Posts Tagged ‘Shipping Supplies’

Packing Peanuts are a common loose-fill packing material used to prevent damage to fragile objects during shipping.  There are four different types of Packing Peanuts:  White, Pink Anti-Static, Green Recycled and Biodegradable.  Let’s take a closer look at each type…

White Packing Peanuts:  White peanuts are made of 70% new polystyrene and best used when presentation matters.  They utilize an “S” design that allows for interlocking within the packaging container for stronger cushioning and stability.  May be re-used and ultimately recycled.

Pink Anti-Static Packing Peanuts:  Pink Anti-Static peanuts are made of 70% new polystyrene and best used to protect static sensitive electronics from static discharge.   They utilize an “S” design that allows for interlocking within the packaging container for stronger cushioning and stability.  May be re-used and ultimately recycled.

Green Recycled Packing Peanuts:  Green peanuts are made of 100% recycled content typically the remains of other polystyrene loose fill.  They utilize an “S” design that allow for interlocking within the packaging container for stronger cushioning and stability.  May be re-used and ultimately recycled.  Best choice for eco-conscious shippers that need a cleaner alternative to Biodegradable Packing Peanuts.

Biodegradable Packing Peanuts:  Biodegradable peanuts are made of corn starch and are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, reusable and compostable.  Best choice for companies with green initiatives or eco-conscious end users.

The two drawbacks with the Biodegradable peanuts are that they leave dust behind and they are edible and may attract rodents if used for long-term storage.

We hope this helps you to choose the Packing Peanuts that best fit your needs.  Next month look for our first video packing tip.

Shipping Supply, LLC has moved into a new facility located in Waukesha, WI.  Our new facility is much larger, which will allow us to add more shipping supplies and continue to grow.  Our new corporate contact information has changed to the following:

Shipping Supply, LLC
1416 Poplar Drive Suite F
Waukesha, WI 53188

Phone: 1-262-547-3440
Toll Free: 1-877-501-PACK
Fax: 1-262-547-3441

Hopefully lightning strikes twice as BuyCostumes.com, the world’s largest internet based retailer of costumes and party supplies, previously occupied the facility.  They have since moved into a 360,000 sq. ft. facility in New Berlin, WI.

CLICK HERE for directions to our new location.

We are pleased to unveil our new real-time Order Status System.  How does it work? Simply click on the “Track Your Order” text located on the top of every ShippingSupply.com page.

You will be directed to the following page…

Once there, input your order number and billing zip code and click “Track Order”.  A message will appear displaying the status of your order.  Additionally, all tracking numbers will appear as hyperlinks to UPS or USPS so that our customers can track their orders immediately.  Please note that orders placed on Saturdays, Sundays, or Holidays will not be updated until the next business day. 

The Order Status is available 24/7.  Simply CLICK HERE to check on your order!

Two questions we commonly receive from our customers are…

1. Are your shipping supplies made with recycled content?
2. Can the items I’m purchasing be recycled?

Those are great questions and we certainly appreciate our customer’s commitment to protecting the environment. With that said, a few months ago we created the “Eco Information Chart” that lists all of our product categories and answers the above mentioned questions.

The Eco Information Chart shows what our products are “Made from” (recycled content, post consumer waste, or conventional product).  The chart also provides information on disposal options titled “After you are done” (100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable).  On the bottom of the chart we have included definitions in effort to help our customers understand unfamiliar terms and processes. 

Click on the screenshot below to visit our Eco Information Chart.

Okay, Shipping Labels aren’t exactly super heroes but they do help prevent damage to your package during transit by sending clear messages to all potential handlers.  What is heroic is this protection only costs about .02 cents a label.

Our bright red Shipping Labels are available in rolls of 500 labels and are easy to use.  Simply peel and apply.  We stock the following labels with common messages…

• Fragile Handle with Care
• Glass Handle with Care
• This Side Up
• Packing List Enclosed
• Invoice Enclosed
• Made in the U.S.A.

We recommend placing our labels on multiple sides of your package or envelope to ensure that your shipment will arrive safely.  In addition to handing labels, place instructional labels to help customers find Invoices, Packing Lists, or Bill of Ladings.

Every holiday season we get emails from various eBay Sellers asking “What should I use to ship my widget?”  That said we want to suggest the best shipping supplies for a few of eBay’s most commonly sold items.

• DVD’s/Video Games use DVD Bubble Mailers
• CD’s use CD Bubble Mailers
• VHS Tapes use VHS Bubble Mailers
• Books use Bubble Mailers
• Clothing use Poly Mailers
• Pictures use No-Bend Mailers
• Posters use Kraft Mailing Tubes
• Jewelry use XPAK Poly Bubble Mailers
• Coins/Trading Cards use #000 Bubble Mailers
• Sun Glasses use Corrugated Mailers
• Golf Clubs use 6 x 6 x 48″ Corrugated Boxes

Please Note:  We recommend reading our Choosing the Correct Size Bubble Mailers and How Shipping Boxes are Measured articles to help choose the correct size product(s).  Lastly, please remember to properly wrap fragile items and always insure your packages with your carrier.  These extra steps will help to protect both your bottom line…and your reputation.

Shipping Supply, LLC has acquired ShippingTubes.com.  With this domain name we plan to create a product specific landing page that will drive traffic to our main site ShippingSupply.com.

We are pleased to once again work with ecommerce management and consulting firm Groove Commerce, who will develop and design the landing page for this project.  The landing page will resemble and seamlessly integrate with our main site.

The increase in traffic generated by the ShippingTubes.com will allow us to showcase our world class customer service and grow our business.

ShippingSupply.com is proud to announce the launch of our “Deal of the Day”.  The “Deal of the Day” began as a way to highlight, and sell, overstocked inventory. Now it has become a way to reward our customers by posting one popular item everyday at an extremely low price.

The “Deal of the Day” is updated everyday at 7am CST. There are no quantity restrictions; however, if we sell out the deal is over until the next day.  Here are a few questions we anticipate…

• Will you honor the price at a later time?
• I just bought this item yesterday.  Will you refund me the difference?
• If I buy “X” amount can I get a better price?
• When will this product be “The Deal of the Day” again?
• What is tomorrow’s “The Deal of the Day”?

The answers to the above anticipated questions are; No, No, No, We don’t know, and We won’t tell.  Anyway, we hope everyone gets the point.

We recommend clicking on the following link and book marking the page.  Why?  So you can easily check the “The Deal of the Day”…Daily.

Click Here to view our “Deal of the Day”.

One of the most common mistakes made when packing is not properly protecting the item being shipped.  When this happens, the impact to the outside of the box transfers to the contents which may cause damage.  Here are some suggestions for safely packing your item for shipping…

• Use a sturdy Corrugated Shipping Box.  Make sure the corners and flaps are intact.  If you are reusing a box, do not use a box with tears or holes.
• Put protective wrapping such as 3/16″ height Bubble Wrap around the item.  If packing more than one item into a box, wrap each item individually.
• Center your item in the box and allow for 2″ to 3″ of packing material to be placed around the item (this includes the area underneath the item).  We recommend using Packing Peanuts or bubble wrap as cushioning.  The goals here are to suspend and stabilize the contents.  The items should not touch any portion of the box or not move around during transportation.
• If shipping multiple items be sure that they do not touch each other and that there is at least 2″ between each item.
• Tape your box on the top and bottom seem (include the left and right sides) using a Carton Sealing Tape.
• Put the appropriate Shipping Label on the outside of the box to encourage proper handling.

Remember that poor packing can lead to damaged items or cause your customers to be critical of the item you sold them.  In either case, they might not come back.

Lastly, even the best of packing jobs can end up getting damaged; therefore, we do recommend insuring your packages with your carrier.

Most new or small businesses charge their customers a shipping charge, but often forget to factor in the cost of packing and materials. That said, the first shipping and packing tip is to ensure that your price or shipping charge includes sufficient mark-up to adequately cover the expense of packing your item(s) thus preserving your margins. To determine your packing expenses first identify the materials needed to ship your product(s) on a per item basis. Start by asking the following questions…

1. Is the item being shipped fragile or large?

If yes, ship the item in Corrugated Shipping Boxes.

If no, consider one of the following mailing products; Bubble Mailers, Mailing Tubes, Poly Mailers, or Rigid Mailers. Mailers are a low cost alternative to boxes and are usually less expensive to ship.

2. If using corrugated shipping boxes, decide how the item(s) will be protected during transportation?

The most common methods of protecting the contents of a shipping box is wrapping the item in Bubble Wrap, suspending the item using Packing Peanuts, or filling the box with Kraft Paper in effort to stabilize the item.

3. Factor in the other supplies needed to ship the item(s) which include; Carton Sealing Tape, Shipping Labels, Packing List Envelopes, and a Tape Gun.

Now calculate the amount of materials it takes to package one item and multiply by the number of shipments per month. This will give you an understanding of how much packaging material is needed on a monthly basis. Finally, divide the cost of materials by the number of items you ship per month to arrive at your “per item” packaging cost.

Other things to consider:

• Don’t forget to insure your package. Both UPS and FedEx offer free insurance up to $100 per shipment. The US Postal Service does not offer free insurance.
• If you have an employee packing, you will have to calculate labor charges to cover the “time” aspect of packing.
• Buy your packaging supplies in bulk to save money.