Poker Chip Shipping Tips and Tricks (19 Viewers)

[bentax1978]

"B" is a "bit" larger than a med flate rate box

I end up using a fair number of regional A and B boxes at work since we ship a lot of heavy (relative to their volume) items to locations that are generally within a zone of where we ship from. I very seldom use medium flat rate boxes unless I'm sending something a longer distance.

There's also a B2 regional box which has a larger footprint than the B1, but is not as tall (similar to the "board game" box, but small). It's about 10% larger by volume than a B1 box, but I can't say I've ever thought about how I'd best pack chips in it.

B1

B2

 

[Blaster]

Yes, I also stock and use all of these sizes at work as well..

 

[Trihonda]

There's also a "Board Game Sized" Large Flate Rate Box, it's over 2ft long & a foot wide, and I'm sure that could hold a boatload of well packed chips as well!

I would argue this is not a good box to ship chips in.... Not enough support, which can cause bending in the middle of the box. Chips should be a solid brick.

 

[abby99]

I would argue this is not a good box to ship chips in.... Not enough support, which can cause bending in the middle of the box. Chips should be a solid brick.

That was my first thought, too. The closer boxes get to a cube shape, the better.

I just ordered Regional A1 and B1 boxes. I suppose I'm going to need to buy a scale, too.

 

[bentax1978]

That was my first thought, too. The closer boxes get to a cube shape, the better.

I just ordered Regional A1 and B1 boxes. I suppose I'm going to need to buy a scale, too.

You don't really need a scale for Regional boxes, unless it's to make sure you don't go over the upper weight limits (15/20 pounds for the A/B boxes).

 

[abby99]

You don't really need a scale for Regional boxes, unless it's to make sure you don't go over the upper weight limits (15/20 pounds for the A/B boxes).

So for the B box it's a 20 lb limit with a 4 lb rate? Nice!

 

[bentax1978]

So for the B box it's a 20 lb limit with a 4 lb rate? Nice!

Correct

 

[BGinGA]

There's also a "Board Game Sized" Large Flate Rate Box, it's over 2ft long & a foot wide, and will ship to any zipcode for around $15-16 & is allowed up to 70 pounds . I'm sure that could hold a boatload of well packed chips as well!

Those do not make good shipping boxes for chips -- they don't hold up well to abuse, similar to the problems experienced with using the 12x13x3 medium flat rate box and the 12x24x3 large flat rate box. Even the 12x12x6 large flat rate box is pretty susceptible to abuse damage if packed to the gills with chips.

In general, the further a box design ventures from a square, the worse it holds up with heavy weight. The 11x9x6 Priority Medium Flate Rate Box, the 10x7x5 A1 Priority Regional Rate Box, and the 12x10x5 B1 Priority Regional Rate Box are your safest bets.

 

[Trihonda]

Examples of the flat box woes.

This is one reason to steer away from these style boxes for chip shipping.

 

[abby99]

@Trihonda, I think I see the problem with that box. Somebody wrote "Fragile" on it. I heard that's code for "Use me as a football."

 

[Trihonda]

@Trihonda, I think I see the problem with that box. Somebody wrote "Fragile" on it. I heard that's code for "Use me as a football."

I hear it's pronounced "fra-gee-lay"

 

[SixSpeedFury]

Which is why I didn't put that word on any of the boxes lol.

 

[moojersey]

Wow. I'm surprised how they manhandled that box...

 

[SixSpeedFury]

As if taping the corners and edges isn't enforced enough.....tape those corners if you don't want this to happen! This isn't poker related, just some sneakers that I ordered. I'm surprised that they came intact....

 

[Tommy]

Sides usually blow out when the box gets stacked and crushed in the truck. Cardboard inserts (top, bottom, and sides) can go a long way in addition to the extra tape.

 

[Howsey]

Reading some of these posts is making me anxious - I've got 560 Paulson chips coming from the USA to the United Kingdom and am praying they all come in one piece - however I have seen pics of the packaging and it looks like a bomb couldn't scratch them...fingers crossed

 

[Howsey]

Hi I could really do with some knowledge about international shipping- I purchased about 600 chips wich were sent to the uk - I have been following its progress and this morning on the usps tracking site I got the message - payment of charges, item being held, addresse being notified - I'm guessing it's import tax but I'm bricking myself that it's going to be something ridiculous any ideas of how much I will be charged?

 

[detroitdad]

addition to the extra tape.

Colleen makes fun of me whenever I ship a set of chips. I cover the entire flat rate box in clear packaging tape. It might be over kill. Screw it. My idea behind this is if the box gets destroyed then at least the tape will hopefully contain the chips from spilling all over the place.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Hi I could really do with some knowledge about international shipping- I purchased about 600 chips wich were sent to the uk - I have been following its progress and this morning on the usps tracking site I got the message - payment of charges, item being held, addresse being notified - I'm guessing it's import tax but I'm bricking myself that it's going to be something ridiculous any ideas of how much I will be charged?

http://www.dutycalculator.com/

 

[AdamAAAA]

Hi I could really do with some knowledge about international shipping- I purchased about 600 chips wich were sent to the uk - I have been following its progress and this morning on the usps tracking site I got the message - payment of charges, item being held, addresse being notified - I'm guessing it's import tax but I'm bricking myself that it's going to be something ridiculous any ideas of how much I will be charged?

Isn't it just 20% of the total value plus shipping and insurance? So if you paid £1,500 in total for the chips, shipping and insurance you have to pay £300 import duty.

 

[Howsey]

ouch!! That's stinging . Any ideas of the process I have to go threw to get my chips now?

Will they send me a note about the parcel and I have to pay over the phone?

Or do you think it's being held at my local post office and that I will have to go there to make the payment and collect my chips ?

Appreciate all your feedback.

This is a very expensive lesson im learning

 

[AdamAAAA]

ouch!! That's stinging . Any ideas of the process I have to go threw to get my chips now?

Will they send me a note about the parcel and I have to pay over the phone?

Or do you think it's being held at my local post office and that I will have to go there to make the payment and collect my chips ?

Appreciate all your feedback.

This is a very expensive lesson im learning

I may have been wrong. I think it could be VAT at 20% AND import duty. Best to either wait for the letter or use the above mentioned calculator.

 

[Howsey]

I may have been wrong. I think it could be VAT at 20% AND import duty. Best to either wait for the letter or use the above mentioned calculator.

Thanks Adam

 

[Netwreck94]

Keep in mind that Medium/Large Flat Rate is often more expensive than regular Priority mail, and M/L FR is always more expensive than the similarly sized Regional Rate Box A or B (which are ordered/shipped free online). Box A will always be cheaper than the Medium (as much as 50%) and is only about 15% smaller. Box B will always be cheaper than the Large (as much as 50%) and is also marginally smaller in size.

Another nice trick is ordering the 'VHS tape box' online (it's slightly larger than the Small FRB) and putting it inside the paperstock FR envelope (which is cheaper than the SFRB). Stuff some newspaper all around the box (inside the envelope) and you've saved some $, had roughly 20% more box room and added quite a bit of insulation over the small FRB alone. Or if you really feel like Fort Knoxing it, put the video box inside of the padded envelope (also ordered free online) and then inside of the paperstock FR envelope (stuffed with newspaper).

Below are some pricing examples with multiple weights and locations. For continuity prices are at the retail (counter) rate.

100 Chips from NY to VA (3 pounds):
-Regular Priority: $9.75
-Small Flat Rate: $6.80
-Regional Rate A: $6.60
-Video or SFRB inside FR Envelope: $6.45

200 Chips at 5 Pounds:
--Regular Priority: $12.45
--Medium FR Box: $13.45
--Regional A (~15% smaller than MFRB): $6.60

800 Chips at 18 Pounds:
-- Large FRB: $18.75
-- Regional B (~15% smaller): $8.75

Now instead of sticking to the East Coast, I'll ship across country from NY to CA.

200 Chips at 5 pounds:
-- Med FRB: $13.45
-- Regional A: $10.77

800 Chips at 18 Pounds:
-- Large FRB: $18.75
-- Regional B: $17.09

Clearly the biggest savings using the regional rate boxes instead of M/L FR are obtained over shorter (same time zone) distances. The savings decrease as distance increases, but the key is that they're always cheaper regardless of the distance traveled.

Edit: The VHS box is now called the 1096L, and is available on the USPS website along with the Legal Flat Rate Envelope, Padded Envelope and Regional Box A or B.

 

[abby99]

I ordered some regional A and B boxes but was disappointed to find that the cardboard is thinner than MFR and LFR boxes. Are they safe for several racks of chips?

 

[Potsie1]

You can actually fit 4 racks in a regional A. Regional B is much bigger than A and usually more expensive then the MFR box.

 

[Netwreck94]

I ordered some regional A and B boxes but was disappointed to find that the cardboard is thinner than MFR and LFR boxes. Are they safe for several racks of chips?

I would suggest putting the chips inside of even smaller boxes (like the SFRB or the VHS box) and then into the Regional A or B, which should negate any difference in the outermost's box cardboard thickness. I do usually tape around the glued seam of the outer box just to add some extra protection, but I've shipped close to 100 of them without an issue.

Also, if there's any remaining space gaps leftover (between the smaller boxes and the Reg. A/B) I like to use densely packed crumpled newspaper to fill that volume which helps to add rigidity/strength to the overall package.

 

[bivey]

I hear it's pronounced "fra-gee-lay"

What is that, Italian?

 

[Trihonda]

What is that, Italian?

Pretty sure it's French... It's a fancy way of saying my stuff might break easily...

 

[bivey]