I need a way to ship a product that is very small--a roll of paper about 18" long and 1.25" wide--but I need it to arrive uncrushed. And I need it to be cheap and light. I have looked at using the USPS small Priority Mail box, but the shipping costs are too high. The total shipped weight is a couple of ounces, so a very small box that could be sent first class mail would be perfect. I would love to find a source for inexpensive cardboard boxes, that could be as small a 2" x 2" x 2" to get the weight and cost down. Suggestions?
UPDATE: Thanks for all the suggestions! It turns out that 2" diameter by 6" long shipping tubes may be the right way to do this. They weigh about 2.3 ounces (much more than what I will be shipping!) and cost $0.37 each so I can ship the product first class mail for about $1.30. The 4" x 4" x 4" boxes would be cheaper, but I need to check the weight. What I save on price might be lost on postage. The goal is to get the shipped cost (including the product) down below $1.50, and ideally, below $1.
a 3"x3"x3" box weighing 1 lb shipping from Jacksonville FL to Boise ID costs $9.62 USP standard, $11.32 FedEx Ground, $5.32 USPS parcel post, $2.31 USPS media mail. Check the rules for media mail and see if what you're shipping qualifies.
ReplyDeleteBoxes etc has 4x4x4 boxes for $.17 ea in bundles of 25. They have boxes down to 2X2X2 but they're gift boxes, probably too light for mailing.
ship it in a cardboard tube like we ship blueprints. fedex and UPS USED to sell little triangular crossection boxes for tubes to fit in.
ReplyDeletePill bottles - especially scavenged pill bottles.
ReplyDeleteWithout knowing what you would define "inexpensive" as you might try Dixon Container on Chinden in Garden City.
ReplyDeleteIf you are going to be buying many boxes perhaps they would give you a price break.