*** How Should You Package Knives for Shipping?

I have always used USPS Priority small video cassette boxes, stuffed with the P.O.'s "Mover's Guide." A thick box with foam, peanuts, or other should always be used...at the very least. Never use padded envelope.

-AR
 
I generally use the USPS Priority Mail boxes. For folks who may not be aware of this, these boxes are available free from the PO & come in several sizes. They will also provide tape, labels, forms, etc. If you do a lot of selling, you can have the PO deliver the supplies to you at no cost whatsoever. See Shipping Supplies Online for details.

There are a couple of things you can do secure the contents w/o having to fill all the loose space in the box with packing material. One that works particularly well for folders is to first cover the knife or knife box with plastic wrap & then tape it to the inside of the shipping box. It works great with the video cassette boxes and requires no additional packing material. Another is to create small packs to anchor things in place by filling plastic bags with shipping pellets. You use less pellets than you would by simply dumping them loose in the box & it is less messy to open at the other end.

------------------
Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
I also use the various video boxes from the USPS. I use bubble wrap to wrap the knives, then fill in the empty spaces with either newspaper, more bubble wrap, or styrofoam peanuts - whatever I've saved from the packages that I receive. I also tape every single box edge. If my box arrives at its destination opened in any way, it'll be due to a deliberate act on the part of a postal employee, not an accident. Overkill? Perhaps, but I have yet to receive a complaint from anyone who's received a box from me. Also, all packages are insured and have delivery confirmation.

------------------
Kelly
My Custom Knife Collection

Member NCCKG, SCAK, and AKTI

Deo Vindice

[This message has been edited by Senator (edited 02-13-2001).]
 
Ever since reading on the forums where a knife came out of the crack of a box I started taping the knife in a small video box then putting that in a large video box and taping the corners that way it can not come out even if crushed.
 
Hoss does it like Bo. A small box in a larger box. I got a knife from him recently and for a while I thought I might have to go dig up Houdini to help me get to the knife. lol I mainly use the usps boxes with bubble wrap and peanuts or newspaper.
 
Yes,I usually recycle packaging material.I often have spare bubble wrap and generally wrap the products very well and then tape them.If I don't have any bubble wrap, I will utilize any items that will give the same protection.I usually ship my packages USPS Priority,so oftens times use the free boxes.I also have gotten in the habit of taping up all the edges/flaps etc. and,one would have to get a knife to enter the box.I found this a good idea,since I have received these priority mail boxes without the additional precautions of taping,and if someone crushes at the right angle,it is possible to get items out of the box.I have also recived items in padded envelopes and twice I have gotten my items half hanging out of the package.This may have been a deliberate act,because one envolope did have a smooth slit in the end and was most likely not damaged due to transit.I have also had people just throw a knife in a box with little or no protection.
 
First off, I get a USPS packing box like others say. Then, I take some bubble wrap and completely wrap the knife several times and tape it securely together. Then, I put the knife back into the original knife box. I make sure I put enough bubble wrap to have the knife fit tightly inside the knife box to prevent sliding. Then, I fill the space between the knife box and the USPS box with fairly tightly packed newspaper, but loose enough to absorb some shock. Finally, I tape up the box and send w/ confirmation and insurance.
smile.gif


------------------
Dave

My collection
 
When shipping a knife i always will buy a good cardboard box from somewhere like office max and use both bubble wrap and peanuts, good quality packing tape. Then i will always insure the package and let the buyer know when i ship and any tracking numbers available. I try to give the buyer as much info as they want. I have never to my knowledge had someone recieve anything damaged. A little time,money and effort will go along way in making sure the package gets there in one piece and the buyer is happy.

------------------
Carpe' Diem
Usual Suspect AKA Tattoo
 
Knives really aren't fragile but the packaging they come in is. That's what needs to be protected. We use corrugated boxes and wrap the knife or knives with enough bubble wrap to fill the box. We've shipped somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 knives and we've never had one damaged in shipment that we're aware of. We use the free boxes from the USPS on those occasions that we use mail. You can pick them up for free at the post office. We have them delivered by the 100's so we don't even have to haul them to the office. If you do a lot of shipping, the USPS will also provide free labels with your return address preprinted. We use those as well on mailed packages.


------------------
Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
I propose an experiment. Everyone send me their favorite custom knife packaged whatever way they choose. Upon receipt, I will quantify the quality of the packaging and post the results.

Sorry. Due to the quantity of knives expected, I won't be able to return your knife but rest assured, it will have a good home.
wink.gif


------------------
Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Senator:
...I also tape every single box edge...</font>
Click to expand...
That's excellent advice, Kelly. When a corner of a USPS video cassette box get crushed, there is a very real danger of contents falling out. Since the adhesive on the flap of these boxes can sometimes fail as well, it is a good idea to help keep it closed with a piece of tape. Just don't put tape in the area where the postage will go. I had a box rejected for that reason.


------------------
Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.

[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 02-14-2001).]
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by bcaffrey:
Just don't put tape in the area where the postage will go. I had a box rejected for that reason.</font>
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I've never had any problem like that with my PO. I definitely have tape where the postage is applied. They just slap the postage sticker right over the tape.

Here's a more detailed explaination of what I do...

I assemble the box. Then I put the filled out Priority Mail address label on the box. I then tape all edges and seams from corner to corner using a good packing tape, including placing a single strip of tape along the whole bottom of the box, right over the "pull-tab-to-open strip" is, and fold the excess tape over the two bottom gaps along the side. I then wrap the knife in bubble wrap and tape that such that the knife cannot get out of the bubble wrap. I then place balled up newspaper, bubble wrap, or peanuts along the bottom of the box, then put the knife in the box. I then fill in the open spaces along the top/sides/front/back with more of the packaging of the day. I usually print out a copy of the e-mail exchange, and jot a hand-written note on it to the buyer telling him that I hope he enjoys the knife. That gets tossed in the box as well. I then seal the box, and put another single strip of tape from one side of the box, all the way across the box top, to the other side to seal the top gaps. I then put a strip across the front flap to prevent that from coming unglued. Then two more strips along the remaining top two edges and it's almost done. I fill out the delivery confirmation sticker and the insurance sticker, then tape those to the box so I don't lose them.

If one of my knives is going to be damaged or "lost" in-transit, it will be by a deliberate act. I don't send out a ton of knives, so I figure I have the time to do the packaging right. I've never had a complaint about how I package my knives.

------------------
Kelly
My Custom Knife Collection

Member NCCKG, SCAK, and AKTI

Deo Vindice
 
Appropriate thread here.

I am THE advocate of taping up all open ends/ slits of all packages. Most all of our members who have done business with me knows this. My experience is such that a small item, if not wrapped securely, could "fall out" of the opened slits. Imagine a fellow forum member who gleefully receives his priority package and upon opening finds an empty box!!

I will wrap any item in a plastic protective wrap of any type (bubble, etc.) that is non see thru. And then will put my address label on that wrapping. This will serve to "hide" the knife from peeking eyes and to keep it from any further damage from the exposed elements. Or should the box be damaged and a resulting illegible address result, then the address label on the original plastic wrap will provide no excuse for the PO not to make an effort to return contents. Any address labels on the outside of box are taped over to prevent that anyway. BTW, those nytek type priority soft envelopes at the PO make for a great inner wrapping.
smile.gif


Additionally, I' d like to add that we should always check the computer filled in printout on the insurance and confirmation # service receipts to be sure that the address printed on those slips are the same as the address label of the package being sent. Let me explain: I wrote a provided address from a forum member on to a box. When I dropped it off at the PO and got my printed out receipts on the insurance form, I noticed that it was reading another town in the same state. The clerk stated that this was what the computer read from the zip that was on the package. Turns out I was provided an incorrect zip code from the other party. But all was resolved when I found the correct zip in their huge zip code book. Point is, if you don' t check the receipts closely, the other party could be waiting for a long time for that package. And if you file a claim with the incorrect zip, you could be waitng for a long time as well. Hope this will be useful to all members here.

Nakano


 
I learned the hard way by letting the people at the post office pack for me and because of that i pissed off alot of nice people and made a hastie judgement of FRED at The Knife Outlet so always pack them your self and save yourself alot of pain!!!!
 
I just got a walking stick from the Sovietski Collection that was protected by more bubble wrap than I've ever seen in one package! It's a good feeling, seeing it that secure -- and this is solid wood and brass, not exactly fragile, either.

One thing the Postal Service recommends, is that you always put a note inside a package with the names and addresses of shipper and destination. We may slog through all that rain and sleet, but it's rough on address labels. In fact, especially if you write in marker, running strips of scotch tape over the address will help protect it from the elements.
 
Yet another cool feature of the new software -- we've resurrected this old thread and now it'll stay at the top of the list. I hope that saves some people from getting an empty box in the mail when they were expecting a knife.
 
Tape every edge on the box, fill it to the brim with chaff stuffed all around the knife or box, and always make sure to secure the actual knife closed with a rubber band, so you it can't open under any circumstances.
 
What I do:

1) wrap knife in paper/bubblewrap/something, & tape or rubber-band closed.

2) place in sturdy box - I generally recycle boxes that knives were sent to me in, don't need a new box just a sturdy one.

3) surround knife/fill box with crumpled newspaper - cheap & effective - knife is immobilized within box, & "cocoon" effect means knife can't slip out of tear in box.

4) tape corners/edges of box. be sure any weak areas are reinforced.

5) cover address labels with clear packing tape, so they can't be obscured by weather.

Cheap, easy, quick, & no problems so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top