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Has that changed since last year? I've always used the cases to ship my orders out and have not encountered a problem in the past. But, I typically do these only once a year hence my question.
@SoCalMama wrote:
@KarenMSW wrote:
Just a tip if you need boxes...if you come across Girl Scout cookie booths (it's that time of year), the boxes are really good sizes to use and are pretty sturdy. Just ask the troop to give you any boxes that they have emptied and they should be happy to have them taken off of the troop's hands. It's one less thing to break down and recycle at the end of a long day. Also, if you need to figure out what to send and you are friends with a local leader, you can ship to their out of town customers for them (usually under the reimbursement and saves the troop $$). You can also do the same for Boy Scout troops with their popcorn sales. It's amazing how much troop sales go up when they can ship out of state.
Girl Scout cookie boxes are slightly over 12" long. They won't work.
Has that changed since last year? I used those boxes exclusively the last few years with no issues, hence my question.
@SoCalMama wrote:
It was my understanding that the poster that I quoted was planning on using the boxes for shipping, not for shipping cookies.@msimon-2000 wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
@KarenMSW wrote:
Just a tip if you need boxes...if you come across Girl Scout cookie booths (it's that time of year), the boxes are really good sizes to use and are pretty sturdy. Just ask the troop to give you any boxes that they have emptied and they should be happy to have them taken off of the troop's hands. It's one less thing to break down and recycle at the end of a long day. Also, if you need to figure out what to send and you are friends with a local leader, you can ship to their out of town customers for them (usually under the reimbursement and saves the troop $$). You can also do the same for Boy Scout troops with their popcorn sales. It's amazing how much troop sales go up when they can ship out of state.
Girl Scout cookie boxes are slightly over 12" long. They won't work.
If the GS cookies are just slightly over 12" then use a 12x12x12 box and pack them diagonally. That should allow for the slight overage to still fit in the box. How's that for outside the box/inside the box thinking?!
Actually, I have used the boxes for both purposes and never encountered a problem since the change to the new MSC. Is something new this year?
For the mailing shops, no side can be over 12". Can you get away with it? Yes, probably. If somebody notices a receipt with a measurement of 13", then it could be excluded. The dimension of the shortest boxes (Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs, etc) is 12" inside (slightly over 12" outside) which will measure at 13".
Shortbread boxes (at least from our Bakery - there are two) are longer.
No, the box sizes did not change at all.
Shortbread boxes (at least from our Bakery - there are two) are longer.
No, the box sizes did not change at all.
My scheduler told me that the box can't be over 12x12x12 - which would be a total of 36. It was explained to me that you could go over the 12 inches as long as the other sides were smaller than 12 so that it still added up to 36 or less. For example: 14x10x12 would be okay.
SAL, that's excellent info. Thanks for sharing.
It makes sense. When you think about the comparative size between a GS cookie box and the maximum size, it only makes sense that having one dimension over the max size is okay.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
As long as the other dimensions are less.
@Shops-A-Lot wrote:
My scheduler told me that the box can't be over 12x12x12 - which would be a total of 36. It was explained to me that you could go over the 12 inches as long as the other sides were smaller than 12 so that it still added up to 36 or less. For example: 14x10x12 would be okay.
I’ll review the guidelines again, but if that’s correct, I’ll be very happy.
I am pretty sure that is not covered in the guidelines, but apparently SAL got the info from the scheduler. If that was via email and is in writing, that's just as good (I would think). I have a box on hand that is 13 x 6 x 8 and I have a few post office shops this week, so maybe I will give it a try and let you know. I am going to email my scheduler first and see if I get the same response to my question as SAL.
All that I see is:
The required package size MUST be 12” x 12” x 12” or smaller.
So, that is most likely to avoid dim weight issues. I thought that I read somewhere that no side could be longer than 12". I checked two scenarios and can't find that requirement any more.
I have a pile of Amazon boxes that are 14 x 10 x 3 and 14 x 8 x 3 etc. Also, Girl Scout Cookie cases will work if they are covered in craft paper or flipped inside out.
The required package size MUST be 12” x 12” x 12” or smaller.
So, that is most likely to avoid dim weight issues. I thought that I read somewhere that no side could be longer than 12". I checked two scenarios and can't find that requirement any more.
I have a pile of Amazon boxes that are 14 x 10 x 3 and 14 x 8 x 3 etc. Also, Girl Scout Cookie cases will work if they are covered in craft paper or flipped inside out.
Let us know what you find out, please.@JASFLALMT wrote:
I am pretty sure that is not covered in the guidelines, but apparently SAL got the info from the scheduler. If that was via email and is in writing, that's just as good (I would think). I have a box on hand that is 13 x 6 x 8 and I have a few post office shops this week, so maybe I will give it a try and let you know. I am going to email my scheduler first and see if I get the same response to my question as SAL.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
I got a response (I sent the email to two schedulers, actually) that it was fine to use boxes that had 13 x 6 x 8 or similar odd dimensions as long as they added up to 36 or less.
I love to turn boxes inside out (save a tree) and it saves me time by not having to go somewhere to stand in line to buy boxes. I go do a lot of merchandising and demo gigs where I have access to used small boxes and if not, I stop in and get a bunch of them from the dollar stores when they are unpacking and stocking shelves.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
I got a response (I sent the email to two schedulers, actually) that it was fine to use boxes that had 13 x 6 x 8 or similar odd dimensions as long as they added up to 36 or less.
I was under the impression that one dimension over 12 inches made the mailing a dim weight mailing. Check the prices before you do this because the dim weight boxes tend to cost more to send than a similar weight box with no dimension under 12". I am not sure of pricing if it is in a low zone but this is true in zone 5 and above. MY dim weight boxes when we did them cost over $20 to send no matter the weight where an under 12" box to the same zone under 2 pounds went out for 11.75.
The discussion about dimensions is around on another post. I've included on there what USPS says about Dem. Weight calculations. I'm pretty sure I asked the scheduler about it when I first started with them and was told similar info to JASFLALMT, I know I've sent a few odd sized boxes and had no problems.
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
I remember doing dimension weight shops years ago for the other two MSCs who had the client. The boxes were HUGE. They had it so all sides were at least 12 inches, and I think I remember sending 14 x 14 x 14 more than once. One of those two MSCs actually mailed the packages to us back then already packed for us to take to the PO and send them. The good old days...
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
Above is an old link to a thread about dimensional weight sized boxes. Everything I saw throughout the old threads referred to 14 x 14 x 14, but I do remember some other very large sizes were allowed for those shops. I hated dim weight shops. Glad this MSC doesn't do them.
Above is an old link to a thread about dimensional weight sized boxes. Everything I saw throughout the old threads referred to 14 x 14 x 14, but I do remember some other very large sizes were allowed for those shops. I hated dim weight shops. Glad this MSC doesn't do them.
I loved dim weight and used 15x10x12. I was able to send 5 # to my kids across the country without going out of pocket. That adds up to 37 inches so perhaps the 36 inch rule is the magic number.
I could see how that worked out well for you.
Sorry for the stupidity here. But to turn a box inside out, do you slit one side open, flip the box then re-tape that side? Thanks,
That's not a stupid question. Most boxes have a seam, you just separate it at the seam, reverse it, and tape it back up at the seam. You might have to reinforce it with tape at other areas after packing it. I buy 2 rolls of tape at hazmat shops if they don't send my package so I have plenty of tape on hand. I also have a packing tape dispenser and I can buy refills at Dollar Tree for a buck that last a long time in case I run out..
Are these with a different company now? I have not seen any posted yet for this month.
These aren't monthly shops, they are quarterly. So by the 3rd month of the quarter, I've noticed there aren't many left.
To clarify, each location is shopped twice a quarter. This might be why it seems like they are monthly.
I hot glue the seam to make SURE it's secure.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
That's not a stupid question. Most boxes have a seam, you just separate it at the seam, reverse it, and tape it back up at the seam. You might have to reinforce it with tape at other areas after packing it. I buy 2 rolls of tape at hazmat shops if they don't send my package so I have plenty of tape on hand. I also have a packing tape dispenser and I can buy refills at Dollar Tree for a buck that last a long time in case I run out..
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
I've turned a lot of my Amazon boxes inside out to do the postal shops....sure does help!!
AH HA, I just settled the size dilemma...The post office has changed the way they figure dimensional weight pricing...Here is a quote from their site.
"USPS doesn't apply DIM weight pricing for packages smaller than a cubic foot in size.
But our competitors do. Contact us to start saving on your shipping."
So now to be competitive and have a better price than ups and fedex if the total box is I cubic foot or less, which works out to 36 inches total for 3 sides of the box, they use the weight of the box where as last year they only needed one side to be over 12" to use dimensional weight. There is a caveat though as on their website it says this only applies to priority mail and to zones 5-8. I did not check the rules for regular shipping or for closer zones. So if you are doing a hazmat shop where you need to allow it to go ground it might be different although I seem to recall these dimensional weights were mostly due to the price it costs for a big box taking up room in an airplane. Many clerks told me that when I brought in dim weight boxes last year.
"USPS doesn't apply DIM weight pricing for packages smaller than a cubic foot in size.
But our competitors do. Contact us to start saving on your shipping."
So now to be competitive and have a better price than ups and fedex if the total box is I cubic foot or less, which works out to 36 inches total for 3 sides of the box, they use the weight of the box where as last year they only needed one side to be over 12" to use dimensional weight. There is a caveat though as on their website it says this only applies to priority mail and to zones 5-8. I did not check the rules for regular shipping or for closer zones. So if you are doing a hazmat shop where you need to allow it to go ground it might be different although I seem to recall these dimensional weights were mostly due to the price it costs for a big box taking up room in an airplane. Many clerks told me that when I brought in dim weight boxes last year.
This is a little off topic, but I am hesitant to try a hazmat job at the post office. Has anyone had a bad experience doing one? I keep imagining the clerk wanting to open the package. How do you back out of mailing it retail ground?
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