Challenge: Most efficient packing and shipping of a single rack (1 Viewer)

[Machine]

I'm told that I'm lazy, and that is what drives me to be so efficient. It's this backwards thinking that makes me feel as though I'm misunderstood.

Let's not mix words or spruce it up, I'm efficient because I'm lazy!

I went to ship a few racks this week, and I didn't like the SFRB, it's too tight, and if you didn't know, there is Priority Small Box, which is slightly larger. I still think it's too tight. I want the chips to have more padding.

Here is the challenge: reinvent the wheel, err, process, or point out efficiencies here in the thread.

If you haven't seen it, Tommy's shipping thread is a must read! Again my focus for this thread is a single rack.

A call out to @TheOffalo, we've had chats before, and I gotta say he is a shipping guru. I'm not going to call out people that have literally shipped me chips in a Warneke box with some painters tape and a label, it has happened.

I'm not likely to buy from someone that doesn't give a shit about the chips so much that they would slap a label on a Warneke box, and I don't want to be that guy.

This is the most efficient from a cost and effort standpoint that I have found.

Here is what I hope to get out of this thread: mainly improvement on my process, in the way of packaging, specifically focused on a single rack of chips. Perhaps savings on supplies or shipping. Maybe this is as good as it gets!

Here is my adventure:

I started with a free medium flat-rate box, but its one of the thiner / longer box types, more rectangle not the square one. I then measured from the tabs that close the box, down about 8.5 inches, and I make 1 cut, cutting the entire width of the box.

I then take one of the tabs and cut the corners, mirroring the tabs from the top side of the box, creating new box closing tabs. That's it, the box is done. Seriously, five quick cuts. I really like the size for a single rack.

I then stuff the plastic grocery bags that we save from every visit in around the chips, and seal it off. I use Pirate Ship, print the label and its off to the post.

Is there an easier or faster way?

All the best
- Machine

 

[KHarp1]

How much is the cost of shipping in that custom box? Curious minds want to know.

 

[Machine]

Currently, the cost is approximately $13 via USPS, unless you opt for insurance, as it's no longer a flat-rate box; your mileage may vary.

 

[TheOffalo]

Thanks for the compliment! I can definitely identify with the laziness/efficiency link, but another factor for me is cheapness (both in the sense of cost and as a character trait). If I sell something "shipped" then of course I want my cost on shipping to be less, but even if I'm charging for shipping, I don't want to charge $15-16 to ship 1-2 racks of chips.

I've also experience some shipping losses--multiple MFRBs with a corner torn out and chips missing, and even once I was delivered an empty padded envelope that should have had 4-5 DBs in it. So I do tend to overpack things; if @horseshoez wasn't semi-local to me, and I had to ship something to him, I might end up on his shitlist though I never use packing tape on warneke boxes!

All that informs how I pack things, and I have to say that the SFRB has worked great for shipping (and receiving) racks of chips, mostly in warneke boxes. I have no insight into how USPS packs and stacks their parcels, but unless really heavy weight and pressure are being applied unevenly to a very small area of the SFRB, I think the fact that the chips are standing on end, and there are 100 of them to distribute any heavy weight across, I think a rack of chips is pretty resiliant in a SFRB.

I have also had to ship a rack of chips without a warneke box and have used SFRBs without issues. I plastic wrap each barrel (no tape) so the chips aren't rattling around, and then I cut strips of bubble wrap (from other deliveries or from padded envelopes) and wrap each barrel with a layer of bubble wrap. I can fit that into the SFRB and put additional padding to make sure they don't rattle around inside the box.

 

[TheOffalo]

How much is the cost of shipping in that custom box? Curious minds want to know.

Currently, the cost is approximately $13 via USPS, unless you opt for insurance, as it's no longer a flat-rate box; your mileage may vary.

[Edit: I thought @KHarp1 was asking about the small (non-flat rate) box that @Machine was talking about. Info below is on this small box, not the custom box that @Machine constructs.]

The small box can be ordered here for free: https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-small-box-P_O_1096L

It counts as 0.1 cubic feet if you buy postage that qualfies for cubic rates, which is often cheaper than an SFRB if the shipper and recipient are relatively near each other (like only a few "zones" apart), otherwise a SFRB will be more cost efficient.

That small box is also nice because it can fit two warneke boxes.

If I do want more protection without the variable cost of a non-flat rate box, then I usually use a padded flat rate envelope. You can put a warneke box inside a SFRB inside a PFRE (or FRPE) and then even nest that further, and it costs only slightly more than a SFRB to ship. I've shipped up to 4 racks of chips in nested FRPEs before (not necessarily recommended.)

FYI - Rates for Ground Advantage and Priority Mail will go up mid-July (in a week)!

 

[Machine]

I will note that I'm only inclined to use this method when shipping chips worth five USD plus per chip, as I need peace of mind that I've done all that I could.

 

[KHarp1]

I've shipped many racks in SFRB, using a Warneke box wrapped in cling wrap, then wrapped in bubble wrap. Stuff extra material (whatever is laying around, paper, grocery bags, pieces of foam) in the box, tape all edges/ends of box, label with sharpie, packing tape over label. Takes 5 minutes, ya lazy bastage. Never had a complaint, well, none about the packaging.

 

[KHarp1]

I've also shipped by modifying a usps box and then placed that inside a flat rate bubble package.

 

[cpiaaq]

Padded flat rate envelopes work great for 1-2 racks. I recommend 3 layers of padding minimum.

A rack shipped by me will look like this: chips plastic wrapped to the bottom of a chip box. Chip box lid plastic wrapped to the bottom. Rack wrapped in a padded envelope. Then placed into a PFRE, and then that is placed in another PFRE.

I don’t think the SFRB is enough (though I’ve never received damaged chips this way), but it can easily be upgraded by placing it in a couple PFREs.

 

[TheOffalo]

Speaking of the FRPE, @Machine are you still unable to get any delivered to you (or from your local post offices)? I still remember placing an order on USPS.com to send to you, and they just never fulfilled the order or it never got delivered (I forgot what happened). Hopefully that's changed and you can take advantage of FRPEs now.

 

[Machine]

Speaking of the FRPE, @Machine are you still unable to get any delivered to you (or from your local post offices)? I still remember placing an order on USPS.com to send to you, and they just never fulfilled the order or it never got delivered (I forgot what happened). Hopefully that's changed and you can take advantage of FRPEs now.

Yes and they never came, the only ones I have are the ones I've gotten from you and or found as padding in my purchases

 

[chippitydoodah]

@djmarc ships 2 racks of chips in a SFRB and I've never had a damaged chip. Don't over think things.

 

[upNdown]

I will note that I'm only inclined to use this method when shipping chips worth five USD plus per chip, as I need peace of mind that I've done all that I could.

Fair enough. I’m sure this is overkill, but for your own peace of mind for real expensive chips, go for it.
But tightly taping a warneke box and sticking it in a sfrb with enough padding that it won’t move around is totally sufficient.

 

[cpiaaq]

Fair enough. I’m sure this is overkill, but for your own peace of mind for real expensive chips, go for it.
But tightly taping a warneke box and sticking it in a sfrb with enough padding that it won’t move around is totally sufficient.

My issue with this method is you can only pad 1-2 sides of the rack in a SFRB. For the other 4-5 sides there is only a layer of SFRB and warneke between the world and the chips.

 

[Machine]

My issue with this method is you can only pad 1-2 sides of the rack in a SFRB. For the other 4-5 sides there is only a layer of SFRB and warneke between the world and the chips.

 

[upNdown]

My issue with this method is you can only pad 1-2 sides of the rack in a SFRB. For the other 4-5 sides there is only a layer of SFRB and warneke between the world and the chips.

I hear you and I used to think the same way. But after years of receiving racks from PCFers without extra padding on every single side, and never seeing a damaged chip, I just don’t think it’s necessary.

 

[BarrieJ3]

SFRB. No tools, no cutting, nothing needed. Tape warnecke closed (with painters tape if it’s on hand you mongrels), toss chips in, grab plastic bags/paper towels/etc. to toss in and done.

1 - it’s the easiest, shortest time to box up a rack of chips
2 - whether or not it’s the accepted best practice, it is the most used practice. Buyers receiving it know what to expect, how to open it, and it’s easy to open (no tools to pack, no tools to unpack).
3 - there’s evidence on hand that it’s more than secure. My personal anecdote would be receiving or sending hundreds upon hundreds of these, and never had a scratch.

I would not say that sfrb is the only method or even the right method. But I do think it meets 100% of the criteria of “shipping chips responsibly”. Add in the ease and ubiquity, and it’s the gold standard for me.

 

[Taghkanic]

I'm told that I'm lazy, and that is what drives me to be so efficient. It's this backwards thinking that makes me feel as though I'm misunderstood.

Let's not mix words or spruce it up, I'm efficient because I'm lazy!

I went to ship a few racks this week, and I didn't like the SFRB, it's too tight, and if you didn't know, there is Priority Small Box, which is slightly larger. I still think it's too tight. I want the chips to have more padding.

Here is the challenge: reinvent the wheel, err, process, or point out efficiencies here in the thread.

If you haven't seen it, Tommy's shipping thread is a must read! Again my focus for this thread is a single rack.

A call out to @TheOffalo, we've had chats before, and I gotta say he is a shipping guru. I'm not going to call out people that have literally shipped me chips in a Warneke box with some painters tape and a label, it has happened.

I'm not likely to buy from someone that doesn't give a shit about the chips so much that they would slap a label on a Warneke box, and I don't want to be that guy.

This is the most efficient from a cost and effort standpoint that I have found.



Here is my adventure:

I started with a free medium flat-rate box, but its one of the thiner / longer box types, more rectangle not the square one. I then measured from the tabs that close the box, down about 8.5 inches, and I make 1 cut, cutting the entire width of the box.

View attachment 1531856

View attachment 1531858

View attachment 1531857​

I then take one of the tabs and cut the corners, mirroring the tabs from the top side of the box, creating new box closing tabs. That's it, the box is done. Seriously, five quick cuts. I really like the size for a single rack.

I then stuff the plastic grocery bags that we save from every visit in around the chips, and seal it off. I use Pirate Ship, print the label and its off to the post.

View attachment 1531863​

Is there an easier or faster way?

All the best
- Machine

1) Nice. Could you draw the locations of your five cuts on the photo of the flat box for those of us failing to immediately visualize this?

2) Suggestion. Open up one of the grocery bags and drop it into the empty assembled cardboard box, bag handles up. Fold back over the sides if needed. Then stuff as usual. Then close / fold over or tie off the bag, to limit any potential water damage. Tape up the box again as usual.

 

[Tonystark137]

SFRB. No tools, no cutting, nothing needed. Tape warnecke closed (with painters tape if it’s on hand you mongrels), toss chips in, grab plastic bags/paper towels/etc. to toss in and done.

1 - it’s the easiest, shortest time to box up a rack of chips
2 - whether or not it’s the accepted best practice, it is the most used practice. Buyers receiving it know what to expect, how to open it, and it’s easy to open (no tools to pack, no tools to unpack).
3 - there’s evidence on hand that it’s more than secure. My personal anecdote would be receiving or sending hundreds upon hundreds of these, and never had a scratch.

I would not say that sfrb is the only method or even the right method. But I do think it meets 100% of the criteria of “shipping chips responsibly”. Add in the ease and ubiquity, and it’s the gold standard for me.

^ but I tape over/around the box. Results in needing scissors.

 

[BarrieJ3]

^ but I tape over/around the box. Results in needing scissors.

Always. It’s the most important part imo. Always tape your corners, edges, etc.

We don’t see chips crushed or such. We do see boxes weak spots exposed.

Also, i just punch through or rip apart the sfrbs and toss em in recycling. Sometimes I’ll use a knife.

 

[Tonystark137]

Painter tape on sale too

https://a.co/d/h8txI69

 

[upNdown]

Tape warnecke closed (with painters tape if it’s on hand you mongrels),

I will confess to taking pleasure in taping warnecke boxes with packing tape. You can still slice them open and use them forever. The packing tape actually makes them stronger. But if you're some whacko who needs pristine perfect white boxes, that's a you problem and you'd better order a bunch of new ones.

 

[BarrieJ3]

I will confess to taking pleasure in taping warnecke boxes with packing tape. You can still slice them open and use them forever. The packing tape actually makes them stronger. But if you're some whacko who needs pristine perfect white boxes, that's a you problem and you'd better order a bunch of new ones.

I order plenty, but that’s just because PCF is a bunch of cheapskates. Most of my boxes are old, I’ve only thrown away a couple from being beat to h*ll.

Idc that much how it comes, I just use the blue tape cause it’s easy on easy off.

Just had a thought come up. I was like, realistically I’m not receiving or sending much chips these days. Then I thought, does upndown ever send or receive chips? I don’t feel like I’ve ever seen your posts in classifieds. So….does our (your?) opinion actually matter?

All in good jest, but also…yeah.

 

[upNdown]

I order plenty, but that’s just because PCF is a bunch of cheapskates. Most of my boxes are old, I’ve only thrown away a couple from being beat to h*ll.

Idc that much how it comes, I just use the blue tape cause it’s easy on easy off.

Just had a thought come up. I was like, realistically I’m not receiving or sending much chips these days. Then I thought, does upndown ever send or receive chips? I don’t feel like I’ve ever seen your posts in classifieds. So….does our (your?) opinion actually matter?

All in good jest, but also…yeah.

I used to. I'm kind of retired now. I have a set that I love that covers my game and that's good enough for me. But I've bought and sold my share of chips over the years.

 

[BarrieJ3]

I used to. I'm kind of retired now. I have a set that I love that covers my game and that's good enough for me. But I've bought and sold my share of chips over the years.

I’m close enough I can taste it.

Just have to finish my only 4-6 sets, redo all the tables, and setup/decorate the basement to include the poker table/room

Somehow, I’m actually miles ahead of where I’ve been at any other point in the venture. Barring any setbacks or death or divorce or whatever, I think end of 2026 is a very reasonable timeline to be 100% done.

Can’t think of a single poker or chipping milestone left, other than having won a wsop bracelet.

Edit - What’s your one set??????? Feels like I should know. Feels like not the pnys, but the others. PCAs.

 

[caballo993]

Sent my last two racks this way, with a warneke box, a small flat rate box and a padded envelope.

Step 1- secure warneke box and place in sfrb

Step 2 - modify sfrb, cut/tear the box on the sides so the sides fold in like this:

Step 3 - split the securing tab to fit in the now smaller slot.

*you can tear off the extra tab

Step 4 - use the tape on the sfrb to keep the box closed.

Step - 6 (optional) place your new sfrb into a padded envelope and tape the sides so that the padding is tight around the box.

Ready to ship:

I haven’t been able to test it but I imagine that you can wrap another padded envelope or 2, or you can also fit some bubble wrap in the padded envelope.

Frankly the modified box should be enough on its own, but their isn’t much of a cost difference between shipping in a sfrb vs a padded envelope. Also not sure if the USPS would accept that as a sfrb anymore.

 

[Machine]

Great post, love the photos and detail, would still scare me if I were shipping high-value chips. Tiger fracs and or Chicken 5s, and I need more padding. Run-of-the-mill RHCs, I'd likely do this if I could get padded envelopes where I live.

 

[Jp74]

their isn’t much of a cost difference between shipping in a sfrb vs a padded envelope.

$9.30 vs $9.55. I always opt for padded envelope on anything 1-2 racks except if you are shipping out of the country. In that case you have to make sure you are paying attention to the weight as well.

 

[caballo993]

Great post, love the photos and detail, would still scare me if I were shipping high-value chips. Tiger fracs and or Chicken 5s, and I need more padding. Run-of-the-mill RHCs, I'd likely do this if I could get padded envelopes where I live.

I totally understand, although anything short of shipping in an Apache case wouldn't ease my mind about shipping any of those chips.

I also put paper towels in the warneke box on both ends of each barrel and one layer on top.

 

[caballo993]

if I could get padded envelopes where I live.

Yeah I'd double-wrap it if they were more available. Sometimes I'll order a 10-pack from USPS and never get anything, not even an email.