Knife Packaging/Shipping

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RedLynx

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Hi guys,

I know I'll sound like a total idiot here but I wanted to get the best info on how to package/ship knives that I sell or give to members.

Got a Gold Membership but I think it takes a few days to kick in.

But anyways, was wondering what the best type of USPS box is, how to calculate shipping cost, etc.

I live near my post office but have never really had cause to package or ship anything other than regular letters.

I don't have many original boxes left for a lot of knives, I'd be putting them directly in whatever official USPS shipping containers I can purchase upon arrival at the post office.

I know there are different sizes, is there a chart online that gives dimensions and prices for these, as well as shipping cost, which I assume is calculated by weight?

I've sometimes gotten used knives shipped as is in a USPS container (i.e. knife in the shipping box but not inside a box in the box) so I assume it would be relatively okay to just bring knives in as is to have them shipped? I don't want to ruffle the wool of any sheeple here.

Thanks for any info and putting up with some rather inane questions. ;)
 
I sell a few little knives locally here in New Zealand, and basically all I do is wrap them in bubble wrap and send them in a plastic postal bag.

It might be different for you there though.
 
Look into the flat rate shipping boxes as they are generally going to be your best bet. I have used them many times and they have worked out great. You can go to your local USPS office and take the boxes home for free then just package them all up and take them in and pay or you can do it all online and then just hand it to your local postman when he stops by your house or drop it off. The small box will hold most any folder especially if you are just shipping the knife without a box and comes with a tracking number and I think $50 of insurance for $5.95. You can add more insurance and require a signature for a little more money if you choose. Whenever I have used it the package typically gets to it's destination in a couple days even if I'm shipping to the east coast. Just go to their site and read more about the Flat Rate Shipping. :)
 
jkulysses said:
Look into the flat rate shipping boxes as they are generally going to be your best bet. I have used them many times and they have worked out great. You can go to your local USPS office and take the boxes home for free then just package them all up and take them in and pay or you can do it all online and then just hand it to your local postman when he stops by your house or drop it off. The small box will hold most any folder especially if you are just shipping the knife without a box and comes with a tracking number and I think $50 of insurance for $5.95. You can add more insurance and require a signature for a little more money if you choose. Whenever I have used it the package typically gets to it's destination in a couple days even if I'm shipping to the east coast. Just go to their site and read more about the Flat Rate Shipping. :)
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That is really helpful jkulysses, thank you. So I can go in and take a few boxes, and when I get it all packaged at home, take them back and pay for the lot at that time? That would be really helpful.

It's probably different in different areas but do I need to ask a postal employee for these or are they generally readily available for patrons to take? I don't have a lot of cause to visit my local branch so I don't know, only needed to go in twice probably and didn't do a lot of looking around. ;)
 
RedLynx said:
That is really helpful jkulysses, thank you. So I can go in and take a few boxes, and when I get it all packaged at home, take them back and pay for the lot at that time? That would be really helpful.

It's probably different in different areas but do I need to ask a postal employee for these or are they generally readily available for patrons to take? I don't have a lot of cause to visit my local branch so I don't know, only needed to go in twice probably and didn't do a lot of looking around. ;)
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I package it at the post office. I explained why I'm sending knives off...not that I needed to. I doubt anyone will flip if you come in with the knife already wrapped and just need something to mail it in. I try to send new knives in boxes, but I send used knives like for PIF threads in the manila envelopes with the bubble wrap interior.
 
RemyKaze said:
I package it at the post office. I explained why I'm sending knives off...not that I needed to. I doubt anyone will flip if you come in with the knife already wrapped and just need something to mail it in. I try to send new knives in boxes, but I send used knives like for PIF threads in the manila envelopes with the bubble wrap interior.
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Okay another slightly dumb question... when you say wrapped do you mean bubble wrap? And can I get that at the post office? I assume so as that's what bubble wrap is used for, but I am not sure. Thanks everyone so far.
 
RedLynx said:
Okay another slightly dumb question... when you say wrapped do you mean bubble wrap? And can I get that at the post office? I assume so as that's what bubble wrap is used for, but I am not sure. Thanks everyone so far.
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I use bubble wrap I have...they don't sell any packing material at my closest post office. Otherwise I'd wrap it heavily in newspaper. Anything to cushion the knife. And I'd use extra material if necessary to make sure it doesn't shift around inside the package.
 
Just so you know, UPS will send you free flat rate boxes, just register with them and place a request, google something like "free UPS boxes" and you'll get where you need to go. :)

As far as actually packaging the knife, I use butchers/packaging paper, basically comes in rolls or or cut in square sheets if you didn't already know. Take one sheet, fold it in half twice, roll the knife up, tape shut, and surround the knife with crumpled up paper until it won't rattle in the box. Please don't use packing peanuts, they're a PITA haha. Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Kirby
 
You can get bubble wrap almost anywhere even like the dollar tree or walmart. Yes they should have the Flat Rate boxes sitting right out in the lobby and you just take what you need and leave or you can even get online on the USPS website and request them and they will deliver them to your house for free.
 
RemyKaze said:
I use bubble wrap I have...they don't sell any packing material at my closest post office. Otherwise I'd wrap it heavily in newspaper. Anything to cushion the knife. And I'd use extra material if necessary to make sure it doesn't shift around inside the package.
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I don't have bubble wrap on hand at the moment but I do have a metric ton of extra plastic bags saved up...
 
Thanks 9blades and jkulysses for the extra info on UPS boxes and bubble wrap. ;) I know I sound like a novice but I do go out into the wide world, honestly. ;)
 
RedLynx said:
I don't have bubble wrap on hand at the moment but I do have a metric ton of extra plastic bags saved up...
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If I don't have any extra bubble wrap laying around I wad up a bunch of those plastic sacks you get from walmart or most any other store and those work great. Also crumpled up newspaper.
 
I have access to sheets of discarded foam and bubble wrap at work, so what I usually do (when the knife doesn't have a box) is make a Foam + Bubble Wrap + Knife burrito and put that in a padded envelope. If I'm shipping the knife in its box, I'll get the flat rate box.
 
I ship with a flat rate box or padded envelope and stuff the extra room with sheets from an old phone book. Old newspaper torn up into strips works well too.

For priority I suggest always using a small flat rate box if it fits, use the smallest box of your own you can find otherwise (medium flat rate box is like $10 instead of just under $6).
 
RedLynx said:
Hi guys,

I know I'll sound like a total idiot here but I wanted to get the best info on how to package/ship knives that I sell or give to members.

Got a Gold Membership but I think it takes a few days to kick in
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Your membership kicks in as soon as you pay for it. Go to your profile membership update user groups or something it should be fairly easy to find
 
I use USPS only and I package loose knives in bubble mailers and wrap them completely in clear shipping tape so corners don't rip them, its around $2.50-3 plus i surance tracking (so usually around $5), if the knife is in a box (with sharp corners of its own that tear from the inside) I use a small flat-rate box for $5.80 including tracking & $50 of insurance (plus more if needed).

First-class is the cheapest (only avaliable on small packages) and stuff offers add-on tracking and insurance but its the slowest, Priority is usually a day or more faster but costs more. "First class" is the same as normal letters go, priority is an upgrade but not air-mail (however some times small mailer envelopes sent priority will be stuck on the air-mail pallet and make it from one side of the country to the other in a day, its rare but sometimes you get a good little surprise)
 
One thing to keep in mind, if you use a flat-rate box you can't opt for a different service, same for all services, even if there's just a priority sticker or stamp on the box from before, unless you cover it up completely they won't give you another choice if its already marked for a specific service.
Sometimes that can get you if you reuse packaging (like I do), if you're using an air-mailer a small package can cost upwards of $20 when you go in expectin it to cost $2.50 when sent first-class.
 
coli said:
Your membership kicks in as soon as you pay for it. Go to your profile membership update user groups or something it should be fairly easy to find
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You're right coli, I just didn't notice a difference because my username is still blue, ha. :P
 
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