Shipping and packaging

[#1]

Hello everyone! I just joined this Etsy world kinda by accident (long story), but I love what I'm doing. I mostly have been selling local, but wanted to add an Etsy store and I'm feeling overwhelmed with figuring out best way to package and ship. I took some signs to the post office to get an idea of shipping and the lady was very rude, so I'm not sure I can trust the high prices she gave me. Where does everyone get their packaging from and what is your favorite way to ship? Thanks everyone. I'm excited to have found this group and look forward to getting to know everyone.

[WillowReclaimed]

I am so glad I found this thread! I have a shop and sell wood signs. I wrap mine in bubble wrap and brown shipping paper (I am glad to hear I am not the only one, it looks so ugly, but it works!)
I have a large sign that I need to ship that is 36" L x 16" H and I think I am going to make a box from a box & doing double bubble wrap. I worry so much about my items breaking. I have only shipped USPS and have been happy with it. I don't print shipping labels I do it the old fashioned way and I also undercharge for shipping and bump my prices on my items a little higher to make up the difference.

[ForestofNature]

I was using flat rate, but they are like $17.50 for the 12x24. Thats alot when I am maybe only shipping to the other side of town. I make cardboard corner protectors, like you would see on a frame, wrap in bubble wrap and buy poly envelopes to put them in. You can get them in different colors. Only costs like $8-10 that way shipping ect. Just another idea to throw out there

[ForestofNature]

Amy Miller, get a tv box from u-haul or a moving company

[Former_Member]

Katy, where you get the 48" boxes from USPS? The largest I can find is 12x24". I would love larger!!

[Former_Member]

Hey all! I'm new to etsy and I am selling hand made signs. The packaging and shipping side of the business seems overwhelming to me. A customer ordered 3 woods signs but they are all different sizes. How do you suggest shipping them? Is it bad to ship multiple boxes to her or do I find one large box that fits all three? Any input would be so helpful!! Thank you!

[Former_Member]

Where is a good place to buy poly envelopes? How large can you get them?

[Former_Member]

I'm glad I found this conversation. Thanks for all the wisdom.
My sign shop is brand new and I'm waiting for my first sale...

[Former_Member]

I would definitely not advise tissue paper of any kind. I just got a convo from a customer who said that the decorative lettering on my tissue paper (which was beautiful, btw) somehow transferred itself to the painted sign. She said the paper is not stuck but the lettering is on the sign as if it was painted on. Ugh....

[Former_Member]

Just shipped out my first order !! ( wooden sign) I used bubble wrap and that lovely brown paper😏.. does the job but definitely looking for other options !

[Former_Member]

HI, I'm getting ready to add my signs to my shop but packaging and shipping have me lost. My signs are only about 12 inches long and 3 inches in height, 12x12, and some small table top blocks. What is the best and cheapest way to ship these? I see that the bubble wrap and brown shipping paper is popular, how do you determine shipping cost? Are you taking it to the post office to be weighed the first time? I prefer to do everything at home and just drop off at the post office without having to deal with anyone. My other items in my shop are shipped using a bubble mailer and flat rate shipping. I love that flat rate takes the guess work out of it. Thoughts?
Thanks!!

[PineAndSparrowCo]

I have been wrapping mine in bubble wrap then kraft paper. I had a sign arrive broken to my customer, well she got half i go the other half back (long story) anyways I filed a claim on it and was advised that i must send them in boxes. I am pretty sure my account was flagged and so now i am trying to buy boxes somewhere cheap. I am in canada so its already expensive to ship out as it!

[Former_Member]

Long story short, due to health diagnoses I'm no longer able to do the things I could previously. I've been making signs for friends and family so thinking of maybe selling on Etsy. You all have been very generous with your responses and I'm so glad I found you. It's going to take me a bit to get up to speed but I'll get there. Now I might make my hubby happy by getting rid of all these boxes I keep. Just knew I would use them one day. :-). I would also like to make stencils out of 10mil Mylar and need advise on a cutting machine. Is there another group that you know of for that?

[MainelyMae]

Jackie Smit, I am curious about the size of the box you order for your 12 X 24 inch signs. Would you please share with me the dimensions? I have been using bubble wrap and brown paper but do occasionally have one broken also. I can't seem to find the correct size for the larger signs. Thank you!

[Former_Member]

Most of my signs fit in the USPS priority shipping boxes. I chose this way so that my customers get the signs as quickly as possible and have the tracking information! It has taken me a while to get the hang of what works for my shop, but it's definitely gotten easier!

[Former_Member]

This Discussion group is super helpful. Thank you to everyone for the advice and tips of the trade! I am just starting out and realized after I made my first batch of signs that I should have investigated the shipping process first and built my signs to fit in the priority boxes from the post office. Can't beat free. I did just purchase a scale to have at home. Staples had a bunch to choose from. I only got one that goes up to 10lbs. I hope I don't have any signs that would weigh more than that - I suppose I can always exchange it.

[Former_Member]

Hi there, I just found this group. I've been making signs for about a year, but had always waited to figure out the shipping to get my store going. I ordered some boxes and envelopes from ups, thanks so much for all the help!

[ReagansRoomUpcycled]

I just started my shop and am hesitant to list my larger wood signs that I typically sell at local markets because of the shipping logistics. Has anyone found higher shipping costs for the larger signs to be a turn-off for potential customers?

[Former_Member]

So just to confirm, some of you are JUST wrapping your signs with bubble wrap and Brown paper?? That works?

[BoardBattenDesignCo]

Does anybody know if you can fit 3 1" (well actually .75") signs in a flat rate priority box with bubble and paper protection?

[SignReads]

For my larger signs I cut cardboard to fit the sign. Not any easy chore. Then sometimes bubble wrap under that, then wrapping paper. The smaller signs, I use the large plastic envelopes and cardboard inside for added protection.

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone! I am new in the group and in the process of starting my esty shop and i am kind of at a stand still until I can figure this shipping thing out! I have wooden signs that vary in size from 8"x26" all the way to 26"x50" and I have no idea how to package them so they will arrive safely. Can anyone give me some ideas? Does the bubble wrap and brown package wrap work well? I'm afraid they miget get damaged!

[ParkerMaeDesigns]

This is something that I struggled with as well. I make larger signs. My first sale was a piece that is 36 x 18. It is also made on thin wood. I couldn't find a box size close, so I ended buying a large box from Home Depot and creating a custom box. I packaged with an extra layer of cardboard in between with foam dish plate pieces wrapping my sign.

[Former_Member]

I am SO glad I found this thread!! I just launched my store but I think I listed the shipping wrong! :( My customer just ordered one of my larger signs (36"x8") and listed shipping as Priority mail. Can I use a regular brown box with bubble wrap, and print the shipping label from Etsy? Or do I need to use the white priority boxes from USPS? Does USPS have larger boxes than 24" at their stores? HELP!

[Former_Member]

So glad to have found this. New to Etsy and trying to figure out shipping packging for my signs that include a 1 inch frame. Has anyone shipped signs with frames using bubble wrap and shipping paper? I can't seem to find boxes with the right dimensions. I'm so worried they will break in shipping. Any feedback is greatly appreciated, thank you!

[Former_Member]

I ship using USPS but for larger signs it's less expensive to go thru FedEx. I never use UPS unless I absolutely have too. I've had so many issues with them. Biggest complaint is they do not honor quoted prices. Ugh!