Packaging / Shipping small electronic parts and fasteners

[willteach4food]

I need to start on clearing-out a warehouse full of small, discrete electronic components (LEDs, resistors, etc.)  and tiny fasteners.

I get that not everyone wants to purchase a box of 1,000 packed into and shipped in a small Priority Mail box. That would be too easy.

The question arises, how to best pack / ship orders of ten or twenty for cost-efficiency? Padded envelope (maximum thickness 1/4")?

I'd appreciate any insight.

[grand-and-glorious-purpose]

I'd do something like lots of 40 for $x.xx with free shipping.

I haven't ever bought capacitors or anything like that but I know you need at least 25-30 to re-cap an old arcade game monitor.

Make your lots just a touch larger (50) or a touch smaller (20) than what someone would immediately use. Smaller lot they need to buy 2 lots for the job, larger they spend a touch more and have extras but not enough extras to do 2 jobs.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@willteach4food wrote: ... how to best pack / ship orders of ten or twenty for cost-efficiency? Padded envelope (maximum thickness 1/4")? ...

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Is it really possible for a padded envelope, with items inside it, to pass through a 1/4 inch slot? And would you be able to pack those items so they survive being whisked through the USPS processing machinery? Sounds risky to me, so I like the other post's suggestion of selling in small lots which would justify the cost of shipping as a package.  The eBay rate for Ground Advantage for a package up to 4 ounces is $3.91 - $4.51 depending on distance (Zone).

[slippinjimmy]

@willteach4food 

I'm going to guess that realistically you have very little invested in this stuff, no doubt leftover from a previous business of some sort.

In any event, I would be shipping small lots that fit in regular business envelope using a regular envelope at 73 cents or Flats at $1.19.

The potential roadblock is stiffness, this sort of stuff need some protection so Flats are probably your best option, not sure how you package but I think you can get away with a small amount of stiffener (thin cardboard) if you keep it small. A Flat needs to be "flexible" which translates to "will go through the automated sorting equipment". One thing about First Class, it does not get mixed with packages so you don't need to worry about a 50lb box crushing them.

You should study the USPS rules to ensure compliance:

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm

The one downside is the lack of tracking but that doesn't discourage sellers of small, lightweight, modest value orders. Most of the paper items I ship go First Class, paying an extra $3 - $4 for Ground Advantage tracking is insanely high insurance for Lettermail which rarely goes astray.

[willteach4food]

Good ideas and food for thought, y'all.

I need to send samples to myself and see how the contents survive.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@willteach4food wrote: ... I need to send samples to myself and see how the contents survive.

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That's a good idea and a great start, but items shipped to yourself will not go through as much handling and processing as items which you send to a cooperating friend or relative on the other side of the country.

[rfmtm]

As others have posted I'd pack into small lots in poly bags to be placed into an appropriate mailer.  I'd also consider packing up larger assortments of similar items.

I'd also set up discounts for additional items and set up combined payments/shipping across all items, and use calculated shipping.