OhMsLucy
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posted on May 27, 2004 09:32:36 PM new
I've been putting off buying boxes for sending small things first class instead of Priority. Mostly because of the cost.
Anyway, I just clicked on the Uline banner up top and found they're having a special on brown corrugated boxes.
Prices are about 1/4 the cost at my local packaging supply place. Example: 6X6X6 - .21 vs .78, 4X4X6 - .19 vs .78.
Even with Uline's very fair shipping charges, I'm saving a lot of money. The order will ship UPS tomorrow from a warehouse here in California. I bet it will arrive Monday.
Lucy
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on May 28, 2004 02:10:58 AM new
Lucy do you have to get dozens or can you get just a few?
I checked them out too and they really do have great price - I'm looking for big boxes.
I have started using DHL and for large items they are so cheap but you have to get your own boxes.
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niel35
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posted on May 28, 2004 04:15:05 AM new
Recently I bot from Uline and it went very smoothly. UPS and they came right away. I will order from them again.
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bob9585
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posted on May 28, 2004 05:55:19 AM new
Over in Business/Industry there is a category for shipping boxes and occasionally there is a real bargain.
Not the regular sellers, ULine, Brasspack, etc, but a regular ebayer dumping a load of boxes acquired cheap.
Not including freight, I just searched and found a couple of deals on 6x6x6 boxes at less than .21 each.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:06:20 AM new
For 6 x 6 x 6, PaperMart charges:
.22 per box
.19 per box if you buy $300 worth
.17 per box if you buy a pallet
Exclusive of shipping, of course.
Lucy, PaperMart ships from L.A. so you get your order very quickly.
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OhMsLucy
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:20:03 AM new
Hi all,
Minimum was 25 of each size.
I don't need really large boxes very often but noticed the other day a local UPS store had huge ones - 24X24X24. Not inexpensive, though. They were several dollars apiece.
Good to know there's more than one source at reasonable prices and fast shipping. If my local packaging supply has to order something it takes ten days. Oh well, they don't call it SLO for nothing! 
Lucy
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capolady
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:43:09 AM new
Pay for boxes???
When you go to the grocery store-Wal Mart or any retailer just walk up and down the aisles with an empty cart. When you see the stock clerks emptying the boxes tell them you'll take them off their hands. Most of the stock clerks will assist you in breaking them down. You can get all the boxes you need in just about every size for nothing.
I've never paid for a box and I have tons of them in all sizes.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 07:46:57 AM new
It makes sense to pay for boxes, especially if you use a flat shipping rate. When you buy boxes in bulk, you always have the exact size you need without incurring extra postage or freight charges.
On these message boards, all you see are tiny slices of other peoples' businesses. Some of us sell so much that scrounging for boxes would be an unprofitable use of our time.
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OhMsLucy
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posted on May 28, 2004 08:37:59 AM new
As Fluffy says, it certainly does make sense to pay for boxes. At least for me it does. Takes up less storage space, no ugly brand names all over the box and I have what I need when I need it.
The sizes I use the most are pretty small. I like to offer first class or parcel post on lightweight items.
I wouldn't get anything done if I spent my time following clerks around the supermarket. If I need a goofy-size box I check at Smart & Final when I'm there anyway. They put the boxes right by the exit for customers to take. They're always clean and most of them have a simple stick-on label that can be easily removed.
An example is an old '50s TV lamp I got yesterday. It will need double-boxing and the boxes will need to be pretty big. I'll have them lined up before it ever hits eBay.
JMHO
Lucy
Edited to take out the picture.
[ edited by OhMsLucy on May 28, 2004 09:24 AM ]
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bob9585
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posted on May 28, 2004 08:40:48 AM new
I never buy boxes.I buy tape and plastic bags by the case.
My best source - furniture/decor stores - I get bags and bags of styrofoam sheeting from one locally- and peanuts, chips, sheets of strong cardboard and styrofoam, etc. as well as really strong boxes, double and triple ply, various sizes, usually printed "FRAGILE" which is a nice touch.
Lamp boxes lined with styrofoam are great, too.
Electronic stores are good too- I sell a lot of vintage stereo gear- and an old Marantz amp travels very nicely in a NEW
Sony VCR box, tickles the buyers, too. I use the box and the foam endcaps.
Little boxes (trinket/smalls size) I somehow always come across a bundle of them somewhere - but I don't use many. Beer flats are available at any unloading beer truck- in quantity if its the right stop and can be used in so many ways - I pop the corners loose and turn them inside out. If they're unloading boxed beer, I get those for storage or inner boxes for double boxing.
Finally, I ALWAYS stop where I see someone moving in- and often get a carload of once used moving boxes- and if they're full of packing - all the better. In my neighborhood, most of the middle class types
hate a big pile on the curb so they're glad to give em to me.
However, for some this may be a bad use of their time - youse need to buy your boxes.
Cheapest source I've found for good quality plastic bags - http://www.polysystems.net/polysystems/index.cgi They may be selling on eBay now- but I think they're cheaper going direct- buy enough and they ship free, or did last year anyway.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 08:47:15 AM new
Hey bob, do you ever buy padded mailers?
Adele gave us a good source for them some months ago, but it was a clearance sale and we done cleared 'em out.
I'm going to need a couple thousand per month soon, and am wondering if it makes sense to go the Alibaba route.
Fenix: What do you think?
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OhMsLucy
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posted on May 28, 2004 08:58:31 AM new
Bob,
Thanks for the hint!
I have to go get specialty lamp bulbs today anyway. I'll check with them for a box.
Lucy
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bob9585
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posted on May 28, 2004 09:00:26 AM new
Fluffy,
No padded mailers- I don't sell things that would travel safely in one. The rare small I sell goes in one of the "acquired" small boxes and goes 1st Class.
Given your volume as I percieve it, wouldn't it make sense to track down a manufacturer of these? You might not need a trailer load but most places will sell LTL for a decent size order -and unlike most of their customers you will pay cash or COD. Even big companies like getting paid promptly but are forced to give terms to stay competitive.
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MAH645
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posted on May 28, 2004 09:00:58 AM new
My hubby makes all our boxes,we sell audio books hardbacks,paperbacks. Everything else goes in bubble mailers which I buy by the case. I couldn't buy the sizes we use they don't make them.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 28, 2004 10:35:42 AM new
Given your volume as I percieve it, wouldn't it make sense to track down a manufacturer of these?
Yeah, that's what I mean by going the Alibaba route. Most of this stuff comes from China these days. I can buy cases of 500 from PaperMart, but what I really want to do is buy from PaperMart's suppliers.
Another one of those supply chain issues...
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sanmar
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posted on May 28, 2004 03:50:24 PM new
Lucy, I have been buying boxes from ULine for 3 yrs. Nobody can beat ther prices around here including your local co in SLO. If your order is by 4 PM they will ship that day, usually 2nd day delivery by UPS.
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OhMsLucy
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posted on May 28, 2004 05:06:47 PM new
You're right, Sanmar. I'll probably only buy peanuts locally from now on. Hopefully I won't have to do that for a long time. The darn bag is SO HUGE!
Lucy
P.S. I guess Joanne is taking the holiday weekend off.
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on May 28, 2004 05:19:51 PM new
Yeah why don't they cut the peanuts bags in half. When I go in to get them, I can get the peanuts or the bubble wrap but not both as my car won't handle it without risk of a backup wreck??
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OhMsLucy
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posted on May 28, 2004 05:49:27 PM new
The peanut bag completely fills up the back seat of my Maxima. Needless to say, I don't buy both at the same time.
Lucy
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fenix03
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posted on May 29, 2004 12:27:07 AM new
Fluff - Once the site launches (next week if I can focus this weekend) I am probably going to need more boxes than envelopes so I'm going to play a wait and see for my needs. I did do a little checking today and found these guys thanks to their branding on envelopes http://www.pactiv.com.
Of course it was too late to call by the time I found them but I figured I would check with them on Tuesday and see what they have to say.
Hell... If they have a good price maybe I'll just get a couple pallets and see what happens. I can always sell of the extras on ebay and lord knows I have plenty of room to store them.
I didn't even consider Alibaba for them but but that could be an option, I just wonder if they don't end up prohibitive because of shipping.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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bob9585
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posted on May 29, 2004 07:58:06 AM new
fenix,
"...lord knows I have plenty of room to store them."
I am GREEN with envy.
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leads
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posted on May 29, 2004 09:36:31 AM new
try www.papermart.com they supply most national retailers paper and will sell to you, also can get everything from tubes, to padded envelopes, boxes, tape, bubble wrap and personal holiday type papers and decorations. I've used them they are fast, in stock and will send you monthly deal lists if you want them too
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davebraun
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posted on May 29, 2004 10:22:55 AM new
Fluffy is correct, In addition commercial boxes do not have some brand imprint on them unless you purchase overruns (which I have in the past).
As to the time element, if you have the time to cruise wallmart looking for boxes you're not selling enough.
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 29, 2004 10:36:18 AM new
I didn't even consider Alibaba for them but but that could be an option, I just wonder if they don't end up prohibitive because of shipping.
Pactiv was the manufacturer of the side-loading bubble bags that Quill had on closeout. There were several sizes. Some of us cut them in half to approximate a 4 x 8 inch (#000) bag. Really cheap that way.
I don't think Pactiv makes the side-loaders any more but I have sent them an inquiry.
With so much of the world's consumables coming from China these days, I have to believe that companies like PaperMart are sourcing mailers from there. I know that when I order the box of 500 bubble-out interior bags, it comes in a PaperMart branded box. Obviously they are buying huge quantities and breaking down the lots for resale under their own brand.
There's no reason why we couldn't set up a Vendio supplies co-op (or several regional ones) to take advantage of price breaks on huge quantities. Don't bother with reselling the bubble mailers on eBay; sell 'em to local eBay sellers and undercut the existing packaging stores.
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fenix03
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posted on May 29, 2004 12:44:03 PM new
Bob- when I went looking for a new apartment last year I kept in mind that I would be running a growing business from it and what had happened to my last couple places when I did not take growth factor into mind. My new place is 1800 sq ft and with 20 ft ceilings there is plenty of room to stack : )
Fluff - you know - it's just plain mean to do this to me when I am trying to finish up a website. It's not as if don't already have a focus problem without you tossing new fun concepts at me. I mean it's not as if bubble mailiers are something you are just not quite sure you can get rid of..... damn you evil woman! Looks like there will be some Alibaba iquiries going out this weekend.
Oh yeah - I didn't see side loading bubble out mailiers but I did see self sealing bubble out bags on a roll on the Pactiv site.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 29, 2004 04:00:22 PM new
damn you evil woman!
Heh. Like you're the first person who ever said that. Get in line.
I've got only a 700 square foot office but much of it is unused. I could stack lots of big boxes of mailers, bundles of boxes, whatever.
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