The Energon Pub

Question:

What do you use for shipping out toys to your fellow collectors? Or ideally, what do you think is the most-effective, and lightest way to get toys out? Big toys? Small toys? I've running low on the bubble-wrap, and I'm wondering if maybe there is a better alternative.

Grocery bags. They're light, they can be balled up tightly and you can pad the box quite well without going over the weight limit. I use them almost all of the time.

I always try and order something from BBTs since they liberally use bubble wrap. Plastic grocery bags work well..Packing peanuts are good for lighter items but dear god I hate opening up a box and getting those damn things every where When in doubt newspaper works in a pinch. I have a friend who works at best buy and he offers me some of the wrap that they get their shipments in as well..

I've been using loosefill polystyrene. It's easy, safe and it's not expensive. It can be a pain for a buyer to recieve a box full of it with your items but it's preferable to recieving a damaged item which you have to refund them for.

It Is Him wrote:Question:

What do you use for shipping out toys to your fellow collectors? Or ideally, what do you think is the most-effective, and lightest way to get toys out? Big toys? Small toys? I've running low on the bubble-wrap, and I'm wondering if maybe there is a better alternative.

Shouldn't you have asked this BEFORE posting figures to me?!

Mykltron wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Question:

What do you use for shipping out toys to your fellow collectors? Or ideally, what do you think is the most-effective, and lightest way to get toys out? Big toys? Small toys? I've running low on the bubble-wrap, and I'm wondering if maybe there is a better alternative.

Shouldn't you have asked this BEFORE posting figures to me?!

My good fellow, you mistakenly operate under the misconception that he cares. I'm sure your stuff is fine.

Autobot032 wrote:Grocery bags. They're light, they can be balled up tightly and you can pad the box quite well without going over the weight limit. I use them almost all of the time.

^^This actually^^

Or just buy more stuff at BBTS for the free bubble wrap they throw in.

I don't even ask for it, but they keep sending it!

Flux Convoy wrote:

Mykltron wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Question:

What do you use for shipping out toys to your fellow collectors? Or ideally, what do you think is the most-effective, and lightest way to get toys out? Big toys? Small toys? I've running low on the bubble-wrap, and I'm wondering if maybe there is a better alternative.

Shouldn't you have asked this BEFORE posting figures to me?!

My good fellow, you mistakenly operate under the misconception that he cares. I'm sure your stuff is fine.

I'll find out in a couple of days! Yeah, I'm just being silly.

Just don't put everything in a single plastic bag inside a box that is much too big and poorly taped shut. I had someone on eBay do that to me.

Plastic shopping bags are a great idea, but I wonder if they provide enough cushion

I've already churned all the free BBTS bubble-wrap and pop corn I've been hoarding for such an occasion. I guess I could ship my POL, but I'm on the fence about buying the Constructicons. Eventually I'll make up my mind.

Mykltron wrote:

Flux Convoy wrote:

Mykltron wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Question:

What do you use for shipping out toys to your fellow collectors? Or ideally, what do you think is the most-effective, and lightest way to get toys out? Big toys? Small toys? I've running low on the bubble-wrap, and I'm wondering if maybe there is a better alternative.

Shouldn't you have asked this BEFORE posting figures to me?!

My good fellow, you mistakenly operate under the misconception that he cares. I'm sure your stuff is fine.

I'll find out in a couple of days! Yeah, I'm just being silly.

Don't worry, I had my little cousins stress test all the toys before I sent them. They promised me the package will be fine.

ubertenorman wrote:Just don't put everything in a single plastic bag inside a box that is much too big and poorly taped shut. I had someone on eBay do that to me.

At least you got a box. When I won my reissue Galvatron off ebay, the seller wrapped the toy's box in christmas wrap and mailed it as is. When I received my package I was pissed, but then I realized it came from Jacksonville, FL (redneck central), and then I also realized I shouldn't expect any less from a seller who neglected to put the words Transformers, Galvatron, reissue or toy anywhere in the subject line of the auction - allowing me to win the guy for $50 shipped.

I tend to overly wrap in newspaper, and then ball up newspaper around the wrapped things to take up the space in the box. I used to wrap smaller parts in large wads of paper to keep them safe and serve as padding, but one person neglected to check the paper and threw out some of the parts to a figure, claiming I never sent them. It sucked.

It Is Him wrote:

ubertenorman wrote:Just don't put everything in a single plastic bag inside a box that is much too big and poorly taped shut. I had someone on eBay do that to me.

At least you got a box. When I won my reissue Galvatron off ebay, the seller wrapped the toy's box in christmas wrap and mailed it as is. When I received my package I was pissed, but then I realized it came from Jacksonville, FL (redneck central), and then I also realized I shouldn't expect any less from a seller who neglected to put the words Transformers, Galvatron, reissue or toy anywhere in the subject line of the auction - allowing me to win the guy for $50 shipped.

Wow. You win. Although, two of the figures in my lot were damaged and a few were "custom" painted, which was not mentioned in the description.

Newspaper. It's free, and it's recyclable and sort of biodegradable.

You're crazy if you buy bubble-wrap. It eats into your profit margins and isn't really any better than crumpled-up old newspapers.

Everybody pretty much covers everything. Sometimes I use magazines or advertisements/coupon papers. Just squeeze them and they can make up some space. There was one time I got a package and there were many "VERY HOT" chicks papers in there. Wonder what magazine is it.....

GuyIncognito wrote:Newspaper. It's free, and it's recyclable and sort of biodegradable.

You're crazy if you buy bubble-wrap. It eats into your profit margins and isn't really any better than crumpled-up old newspapers.

It's also dirty as hell.

If you wrap something in newspaper, it had best be inside a baggie or other clean container.

ubertenorman wrote:

It Is Him wrote:

ubertenorman wrote:Just don't put everything in a single plastic bag inside a box that is much too big and poorly taped shut. I had someone on eBay do that to me.

At least you got a box. When I won my reissue Galvatron off ebay, the seller wrapped the toy's box in christmas wrap and mailed it as is. When I received my package I was pissed, but then I realized it came from Jacksonville, FL (redneck central), and then I also realized I shouldn't expect any less from a seller who neglected to put the words Transformers, Galvatron, reissue or toy anywhere in the subject line of the auction - allowing me to win the guy for $50 shipped.

Wow. You win. Although, two of the figures in my lot were damaged and a few were "custom" painted, which was not mentioned in the description.

Oh, that would piss me off, too.

GuyIncognito wrote:Newspaper. It's free, and it's recyclable and sort of biodegradable.

You're crazy if you buy bubble-wrap. It eats into your profit margins and isn't really any better than crumpled-up old newspapers.

For heavier figures, I don't mind a touch of newspaper, but there are two problems with it

1) The ink can rub off on the toys, so it's important to create a layer between the toys and the newspaper

2) Paper is heavy and adds a lot to the shipping price. Granted, it's practically free if you already have a newspaper subscription (or two if you're me on Sunday). If you're trying to keep a package under a pound, paper doesn't cut it.