Should I avoid padded envelopes? Also if it's just small plants, cuttings etc what is the most economical way to ship? I read damp newspaper, or damp paper towel and bag them with a bit of air. What is best flat rate box? Those experienced shippers please help a n00b out. Thanks! :thm:
Best way to ship plants?
- Thread starter bettabrat
- Start date
Hey lady, padded envelopes are fine with a small order. However, for Priority Mail delivery the postage rate charged will be the same as the small (7x7) flat rate box. And most buyers wouldn't like it being sent First Class instead to save $3-4 because it can take a week longer. Flat rate boxes come in small, medium, and large. Specifics are listed at usps.com... click on "plan a shipment." That shows you a comparison, with options, and pricing. Make sure you only use their boxes that actually say "flat rate" on them, or the postage will cost more (calculated based on weight and zones/zip codes).
Wrap the plants separately in either paper towel or newspaper and get it wet. Put that into a plastic bag and seal tight (zip locks are fine.. don't use sandwich bags that just fold over). Then put that bag (or multiple bags) into another one to make extra sure nothing leaks or dries out. Use enough packing material that it won't shift around a lot inside.
It's still cold enough in a lot of places that you'll need to buy heat packs and use insulation.
Always, always, always.. pay the extra 65 cents for delivery confirmation. That prevents your buyer(s) from claiming it never arrived when it really did and they're hoping for a replacement free of charge. It also proves you really shipped it in case it does get lost.
Wrap the plants separately in either paper towel or newspaper and get it wet. Put that into a plastic bag and seal tight (zip locks are fine.. don't use sandwich bags that just fold over). Then put that bag (or multiple bags) into another one to make extra sure nothing leaks or dries out. Use enough packing material that it won't shift around a lot inside.
It's still cold enough in a lot of places that you'll need to buy heat packs and use insulation.
Always, always, always.. pay the extra 65 cents for delivery confirmation. That prevents your buyer(s) from claiming it never arrived when it really did and they're hoping for a replacement free of charge. It also proves you really shipped it in case it does get lost.
I found out something else today. Those little Express Post Office stations don't stock flat rate boxes in the small size. I didn't have any because my online request for supplies never came in. So I hauled all my shipping stuff down there, polystyrene cut up into measured panels, packing material, heat packs, moss bundles, labels. The customer service person gave me medium size boxes, saying I could just use those. Yeah.. for twice the price!! I didn't have insulation sheets that would fit those anyway.
Very frustrating. I don't have a working printer, or I'd do all this online and schedule a pickup. That's another thing about the upsp.com site.. it lets you print the labels and postage to your own printer. And you can schedule your mail carrier to just pick them all up. This doesn't work affixing postage to the boxes if they weigh more than 12 oz.
Very frustrating. I don't have a working printer, or I'd do all this online and schedule a pickup. That's another thing about the upsp.com site.. it lets you print the labels and postage to your own printer. And you can schedule your mail carrier to just pick them all up. This doesn't work affixing postage to the boxes if they weigh more than 12 oz.
You know I like this idea better. I went to the PO saturday to ship my mom some fish and it was like freeking insane! You would have literally thought I had some sort of illegal device in the box or something the way the lady reacted and went on and on with her little chart and had to drag her supervisor into it. OMFG all so I could rescue some goldfish :headshake2:
From now on I am printing at home and scheduling a p/u and NEVER writing live fish or anything similar on any of my packages. :swear:
I think you can order their shipping supplies (flat rate boxes, flat rate envelopes, etc) online and have them delivered to your door. I don't think the flat rate boxes cost anything because you will be using their services to ship them out. But don't quote me this is just what my mom was telling me. I know I can have stamps delivered to my door for just the cost of the actual stamps.
I don't write anything on mine. I think only two people actually read those instructions, the person who sends it and the person who receives it. No one in between stops long enough to look at what's written on every box they move around.
I tried that in January, but nothing was ever delivered. It sounded like a good idea, at least. lol.