Folks sell their treasures online for a myriad of reasons. Some finish their spring cleaning and sell the only-used-once exercise equipment. Others reach new life stages – babies grow up, empty nesters decide to downsize. Occasional sellers are inclined to list items on ebay or craigslist. Artists sell their creations directly from their studios or list them on Etsy or similar venues. No matter the reason for selling, the goal is to make money.

Pak Mail ships for online sellers, both online businesses and sporadic peddlers. Online business owners have learned – usually through trial and error – how to estimate shipping costs. The occasional seller may be caught unaware. She used the online venue’s shipping estimator, but may have used the dimensions of the item instead of the outer dimensions of the packaging. Here are some tips for the occasional seller using an online estimator:

• Accurately measure the item – length, width, height – rounding up to the next inch.
• Determine the packaging needed for the item.
  • Non-fragile items can ship in a box with inner dimensions the same as the item.
  • Fragile items must ship in a box that allows for at least 2 inches of protective packaging (bubble wrap and packing peanuts, not paper) around all dimensions.
  • Very fragile items, especially those with a high value, should be double-boxed.
• Weigh the item, including the shipping box and all packaging materials.
• Enter the outer dimensions of the final box and the final weight into the shipping estimator. Keep in mind that a box stamped on the bottom flap with 12”x12”x12” (inside dimensions) actually ships at 13”x13”x13” (outer dimensions rounded to the next full inch).
• Enter the value of the item. UPS and FedEx include $100 declared value coverage at no additional cost. Items must be properly packaged to receive carrier compensation in the event of a damage claim.
• Post your item for sale, making sure to account for the cost of shipping in your price.

If you don’t have time to do the packaging or the item is extremely fragile, odd-shaped, very large, or very heavy, consider using the services of a professional packing and shipping store. Get a quote for packing (possibly a crate or pallet) and shipping before posting the item online.

Eliminate shipping surprises and keep your profit!

May 30th I attended the  Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce after-hours Meet & Greet, hosted by Tracy Miller at her Manitou Springs gallery on Ruxton Avenue. Awesome gallery, by the way. Patrice, a business associate from the chamber, asked about shipping a Star Trek Next Generation collection from Maryland to Colorado — perfect timing with the release of the new Star Trek movie. Her son will be the recipient of this collection of figures, a transporter room (pictured) and other sets, and a Star Trek telephone that his uncle used in his office for a few years. Patrice wanted to know if it would “cost a fortune” to ship the three or four boxes of collectibles.

The answer is “no.” Simply make sure all the items are securely and professionally packed and that you have an accurate value for the collection and each box being shipped. Unless the collection absolutely needs to reach its destination quickly — or has a high dollar value — ground shipping with UPS or FedEx is the most cost effective. For international shipments, DHL fits that bill. If the collection is very large — six or more large boxes, shipping on a pallet by LTL truck may be the best.

For all you Trekkies, new and “old,” and for anyone with an awesome collection like this, it’s good to know the most cost-effective way to ship these treasures. Choose the best option for your wallet. That leaves some extra money to see the new film a few more times!

Star Trek Next Generation Collection

Everyone’s heard about the devastating tornadoes ravaging parts of Oklahoma.  It seems to be one weather disaster after another on the daily news, with no relief in sight. However, there is light in this time of darkness — a home in the path of destruction in Oklahoma survived amid mass wreckage because of its durable construction. See the full story covered by our local KRDO 13 News station here. This particular house was built with Tegrant Protexic ICFs (insulated concrete form), which is highly wind and fire resistant.  The hollow blocks of Styrofoam are supported by rebar and filled with concrete.  Tegrant uses recycled Styrofoam to make its products.

Something unique about Pak Mail is that, in addition to packing and shipping, we also accept clean Styrofoam for recycling! We bag the Styrofoam pieces that people bring in and take them around the corner from the store to Tegrant. Instead of sending this non-biodegradable material to the landfill, it’s re-manufactured into concrete forms. The Oklahoma home constructed with this building product withstood one of the most devastating tornadoes in recent memory. It’s just one way Pak Mail helps out not only our local community, but the national community as well. We’re humbled to know that a local business we donate to has made an impact in a time of grief. Many Coloradans are starting to look into building homes with the Tegrant form because of its fire-resistant and insulating properties.

Did you receive a shipment of fragile items protected with Styrofoam? Not sure what to do with this packing material? Bring it to Pak Mail! If we can’t re-use it in our packaging, we’ll recycle it with Tegrant and make it count for something!