Acquiring 3" x 4" Cardboard Pieces for Shipping Individual Cards

calculusdork · 09-23-2012, 03:21 PM

I hate the feeling that I'm spamming, but I posted this in Tyler's "Shipping" sticky a couple days ago and haven't got any response. I need to acquire some 3" x 4" cardboard pieces for "cardboard sandwiches" for shipping individual cards, and I need to do it in the next day or two. Here's the solution I posed in the "Shipping" thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculusdork

... one possible option would be to order 12" x 12" sheets from Uline. Each sheet could be cut into 12 3"x4" pieces, so each sheet would service 6 shipments. Cost for 100 sheets (for 600 shipments) would be $30 + $16 S&H (wtf?), or $11 S&H if I have it shipped to my work (apparently UPS does not want to come to my house). Thus, my added cost for each shipment would now be in the $0.07-$0.08 range. My time estimate for cutting would be 1 minute per sheet. I am willing to spend 1.5 hours to cut enough cardboard for a year's worth of shipments (at my current rate).

Does this seem reasonable? Is there a better way to get large quantities of 3" x 4" pieces of cardboard?

Really appreciate your help.

fullmetal · 09-23-2012, 03:25 PM

Cut up boxes? Any store should have a stack behind the store awaiting recycling.

calculusdork · 09-23-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullmetal

Cut up boxes? Any store should have a stack behind the store awaiting recycling.

For sure ... but it would a take a lot longer to cut up enough pieces for 600 cards out of boxes than it would out of 12" x 12" pieces. With a stack of standard-sized pieces, you'd have a streamlined process.

I'm curious what other people do, esp. those of you who rip and flip cases at a time.

Tyler · 09-23-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculusdork

For sure ... but it would a take a lot longer to cut up enough pieces for 600 cards out of boxes than it would out of 12" x 12" pieces. With a stack of standard-sized pieces, you'd have a streamlined process.

I'm curious what other people do, esp. those of you who rip and flip cases at a time.

I cut them by hand. I have a ton of them. If you get a decent box opener, you can rip through them pretty quick. I don't know of an outside source to purchase them or anything though.

calculusdork · 09-23-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler

I cut them by hand. I have a ton of them. If you get a decent box opener, you can rip through them pretty quick. I don't know of an outside source to purchase them or anything though.

So I guess you just watch for boxes or get them from work or something? Just seems like it would be a lot quicker to buy standard-sized pieces, but maybe that's because I've been using a pair of scissors.

fullmetal · 09-23-2012, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculusdork

So I guess you just watch for boxes or get them from work or something? Just seems like it would be a lot quicker to buy standard-sized pieces, but maybe that's because I've been using a pair of scissors.

Grocery store/liquor store? Some place that goes through lots of cardboard. Appliance store would be excellent because the piece are big and you could stack them when you cut.

My wife works in outside sales and we get dozens of boxes per week for her job. I use a box cutter when I cut them up to recycle.

Tyler · 09-23-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculusdork

So I guess you just watch for boxes or get them from work or something? Just seems like it would be a lot quicker to buy standard-sized pieces, but maybe that's because I've been using a pair of scissors.

Generally if I order a case (of cards) the case plus the box it's shipped in gives me plenty of material. But yes, I do get them from work if I haven't bought cards in awhile.

What I do is measure out one nice piece exactly the size I want it, then lay it on top of the next piece of cardboard and make a slice. That's it. It takes me ~1 second per cut. Super simple.

alexlazarevich · 09-23-2012, 06:52 PM

I use the same method Tyler uses: I cut up cardboard from cases that are shipped to me. It is the perfect protective dummy card filler material: twice as thick than those white dummy cards that Panini uses, but they weigh much less. The only downside is the time it takes to cut the pieces. I use a larger 11x17 industrial paper cutter to cut the cardboard. I measure out pieces with a white dummy card and pen, then cut pieces out on the cutter.

I haven't found a source for buying something like these off the shelf. If anyone comes across such a thing I would love to hear about it.

Right now I just opened a ton of Panini Prestige NBA, so I've go a box full of the white dummy cards. But every now and then for a shipment I have to spend an extra $0.17 (+1 oz) that I wouldn't have had to if I was using cardboard. $0.17 might not seem like a big deal for 1 transaction, but do a thousand and that's $170.

calculusdork · 09-23-2012, 08:11 PM

Thanks for the input guys ... I will give that a shot instead of buying cardboard sheets. Really appreciate the feedback.

Braveskid1025 · 09-23-2012, 09:33 PM

And inallhonesty if your really desperate you can go on the usps store and get a order of the 25 large flat rate boxes for free and cut those..

calculusdork · 09-23-2012, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braveskid1025

And inallhonesty if your really desperate you can go on the usps store and get a order of the 25 large flat rate boxes for free and cut those..

That is actually a GREAT idea. I have way too many Regional Rate boxes, I could cut some of those.

Braveskid1025 · 09-23-2012, 09:38 PM

Yeah, I ordered a 25 set when I sold all of my cards and were in my house in about a week

CP3toOKC · 09-23-2012, 11:10 PM

If you shop at sams club or aldi, they let you take the cardboard boxes/crates to put your stuff in

fullmetal · 09-23-2012, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braveskid1025

Yeah, I ordered a 25 set when I sold all of my cards and were in my house in about a week

Report you for abuse. We can blame you for USPS' money woes.

CP3toOKC · 09-23-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullmetal

Report you for abuse. We can blame you for USPS' money woes.

No wonder they are going bankrupt

Braveskid1025 · 09-23-2012, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullmetal

Report you for abuse. We can blame you for USPS' money woes.

huh? I used them to ship my entire collection in? how is that abuse

calculusdork · 09-24-2012, 01:42 PM

Looked at the regional rate (USPS) boxes last night, they are too thin for my liking.

I cut up a couple small boxes last night using a box cutter ... it took me a while at first, but I eventually got the hang of it. By my estimation, I should be able to get enough pieces out of each jumbo case for 15-18 shipments ... meaning I may need to find a couple more big boxes and I'll be set.

Thanks to all for the advice ... definitely won't be spending the money on cardboard. Well, at least not cardboard boxes.

09-23-2012, 08:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
calculusdork Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 3,899 calculusdork	Thanks for the input guys ... I will give that a shot instead of buying cardboard sheets. Really appreciate the feedback. __________________ I'm not asking for much ... just perfect information. FREE CBO!!!

09-23-2012, 11:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
CP3toOKC Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OK Posts: 2,293 soonerfan187	If you shop at sams club or aldi, they let you take the cardboard boxes/crates to put your stuff in __________________ eBay sellers beware, I will leave you a neutral if you don't at least include a toploader when shipping a card. Feel free to block me if you don't ship with a toploader or secured card holder. That is all. High-End Bucket: http://s1135.photobucket.com/albums/m627/AvenOZ/High-End%20and%20HTG/

09-24-2012, 01:42 PM	#17 (permalink)
calculusdork Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 3,899 calculusdork	Looked at the regional rate (USPS) boxes last night, they are too thin for my liking. I cut up a couple small boxes last night using a box cutter ... it took me a while at first, but I eventually got the hang of it. By my estimation, I should be able to get enough pieces out of each jumbo case for 15-18 shipments ... meaning I may need to find a couple more big boxes and I'll be set. Thanks to all for the advice ... definitely won't be spending the money on cardboard. Well, at least not cardboard boxes. __________________ I'm not asking for much ... just perfect information. FREE CBO!!!

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09-23-2012, 03:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
fullmetal Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,899	Cut up boxes? Any store should have a stack behind the store awaiting recycling.

09-23-2012, 06:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
alexlazarevich Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 3,091 alexlazarevich*cardboardaddict	I use the same method Tyler uses: I cut up cardboard from cases that are shipped to me. It is the perfect protective dummy card filler material: twice as thick than those white dummy cards that Panini uses, but they weigh much less. The only downside is the time it takes to cut the pieces. I use a larger 11x17 industrial paper cutter to cut the cardboard. I measure out pieces with a white dummy card and pen, then cut pieces out on the cutter. I haven't found a source for buying something like these off the shelf. If anyone comes across such a thing I would love to hear about it. Right now I just opened a ton of Panini Prestige NBA, so I've go a box full of the white dummy cards. But every now and then for a shipment I have to spend an extra $0.17 (+1 oz) that I wouldn't have had to if I was using cardboard. $0.17 might not seem like a big deal for 1 transaction, but do a thousand and that's $170.

09-23-2012, 09:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Braveskid1025 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,455	And inallhonesty if your really desperate you can go on the usps store and get a order of the 25 large flat rate boxes for free and cut those..

09-23-2012, 09:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
Braveskid1025 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,455	Yeah, I ordered a 25 set when I sold all of my cards and were in my house in about a week