posted on June 5, 2001 08:35:54 PM new
Here are some of my packing for free/nearly free tips:
1. Paper shreader. We bought a tiny used one that fits on top of a cardboard box and put it right nect to the computer. We started shreading junk mail, coloring book pages, all the end of auctions that we print. WOW! were we wasting a LOT of free packing material pre-shreader! Can't seem to see the end of it!
2. Ask your neighbors to save newspapers for you. Not only will you meet and see your neighbors when you pick it up, but they will be HAPPY for you to haul it away!
3. Paper sacks. I buy them 2000 at a time for 5 cents each from the grocery. You can pack ALL kinds of thing in them by just placing the item in, fold, fold, tape. I ship paperback, hardback, (with padding), fabric items, video tapes, etc. GREAT for media rate!
4. Anyone have access to a hospital? Our neighbor works in surgery prep. They throw away TONS of sterile packing materials like bubble wrap, sheets of cardboard (like poster board but smaller) that come between x-ray films, the blue "paper-cloth" things that come between surgical gowns. These are good for "pre-wrapping" before packing in newspaper.
5. Clear tape. I always pay $1 a roll...dollar store. Dollar General is my choice.
6. Food boxes. Yes, my garbage. Paperbacks fit perfectly in mac cheese boxes, hamburger helper boxes, etc. I even use pizza boxes for hardbacks but ONLY if they are clean and grease free. (One pizza place they are clean every time..no grease.) When using these I do prewrap and then bag in a plastic grocery scak.
7. Plastic grocery sacks. Great for very small items, abundant in supply.
8. Addressing: Now I clip the return address off the envelopes and tape on with clear tape...no errors or problems reading the writing. Return labels: Invest in a rubber stamp for under $5. If using printed boxes, I use the rubber stamp to stamp blank printer labels and make my own.
9. Ask you local stores to save boxes or call you when they unpack. Give them a sticker for next to the phone. Independant stores will do this happily. Even your post office may save a few that priority boxes come in. Texaco is now "home delivering" them to me. (I'm a really good customer.)
10. Adding, if you put in a nice attractive thank you insert, and ship it for actual cost, and FAST, your customers will be delighted with a mac & cheese box.
[ edited by jt on Jun 5, 2001 08:38 PM ]
posted on June 5, 2001 08:54:42 PM new
I just found a great free box source. When the local high school did a chocolate drive --they had masses of boxes---and a nice medium size too.
posted on June 6, 2001 05:22:16 AM new
Some more tips:
USPS gives free priority mail boxes, tape, address labels preprinted with your name/address on them as well as priority envelopes. You can even order online and they ship by the case via priority mail, so you get it in a few days.
Local hospitals are a wealth of material. Not only the OR but if you can get someone in the store room or central supply to save peanuts and bubblewrap for you, you'll be supplied. Same with vets offices or some beauty supply houses.
If you like to buy after-Christmas goodies, wait until everything is 90% off and grab up all the white tissue paper you can. I prefer that to plastic bags and if you buy enough, it lasts all year.
I used to buy my tape at the Dollar General but found it tore too easily in shipping. I bought 6 rolls from a powerseller on ebay and paid about $6.00 including shipping! Came out to less than $1 a roll and it was better quality.
If you're into bubblewrap there's another ebay seller who has great deals. You can get a huge roll for about $8.50 plus shipping.
posted on June 6, 2001 06:05:03 AM new
I get the majority of my bubblewrap, foam, peanuts and boxes from an electronics assembley plant.
Almost everything that is delivered to them is carefully packed in good quality packing materials. The individual components are unpacked prior to assembley and they save all the packing material for me.
I pick it up from them once a week.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
posted on June 6, 2001 08:38:14 AM new
jt-those are great tips.
I used shredded paper for awhile, and it was great because it was free, but the only problem is weight. When packing a breakable securly, the amount of shredded paper really made a difference in weight, thus costing more, but I use Priority only, so it may be different if you only do first class? Good ideas though!
posted on June 6, 2001 03:38:08 PM new
I get my plastic peanuts free at the local Hallmark store, and also from the large university science depts, who receive LOTS of equipment every week! I must have 5 years supply stored in my garage! Try the local schools also and make friends with the maintenance people.
Bubble wrap, I just bought cheap, from an ebayer in Texas after spending TOO much from an old contact from mail order days.
Under the Christmas tree fluff or skirts, is also great for wrapping and you get it cheapo after the Holidays from CVS and other drug chains.
