Mailing tiny figurines

[makemegiggle]

Best way to ship miniature items...without flat rate usps box.  Usps says 4x4x4 is too small and won’t accept.

[chevymontecarlo88]

I use a 6x4x4 for first class mail all of the time and no issues. If i choose priority my cost is double the first class rate (roughly) and flat rate boxes become useful. Its less if it is closer to me of course. 

I do choose priority when i want it to get to them a little faster and also have it include $100 insurance.

[rfmtm]

If you will be shipping these a lot, take a look at what is called a "corrugated mailer".   These are low cost  lightweight, but rugged boxes in many sizes that are perfect for First Class use for mailing smaller items.

[albertabrightalberta]

If you wrap them in bubble wrap for protection, you can use any generic box. I've collected and used small shoe boxes from children's shoes. Marshall's is often happy to have customers take boxes from their waste baskets, thus saving them having to recycle. If there's still room in the box, just use balled up newspaper to prevent rattling around. 

And as long as the weight is under a pound, you can ship by first class mail, considerably cheaper than any priority and in my experience, it gets there just as quickly.

[nobody*s_perfect]

IMHO you should ask the staff at the PO to explain why they rejected your 4-inch boxes.  Did the label entirely fit onto one face of the box? If not, then that's the reason, regardless of the specific dimensions.

The DMM says that the minimum length for parcels is 5 inches IF they're under 1/4 inch thick; otherwise, it just has to accommodate the whole label on one face of the box.   

"7.2 Minimum Size

Pieces are subject to the minimum standards in 7.5, and may be subject to other minimum dimensions, based on the standards for specific prices. All parcels must be large enough to hold the required delivery address, return address, mailing labels, postage, barcode, endorsements, and other mail markings on the address side of the parcel. For mailability, all pieces 1/4 inch thick or less must be a minimum of 5 inches in length, 3-1/2 inches in height, and 0.007 inch in thickness."

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097220

For First Class parcels, it just says:

"8.3.2 Size

The address side of the parcel must be large enough to contain all delivery and return address, endorsement, postage, and label elements."

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097220

[1tuna]

I like using the 5 inch cube box. its my go to box and I ship around 1600 of them a year

I also like to use a #000 jiffy bag inside of the box for double protection. you can just roll it up of fold it over and put some newspaper in the voids.

I also use a  3x5 plastic bag inside of the jiffy bag, the ziplock bags makes it smooth to remove it from the jiffy bag

my average weigh is not even 6 ounces

@makemegiggle 

[little.font.lord.leroy]

I often make a small box myself from corrugated cardboard.

wrap item in tissue paper then  bubble wrap.  (use 'inside' tape please, scotch tape or painters tape) 

cut a length of cardboard the height of the item.

lay item on cardboard and score the front width of item, roll item one quarter  on it's side and score the side width, roll again and score the back width (should be same as front), roll again and score the side should again be the same width as the other side. It is okay if there is some cardboard left over like a tab. 

Turn over the scored card board and "roll' the item up in the board to form an open ended box, tape closed (can use box tape for this).

Now do the same thing with the box, to make another open ended box that covers the open ends of the first box.

You will have supported the item in both directions. 

Place in a plastic mailer and tape shut.  (tape the excess plastic taut)

If the whole thing is under a pound you can mail First Class Package Service.

I have done this with out ever having the item damaged. 

[buyselljack2016]

I have shipped hundreds of 4X4X3 boxes with no rejections. (labels fit)

Someone rejecting a 4X4X4 is woefully misinformed.

[fm2000]

I have been using the 4x4x4 box eBay shipping supplies sells for years, must have sent hundreds of them, I never had one rejected or sent back to me. The mailman picks them up regularly without complaint. I have bought some to my post office and the clerk scanned them with no issues. I have received small boxes like that as well.

It appears that not only your post office clerk is confused about the whole "if less than 1/4" thick" thing. Oddly, Pirate Ship complains about the 4"x4"x4" boxes and refuses to let me buy a label unless I change one dimension to 6".

[from_me_2_you]

if the label does not fit fully, shrink the label to 75% and try that....rinse and repeat until you get the correct size to fit the box

[deserdog]

7.5 specifies that parcels must be: Not less than 6 inches long, 3 inches high, 1/4 inch thick, and 6 ounces in weight, except under 7.5.2. A mailpiece exactly 1/4 inch thick is subject to the 3 1/2-inch height minimum.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Those are criteria for meeting the definition of a machinable parcel.

[deserdog]

7.5.1 Criteria

A machinable parcel is any piece that is not a letter or a flat and that is (see Exhibit 7.5.1b😞

[varebelrose]

" Did the label entirely fit onto one face of the box?"

It doesnt have to, just the address part. I have mailed hundreds of small boxes with the label on two or even three sides. CD mailers for example...

[tools*]

The smallest box size that I use is 6x4x4 because the 4x6 side will accommodate a 4x6 thermal shipping label perfectly. Of course that doesn't mean that you can't ship a smaller box.