What do you use for packaging?

[ttmw]

When sending and packaging your orders, what type of packaging do you use, how much does it cost to package orders, and where do you buy suck material?

 

[davidshaw89]

I use slimline postal boxes or carton envelopes. Costs between 23 and 50 pence per box (buying in bulk).

I don't usually need any loosefill/bubble wrap and so this isn't an additional cost for me, but you might need to factor this in.

Also, for waterproofing, you might want to stick the box into a polythene postal bag. These will be between 4 and 6pence per bag, depending on your order size.

I would recommend Rajapack, although I believe a few forum members use DavPack

edit

Also remember label printing. If you don't have a full sheet of label's worth of orders, then you will be wasting labels, which means higher cost.

I would consider the address labels which have 4 or less per page. Plenty of space to put your return address, and to make their address nice and clear.

You can also buy the sheets, like you see in your Amazon delivery, where the label is peeled off the invoice - although these are more expensive than just label printing. Saves you matching up the invoices with the correct labels though.

 

[Christiane]

I also use Rajapack, always next day delivery if ordered by 3pm.
I buy single wall boxes, Raja bubble envelopes, bubble wrap, grip seal bags, sellotape, and more.... One stop shop for packaging as far as I'm concerned.

I've also gone with the integrated label invoice from these guys http://www.integratedlabels.net/product-single-integrated-labels.asp It saved me a lot of time as no more printing the address label separately.

 

[kabetz]

When sending and packaging your orders, what type of packaging do you use, how much does it cost to package orders, and where do you buy suck material?

I use Tyvek envelopes made by Dupont. Just type Tyvek Envelopes into Google and read all about them. They're expensive but you can find them on eBay discounted.

 

[Lasting Designs]

Not me, but I think I'm correct in saying that Lush use pop-corn instead of bubble wrap, to protect their items sold on Internet. I am torn with this useage, I appreciate that it is Eco-friendly in regards to landfill, but that grain is being used when there are the starving in Africa does seem to be obscene waste of food.

 

[omnivore]

pink ones - very pretty

 

[kevin555]

I get single walled custom made boxes from a box manufacturer. Hey, that's a bit original seeing as I want boxes.

But really, get them built to size. Much cheaper and important to minimise wasted space = lower postage costs.

Say it costs 30p for a box. You think, maybe I can get them a couple of pence cheaper but then they're slightly too large.

But wait. That wasted space, and extra large box which now needs to be filled with foam etc might take you up a notch on your postage charges (if using Royal Mail as I do). That may cost you 30-40p or so plus the cost of the filler - a couple more pence, maybe 10p.

The cheap box, one size fits all has just cost you a lot more than you thought you were saving.

If cost is a problem, first order say 2 sizes. Once you're half way through order 2 more sizes in between and just keep doing this. I've now got about 10 sizes of box. It's taken me a few years but my wastage costs in postage terms are now minimal and I have really reduced the quantity of foam filler to a minimum.

 

[ginantonic]

I buy plastic envelopes and bubble wrap off eBay, it's cheap and usually next day delivery.

 

[davidshaw89]

I get single walled custom made boxes from a box manufacturer. Hey, that's a bit original seeing as I want boxes.

But really, get them built to size. Much cheaper and important to minimise wasted space = lower postage costs.

Say it costs 30p for a box. You think, maybe I can get them a couple of pence cheaper but then they're slightly too large.

But wait. That wasted space, and extra large box which now needs to be filled with foam etc might take you up a notch on your postage charges (if using Royal Mail as I do). That may cost you 30-40p or so plus the cost of the filler - a couple more pence, maybe 10p.

The cheap box, one size fits all has just cost you a lot more than you thought you were saving.

If cost is a problem, first order say 2 sizes. Once you're half way through order 2 more sizes in between and just keep doing this. I've now got about 10 sizes of box. It's taken me a few years but my wastage costs in postage terms are now minimal and I have really reduced the quantity of foam filler to a minimum.

This is very good advice.

 

[Cromulent]

but that grain is being used when there are the starving in Africa does seem to be obscene waste of food.

It wouldn't make any difference at all. America produces enough grain each year to supply most of the most of world yet they pay their farmers to destroy their crops in order to keep prices up.

 

[deniser]

Custom printed mailing bags from H&H Plastics in Solihull
Large white garment boxes from www.davpack.co.uk
Printed invoice with peel off labels from www.pickitpackit.co.uk

 

[silvermusic]

Not me, but I think I'm correct in saying that Lush use pop-corn instead of bubble wrap, to protect their items sold on Internet.

Interesting idea, but isn't it slightly greasey after making and what if it gets damp during transit, not very pleasent I would have thought.

 

[OLPS]

Remember corrugated paper rolls are a very cheap form of packaging and tend to be recycled material as well.

 

[Christiane]

Remember corrugated paper rolls are a very cheap form of packaging and tend to be recycled material as well.

You might be self promoting but never heard of you, and you've got the cheapest bubble wrap I've seen I've bookmarked your site when I need more as I buy a lot.

I got some carton boxes ''made to measure'' but they are thicker than the ones I get from Raja, hence heavier, hence making the postage more expensive

 

[||MARK||]

I use this website for bubblewrap, cheapest I have found. They don't have much, but for bubblewrap it is good.

 

[toastking]

From a Business venture selling DVDs a few years back I still have a few hundred of those Jiffy Pack type envelopes, the ones where they are big enough for a dvd and have a bit of bubble wrap in them. If you are interested then let me know, I will then look into how much it would cost to send you a box and could probably charge you just 15p an envelope on top of postage.

Let me know if thats any help?

 

[OLPS]

You might be self promoting but never heard of you, and you've got the cheapest bubble wrap I've seen I've bookmarked your site when I need more as I buy a lot.

I got some carton boxes ''made to measure'' but they are thicker than the ones I get from Raja, hence heavier, hence making the postage more expensive

Hi thanks for your reply, have you looked at the difference in your board grades? If you are having catons made then you should possibly choose a different grade to bring the weight down.

Feel free to drop me a line when you need to order - If you buy a lot i may be able to offer you mre discounts than the 5% thats on offer at the moment.

As for prices, yes we do have some very good prices on most of our items.

 

[Green Jelly]

We use Pac3000 Eco poly jacket bags - biodegradable polythene - which meshes with our eco friendly policies.

 

[dave7923]

I use a local company based in Wiltshire called Zignig for all my packaging. They do the usual featherlite bags, jiffy, boxes, bubble wrap, etc. and if you pick up there's no P&P charges. Their prices are very competitive too.
David (ebayworldshop)

 

[MQ57]

I have used Box-it-in.Co.Uk for about 3 years now as they are a small company with great prices and I have always received everything the next day. They do everyting from boxes to bags too.

 

[Happy2Help]

Hi I used to use laser labels, then plain paper with document enclosed wallets.
As a price comparison Document enclosed wallets used to work our cheap per 1,000 than laser labels but more recently the price for integrated label paper has tumbled making it a better cost option for me. I use these forms as a picking note, invoice and customer delivery label, http://http://www.cheap-integratedlabels.co.uk/single_integrated.asp
I have reduced the picking errors and returns using these forms. However for bulky boxed items Im using the courier label which was supplied to me on rolls.
http://http://www.cheap-integratedlabels.co.uk/single_integrated.asp

 

[Happy2Help]

Hi I used to use laser labels, then plain paper with document enclosed wallets.
As a price comparison Document enclosed wallets used to work our cheap per 1,000 than laser labels but more recently the price for integrated label paper has tumbled making it a better cost option for me. I use these forms as a picking note, invoice and customer delivery label, http://http://www.cheap-integratedlabels.co.uk/single_integrated.asp
I have reduced the picking errors and returns using these forms. However for bulky boxed items Im using the courier label which was supplied to me on rolls.

 

[dedoko]

We have been running an internet e-commerce business for about 4 years selling Hanro Underwear online (on here swissunderwear dot com) and have used paper jiffy style padded envelopes... which often we we got returns of undelivered items we note the envelopes/bag were practically destroyed. Then recently we have discovered polythene envelopes which you can get in padded in un-padded varieties. We have been buying them direct from the manufacturer in small quantities from PostSafeDirect (google them and you should find them) - they are about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the equivalent of buying in staples and the like.

Then for labels... quit messing about with trying to put labels through your printer ... just use A7 documents enclosed sticky windows and fold a piece of A4 into it with the address positioned in the corner.

 

[cookiimonstar1]

I use popcorn! i seen a documentary about it on discovery channel works great, polystyrene takes so much room where as i just buy a bag on popcorn kernels stick them in the microwave, all done!! so much cheaper to i pay £1.60 per Kg!!