Cramming an item into a box that avoids DIM weight

[pvcliff]

At what point would you cram a soft item into a smaller box to avoid dimensional weight? Just listed a crazy quilt from the 1880s, and I knew by looking at it that I had an 18x18x6 box that it would fit it perfectly the way it "naturally" wanted to fold up. It is very delicate and starting to show its age in that some of the silk squares are splitting. My thought is that if it sells anywhere above $100 (listed at auction for $250, I expect I'll need to lower price and list it numerous times) that the buyer needs to pay whatever the DIM weight calculates at and factor that into their bid. I'm thinking if it is not worth at least $100 that I may change the description to "damaged quilt for craft projects" and then gently stuff it into a standard large PM box. I expect it would fit with just folding it differently, but am loathe to even try that now because it is so delicate. Thoughts??

[dasarock]

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@flipper2flipper wrote:

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@pvcliff wrote:

At what point would you cram a soft item into a smaller box to avoid dimensional weight? Just listed a crazy quilt from the 1880s, and I knew by looking at it that I had an 18x18x6 box that it would fit it perfectly the way it "naturally" wanted to fold up. It is very delicate and starting to show its age in that some of the silk squares are splitting. My thought is that if it sells anywhere above $100 (listed at auction for $250, I expect I'll need to lower price and list it numerous times) that the buyer needs to pay whatever the DIM weight calculates at and factor that into their bid. I'm thinking if it is not worth at least $100 that I may change the description to "damaged quilt for craft projects" and then gently stuff it into a standard large PM box. I expect it would fit with just folding it differently, but am loathe to even try that now because it is so delicate. Thoughts??

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The Post Office makes a Large Flat Rate Board Game Box that measures about 24 x 12 x 3 :

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-large-flat-rate-board-game-box-...

But I can't find a shipping cost for it anywhere .... either on the PO web site or on the Ebay shipping label.

So that particular box might now be a discontinued service ..... even though you can still order the boxes from the Post Office.

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it is a large flat rate box 24x11 7/8 x 3 1/8 for $17.60

[slippinjimmy]

Capacity of an 18 x 18 x 5 box = 1620 cubic inches (customer packaging)

Capacity of a 24 x 11 7/8 x 3 1/8 box = 890 cubic inches (USPS Large Flat-Rate box)

Maximum size before the DIM weight kicks in is 1728 cubic inches

Flat rate boxes are only a viable thing for very heavy shipments, a quilt unless it's made from lead probably would never be cheaper using a flat-rate box.

[tunicaslot]

I've sent all my quilts and biederlacks in a poly mailer and used Pirateship's cubic pricing. I've never experienced a problem. Just sent a beautiful hobnail bedspread out last week. Buyers are thrilled as the poly mailer protects it from the rain.

[coolections]

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@pvcliff wrote:

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No, it already has silk squares that are damaged. Thing might only be worth 20 bucks in the condition it is in.

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Then why list it for $250 ? That is the reason why Ebay is loosing buyers and it effects every seller on Ebay. you should save those ads for CL.

[frodobagginskennedy]

Ummm,,,why not look into FEDEX Ground?  I ship large heavy dish sets daily.  I only use FEDEX GRound as it is much less and usually affordable.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Shipping an antique silk crazy quilt is not the same as shipping vintage cotton quilts or chenille. Shattered silk is extremely fragile. Even in the part that hasn’t split yet. If the OP is even considering a poly mailer where the item will be squished while folded she might as well throw it in the trash

im uncomfortable with it being folded at all, it should probably be rolled.

Also if the silk is shattered there probably isn’t enough stability left in any of it to use for crafts. Unless it’s that kind of art where they used destroyed things.

[spittser]

Obviously, the OP doesn't know what it's worth. It's worth what someone will pay for it, that may be $20 or $250. That's why they are using the auction format. How is this affecting sellers and causing buyers any problem at all? Dude! You always come up with such wild speculations that have nothing to do with the posts. Maybe you need to rethink your thought process.

[pvcliff]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

im uncomfortable with it being folded at all, it should probably be rolled.

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It has been folded the way it is currently folded for at least the 40 years I've had it, rolling it could damage/start the shattering process in other areas, so I wouldn't do that at this point.

[pvcliff]

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@spittser wrote:

Obviously, the OP doesn't know what it's worth. It's worth what someone will pay for it, that may be $20 or $250. That's why they are using the auction format. 

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Exactly. Several years ago I sold a color "poster" that had been inserted into a newspaper from Mardi Gras 1908 that was in Grandma's things. Actually I had two of them, I think from consecutive years. They started out folded, and 100 years of being folded and occasionally unfolded as they got more and more brittle didn't help. Little pieces were missing on the fold lines, silver fish had been nibbling the edges. Sold the one in best condition first, probably started it at $100, sold it between $250-$350, can't remember exactly by now. The more damaged one sold for $75 less. So I have no idea what a quilt with some shattered silk pieces is worth. I know I thought I'd send it to my cousin's daughter if I didn't sell it for at least $100, after detailing the pieces already shattered I decided I wouldn't be doing her or her mother any favors, so the price will be adjusted until it finds a home with someone who can deal with it one way or the other.

[pvcliff]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

Capacity of an 18 x 18 x 5 box = 1620 cubic inches (customer packaging)

Maximum size before the DIM weight kicks in is 1728 cubic inches

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So quilt didn't sell at $250, so relisting auction at $200 with best offer. Now I'm looking at the box again. 18x18x 5.25.  Depending on where I measure that 1/4 inch could be 1/8 or 3/8. See the inside box lid photo -- I'm going to remove that lip so that box touches the inside of the lid, rather than the lip. That's going to bring me very close to 5". My question is how does the PO measure?  If they measure to the 1/4" I'm likely fine now, but will remove the lip from the lid anyway. If the tiniest little bit over 5" throws it to 6 I still have an issue. I'm thinking to take it to the PO today to get the Assistance League ladies to give me a price. I assume postage bought at the PO is cast in concrete even if someone disagrees at another stop along the way?? My thought is if they say box is under DIM weight, that paying retail saves me from someone along the line saying "oh no, over standard dimensions".  Cliff just wandered in so I put him to removing the lip -- box is now exactly 5" deep!! But you know I'm going to worry for two months whether someone decides it should be DIM weight because it is an "odd size" compared to most boxes.

[city*satins]

Remember - you can avoid dimensional weight if you send by Retail Ground and pay at the counter at the post office.   

From NC to CA  the difference for a 2 pound item is in a box measuring 15" X 15" by 15"  huge - Priority would be $71.35 whereas Retail Ground would be just $12.98.    Only thing is you have to pay at the counter.

Also if the destination is too close to you, you can't use it unless you declare it as REQUIRING ground service due to the contents being flammable, liquid etc.  You can declare this without it being true  (the post office doesn't open this as they can media mail)  or make it technically true by inserting a foil wrapped handwipe.

[thecollegefund]

I guess technically, anything made of paper or fabric could be considered "flammable" .

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@pvcliff wrote:...  I'm looking at the box again. 18x18x 5.25.  Depending on where I measure that 1/4 inch could be 1/8 or 3/8. ... My question is how does the PO measure?  If they measure to the 1/4" I'm likely fine now ....  Cliff just wandered in so I put him to removing the lip -- box is now exactly 5" deep!....

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That really wasn't necessary.  USPS measure dimensions in full inches, not in fractions at all.  USPS instructions say to "Round off  each measurement to the nearest whole inch", so anything under 5.5 inches would be counted as 5 inches.

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/Q120.htm