Storage Treasures.com The Self-Storage Auction Locator

[Benjamin Jayne]

Hi there,
I know RNP mentions on a few of his videos that he gets "everything but tape" for free through his network, but how do the rest of you do it when that network is not yet created? Anyone have some tricks on where to go for boxes, bubble wrap, etc?

Here's my tip-Just yesterday I found a "boxes biz" shipping store around the corner from my house, and went in thinking I'd be picking up a few new expensive boxes like I usually do from office max, or other stores, but after asking the prices and sizes in their inventory (and not being all that impressed tbh), I explained what I do and that I need a place to ship stuff regularly, and all of a sudden I got the kings treatment!! They told me about saving money by shipping with Fedex ground from a business like they can, and how they have a whole room of recycled boxes from items sent to people's mail boxes at their place of business, and if I'd pay $2 a box to let them pack it, they would give me the recycled boxes for free, or if I pack them myself they would give them to me for $1 a piece! They even told me to call them when I get new inventory and give them the dimensions so they can watch for the boxes I need that week, AND give me a shipping estimate so I can charge more accurately (something for another post, but that I just keep losing $$ on!!)

So if I could find some free bubble wrap and newspaper, I'd be paying $1 a box, which is a HUGE difference than $4.50 or something from the UPS store and office max!!

So where do you find your packing materials?

[Joe Ross]

I usually get all my stuff from shipments that have come to me. Usually I get the boxes, especially small ones, bubble wrap and packing peanuts (why the hell do they call them peanuts?) from this route. However I been a little short on supplies so I been getting those free Boxes from the post office then wrapping them up with paper bags I have gotten from the grocery store. (shhh) But If I really wanted to, around here people are always giving away boxes or throwing them out. I really need to find a better option of getting a hold of packing peanuts and bubble wrap. But unless I am sending something that is fragile, I will just pack it with wads of newspaper.

[The Redneck Picker]

Joe. Good way man to get boxes. Try to find machine shops and/or industrial electronics warehouse. The machine shops get a lot of castings to machine shipped to them. One size boxes and tons of them. The electronics guys..(like testing equipment) their stuff is very fragile and a lot of times will have tons of peanuts and bubble wrap. If i need an ODD size box, I will trade peanuts for the odd box with a small Mom & Pop shipping Mail place. Costs me nothing! They just put my peanuts in their bags and they get 2.99 for a small bag!! Networking!!

[Rob Noble]

I pick boxes up at grocery stores and walmart. If there's enough $ in the item I just buy one.

Also...........something I stumbled upon is sometimes people dump this stuff on craigslist. Some gal sold me 2 of the "very" large bags of peanuts for $20 that normally go for almost $40 and she gave me a ton of hi grade thermal bubblewrap and 4 plastic crates.

Maybe this spring I can test ship some of tadpoles in the bubblewrap lol. You'd be surprised what those sell for. Just one problem I found it's illegal to ship them to some states as bullfrogs are actually a not very well liked creature because they eat everything they can fit in their mouths including baby birds.

[Drenton Beres]

Depending on what all you need for shipping. Bubble mailers and specific box sizes I get from papermart.com (orange, ca), because they are local for pickup and cheap. You have uline.com throughout the nation and you can pick up there too if they are local for you. Both are priced basically the same and yes they ship, but that can get expensive. I remember years ago Uline did free shipping on orders over $300. They didn't advertise it, you had to ask for it. I'm not sure if they still do it.

You can hit up the craigslist "free" section for moving boxes. They are always being given away on there. A lot of times people will mention they have packing paper, bubble wrap, peanuts, etc.. Condition will vary box to box. I hit these ads up for boxes to chop down into flat pieces for protection. I ship a lot of flats. I do use them as a box for shipping to sometimes if they are in good condition.

You can also buy bubble mailers in bulk on ebay. The big sellers have gotten their prices to be about the same with shipping as the local wholesalers mentioned above. Tape is cheap through either of the mentioned places or you can even buy it at your local swap meet. They usually sell rolls for a $1.00 each. Avoid buying tape from office stores as they are super expensive. Even costco is expensive on tape!

If you are desperate and need boxes in a hurry for breaking down or reshaping. Home Depot and Lowe's are cheap on their retail prices.

[Nancy Hamilton]

I usually ship USPS Priority mail, but not always. I will dumpster dive for nice boxes. If I see nice little ones I just take them, and then I have a few places that always have some nice big ones in their dumpsters. Oddly enough, the movie theater by my house is a good source for large boxes. I never buy packing peanuts. I use plastic grocery bags. I always have a ton and they work well. But while I'm out dumpster diving I sometimes find peanuts and I will take those. I also take and save from anything I buy those styrofoam sheets. You can use them as sheets or break them up and use them like the peanuts. At one time I was selling a bunch of 12x12 scrapbook albums and I ended up buying a bunch of padded mailers off of E-bay for those. They were the cheapest I could find and I still have a quite a few. I like the reduce, reuse, and recycle idea though. . .and saving some cash at the same time! Oh, I do end up having to buy packing tape. I buy it at Costco or use Register Rewards to get it at Walgreens.

[Jesus Blanco]

I have found it pretty easy to just make my own boxes. Im getting pretty good at it. I went to the sears here and they gave me their old refrigerator boxes. They are huge, so i just cut it down and make a box the exact size I need so it will be as light as possible.

[The Redneck Picker]

I have found it pretty easy to just make my own boxes. Im getting pretty good at it. I went to the sears here and they gave me their old refrigerator boxes. They are huge, so i just cut it down and make a box the exact size I need so it will be as light as possible.

NICE!!! dont forget to perf the lines!! makes them easier to fold

[Jesus Blanco]

I didnt think about that yet. That will help when i'm making hot wheels bricks. 26 going to thailand tomorrow $42 bucks profit on it. Almost tripled it.

[Rob Noble]

Make sure you check the shipping quotes for you to ship it yourself on the UPS,FEDX and USPS sites.

That shipping depot isn't treating you like a king so they can pack all your crap for $1.00 an item, they are making $ somewhere.

They claim they use the same rates as online, I've only tried it twice with a couple 'oddball' items when I was pressed for time and the cost was way out of line.

Granted they do make a very small amount just for one of these services picking stuff up at their location, but going out of the way to make $1.00?

Just take a few minutes to see what it would cost to ship on your own, not including the material just the shipping and do the math.