In view of the many threads and recent discussions involving lost or damaged packages, specifically those sent in a Small Flat Rate Box (SFRB), I was asked to share exact details on the blurb I wrote below from a different thread on shipping with a Padded Flat Rate Envelope (PFRE) instead. (See @Tommy's quoted post for a different box you can use and does the same method for the most part, but even more simple as it fits two warneke boxes inside easily, although they are less readily available at the actual post office in my experience.):
It is easy to figure out shipping one rack that way, but below is a quick demonstration of how to ship two racks using the method from my quote above.
First, supplies needed besides tape are a SFRB or PMSB (Priority Mail Small Box), and PFRE - see the below links where you can order these for free and have them shipped to you for free:
https://store.usps.com/store/produc....ds&gbraid=0AAAAADpMVX8W5HGWkZNrEjui5JgUTegua
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-small-box-P_O_1096L
https://store.usps.com/store/produc....ds&gbraid=0AAAAADpMVX8W5HGWkZNrEjui5JgUTegua
Now, the method in pictures (note I did this sloppily just as a quick demonstration and it is still superior to any rack sent in a SFRB):
Now, close the box and put the top prongs into the box formation. Fold in the sides as much as possible, take off the label to reveal the adhesive strip, and then close as best as possible. It will stay on it's own, but as you can see below, I add a piece of tape and usually wrap it around the whole SFRB once. I typically put a small strip on the sides of the box where the prongs went in as well. **Note if you use a Priority Mail Small Box instead of a SFRB, you can simply close normally, although I would suggest some extra padding inside the box so the contents cannot/will not move around in transit.**
Now simply place that in a PFRE and close as below (although less sloppy). I recommend doing this once more to make the whole package more flush in the final PFRE:
It is now flat, has at least four layers of protection and padding, and is water resistant:
Add a strip of tape around the entire sealed part for good measure:
This is cheaper than shipping a SFRB when purchasing labels online. It is certainly significantly cheaper than shipping two racks in a Medium Flat Rate Box (MFRB). I accept PayPal for all the collective money this will save chippers.
(If you insist on using a SFRB for 1-2 racks of chips out of stubbornness or want to debate which is better, go be contrarian and wrong elsewhere. This is just to help those that want it.)
If you do a SFRB (or a modified one to ship two racks of chips) inside a PFRE, inside a PFRE, and that in another PFRE, then they will lay flat and stack perfectly. I assume any seller shipping this way is already proficient and is not going to let the chips have space to rattle around. I also do one strip of tape over the sealed part around the whole package for good measure (see below).
These have 3-4 extra layers of padding and are waterproof. They're harder to tear open and dig through for a rogue postal worker or random thief. You can get a ton of PFREs for free, delivered free to your door. Hell, you can use them to pad contents inside other boxes like MFRB, which I do all the time. Finally, it is cheaper to ship them than a SFRB.
This is very good advice. To add to this, the Priority Mail Small Box, Model: Box - 1096L (Size: 9-7/16"(L) x 6-7/16"(W) x 2-3/16"(H)) is bigger than the SFRB box and also fits inside a PFRE that can be doubled or even tripled.
It is easy to figure out shipping one rack that way, but below is a quick demonstration of how to ship two racks using the method from my quote above.
First, supplies needed besides tape are a SFRB or PMSB (Priority Mail Small Box), and PFRE - see the below links where you can order these for free and have them shipped to you for free:
https://store.usps.com/store/produc....ds&gbraid=0AAAAADpMVX8W5HGWkZNrEjui5JgUTegua
https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-small-box-P_O_1096L
https://store.usps.com/store/produc....ds&gbraid=0AAAAADpMVX8W5HGWkZNrEjui5JgUTegua
Now, the method in pictures (note I did this sloppily just as a quick demonstration and it is still superior to any rack sent in a SFRB):
Now, close the box and put the top prongs into the box formation. Fold in the sides as much as possible, take off the label to reveal the adhesive strip, and then close as best as possible. It will stay on it's own, but as you can see below, I add a piece of tape and usually wrap it around the whole SFRB once. I typically put a small strip on the sides of the box where the prongs went in as well. **Note if you use a Priority Mail Small Box instead of a SFRB, you can simply close normally, although I would suggest some extra padding inside the box so the contents cannot/will not move around in transit.**
Now simply place that in a PFRE and close as below (although less sloppy). I recommend doing this once more to make the whole package more flush in the final PFRE:
It is now flat, has at least four layers of protection and padding, and is water resistant:
Add a strip of tape around the entire sealed part for good measure:
This is cheaper than shipping a SFRB when purchasing labels online. It is certainly significantly cheaper than shipping two racks in a Medium Flat Rate Box (MFRB). I accept PayPal for all the collective money this will save chippers.
(If you insist on using a SFRB for 1-2 racks of chips out of stubbornness or want to debate which is better, go be contrarian and wrong elsewhere. This is just to help those that want it.)
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