Adventures in Packaging for the Post

[Joan Marie]

When I first started shipping out decks I had one returned because of a problem with the address. I was really surprised to see how beat up the envelope was. When I checked the contents I saw the deck was okay but the extra materials I included (inside a legal-sized envelope) were all bent.

It wasn't catastrophic, but not how I wanted the stuff to arrive. I began inserting a piece of cardboard inside the large envelope. Although this helped, I later had to replace 3 decks that were damaged during shipping. The decks, inside of sturdy tuck-boxes, got bent at the corners bad enough to have damaged some of the cards.

I then started really reinforcing with cardboard wrapped around the deck. This was a real pain to do each time, however I never had another damaged deck complaint.

I can say for myself, that I have received decks shipped in envelopes that had damage to corners of the box. Nothing catastrophic, I never complained to the seller, but it is a little disappointing. And for collectors, it's really not fair that the deck arrives with any damage at all, even if it's "just" to the tuck-box.

Recently, while looking around for an envelope to ship a deck, I found a little box, heavy cardboard, that was the perfect size. When I shipped it I was very surprised that it didn't cost one-cent more to ship in this box than in an envelope. And it was so much easier.

I started looking into shipping boxes and I found a place, Packhelp.com, that has a big assortment of sizes and will fill orders as small as 30 pieces. Here is the link to their small mailer boxes.

The one called F33 is just a bit bigger than a standard Tarot deck, a little extra room for bubble wrap or extra materials. The price of the box (which is under $1 for even the smallest order) includes printing in B&W on the outside so you can have your logo, website or whatever printed on it.

Packhelp only ships to the EU but I'm sure there are alternatives wherever you may live. I was just happy to learn that this option exists. Even though it may add extra cost, it is still cheaper I think than insuring every package (which is the only way you can ever hope to be reimbursed by the Post Office for damaged goods). Plus I think it adds a bit of polish to the whole thing.

I think it's a good solution that I plan to use next time I do a run of decks. After all you go through to have a beautiful, deliverable deck, it just sucks to have it mishandled and arrive to the customer in anything less than perfect condition.

[reall]

Sadly this happens even with *sturdy box or good shipping provider! imo extra bubble wrap helps! Also tins? As I had plenty good quality decks/box shipped to me with dent corners (it's bit frustrating & making me think Tarot tins would be better?:) but I never complain about it as long as my cards are ok!;) BUT as Self-publisher I've got hearing *super sturdy (aka expensive!) box my printer promised me STILL can get damaged in shipping?
facepalm roll roll
so Big Thank You for link you shared!

[Joan Marie]

Sadly this happens even with *sturdy box or good shipping provider!

I recently got a deck in the mail that was packaged in a way I had never seen anything packaged.

The deck was in perfect condition inside this "beyond-bubble-wrap-packing-solution"

Normally I am really against excessive use of plastic but the thing about this is
a. It worked
b. This thing is totally reusable for many things. It's so strong you could almost use it for luggage!

I inquired from the seller about it and learned that this deck was printed in China and then shipped (actually just driven) to another company in the same city. This special bubble wrap cost just pennies per deck.

I am in fact, currently working with this shipping company and plan to use them for my next deck release in a few weeks. In addition to being a great solution logistically, (I don't have to pay to get the decks shipped to me, plus they do all the work of labeling, packaging, and mailing etc) there is also a significant savings to the buyers because shipping from China to anywhere in the world is MUCH less expensive than from the US, Canada or Europe.

I will update you as I learn more.

[reall]

oh! this is good to know! lookingforward to your full review!;)