Shipping Prints

Hi, everyone:

 

I saw a thread on photo.net the other day about this topic, and can't find it anywhere, so sorry if this is a

repeat!

 

I just had a large reprint order from a wedding I did and the customer ordered about 60 4x6 photos. How

do you recommend shipping them? (Do I put them in a small box, or sandwiched between cardboard, etc.?

)

 

Is there a place you recommend for packing products? I looked at u-line but didn't see anything for

smaller size photos like this.

 

I'd also like to make it a nice presentation, if possible.

 

Thanks!

 

Katie

Hey Katie,<br>First, check this out: <A HREF="http://www.albumsinc.com/catalog.asp?ProductKey={77DF9BCB-DEAB-4F24-BB36-597EDFA83B9F}/">Print boxes</a><p>My lab sends proofs in a small white box, nothing fancy, but it looks nice and will hold over 100 4x6" prints. I reuse them for large 4x6" orders. I don't like sandwiching between cardboard, maybe it's just my luck (it usually is!), but some of the edges seem to get damaged. Hope this helps, and best of luck.

Hi Katie,

Check out www.archivalmethods.com. Their archival Accent Box is pretty nice and holds 200 prints. It's about $17 a box (depending on how many you order), so maybe it's too $$ then when you are looking for. I simply make it part of the benefit of ordering from me and make up for the costs in my fee. I think qaulity presentation is important so I am willing to purchase archival boxes. Another added benefit of ordering prints from me. I send my wedding proofs in archival Kolo boxes when I have to ship 500-700 prints. www.kolo.com.

 

I simply put these archival boxes in a shipping box packed with bubble wrap that I get from Staples. And if there is room inside the actual archival box that the photos are in...I put some bubble wrap in that too to prevent the pictures from shifting during shipment. I haven't had a problem yet.

$17 is way too much, imo. I work with http://neilenterprises.com/. They have 4x6 proof boxes for a whopping $2.50 each and they are nice! They are black with a magnet closure and a silver ribbon that you can tie around it. Clean and classic.

 

If you decide to sandwich in between cardboard, please be very careful. The trick is to use a larger cardboard than the actual print in case the corners get messed up in shipping.

 

Lots of luck!

In addition to the box you choose for archival packing, (not all cardboard is safe for photos) I chose an appropriate size from the USPO for PRIORITY shipping. They are FREE from the local Post Office.

 

Then wrap the archival box in bubble wrap, and put in USPO box.

They also have boxes which are suitable to pack Albums of 8x10 prints in, with room for bubble wrap around them.

 

It does not cost much more to ship PRIORITY mail, and customers appreciate & impressed by the fast service. We order boxes from USPS them on the Website, ordering 50-100 at a time. If you get an account online you can also get your postage & insurance online for shipping. It prints out a nice shipping label, with the address and yours on it, and shipping cost if you choose. Then, you can call an 800 number, and the truck will pick up the package, at no additional cost. Saves YOU time.

 

Another thing, if you do take it to the PO, and already have the label & postage on it, you do not have to stand inline, you can go to the end of the counter, and drop it off there.

Hi, thanks everyone! I'm looking into these options - I actually went ahead and ordered the proof boxes from neil enterprises - thanks Rachel!

 

Let me ask - how sturdy are they? When you pack them for shipping, what do you do? (bubble wrap, as Jill suggests?)

 

Also, how do you all ship a small order - for example, 2 4x6's? Would it then be safe to put in a glassine envelope, tape the envelope to the inside of a cardboard "sandwich" (like 5x7) and mail in a photo mailer? Please advise - thanks!

I found some REAL nice wood boxes at a local craft store, and the are teh right size for up to 525 4X6 prints.

 

Brass hinges and hasp. I remove the metal parts, lightly sand to take off any rough edges, and then stain the outside a nice Lt Oak color. Reassemble, and I use a sticky backed felt, cut to size to cover the interior.

 

I found s bunch on closeout for 1.00 ea

 

I've used 3 so far and the clients love them.

 

 

 

Steve

Yeah, you'll need to bubble wrap them, but they are pretty sturdy so you shouldn't have any problems with them. The one thing to be careful is when you're actually putting them together (you just have to unfold them) be careful that the magnet doesn't stick and make you pull apart the seems. I've done that once. :o)

 

If you have a small order, I think it would be appropriate to do what you suggested.

 

I'm glad you went with the neil enterprises ones. They are really inexpensive and I've had good feedback from customers.

Use mpix.com, and pay five bucks to have them do the shipping.