geekhack
geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: mashby on Thu, 02 May 2013, 09:21:36
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I've had a couple of classifieds recently and found the packaging the items to be one of the more frustrating aspects. So I was curious what everyone else uses?
For a full-set of keys, I found the Priorty Mail Small Box (https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-flat.htm?) to be the best way to go. That provides both the container and shipping and is pretty easy to do via PayPal.
What do you use for a single key?
What do you use for a small set, like RGB?
I'm interested in what type of packaging you use and what method of shipping for CONUS.
Thanks in advance!
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Wrap it up in foam paper or bubble paper, and stick it in a bubble mailer?
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I don't even wrap them up, just stick them in a bubble mailer and you'll be good. I've sent hundreds of mailers like this and I've never had problems with keys getting damaged
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Be careful if they're PBT when doing that. They can easily shatter, being that they're brittle. I would also be careful doing that with ABS anyway. I bought a set shipped to me like that, and one of the caps had a crack in it. I didn't ever notice it, and I ended up selling it like that. Sucks. Now I'm trying to find a replacement for it.
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Any particular size of bubble mailer you guys use? And do you ship just first class?
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Maybe that was just bad luck? When I ran the meme gb a long time ago I shipped the majority of the orders that way and they were PBT keys and I don't think I had a problem with broken keys.
I think you might run into a problem if you put too many keys in a mailer and it's not a single layer anymore. If someone puts pressure on the outside they might damage each other if they're stacked.
The ones I've used have been #0/00/000, and I just use first class for them.
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I like to wrap keys in bubble wrap, then fold a piece of cardboard over it. With one side folded and 3 sides stapled, you have an irregular rectangle-ish mound that provides good protection, weighs little, and fits well into smaller envelopes.
First class mail is usually almost as fast as Priority, and there is a breakover point somewhere under a pound where it can be a good deal cheaper. However, Priority Mail now includes tracking at no cost, and flat rate is a great deal for heavy stuff.
Styrofoam egg cartons make great filler for larger packages, and weigh almost nothing.
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Yeah, for just a few keys, I usually stick them in a baggie and then inside a bubble mailer and off it goes via first class mail.
I recently bought a huge box of #00 poly bubble mailers (for shipping the Krytox 103), so I'm using those lately.
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I generally use bubble mailer for keycaps unless the buyer makes it a point to request a box. Boxes and bubble wrap for keyboards. Ship everything first class unless priority is cheaper.