Fast, Low Cost Packing a Full Sized Desktop Computer

[tomatbay]

I have at least a dozen vintage PC's that bring $75-150 on eBay and am considering listing them.

I think the UPS mantra is Double Box w/2" cushioning.

Too bad someone doesn't sell Double Box pairs precisely for this UPS requirement.

Box prices are not low and bubble wrap is more valuable than dilithium.

Any kind of DIY balloon wrap?

Ways to build boxes?

Trying to think "outside the box."

Thanks

Tom

[richard1rst]

 Too bad someone doesn't sell Double Box pairs precisely for this UPS requirement.

Uline sells the proverbial gazillion sizes of boxes. Using their catalogue it should be easy to find 2 boxes that mate into each other. The trade of is that you usually have to buy them in quantities of 25 each.

HOWEVER locally there is a company called Box Brothers that sells Uline boxes by the each. Obviously a slightly higher unit price but at least you can buy just one so your total cash outlay will be less. And by picking it up locally you avoid the Uline shipping charges. You mighty find a similar company locally.

Office Depot, Walmart, Lowes and many others also sell boxes just not as many size options.

bubble wrap is more valuable than dilithium.

Not really. 200 feet for less than $20.00. 10 cents per foot.

Ways to build boxes?

That directly flies in the face of your first requirement : FAST

[tomatbay]

I'll have to check out Box Brothers.

Bubble wrap: a cubic foot is about $15 and would not be enough to do a single PC with 2" thick all around.

I was just thinking: STRAW! A bale of hay is VERY cheap. In fact, it's used to ship antiquities: fill up a big crate and then lay the item in the bed of straw.

[richard1rst]

Some of my suppliers use crumpled up Kraft paper (sometimes called butchers paper). Newspaper would work too but frankly it might be viewed as tacky.

Locally my UPS office sells large bags of "popcorns" for about $5.00 and would probably fill about 3 cubic feet.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Are you aware of the dimensional weight which is charged for   boxes that are over 1 cubic foot?  It's probably not worth listing and shipping them, due to the cost of packaging and postage.  For instance, a box that's a 15-inch cube would ship at the 21-pound rate even if it weighs much less; that's $15.71 - $60.95 depending on Zone.   

[hu.nga-55]

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@tomatbay wrote:
I'll have to check out Box Brothers.

Bubble wrap: a cubic foot is about $15 and would not be enough to do a single PC with 2" thick all around.

I was just thinking: STRAW! A bale of hay is VERY cheap. In fact, it's used to ship antiquities: fill up a big crate and then lay the item in the bed of straw.

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Obviously you're not buying bubble wrap at the right source.

Shipping computers with straw is a really bad idea. Straw produces a ton of dust and can break off and little bitty pieces and damage the computer. It will also add a lot of weight.

[tomatbay]

So where do you get cheap bubble wrap? I just checked WalMart and it is about $10 a cu ft.

Straw with double box would work. But yes, is messy.

Trying to think outside the box.

[loveyourimagination49]

Go to an appliance, computer, furniture store and ask for a box and packing materials.
Use your own box with pool noodles.
Get bags and fill with air.
As mentioned above, you are going to run into dimensional weight which is costly.

[chapeau-noir]

You can beat the dimensional cost by shipping parcel post ground - retail. You have to take it into the p.o., but it'll save a lot of money.

I would not use straw or newspaper - especially newspaper which packs down very quickly and has no rebound, so your items end up knocking against what is actually a hard surface - it's good for 'filler' between two boxes, though (so is straw, but it's heavy and yeah, messy) and I would use it for that.  Think about how heavy that equipment is - I've shipped CPUs - air pillows would explode the first knock, but pool noodles would work - you want something that is strong and resilient.

Almost all of my packing material (and I go through a lot) comes from several neighbours, a community college and my local gym.  They're more than happy to get rid of that bubble wrap, peanuts and the like - I just put the word out.  I've also found stuff on Next Door. Drug stores are a good option (they get a lot of breakables and smalls).  I used to get big boxes from there, too, but I'm mostly selling peripherals now.

[chapeau-noir]

Oh yeah, and the concept of 'fast' and building all that packing are mutually exclusive, I agree.  I build boxes for keyboard combos and the only reason I'm fast at it is that I've built so many and don't have to double box.  I can't wait until I've sold off all my DVD players, though.  When I sold vintage audio equipment way back when, it took me a long dang time to build up those boxes (but it was worth it in those days).

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

You can beat the dimensional cost by shipping parcel post ground - retail. You have to take it into the p.o., but it'll save a lot of money.....

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That workaround will disappear in January when the new USPS rates go into effect.

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January%202020%20-%20Notice123.pdf

[lja440]

I have on occasion made my own padding using trash bags and spray foam insulation. lay out a trash bag inside of your outer box like you would line a trash can. Spray a layer of foam inside covering the bottom. Wait until it expands but does not harden. Twist the rest of the bag closed and put your EMPTY inner box on top positioned the way you want it to be when packed. Let the foam set up. Remove inner box and pack returning it to its place. Line the sides with bags it will take 2 or 3 depending on box and bag size. Open the tops of the bag and spray foam inside in steps letting the foam expand as you go. Close off the tops and let set up. You maybe able to create the top padding with the side bags but if not (that can get messy) do as you did the bottom, line the remaining box with another bag and spray, expand, twist the top closed. The still soft foam should be slightly higher than the top of the outer box. close flaps after the foam has filly expanded and seal up. Allow for the listed curing time for the foam you are using before shipping. 

I recommend this method only for heavy sturdy items. It like other padding can be costly, but the result is similar to original molded foam packing.

[tomatbay]

The pool noodles gives me an idea: the best way to ship a PC is corner foam supports. (If you have a sheet of foam - it might as well be a solid block of wood when a shock is encountered.)

If I cut 90* of the noodle away, it would be a perfect edge protector - it might be easier to just do the edges and leave the corners hanging in air.

BUBBLE WRAP CORNERS:

Another thought is to only wrap the fronts and backs of a PC. Wrap 6-8" and let the wrap stick out - you then fold that over the fronts and ends. Would cut amount of bubble wrap needed in half.

UPS SUPER DEAL:

Last fall I stumbled into The Mother Of All Rate Deals from UPS:
30-40* discount on ground
70* on international
other discounts
AND a dimensional threshold increase from 1.3 to 1.6

There were no strings attached and the discounts were good until 2040 or 2044 which will outlive me.

[divwido]

What I would do in your place-find the biggest computer and order boxes to those specifications.  Then I"d use that box, with packing, for all of the computers.   But then, buy boxes for what I am selling.   

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@tomatbay wrote:
I'll have to check out Box Brothers.

Bubble wrap: a cubic foot is about $15 and would not be enough to do a single PC with 2" thick all around.

I was just thinking: STRAW! A bale of hay is VERY cheap. In fact, it's used to ship antiquities: fill up a big crate and then lay the item in the bed of straw.

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I pay $0.05/cu ft for 3/16 bubble.

I buy it in bulk ... 700' at a time ... from a supplier here on eBay.

It may be worth it to buy bulk if you have a lot of PCs to ship.

Please don't use straw.

Straw dust will get into the machines ... into every nook and cranny .. into every port and socket (inner and outer) .. just don't do it.