How do you ship your prints?

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to Etsy, finally decided to set up shop. Yay! I was wondering how everyone likes to ship their sales.

I recently decided to make professional prints of my past paintings. I'm used to selling and shipping canvases, wrapped in bubble wrap, and placed in a secure box, but what do you do for single sheet prints??

Thought you guys could give me some pointers.

Thanks!
Rachel

[Former_Member]

Card mailers available from Staples.
Quite strong - no damages reported (yet ...)

[Former_Member]

But what about oversized prints, non standard sizes?

[ModernPinkPaper]

i ship oversized prints in a sturdy non bend mailer but i also slip in 2 pieces of corragated board because the larger the "non bend" envelope is, the easier it is to bend.

[TheCreepingMoon]

I package my prints in plastic cello bags with a mat backing board, then ship them in a rigid mailer. I agree with Dalia, the larger the envelope, the more bendable it is. I don't bother with including a backing board for my mini prints (4x6).

[Former_Member]

What sizes are you considering mailing?

[Former_Member]

My biggest prints are 50cm x 35cm. For these I cover the print with tissue paper and then package them between two very quick pieces of card (about 600 gsm) which have a 1cm border bigger than the enclosed print. Then I wrap it all up in craft paper. It's almost impossible to bend!

I buy the cardboard as A1 sheets and cut them down to size by hand. I'm not sure if it's the most cost effective solution, but it seems work and is cheaper than buying hard backed envelopes of the same size.

Hope that helps!

[HappyPixelsStudio]

I put my print in a cello bag (etsy supply source), add a piece of cardboard backing (www.matshop.ca), and then into a rigid envelope (www.canadamailers.ca).

[Former_Member]

Okay good, we're all on the same page! Problem is, my sizes would be much larger than standard mailers or sheets of cardboard.

The largest print I was going to ship is 12"x36", so I needed a package that was at least 14"x38" (since I wanted about an inch on each side) but couldn't find any stay flat mailers that were of such a large size. Plus, based on the fact that most of my works are long and skinny, I fear the longer it is, the more bendy!

So then I thought I'd just make my own. I purchased 26"x38" sheets of thick non bendable chipboard from chipboard distributor/manufacturer (this is harder than it sounds to find - looked up some local companies on Thomasnet) and then tape two pieces together at the appropriate cut size.

Good idea with the plastic cello bags....I was considering a thin bond or tracing paper, but plastic might be better.

Sigh. I'm going to experiment and report back.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

[Former_Member]

bakery bags and bakers twine...i will be doing it this way I feel this goes with my art print theme and it will give my clients a complete theme.

[Former_Member]

what kind of printer do you all have? i heard this one is great but cost lots.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=C11CB35201

[Former_Member]

Im saving to get this one! If im making an investment i might as well get the best

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=C11CA86201

[Former_Member]

I drop ship via my pro photo lab!! Its great...a bit more expensive for my customers but WAY less work for me!! :)

[Former_Member]

what is a pro photo lab?

[Former_Member]

Cayton Heath from caytonheath says

I drop ship via my pro photo lab!! Its great...a bit more expensive for my customers but WAY less work for me!! :)
---------------------------------------

Cayton, drop shopping is not allowed on Etsy.

[annasee]

I sell linocut and giclee prints, so shipping prints is what I'm good at :).

I prefer shipping in large oversized rigid cardboard flat mailers for my larger pieces, and smaller ones for my smaller pieces. I tried to avoid mailing tubes if possible, as I find that it's always nicer when the piece arrives flat and unbent. I get these online or sometimes at office supply stores for the letter size and smaller pieces.

I also ship these as USPS First Class Parcel so I can get a delivery confirmation if necessary. Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

I sell prints that are 8x10's ... I put them in a plastic poly sleeve, sandwich the print in between two pieces of pre cut cardboard (taping each side of the cardboard to keep it from moving around) and send them in a sturdy cardboard photo mailer with "do not bend" written on the front.

Hope this helps!