Knife Packaging/Shipping

1. I moved this to FEEDBACK, which is the forum we use for shipping questions.

2. If you go to the FEEDBACK forum page and browse through the stickies, you will find a lot of good advice on selling and packing and shipping.

3. RedLynx, your paid membership went through already. Go to Settings (upper right) and then to Permission Groups (left side) and select your correct level to show title and color.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
1. I moved this to FEEDBACK, which is the forum we use for shipping questions.

2. If you go to the FEEDBACK forum page and browse through the stickies, you will find a lot of good advice on selling and packing and shipping.

3. RedLynx, your paid membership went through already. Go to Settings (upper right) and then to Permission Groups (left side) and select your correct level to show title and color.
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Thanks Brian, appreciate it!
 
RedLynx, the flat rate boxes have an adhesive flap on one side. Don't trust it, they sometimes pop open if not taped down.
You mentioned you don't have the original boxes for many of the knives you're selling. It would be a good idea to specify that in your sales threads so nobody is disappointed.
Good luck with your sales.
-Steve
 
spketch said:
RedLynx, the flat rate boxes have an adhesive flap on one side. Don't trust it, they sometimes pop open if not taped down.
-Steve
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I use the flat rate boxes, and opt for overkill, I completely wrap the box top to bottom in clear packing tape, it makes it a pain to open, but it is a knife forum so hopefully everyone has a knife to cut them open but no way is it coming open without some major damage to the box.
 
Like the poster above I always tape all the seams on priority mail boxes. If not they can be popped open and closed again without much if any damage. Invest in some clear packing tape too.
Bubble wrap is nice but anything to pad the knife is fine. Fill the dead space in the box with newspaper or junk mail. After wrapping the knife in whatever put it in a ziploc baggie in case the box gets wet.
Priority small flate rate boxes include $50 of insurance and delivery confirmation. If it's an expensive knife I use these. You can also use your own box and still send it priority.

I sometimes make small boxes/envelopes if the knife is small enough and doesn't have a box. You can used just about any type of cardboard to do this. Done right and you will have a very secure envelope or box. Empty Pepsi 12 pack boxes turned inside out work great. This is a great way to save a few bucks and still get the package there safely.

If using any type of padded envelope I usually tape the wrapped knife to a small piece of cardboard to add some rigidity to the package. Again tape the seam and the opposite end in case it gets punctured.

I've been getting first class packages in 3 days lately. That's the same as priority for a third of the cost. Again I use this method only if the knife is smaller and cheap enough to replace if lost.

Good luck.
 
Cereal_killer said:
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)
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USPS first class and priority ship exactly the same way, same time, same tracking , everything. First class only works up to 13 OZ though, then you are stuck paying extra for same service..
 
kershawguy said:
USPS first class and priority ship exactly the same way, same time, same tracking , everything. First class only works up to 13 OZ though, then you are stuck paying extra for same service..
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You just blew my mind Dave. That is very helpful information!
 
I pack stuff like its made out of super fragile glass even when it's a knife that won't even break from a drop or getting run over by a truck but need to make sure the buyer gets it in great condition.
 
Wrap the knife in bubble wrap...can get that at office supply stores, walmarts, post office, etc.....then use walmart-type plastic bags to fill the voids in the box to keep the package from moving around, popping the bubble wrap and damaging the knife. For smaller to mid-size knives I use USPS flat rate priority boxes and for larger knives I scrounge whatever I have or can find.....sometimes I use a glue-gun and make my own......and ship it that way. I ALWAYS use a box.....anything less and you run the risk of having a knife show up damaged or missing. This isn't a slam on USPS but rather a simple matter of things that are repeatedly handled by people and machines....and not packaged well.....tend to get mangled.
 
kershawguy said:
USPS first class and priority ship exactly the same way, same time, same tracking , everything. First class only works up to 13 OZ though, then you are stuck paying extra for same service..
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Correct me if I'm wrong but first class doesn't give you a tracking number, $50 insurance or the box/envelope. I think tracking is about $1 to add to first class. I'm not sure how much it would cost to add $50 of insurance? Plus the cost of the box. When you add them up I think priority mail is an ok deal. (unless you don't want tracking or insurance)
 
I always use USPS Priority because the boxes are provided and my local post office even gave me a roll of priority packing tape. the small box costs only 5.80 and now comes with tracking # and insurance. Buyers love having a tracking number.
 
fetzer85 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but first class doesn't give you a tracking number, $50 insurance or the box/envelope. I think tracking is about $1 to add to first class. I'm not sure how much it would cost to add $50 of insurance? Plus the cost of the box. When you add them up I think priority mail is an ok deal. (unless you don't want tracking or insurance)
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Tracking is always included on my packages, no insurance, but in 10 years I have had about three packages lost and thousands saved on first class. I buy better boxes than they provide , increasing the protection of contents and It still only costs me around $2.50 including the box on average. Priority mail would have cost me thousands of dollars more per year. I have been shipping a lot of packages for a lot of years and have always looked for ways to cut shipping costs and improve customer service, so when I found out years ago that first class was the same amount of time as priority, I made changes and my customers will testify to the speed at which I deliver the goods.
 
kershawguy said:
USPS first class and priority ship exactly the same way, same time, same tracking , everything. First class only works up to 13 OZ though, then you are stuck paying extra for same service..
Click to expand...

Not always, first class will ONLY go first class, alot of times, especially with smaller / flat packages priority will get stuck in with air mail, just recently off the exchange I got a priority package from Washington state to Columbus Ohio over night (and left the guy awesome feedback) only to find out later it was pure luck the package was small enough to get tossed I'm the air-mail bin. They would never make that "mistake" with first-class.
 
Cereal_killer said:
Not always, first class will ONLY go first class, alot of times, especially with smaller / flat packages priority will get stuck in with air mail, just recently off the exchange I got a priority package from Washington state to Columbus Ohio over night (and left the guy awesome feedback) only to find out later it was pure luck the package was small enough to get tossed I'm the air-mail bin. They would never make that "mistake" with first-class.
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How then would one explain how thousands of packages both first class and priority take two to three days every time, to anywhere in the USA ?
 
kershawguy said:
How then would one explain how thousands of packages both first class and priority take two to three days every time, to anywhere in the USA ?
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Simple. :)

Local area mail gets trucked, if a truck can get it there in time for next day delivery. Otherwise, it all flies.
 
kershawguy said:
Tracking is always included on my packages, no insurance, but in 10 years I have had about three packages lost and thousands saved on first class. I buy better boxes than they provide , increasing the protection of contents and It still only costs me around $2.50 including the box on average. Priority mail would have cost me thousands of dollars more per year. I have been shipping a lot of packages for a lot of years and have always looked for ways to cut shipping costs and improve customer service, so when I found out years ago that first class was the same amount of time as priority, I made changes and my customers will testify to the speed at which I deliver the goods.
Click to expand...

Makes sense.

Something I've always wondered - has tracking ever actually helped you or do your customers just like being able to track their stuff?
 
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