Do you really need the medium flat rate box? An alternative

elkins45

elkins45

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First, let me say that I'm not sure where to post this. I don't think any of the sales subforums in the Exchange is the right spot because I'm not selling anything. Since there's a sticky on this page about shipping I thought GBU might be appropriate. Mods please move to a better location if you think there is one more appropriate.

I've bought a few fixed bades over the years from individuals on the Exchange and I've noticed that most are too long to fit in the small flat rate box so the seller has shipped them in the medium flat rate box and has paid around $11 to use that particular container. As it turns out there's a better option for lightweight stuff like a single knife and sheath w/ packing materials. The USPS makes a Priority Mail box that's very close (if not identical) in size to the medium flat rate box but it isn't flat rate. It's the Priority Mail Box O-1097 and the rate is determined based on weight and zip code like any other non-flat rate Priority package. They call it a garment box in the description.

I printed online postage for one of these boxes containing a Spyderco Aqua Salt in the box and packed with peanuts & bubble wrap weighing almost exactly one pound from KY to CA last night. It cost $5.83 including delivery confirmation. The SKU of the box doesn't appear in the list as a selection, so you just choose Priority Mail package from the radio buttons. I've used this method for probably a dozen knives and none of the PO's I've mailed them from have balked at all.

For those of you who ship lots of fixed blade knives I hope this might save you some money if you've been using the flat rate boxes. There are some uses where the flat rate box is an amazing bargain (one guy on the Cast Boolets forum is selling the box stuffed with 60 pounds of lead ingots) but shipping a 12oz. knife isn't it.

Here's the box I'm talking about. You can get them delivered online for free if your local PO doesn't stock them: https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/st...viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10000250
 
Excellent advice. And this is the right place to post: look at the FEEDBACK stickies and you'll see more shipping advice.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
That looks strong enough to ship a khukuri! :p
Click to expand...

It is.... where do you think i learned this little trick? Aunties been using them for years.
Not only are they strong enough to securely mail a khukuri. If you get the 38" model or tape two together endwise, they will also ship a heavy tarwar (or the like) sword.
 
I've got every imaginable size of Priority boxes for my work. elkins45: Yes, you are right. 95% of the time, the standard boxes are less $$$. In fact I almost never ship flat rate because of this.

Another deal: You can slip a well wrapped folder or even small FB into a hard mailer and ship using the USPS Express Mail Flat Rate envelope for less than $20 to ANYWHERE in the US. Not just CONUS but ANYWHERE for this price. Best secure shipping deal in the industry. Sometimes it takes an extra day (which they will reimburse you if you pursue it, but I never do). I've never had a package fail or return.

I like to keep Esav employed. :)

Coop
 
+1 on them boxes, I stock up on them every chance I get. They are a skosh smaller/less wide but 99% of the time they get the job done. Ive even combined two of the open ends to make for a very long box when need be and they often still cost less then the medium flat rate box.
 
SharpByCoop said:
I like to keep Esav employed. :)

Coop
Click to expand...

Thanks. :)
It only pays my annuity now!

We used to recommend Express Mail specifically for security, because it got through the system so fast, there was less time for anything to go wrong. Most of the time, it was in its own mailstream, traveling in its own distinctive sacks.
 
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