shipping boxes

[TitanThanos]

Hey, i was just wondering...is it common to ship figs from a trade in empty booster boxes? I just did a bunch of trades, and sent some out it them, and no one complained. I also got a couple of trades that shipped in booster boxes, and I really don't mind at all. I just want to know, is this common practice?

[petenbailey9]

Hey, i was just wondering...is it common to ship figs from a trade in empty booster boxes? I just did a bunch of trades, and sent some out it them, and no one complained. I also got a couple of trades that shipped in booster boxes, and I really don't mind at all. I just want to know, is this common practice?

Some people we have traded with have sent their stuff in booster boxes. I personally prefer to use 300-count card boxes because I feel they are sturdier. Plus our post office is really strict about delivery confirmation-the label has to fit *completely* on the front of the box, in addition to both addresses and the postage label, and a booster box is too small to accomodate all of the above.

Elizabeth, Heroclix Enabler

[Quebbster]

Personally, I use booster boxes all the time, except in the case of really big trades.
Mainly, I do this because I know what the postage will be: a booster box can have up to 7 ordinary figures in it before exceeding the 100 gram postage limit the Swedish Post office uses on international mail. If I go above that, it costs me twice as much. Hence, I avoid using bigger boxes as that might get expensive.

As far as I know, no one I have traded with have minded this practice. Of course, you have to pack smart - I always wrap the figures in paper to protect them, and if I have a smaller amount I try to put each one in a plastic holder.

[combatninja]

I do it all the time. Turn a booster inside out and with a little packing tape it becomes the perfect vessel for shipping 1-4 figs.

[baldysky]

The newer boxes(last several sets) make great shipping boxes. They are very sturdy. You do have to watch out though. Most USPS branches will not take them per most of our trade guide lines...because they want to be able to have 100% of the shipping info on one side of the box. Most of the traders here want a dc#. That sticker alone will not fit on one side of a booster box. To be certain your post office will take it on any given day or any given clerk the smallest I ship with is a 200 ccg box. If you are carefull, you print or paste your shipping address and return address in the lower right quarter of the box....the clerk can then fit the postage sticker in the upper right...and attach the dc sticker on the left side. I don't want to say you can't get away with sending in a booster box......just that once you get to the post office ready to ship, you never know for sure if it will be taken that way. Some clerks will just wrap the dc sticker around two sides of the box and let it go...some won't....then you have to decide if you want to take it home to repack it......or let it go without the dc and maybe anger the guy your trading with, risking bad feedback......or if the box gets lost, having no dc proof.

[TitanThanos]

Sweet, thanks for the replies! My Postmaster doesn't seem to mind the smaller boxes, and the boxes fit nicely in my mailbox, so on smaller trades, I think I'll be doing this. I'll most likely ask first, but it seems common enough.

:squareeye

[Gacy's Clown]

Some people we have traded with have sent their stuff in booster boxes. I personally prefer to use 300-count card boxes because I feel they are sturdier. Plus our post office is really strict about delivery confirmation-the label has to fit *completely* on the front of the box, in addition to both addresses and the postage label, and a booster box is too small to accomodate all of the above.

Elizabeth, Heroclix Enabler

I concur.:)

I can get a DC sticker, an address, the entire postage sticker, AND my return address on one side of a booster box. You can write your return address on the DC sticker in the upper corner.;)

Ever since they've upgraded their booster boxes (I think with Ultimates), I've been using them to mail out figures, because they're pretty darn sturdy now. Olders ones were a risk, so I rarely did it.

[Gacy's Clown]

The newer boxes(last several sets) make great shipping boxes. They are very sturdy. You do have to watch out though. Most USPS branches will not take them per most of our trade guide lines...because they want to be able to have 100% of the shipping info on one side of the box. Most of the traders here want a dc#. That sticker alone will not fit on one side of a booster box. To be certain your post office will take it on any given day or any given clerk the smallest I ship with is a 200 ccg box. If you are carefull, you print or paste your shipping address and return address in the lower right quarter of the box....the clerk can then fit the postage sticker in the upper right...and attach the dc sticker on the left side. I don't want to say you can't get away with sending in a booster box......just that once you get to the post office ready to ship, you never know for sure if it will be taken that way. Some clerks will just wrap the dc sticker around two sides of the box and let it go...some won't....then you have to decide if you want to take it home to repack it......or let it go without the dc and maybe anger the guy your trading with, risking bad feedback......or if the box gets lost, having no dc proof.

You're joking right? You can put the entire sticker on the left side of the box (with return addy written up on it). You can write the address down on paper (and don't have to write all that small) and tape it to the bottom left corner. Postage sticker has plenty of room above the address and everything is there on one side, with no overlapping or anything. It's not hard if you try and know what you're doing. I can get everything filled out, taped, and ready in about a minute.

[baldysky]

You're joking right? You can put the entire sticker on the left side of the box (with return addy written up on it). You can write the address down on paper (and don't have to write all that small) and tape it to the bottom left corner. Postage sticker has plenty of room above the address and everything is there on one side, with no overlapping or anything. It's not hard if you try and know what you're doing. I can get everything filled out, taped, and ready in about a minute.


You guys have it great....we have a few postal clerks in town who insist that all the writing/stickers on the box face the same direction. So with a booster box, the dc sticker would have to go the wrong direction......so folks down the line would have to turn the box once counter-clockwise to read it. We also have clerks who just stick it so it folds over two side and let it go. So in a big town with 30+ postal clerks, you just never know. I play it safe and stay with a 200ccg size box. Don't get me wrong....I don't mid getting trades in a booster box....wish I could use them.

[Gacy's Clown]

You guys have it great....we have a few postal clerks in town who insist that all the writing/stickers on the box face the same direction. So with a booster box, the dc sticker would have to go the wrong direction......so folks down the line would have to turn the box once counter-clockwise to read it. We also have clerks who just stick it so it folds over two side and let it go. So in a big town with 30+ postal clerks, you just never know. I play it safe and stay with a 200ccg size box. Don't get me wrong....I don't mid getting trades in a booster box....wish I could use them.

I'm seriously not getting what you're trying to say here. You CAN get the DC sticker and everything on the SAME side of a booster box AND have it all facing the same direction, etc. It's not hard at all. If I could draw a diagram on here, I would. :)

[Gacy's Clown]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD............................................................................... ....I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..I
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D=DC sticker
P=Postage
A=Address

You write your return address in the upper corner of the DC sticker.

*hopes this comes out right*

[petenbailey9]

I'm seriously not getting what you're trying to say here. You CAN get the DC sticker and everything on the SAME side of a booster box AND have it all facing the same direction, etc. It's not hard at all. If I could draw a diagram on here, I would. :)


We haven't been doing as many trades but I will have to try this next time. I personally have never mailed clix in a booster box, and I seem to remember that any clix we received in booster boxes had the dc label folded over the edge.


Elizabeth

[Gacy's Clown]

The only way the DC lable should be folded over the edge is if they were putting everything on the small side of the box. I just use the front side of the box and the DC sticker fits perfectly. The only thing you have to somewhat practice (like a whole two times maybe) is making the address small enough, so it's not covered by the postage sticker. The postage sticker takes up about the top half of the box, so as you see in the diagram and obviously figured out, you've got to make the address be about half the size as well. EASY!!!:)

[petenbailey9]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD............................................................................... ....I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..I
I DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...............................AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..I
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D=DC sticker
P=Postage
A=Address

You write your return address in the upper corner of the DC sticker.

*hopes this comes out right*


I can't believe you actually diagrammed it out. Wow.

Elizabeth

[Gacy's Clown]

Just trying to be helpful is all.:)

[petenbailey9]

Just trying to be helpful is all.:)

That is very nice of you. Are you going to be giving out free massages next?
*waits for Fate to come running*

Elizabeth

[Gacy's Clown]

:laugh:

You're a dreamer!;)