
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a while back..... Hehe.....there was discussion about packing a turning for shipping....seems to me it was suggested u needed 6 inches around turning of those Styrofoam pellets....u might do search
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2015
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Seattle, WA
I use the UPS store. They pack it for you which means it's insured against loss and/or damage. If the item is especially valuable you pay extra beyond the basic insurance. I believe the pricing is based on weight. It'll be more expensive than flat rate at the post office, but much simpler. You drop the item off at the UPS store, no muss or fuss.

Years ago we had an interesting experience with UPS. Expensive blown glass wall sconces had to be shipped from Seattle to Portland, OR. We had UPS send a packaging specialist out to suggest the type boxes needed. Custom boxes were made with internal support for the fragile glass. He came back out to sign off on the shipment before the truck came.

UPS broke every single one of them. As usual UPS initially denied the claim. Once shown the signed paper work they paid up. Around $30K.
 
Joined
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Ouch! I shipped something via UPS once, and they packed it for me. I didn't like the way they packed it, even though it got there unharmed. I have learned to rely on myself to get things properly packaged. I do like putting puzzles together, and that is what packaging is... Depending on what you are shipping, the shipping supply stores have the best selection of boxes.

robo hippy
 
Joined
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Newspaper makes good packing material. Plus, whoever gets the package can read the news from your area. Comics are my favorite.
Had a college buddy who worked in a truck terminal one summer. The joke was if the package said "Fragile," you were to throw it underhanded.
 
Joined
Feb 6, 2010
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Brandon, MS
Note the print on newspaper can get on your product. Of interest if you store glass wrapped in newsprint it will leave a permanent haze on the glass. The end rolls from printing newspaper is excellent wrap and since there is not enough left to run thru presses it is free at paper office
 
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