Cheap Wood for packing material?
Summary: funfactorychannel asked for advice on cheap but heavy wood to use for packing materials. Suggestions included using free wood pallets, but concerns were raised about splinters and chemicals. dbmm-media recommended consulting a home improvement store, while others suggested using culled lumber or cardboard shredders. Some participants expressed frustration with packing heavy materials, and alternative ideas like using old books or furniture store materials were discussed. The conversation highlighted the difficulties sellers face due to current shipping rates.
Any ideas on what wood is cheap but heavy enough to use for packing materials?
Just adding buffer to the boxes i use for packaging. Yah it makes it studier.
28 comments
1786davycrockett
·3 weeks agoI've been using folded up newspapers (not wadded up -- just carefully folded). It provides extra protection, while also adding additional weight.
Plus newspapers are recyclable, so buyers can simply add it to their weekly recycling -- although I try to take my old newspapers to animal shelters and the Humane Society, as they are desperate for lining materials for cages and pens.
It's too bad Beanie Babies aren't cheaper -- there are millions of those going unwanted, and they'd make excellent stuffing for packages. . ..
kensgiftshop
·3 weeks agoMight check some local furniture or appliance stores and see if they have any of that thick/heavy cardboard. The ones they use on the corners of the boxes would be good.
jdbelt1960
·3 weeks agoReading some of these comments if sellers have to go to these extreme efforts to save shipping costs the online market is finished.
darn_yankee
·3 weeks agoPer trusty Google... Books: Old paperbacks or textbooks are incredibly cheap at thrift stores (like Goodwill or Salvation Army) and add exact, measurable weight.
funfactorychannel
OP3 weeks agogood point i got tons of cheap books on my death pile. :D
darn_yankee
·3 weeks agoGotta be careful which titles you might throw in the box. Some buyers might not appreciate some titles - e.g., the lates Harlequin romance novel. Such might draw some unwanted feedback.
ten_o_nine
·3 weeks agoI put a layer of sand between the plates I pack so they don't break.
ryry-jj
·3 weeks agoWhat are you shipping that requires wood stifeners?
funfactorychannel
OP3 weeks agolol its the hidden message dealing with the current shipping situation.
ryry-jj
·3 weeks agoAhhh, i see now...dummy me, i just change the weight and waiting to see what happens....so far nothing
funfactorychannel
OP3 weeks agosome folks got caught from some of the messages here lol.
ryry-jj
·3 weeks agoYa, I have no idea...just waiting it out.
He's an idea...have a zip lock bag filled with small rocks, put a note inside that says, "here is a bag of rocks from around the world, please remove one small rock and place a rock from your town inside & then send to buyer at a later time. Thank you for sharing a rock from your home town!"
bigtexasyardsale
·3 weeks agoI've found that shipping my stuff in plastic pails filled with sand provides superior protection.
Seriously though, can you image the meeting where some idiot analyst presented this new shipping matrix where heavier stuff was cheaper and some higher up could not see any unintended consequences?
funfactorychannel
OP3 weeks agoif not wood what would be the next heavy packing supply. :D
I have a cardboard cutter but I already ran through them lol.
Pallets would not work i wouldnt want my buyers get splinters.
moretreasures4you
·3 weeks agoI go to furniture stores and have them save me the large sheets of styrofoam that they get in. I cut the pieces to fit the sides of the box and I have a great rep for great packing. I do give them some cash to get help convince them to save it.
gurlcat
·3 weeks agoI can picture the buyers' delight, from one of my favorite episodes of 30 Rock 'Ludachristmas.'
tobaccocardyahoo
·3 weeks agofree pallets are available in much of the country. Check Craigslist and local publications.
christworks
·3 weeks agoI would not be a happy buyer if a seller used wood as a packing material, especially wood used to make pallets. The exception is if I have ordered something like a TV, but even then you don't need wood.
kensgiftshop
·3 weeks agoI would be happy to receive some free wood.
Always looking for wood for my laser and craft projects.
christworks
·3 weeks agoHow many buyers are looking for free wood? I'd argue the average buyer isn't. I cannot put wood in my regular trash here. I have to dispose of it on a different day of the week when bulk is picked up. I would not be happy about the extra work, all so a cheap seller can save a couple of dollars after having charged me more.
If you want to save on shipping, do what you need to do. But don't cause buyers more work.
bashort
·3 weeks agoIf rates are going to stay this way I am going to get a cardboard shredder to make cheap and heavy packing material and use slightly bigger boxes
christworks
·3 weeks agoI'm still just hitting 3lbs if it makes the rate cheaper. Going on, what, 3 weeks? No issues.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks agoCheapest is culled lumber in the aisle at Home Depot/Lowes.
Pallets have value and are usually sold to a pallet company for $6-$12 each; pallets for brick/rock/cement bags are given back to the supplier (by a HomeDepot/Lowes).
dbmm-media
·3 weeks agogo to Home Depot, they will be glad to help you.
mamacassidy
·3 weeks agoI'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but in my area, there are always people/ businesses giving away free wood pallets. You could cut those up pretty easily to line boxes, but they're going to add a lot of weight.
gurlcat
·3 weeks agoOof I wouldn't do that, those are super splinter-y. It's one thing to get a return or chargeback; the last thing you want is a bill for a buyer's urgent care clinic visit.
jdbelt1960
·3 weeks agoGreat point.
adamcartwright
·3 weeks agoYup and pallets are dirty and could have who knows what on them -- chemicals, pesticides, etc. from sitting in a warehouse.