Shipping and packaging

[Former_Member]

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.

[Former_Member]

Beca, I just joined as well and am struggling with the same issue. I just joined Etsy and am also trying to figure out the best way to ship. Shipping is so overwhelming and confusing. Whenever I try to calculate a price for one of my signs on usps.com, it is only giving me pricing for priority which is about $35. I think my plan is to go to a shipping store today that has several options for shipping- usps, ups, or fedex. The store we have in our area is Pac Mail. I will let you know what I find out and if I might be able to help! Let me know if you come up with anything else as well!

-Katy

[freelandfolkartsigns]

Hello Beca and Katy!

I sell signs as well. I found the cheapest way to ship is through USPS. I ship in 3 different size boxes, the largest being 48x6x6. Most of the time I have to send the signs parcel post, which is the least expensive way to go. If you go to the USPS site, click on the "other" option. This will be your option for parcel post. You can even receive a better deal if you print your shipping label online through Etsy. I do not print my own labels, still do it the old fashioned way so I end up paying around $1 - 2 more per sign. Katy, you may be looking at the priority price? If either one of you would like to email I'll be more than happy to help you both! Take care, Heather.

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much Heather! The Etsy shipping definitely has proved to be the easiest and cheapest method thus far. Beca, I would definitely check this out. I have just used old box and bubble wrap to ship. For signs that are odd or irregular shapes, we are making a "box" and just listing it as irregular under the package type.

[Former_Member]

Hi girls! I have been selling signs on Etsy for a few years, and the easiest/cheapest way I've found is via USPS. I ship from home, and print my labels from home as well. If you order priority boxes from USPS.com, they are all FREE. The best and cheapest way I've found to ship is Priority, because you can use Delivery confirmation and also the price is not much different (if at all) from parcel post. Trust me, I've researched this a LOT. I ship my smaller signs under 13 oz. First class mail. I now use stamps.com to ship from home, but the shipping through Etsy works just as well.
As far as shipping supplies besides boxes, I order packing paper and labels from Ebay. I'm glad this group is getting more active, I'm happy to be able to talk with others who sell signs to get ideas! :)

Jackie

[Former_Member]

Also YES bubble wrap is my saving grace. I've sent far too many packages when I first started only to have them arrive broken, split in half, or messed up somehow. Bubble wrap through www.uline.com is a Godsend!!

[Former_Member]

Heather and Jackie: I didn't think the priority boxes came in appropriate sizes for most of the larger signs. Do you order them or can you pick up at post office? And aren't some boxes free?

[Former_Member]

Kit, I usually sell signs that are 12x24" at the largest, so I use the large flat rate priority box and that works good for most of my larger signs. For closer/cheaper shipping (like within CA) I do get some boxes from Uline. We have a Uline warehouse nearby and I can pick them up and not have to pay shipping fees. But I save the boxes my priority boxes come in from USPS, and I can use those for larger signs. I just order them on www.usps.com and they will deliver them for free. You can ask at the post office to get them, but I find it easier to just order online so I don't have to make a special trip. :)

[Thesignshoppe1]

What I do is bubble wrap really well and than cover with brown shipping paper. It seems to work really well and is pretty cheap! I also use parcel post

[Former_Member]

Beca, Katy,
I ship priority USPS using ETSY shipping labels. Since I have a standard weight of wood I use and a few standard size signs, it's not too hard to put a fairly accurate shipping cost on your listing in your shop. I tested it all first before I listed any signs. In other words, I know how much each sign weighs after it is all packaged for shipping. I wrap mine in tissue, then my special decorative wrapping, then big bubble wrap and finally brown paper. I always recheck the weight after it's wrapped using my postal scale--a necessity. Then I use the ETSY shipping label. There is not that much difference in cost for different parts of the country. I feel anyone who buys on ETSY knows that since you have to list a shipping cost and can't know ahead of time where in the country it's going, that they may pay a little more. I hope this helps and is understandable. If not you can message me.

[Former_Member]

Oh my word, this thread was soooo helpful!! I thought I was the only one using bubble wrap and brown paper to wrap them! I think it is so ugly and am dying to figure out a different way to package them. I've had to make my own boxes out of bigger cardboard boxes for my super large signs.
I usually put twine around the sign in a bow, but other than that it isn't very pretty :( I'm afraid tissue paper will stick to the sign once it is in route and gets warm...but if nobody has had any complaints/issues with that, maybe that could work. My husband says to wrap it in wax paper and put a ribbon around it!! haha...not bad, right?

Also, how do you package them at craft fairs? I did my first yesterday and I was so embarrassed to wrap them in newspaper and put them in a grocery bag!

[MainelyMae]

Hello, I also use USPS and print my labels at home . I find this very economical. Jackie Smit, if you don't mind my asking which size box do you use for the free priority mail boxes for your 12 x 24 inch signs? I also mail this size out often. Do you bubble wrap them also if mailing in a box? Right now I am bubble wrapping and using decorative paper I purchase at the dollar store. It almost has a fabric feel to it. But the boxes seem like they would be faster and less time consuming. Thanks!

[Nettiesexpress]

Wow, this has helped answer a lot of questions!

I've been trying to find a simpler and cheaper way to ship my signs. It's hard to find cheap boxes here in Manitoba...most of my options is buying 250 at a time and right now that's a little more than I want to buy. I've been thinking of just wrapping them in tissue paper, bubble wrap and brown paper and then tying decorative twine around the outside. I've just been worried that they might possibly break that way.

I have been wrapping them in bubble wrap and then using leftover cardboard boxes which I cut up to cover the sign. (I always completely cover the bubble wrap with packaging tape so that it's more solid and hopefully the bubble wrap won't pop as soon.) The weight of the packages very a lot depending on the cardboard...so sometimes the shipping is more than I expected. It is not a pretty package at all.

I'd love to hear how more of you ship your signs!

[Former_Member]

This is helpful! When some of you say you wrap it in bubble wrap and then brown paper, you do mean the rolls of brown shipping paper? I didn't know you could ship like that! I may have to try that...

[Former_Member]

ok, I hate to beat a dead horse here, but I don't understand the difference between flat rate boxes and regional boxes. I ordered some from UPS and they look exactly like the flat rate boxes I get at the ups store. however, when im making a shipping lable on etsy there are options for regional and for flat. If i press "regional" it is $7.55 and flat is $10, so I just don't get it. ahhhh Can someone clarify this for me.

Trinity: Yes, you get those rolls of brown paper, looks like wrapping paper rolls and you can cut and tape that on and ship it.

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Dawn! That answers my question..I have used that paper before but not JUST that paper wrapped around my item w/ bubble wrap. Interesting!

[Former_Member]

Hi again Lottie! I use the 12x24" game board box that is the USPS Priority Flat Rate Shipping box most of the time. It costs $15.80 to ship. I use it for all of my signs over 12" long, and any that are 12x12" or under I use the flat rate medium box that is $11.50 to ship. Smaller ones can be put in smaller packages, but I almost always ship priority unless its a small door sign, then I ship those via First Class. You can order the 12x24" game board box on usps.com under the Priority tab. :) Message me if you'd like more help, I'd be glad to help you! Sorry I didn't see this before now. I use bubble wrap and packing paper inside the boxes, which is not brown paper, but a little softer. I order the paper through ebay. The bubble wrap I order through Uline because I have a warehouse here that I can pick up from locally. :)

[SignReads]

Today is my first day here. Just joined. I have an Etsy store with wood signs. I ship in a larger size bubble wrap envelope. My signs weigh from 15 oz. to 1 lb. 12" x 6" or 14" x 6". The cost is usually $7.00. I charge $6.00 for shipping. Sometimes I send with standard or first class. I will never forget last month a lady wanted a sign from me and she asked me if I could do 1 day shipping. I told her I could not because the 1 day shipping would be very expensive. The 1 day shipping for signs of my sizes would cost $34.00. There is no way I would ever do this.

[SignReads]

I send my signs thru the Post office. USPS.

[Former_Member]

This thread is awesome. I just opened my shop last week and haven't had a sale yet but this is very helpful for when I finally do!! Thanks for the info you guys!

[Former_Member]

I send mine via USPS . :)

[SignReads]

I shipped USPS. Thus far, I have been using the large bubble wrapped envelopes. It is cheaper on shipping and seems to work for me. Haven't sold any larger signs yet though.

[brittanymcilquham]

Glad I found this! I make large signs and it has been a nightmare to ship!! Average is 20x28 in and about 7-8 lbs total package. That's about $20 to ship! I haven't opened store for this very reason!! Any insight on shipping jumbo signs?

[MamaSaysSigns]

Any Canadian sellers have options for shipping 12x24"signs

[Former_Member]

I just opened my shop and this is all very helpful! I haven't sold anything yet, but shipping has been my biggest worry - finding the right size of box and the cheapest price possible. After reading this, I just ordered some boxes from USPS for free and with free shipping!