emazers Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I been getting alot of questions on how I box up my Lego sets to be mailed. First thing I only use Bubble Wrap on maybe 5% of the sets I mail. I use that Brown and White Packaging paper that alot of companies use to ship stuff. I get mine from those GNC Vitamin stores, they throw boxes of it away. I put the Lego set in the box, then I take the paper and stuff it in between the Lego set and the box, then I put a few layers on top of the Lego set, then I take a Priority mail, Fedex box on top. and then close and tape the box up. Now I have mailed thousands of boxes this way, and none have ever got damaged, plus with this size box there is not enough room to use Bubble Wrap, except for the real thin Bubble Wrap that is no good. So on the sets like the Helm's Deep, VC, Black Pearl etc I use the 24x4x16. And for the Volkswagen camper,Olivia's House, batcave, Etc I use the 20x4x16. Since Bubble Wrap is not cheap I save Hundreds of Dollars and more on using the Paper. Check the Pictures Below. Ed 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superbrickman Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Thanks for sharing, emazers! I like your idea of using paper instead of bubble wrap. I tend to use air pillows but that's probably because I have a bunch lying around from my S&**** purchases and am a very small time investor right now. Where do you usually get the boxes from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exciter1 Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Thanks Emazers, I've used the Priority boxes like that before to provide extra rigidness to the packing. Do you put any paper on the bottom of the box? I usually put paper on the top and bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emazers Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 No Paper on the Bottom, and get the boxes from Staples.com free shipping over $60 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fendiixx Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Good topic, those boxes fit the Helms deep perfectly. Once i begin to sell more i'll have a similar set up but will use bubblewrap over paper as I can get as much as i want from work for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoNotInsertIntoMouth Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Bubble wrap is freakin expensive. I have been managing using the stuff and boxes I get from my own purchases. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOrcKing Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Since Bubble Wrap is not cheap I save Hundreds of Dollars and more on using the Paper."Paper. Fifteen sheets could save you 15% or more." :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 No wonder the post office is going broke... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadowsk1 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 That makes me laugh. People have been asking you how you box a Lego set? Put item in box larger than item itself. This is the saddest topic I've heard in a while. Time to head off to the complaint thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forestgirl27 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 So...hate to be a wet blanket...but if the post office found out what you were doing with those priority boxes you could be in deep doo doo. Just sayin'... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eightbrick Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 So...hate to be a wet blanket...but if the post office found out what you were doing with those priority boxes you could be in deep doo doo. I was going to ask... is that just to take up room so it doesn't move around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forestgirl27 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I was going to ask... is that just to take up room so it doesn't move around? I think the idea of putting extra cardboard in like that is a great one. However, you could find yourself in trouble with the Post Office if they catch you doing it. When you order those boxes online, which I often do, they make you sign something saying they will only be used for the purpose they were made for. It's up to you if you want to take the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TabbyBoy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I tend to get free boxes from supermarkets and I also get rice-based loose-fill (a bit like Wotsits) from a computer company's skip (dumpster) near where I live. I ALWAYS put the set in a sealed bag as it rains a hell of a lot in the UK. I do have some purpose-made double-walled boxes for the expensive sets. For cheap/small sets, I just put them in a Jiffy bag or cover with kraft paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvail8 Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Uline has their boxes on sale, I just made an order the other day. Use code SP365. The 24x16x4 boxes are usually $1.42 for 25, on sale for $1.07. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TabbyBoy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Uline has their boxes on sale, I just made an order the other day. Use code SP365. The 24x16x4 boxes are usually $1.42 for 25, on sale for $1.07. In the UK, they cost that..... each! Hence, I beg, steal and borrow what I can. This is part of the reason why I also buy single sets from LEGO Shop at Home so that it's already packed to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscheaf Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 This is a really interesting read. I wonder if using old cut down lego boxes instead of priority boxes would work as well. Lord knows they aren't useful for shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaisonline Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 This his how I boxed up 12 Exo-Suits last Aug (to Singapore). The corner and side braces really help when other boxes are thrown on top of it during transit. 90% of my sets are packed this way especially larger ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I used to use bubble wrap, by the roll, it's fairly cheap & easy to dispense from a PVC pipe mounted under the packing table. My supplier will cut to custom widths for $5.00 per roll, feeding it up around the end of the table through a slide cutter has reduced packing time exponentially. Then by chance I put a winning bid in on packing peanuts from the government surplus site - they only pictured boxes & an 8' bag (worth about $60) bid $40, had to make 3 trips in my truck to pick up all 14 bags. so sooo many foam nurdles, they're everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbaker1974 Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I also use the brown kraft paper...I get rolls from either Amazon or Staples (when they are running coupon specials for shipping supplies, they do 40% sometimes). I formerly used bubble wrap on hundreds of sets, but found that from a cost perspective the paper is about 4-5 times cheaper, provides the same or better protection (you can shape it into "logs" and "rolls" to wedge into the sides around the sets better), and having a cutter/dispenser cuts a lot of prep time on the boxing. For expensive exclusives I will use bubble wrap on occasion. Not had any shipping damages in 3 years... On another note...looking at your boxes emazers, you use a lot of tape! I go down the center 3 times on each side, even on the large 24x16x4, and this holds well - never had one bust loose when I buy the valuemailers tape from Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth_Raichu Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 This his how I boxed up 12 Exo-Suits last Aug (to Singapore). The corner and side braces really help when other boxes are thrown on top of it during transit. 90% of my sets are packed this way especially larger ones. ja, did you use USPS to mail that package ? I heard they give people trouble for using their free Priority Mail boxes for things outside flat rate shipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaisonline Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 i use usps priority express international 90% of the time and it wasn't flat rate. not sure if usps opened the shipping box. ja, did you use USPS to mail that package ? I heard they give people trouble for using their free Priority Mail boxes for things outside flat rate shipping 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exciter1 Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 i use usps priority express international 90% of the time and it wasn't flat rate. not sure if usps opened the shipping box. If they don't know what's in the box, I don't really think it matters what you use for packing materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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