[Clayart] Soft pots and mailing... Rox

[KATHI LESUEUR]

I never charge for packing. However, I live in Ann Arbor, the capitol of recycling as far as I can tell. I get all of the peanuts and bubble wrap I want from the recycling center. In good condition. I have an arrangement with a small manufacturer who gets most of their stock packed with flat styrofoam. I line every box with styrofoam. Pots can't move and the box can't be crushed. I also have a preference for the post office. They are far better at handling the boxes, I can get 12x12x8 for free which is my most used box. UPS has all kinds of surcharges. If your customer lives one block over from the main route it's a surcharge, residential-surcharge, then the fuel surcharge which always goes up, never comes down. If you do some leg work you can get many packing materials free. For years I got packing materials from a Budget Blinds store. Bubble and styro. Look around. They will be glad for you to take it.
KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com



On May 10, 2018, at 4:13 PM, Paul Gerhold wrote:

> Go to a UPS customer center and they will tell you the packaging requirements for insured shipping. Back when I shipped a lot it was pot, three inches of protection bubble wrap or other, cardboard box, another three inches and then an outside cardboard box. Never had a single piece broken and after having had multiple packages opened and checked by UPS they stopped checking my packaging. 
> 
> And if you ship a lot I strongly recommend medium bubble size bought in big rolls. And charge the customer for packaging material and shipping cost. I never got brave enough to charge for my packing time though.
> 
> Paul  
> 
> 
> Paul
> 
>> On May 9, 2018, at 8:43 PM, Roxanne Hunnicutt <roxhun at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Ok, I need help and if I am missing some help in the archives, just let me
>> know.
>> 
>> Willing to get help anywhere.
>> 
>> I never mail pots.  When I did a few times, I did very poorly. Broken pots.
>> 
>> 
>> I make smoke fired platters about 15”.  A customer at a sale couldn’t take
>> any because she was traveling. So I agree to send three.  And could you
>> help with me know how to package the first?
>> 
>> What packing materials?  Spray foam?
>> 
>> Even double boxed I can’t imagine that as soft as my platters are (cone ten
>> clays fired at cone 05, who or soldate 60) they’d arrive intact.
>> 
>> Anyone like one service more than another? Does any of our clay
>> organizations, potters council or another, have a discount that makes sense
>> for this?
>> 
>> Thanks for any suggestions!
>> 
>> I’m open to any suggestions.  I might even give up and take them to her! I
>> love where she lives, Seattle.
>> 
>> Rox
>> -- 
>> Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable. -G.
>> B.Shaw
>> 
>> My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your
>> disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it
>> interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit as well as physically. S.
>> Hawking
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