Sunday, April 5, 2015

Shipping Boxes

I was placing an order for shipping supplies yesterday and I thought it might be useful to show the USPS free shipping supplies that I use most often. I started out mainly using the flat rate supplies but now have branched out and added a few others as favorites. So without further ado.


The box on the left is called the shoe box and as its name implies is perfect for shoes. I use it all the time for that but for many other items as well. The box next to it on the right measures 7 x 7 x 6 and is the perfect size for most mugs.



Next is the Tyvek mailer. They are pretty indestructible. I like them for added strength when sending something in a polymailer especially overseas. If it's going priority I'll throw it in the Tyvek mailer. I could use a box to provide the extra strength but that adds weight. 

I use the next two a lot. They are similar in size to a medium flat rate box but cheaper if your item is light than paying the medium flat rate price. 


Lastly I use this large box quite a bit. As it's name implies it is a nice large box. It is a little bigger than the Large Flat Rate and almost always cheaper depending again on the weight of your item. You can always compare when you do your shipping. 

I never realized how many boxes were available free and how much I would use them once I figured out when they worked best. I usually offer my customer Parcel Select, Priority or Priority Express. On their end Parcel Select is usually the best deal and what they usually choose. On my end with my shipping discount Priority is usually a little cheaper or just a little more expensive. So the customer gets a free upgrade and I get to use free boxes! 

Do you use the free shipping boxes USPS offers? Let me know if you have a favorite that I've left out. And Happy Easter. I hope the Easter Bunny left you something good. 





17 comments:

  1. I use all the ones listed above plus I like the small flat rate box - I always use itfor shipping small lots of flatware. Of course the padded flat rate envelope is always a fave (great for jeans and shoes) - and if the PFR needs some extra support the 1096L that you have listed fits perfectly in it.

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  2. Those are all of the main ones that I use except that I really like the regional boxes. A blazer or bulky sweater fits perfectly in the A box (shirt size) and if it is going to the midwest the B box is a little larger but does the job. The only thing with regional rates is that sometimes its cheaper to use straight priority, you just have to check before shipping. And I use the parcel select trick too. If a customer chooses parcel select most of the time it is cheaper, sometimes by only a few cents, to go priority. And I always write on the label "Free Priority Upgrade". Doesn't cost me anything and the customer appreciates the faster service. Thanks for the tip on the 1096L I haven't had to use that but it will be on my radar now.

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    1. Annabel I love your idea of writing free upgrade on the label. I never thought of that and will be doing it from now on.

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  3. i love the 12x12x8. i use that most often by far. i wish they offered the priority mail shipping tape :)

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    1. I wish they did too! That and I wish they offered free Fragile stickers.

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  4. I'll need to order some of those boxes. I use quite a few, but not all. I'm lucky that my hubby is handy for making boxes for me. We have quite a lot of cardboard. But some of these more unique sizes look like they would work great. Thanks for sharing Nancy!

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    1. You're welcome! I have a lot of boxes that a friend brings me from his work but it's nice when I'm shipping priority to not have to go up and down to the basement to look for a box. I can just use a nice priority box.

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  5. I use all of the ones you shared, but I use Regional boxes the most. I live in the middle of the country, so it's almost always cheaper for me to go the regional route.

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    1. I like Regional Rate A but hardly ever get a chance to use Regional Rate B. It's almost always more expensive. I also ordered Regional Rate C boxes but they don't offer that when I print postage through ebay.

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  6. Love this. Yep, those first two are THE. BEST. ones, I sell mostly small ceramics and those are awesome universal ones to keep on hand. I need to order a bunch right now...

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    1. Hi Van! Thanks for visiting and commenting.

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  7. I do a lot of shipping where I work and I love the Regional A and the regional B is often cheaper than the Medium Flat Rate boxes. I think the Regional C boxes are a waste since they are always more expensive than anything else.

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    1. It must be where I'm located but I can hardly ever use the Regional B but the Regional A is sometime cheaper for me. are you on a coast?

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  8. I love regional A and B boxes!

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