How do you ship your soap?

[Kari Howie]

I'm trying to determine the best/most economical way to ship soaps in a box. I have searched this website for info related to this question, but the threads are fairly old. I have also looked at USPS, but their small boxes are too small and then the next box up in size is a huge leap up that is way too big for the number of soaps I usually ship (10-14 bars). Do y'all use USPS boxes or buy your own?

 

[Nanette]

I have always used USPS flat rate shipping boxes...the cost even for the medium is still pretty cheap compared to sending by weight. I did have a med. box pretty full-28 bars and it would have been $44 if I had mailed in any other way than flat rate.

 

[Kari Howie]

I have always used USPS flat rate shipping boxes...the cost even for the medium is still pretty cheap compared to sending by weight. I did have a med. box pretty full-28 bars and it would have been $44 if I had mailed in any other way than flat rate.

Thanks, Nanette. I was leaning toward that. I wish I hadn't bought so many boxes from Uline before consulting y'all. Dag Nabbit!

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

I have also looked at USPS, but their small boxes are too small and then the next box up in size is a huge leap up

I think the same but like Nanette said its still cheaper but my practical side keeps thinking there has to be a cheaper way

if you get set up as a business and get the machines from them I believe you get a discount but if you don't ship a lot I wonder if it would be worth it

 

[shunt2011]

I mostly ship USPS Regional Rate as it's cheaper in many cases than flat rate. At least for me.

 

[Kari Howie]

if you get set up as a business and get the machines from them I believe you get a discount but if you don't ship a lot I wonder if it would be worth it

I’ll have to take another look at their scale set up. I think you use Click-N-Ship with that. Correct me if I’m wrong.

I mostly ship USPS Regional Rate as it's cheaper in many cases than flat rate. At least for me.

I looked at the regional rate boxes, too, but I’m shipping out of state and when I plugged in the sending and receiving zip codes, it said they were not in the same region. Am I missing something?

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

i was told on my last job that regional boxes are cheaper if sent to the outer states--but I am not positive. I would suggest going to the post office and going over it all with them

 

[shunt2011]

There are different boxes. A, B and maybe a couple others. I ship mostly in my State or close by.

 

[Nanette]

I ship to MA from AZ so...far away.

 

[Obsidian]

I'd pack up 14 bars and get a weight then discus your options with your postmaster.

 

[Kari Howie]

At first glance, I read your message as “outer space” not states!

 

[Nanette]

At first glance, I read your message as “outer space” not states

 

[amd]

Do your boxes from Uline fit in the USPS flat rate padded mailer?

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Do your boxes from Uline fit in the USPS flat rate padded mailer?

great idea

 

[lucycat]

Do you have your own account with USPS to set up shipping at home? Regional rate box postage is only available if you use click & ship at home. When I am in the click and ship menu I select box and add the weight and addresses in the menu. That causes a section to appear that I can click for available rates for various box sizes. I can find the regional rate box and see if it is cheaper than a flat rate box. I find the regional rate boxes always cheaper for about 500 miles from my address and sometimes more; will depend on where you live and where you ship. I can definitely ship to surrounding states cheaper than a flat rate box. I can pack 12 bars easily in a Regional box A.

 

[Kari Howie]

Do your boxes from Uline fit in the USPS flat rate padded mailer?

I don’t know. I’ll have to try it out. That’s. Great idea.

 

[Kari Howie]

Do you have your own account with USPS to set up shipping at home? Regional rate box postage is only available if you use click & ship at home. When I am in the click and ship menu I select box and add the weight and addresses in the menu. That causes a section to appear that I can click for available rates for various box sizes. I can find the regional rate box and see if it is cheaper than a flat rate box. I find the regional rate boxes always cheaper for about 500 miles from my address and sometimes more; will depend on where you live and where you ship. I can definitely ship to surrounding states cheaper than a flat rate box. I can pack 12 bars easily in a Regional box A.

Thanks, Lucy Cat. Most of my out of state shipments are too far away to qualify for Regional. Darn.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

OK so HOW do you guys pack soaps--so far I seem to have more bubble wrap than soap. I am wondering if the soaps are stacked next to each other with nothing in between but are tight in the box is that good enough. I wanna ship more than normal to my son this time

 

[Kari Howie]

OK so HOW do you guys pack soaps--so far I seem to have more bubble wrap than soap. I am wondering if the soaps are stacked next to each other with nothing in between but are tight in the box is that good enough. I wanna ship more than normal to my son this time

The other day I packed a bunch of soaps like a jigsaw puzzle in a box. They were nice and tightly fit together. The first thing my husband asked was, “What if they get dropped? There’s no padding.” With that said, I repacked everything into a larger medium flat rate box with stuffing I recycled from a shipment of stuff I received.

 

[lucycat]

Kari, You used the word "qualify" on regional rates. I don't think there is a qualification (other than weight on each type of box). I think you have to check each location/weight with your package. I live in Arkansas and ship using regional rate to a customer in New York, Michigan and Arizona but use flat rate to a customer in Wyoming and Maine.