priority mail boxes

[ericlovescameras]

hi. one of the priority boxes is perfect for most of my items. i already ordered more a few days ago, but just got a surge of orders and now have only one left. it took usps forever to get me my first order. none of the post offices i drop off at have them. does anyone know a way to pick up more somewhere or do i have to choose between scrounging or buying from staples for the couple weeks the free boxes take to arrive?

and lesson learned. i will put my next order in as soon as this one arrives. 

thanks! 

[kensgiftshop]

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@ericlovescameras

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It seams like it takes forever for USPS to ship the boxes.

If you can't find any of them at the Post Office, you might try some local stores and see if they have any boxes they are going to throw away, or go buy a few to hold you till the boxes arrive.

[mistwomandancing]

If none of your local post offices have these boxes available for postal customers to help themselves to, you'll have no choice but to scrounge boxes to ship in until your current order arrives.   Better that than to be late in shipping.

Even for those who might not have a large apartment or home, there are lots and lots of places to tuck away the flat boxes in all our homes, so never let yourself run low on them again.   Tuck a chunk of 10 between the chair and the wall.   Tuck another 20 behind the couch.   Tuck 20 beneath the couch.   Tuck a 25-pack in the back of your coat closet, etc.

In other words, it turns out to be pretty easy to keep shipping boxes on hand all the time.   It's easy, even if you don't have an office room devoted to all your eBay shipping materials, etc.

Congrats on all the nice sales you're getting that is causing you to run out of shipping boxes!  

[lintbrush* · Accepted solution]

Most POs only carry the Flat Rate Priority boxes.    They sell other boxes (which are quite pricey).  Once in a blue moon you can find the free non-Priority boxes in the lobby or the clerks may have a few stashed in the back.  They are usually hand-ins from people who can't use them.  They cannot order non-flat rate sizes.

You'll either have to scrounge or buy some from another place until your new order comes in.  Sometimes it take 3-4 days... sometimes it take a solid week to 10 days.

Check Walmart in addition to Staples.  Staples is generally more expensive for single box purchases.  Not bad on some of their bulk prices but it has to be ordered.  That can take 1-6 days.  

Uline is pretty quick because they have multiple locations, but their shipping charges can be a bit higher.

[lintbrush*]

Also, you can look for a local shipping supply company that may have items readily available.

There's AM Shipping Supplies in Cincy.  Check them out.  The may be your answer and they allow pick up on orders.

[dougsue123b]

Most of your cameras will fit nicely in a medium flat rate box. You will have bump up the shipping to 13.65 but they will work in a pinch.

[sam9876]

Make your own boxes for free.