November 30th, 2017 by Chris Race
2017 Gift Packing & Shipping Tips
December has three full weeks before the Christmas holiday. Hanukkah begins in the middle of the second week. Pak Mail recommends shipping gifts early in the month to ensure on-time holiday delivery by Friday, December 22.
2017 Holiday Gift Shipping Countdown
The carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL) post holiday schedules. The following cut-off dates are based on these schedules and our holiday shipping experience. Pak Mail includes additional time for potential delays due to inclement weather and increased package volume.
Shipping Week One: December 4-9
- Ship Hanukkah gifts this week.
- Ship international gifts DHL/FedEx this week (recipient is responsible for duties and taxes).
- Ship APO/FPO/DPO packages USPS Priority Mail by Monday, December 4.
- Ship APO/FPO/DPO letters/cards USPS First Class by Monday, December 4.
Shipping Week Two: December 11-16
- Ship to Hawaii/Alaska UPS/FedEx Ground by Wednesday, December 13.
- Ship to US Lower-48 UPS/FedEx Ground by Thursday, December 14 (to Maine/northern New England), or Friday, December 15.
Shipping Week Three: December 18-22
- Ship to US Lower-48 UPS/FedEx 3-day on Monday, December 18.
- Ship to Hawaii/Alaska UPS/FedEx 2-day/overnight on Monday, December 18.
- Ship to US Lower-48 UPS/FedEx 2-day on Tuesday, December 19.
- Ship to US Lower-48 UPS/FedEx overnight on Wednesday, December 20.
Before your trip to Pak Mail – especially if it’s part of your “honey do” list – be prepared with the following shipping information:
- Address and phone number of the recipient (must be a physical address for UPS, FedEx, and DHL).
- Contents of the package (if already packed and sealed). Save time and let Pak Mail pack for you.
- Value of the items.
- When you would like the package to arrive.
You will be asked if the package is safe to leave on the porch. Due to reports of porch theft this time of year, we recommend a delivery signature on most packages. We can also ship to the recipient’s work address.
Merry Christmas!
Posted in Consumer Tips, DHL, FedEx, Packing, Seasonal, Shipping, UPS, USPS Priority Mail
October 30th, 2017 by Chris Race
Fragility, value and shipping method determine packaging preparation
Pak Mail prepares items for packing and shipping based on several factors including fragility, value, and shipping method. Packaging prep for non-fragile items like clothing or soft toys is simple: place the items in a bag to keep them clean, then into the appropriate box for shipping with UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, or freight. Easy!
Packaging preparation for shipping other items is a little more complicated. The shipping method — freight on a pallet or small package — is the first consideration.
- Freight on a pallet: Small pieces of framed artwork require glass mask, small bubble, and corrugated sandwiches. A small amount of cushioning material will keep them safe during transport. These pieces shipped with the furniture shown in #4. This same artwork shipped as a small package requires two inches of protection around all dimensions (large bubble and packing peanuts).
- Small package with FedEx ground: High-value artwork needs soft foam on the plaster frame, acid-free paper on the painting, and Styro lining before being placed in a custom wooden crate.
- Freight on a pallet: Van conversion kits from Wayfarer Vans are wrapped in felt blankets and placed in custom corrugated boxes.
- Freight on a pallet: Delicate furniture is wrapped in a felt blanket before placing in a Styro-lined box.
1. preparing framed artwork
2. preparing high-value artwork for crate
3. preparing van conversion kit
4. preparing fine furniture
Posted in Artwork Shipping, Crating, DHL, FedEx, Freight, Furniture Shipping, Packaging, Packing, Pallet, Shipping, UPS, USPS Priority Mail
September 1st, 2017 by Chris Race
Directional arrows work… sometimes
We recently had a discussion with a customer about shipping plants inside a box with “up” arrows. UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS and other small-package carriers do not guarantee that a package will remain in the “up” position throughout its shipping journey.
This interaction prompted some research; it never hurts to enhance — or confirm — our shipping knowledge. Under Packaging Guidelines for Flowers and Plants on the FedEx Express website, we found the following bullet point: “Secure contents inside the shipping container, because directional arrows cannot always be honored, and plants and flowers may be shipped in different orientations.”
This is true of all small-package shipments. A package is handled multiple times before reaching its destination. There is no guarantee that a package will remain in its original “upright” position. The carrier sorting facilities employ conveyor belts. A question to ask: Can the contents of this package survive a 4-foot fall off a conveyor belt?
At Pak Mail we ensure all items are properly packed based on fragility, value, and even sentimentality, so they arrive at their destination safely.
Packaging with UP Arrow
Posted in Consumer Tips, DHL, FedEx, Packaging, Shipping, UPS, USPS Priority Mail
June 22nd, 2017 by Chris Race
Trust Pak Mail to ship your FedEx packages
Looking for FedEx on Garden of the Gods Rd? Pak Mail is conveniently located at the corner of Garden of the Gods Rd and Centennial Blvd in the Albertsons (Safeway) shopping center.
Pak Mail is authorized to ship with FedEx – Ground, Home, Air, and Freight:
- Small package – if it’s not hazardous or illegal, we can ship it.
- Document – needed overnight or next week, we can ship it.
- Large item over 150# or 139″ dimensional calculated weight – we can freight it.
- Pre-labeled small package or document drop off – we can ship it.
Can’t find the right box? Is the item fragile? Does it need a custom box and a pallet? We offer packing services, too.
FedEx provides daily pickups from Pak Mail.
Pak Mail – FedEx Authorized ShipCenter
Posted in FedEx, Packing, Shipping
June 21st, 2017 by Chris Race
Busy season for packing and shipping
Being inundated with packing and shipping projects – believe it or not – is a fun challenge. Last week the guys picked up gallery items and household goods, quoted walk-in freight shipments, packed everything securely, and shipped with our contracted carriers. This was in addition to small package shipping – artwork from the Commonwheel Artists Co-op in Manitou Springs, birthday gifts, and overnight documents. All deadlines were met!
Part 1 Pictures
Decorative Chair from The Great Republic Gallery
Decorative Chair in Custom Box on Pallet
Posted in Antique Shipping, Furniture Shipping, Gallery Shipping, LTL Truck Freight, Packing, Pallet, Shipping
May 5th, 2017 by Chris Race
Antique Trunk Packing Prep for Shipping
Antique Trunk on Pallet Ready for Carrier Pickup
Pak Mail ships large and awkward items.
Pak Mail easily ships small packages with UPS, FedEx, or DHL to US and international destinations. Large and awkward items are easy for Pak Mail to ship, too. We choose the best protective packaging for the item based on its fragility, place it on a pallet, and ship it with one of our contracted freight carriers — ground, air, or ocean.
Posted in Air Freight, Antique Shipping, Freight, LTL Truck Freight, Ocean Freight, Packaging, Packing, Pallet, Shipping
May 4th, 2017 by Chris Race
Pak Mail, at 4419 Centennial Blvd, is open for business during the Centennial Boulevard reconstruction project.
Pak Mail Hours of Operation
Pak Mail – 4419 Centennial Blvd
- Monday – Friday 9 am – 6 pm
- Saturday 9 am – 3 pm
Two entrances to the West Wind shopping center remain open:
- Garden of the Gods by Starbucks
- Centennial Blvd traffic light entrance by the ARC donation center
Click here for more information about the Centennial Boulevard project.
Pak Mail is open for business! See you in the store.
Posted in Community, Local Business, Packing, Shipping
May 4th, 2017 by Chris Race
Shipping a student from Colorado Springs
The college semester is almost over. Time to ship all your stuff home and get ready for finals.
Student shipping from Colorado College or UCCS – home for summer break, to a new college for extended classes, or abroad for intensive studies – is easy with the right help. It’s a small move of the accumulated stuff after a year in a dorm room or small apartment.
Colorado College Student Shipment on a Pallet
Make the necessary shipping arrangements before final exams and clear the plate for studying, final projects, and, of course, socializing. Start the process by organizing. Ask some questions.
- What can be recycled? Organizations like Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado thrive on donations of gently used clothing, household goods, furniture, and electronics. Old cell phones can be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers.
- What can be sold? Textbooks can be sold for cash at Pak Mail.
- What can be discarded? Get rid of the items that are no longer useful and cannot be donated or re-purposed.
- What is absolutely needed for the final few weeks at school? This is anything that can be safely packed in a suitcase. Everything else can be shipped ahead. Pak Mail can also pick up, pack, and store all of the non-essential items, and ship them when the final boxes are ready.
- What items require special packing? It’s a definite no-no to pack electronics in the middle of clothing. Leave those items for the professionals.
There are several ways to ship a student… their stuff, that is. If there are three or four boxes, UPS or FedEx (DHL for international) is probably the best option. If there are more boxes and a myriad of sports equipment, shipping them all together on a pallet with an LTL truck carrier is more cost effective. US Air Force Academy foot lockers are best shipped on a pallet.
Get an estimate, arrange for pickup and shipping, and get on with studying.
Posted in Colorado College, Moving, Small Move, Student Shipping, UCCS
April 28th, 2017 by Chris Race
Crating process for bronze artwork shipping
Pak Mail ships bronze artwork for local galleries. This Jane A. Rankin bronze required a wood crate on a pallet. Wood braces are covered with a soft material, strategically placed against the bronze, and screwed to the crate. When the crating process is complete, the bronze is secure and ready for freight shipping.
Pak Mail ships artwork — all shapes, sizes, and art media.
Starting the crating process for bronze by Jane A. Rankin.
Bracing inside crate for Jane A. Rankin bronze.
Completed crate for Jane A. Rankin bronze ready for carrier pickup.
Posted in Artwork Shipping, Crating, Freight, LTL Truck Freight, Packaging, Shipping
April 25th, 2017 by Chris Race
Caring Transitions of Colorado Springs Online Auction Ends May 3
Chandelier – Caring Transitions of Colorado Springs Online Auction
Pak Mail provides packing and shipping for Caring Transitions of Colorado Springs’ out-of-town online auction customers. The current auction ends May 3. Lots of practical items, as well as treasures — big and small — are available in this auction.
Pak Mail handles all shapes and sizes of shipments. Smaller items ship UPS or FedEx; larger items ship with one of our contracted freight carriers. Packaging services range from a simple stock corrugated box to fragile handling and a custom-made doublewall corrugated box to protective packaging on a pallet. You can request a quote prior to placing a bid.
Good luck bidding… and have fun!
Posted in Auction Shipping, FedEx, Freight, Local Business, Packaging, Packing, Pallet, Shipping, UPS