Where do you get your boxes?

[twovagabondsvintage]

I would love some input on quality shipping boxes of all sizes for a reasonable price. Has anyone been able to find them online. I ship items of all shapes and sizes so I'm wondering if I can purchase some kind of big variety pack somewhere online. Thanks for any input!

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

Try the post office's website. I know they send you free priority boxes.

https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=push&navC...

[PicassosStudio]

Just a note about the USPS boxes- if you use them, you have to ship priority mail, which can be a faster but more expensive option.

[twovagabondsvintage]

Yes I'm familiar with the priority option, thank you! I'm really just wanting to buy a bunch of different sized boxes as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.

[OneFairfaxRoad]

I mostly scrounge boxes from neighbors' recycling cans (only if they're on top) on trash day, to my husband's dismay! I buy odd sizes, like 24 x 24 x 6 for my vintage bread boards on U-Line. They're very reasonable, but you have to buy in quantities of 10. Also, Home Depot is a great place to buy standard cube boxes inexpensively.

[Former_Member]

Papermart also there are suppliers here on Etsy too that sell boxes

[FunandBaubles]

I pick up my boxes (and most of my bubble wrap and peanuts) from the biology dept at my local university. Most labs get tons of shippments each day, and common practice is to toss them in the hall for the custodians to pick up at night. You have to find the research lab building, not the teaching labs though. Boxes range from tiny to humongous.

[LetteredWhimsy]

I go to a local ship-it store and they will sell just about any size of box I need. For box sizes I know I will always need, I use Uline. You have to buy in bulk, but the price per box is reasonable.

[SangriaSilverDesigns]

Uline: http://www.uline.com/Cls_04/Boxes-Corrugated?dup=3
Or Storesupply: http://www.storesupply.com/c-574-boxes.aspx

[Former_Member]

Uline

[JMSjewelryandgifts]

Hey ekatrina, the only issue with that is you need to be careful when using your university's resources for your personal business. At my school, if I use their resources, I have to share the profits with them.

[FrenchLaundryMuse]

One of these days I'm going to figure out how to make my own boxes for those vintage pieces that are hard to find boxes for . . . other than that I also scrounge peoples garbage also I can go to grocery and pet store. The whole box thing is annoying at best :)

[MiniZenGarden]

I find uline's shipping costs to be prohibitively expensive for me. I scrounge for boxes like others are saying, but I found that with the right sized box, I can actually save quite a bit of money on postage.

I buy specific sizes I need for artwork from Staples. I also just bought nice smaller boxes from Amazon. And then free USPS boxes when I can and when I'm shipping Priority.

[FunandBaubles]

This is just trash to them. They do have pretty specific rules.

[twovagabondsvintage]

You are so right Shawn! I have been known to spend half a day trying to cut a box down to size so I don't have to pay for an "oversize" shipping. Thanks for the input everyone. I will check out uline.

[ThirdShift]

Hi Kristal - I get a lot of my boxes (and packing peanuts) from local manufacturing companies and from the local hospital. The boxes are all free, and I have formed a relationship with these places, so they now save boxes and packing materials for me. I just pick up a couple times a week. If you look for local manufacturing companies that are ISO certified, they cannot reuse packing material, so they have to throw it out. It's always clean and used one time - perfect for me.

When I'm in a hurry and need something specific, I order from Uline (it's next day delivery for me). I think their shipping prices are pretty high, but when you need a specific size, it's worth it.

JD

[Former_Member]

Kristal....I use Uline and although shipping is expensive (at the time I bought over 150 boxes, packing paper, peanuts, etc) I think the prices are worth it overall. I had a lot of orders in December and needed the same size boxes. I would love to use the USPS priority boxes, but it's more expensive for the items I've been selling.

[Former_Member]

I stopped using boxes to have cheaper shipping, but I was using boxes from Storage Solutions

[Former_Member]

I stopped using boxes to have cheaper shipping, but I was using boxes from Storage Solutions

[NataBurgos]

Right now I am not shipping in boxes. Most of my items are flat and they fit in cardboard envelopes that I make with cereal boxes and stuff like that. Recently I worked for some days in a boutique and they had lots of simple shoeboxes that i could squash neatly to take home.
It takes some more time to build these envelopes, I cut them and sew them on the sewing machine, sometimes I sew a piece of pretty paper for some decoration. Today I made some envelope with pebble designs from a magazine for some guys wallets.
Right now this alternative is working for me.

[PrairiePrimitives]

Staples stores offer a nice discount when you buy 5 of the same box. Staples.com has a HUGE selection of boxes, great prices, and free shipping to your home if you're a member of Staples Rewards. Check their prices on peanuts too.

Walmart has several sizes of small and medium boxes in store. I think the sizes range from 6x6 to 12x12.

I've bought the huge moving boxes at Home Depot when I need a big bix, or just a long box. I've got the box rebuilding perfected and it usually takes me less than half an hour to make a box the size I really need!

[twovagabondsvintage]

Thanks for the Staples tip Tana!

[GoldenTwinClasps]

I use padded envelopes in 3 different sizes and have never had a problem with damage during shipment.

[ArtistiKat]

I like to use ULine. They have all sorts of boxes, all shapes and sizes.
their shipping is fast too.

edited to add that if you buy in bulk their shipping goes down per box so its more cost effective the more you buy.

[Former_Member]

I use Pratt's on Amazon. They have all sizes and ship in bulk at a reasonable price. Over $35.00 ships free.