Poll: Preferred Packing Method?

Since you said receiving I will be surprised if anyone doesn't pick styro. For sending I also prefer styro, but not to pay for it. I get all my packing materials free from our incoming orders at work, but if I could get styro shippers free that is all I ever would use.

 

I'd love it if all I got and sent were styro shippers. The time and aggravation saved with those is great

 

No tape! Rubber bands please

 

I prefer to receive shippers, but only buy them when shipping out valuable BIF boxes. I've gotten pretty good at packing with bubble wrap, packing paper, styro peanuts, plus whatever I get from you guys in trades.

Oh, and this is the best stuff to secure bubble wrap

 

Bubble-wrapped bottles placed in Gorilla upright cardboard shippers are the best, imo. They are sturdy as hell, don't squeak like styro shippers (sometimes a giveaway), each slot is customizable to bottle size, and you can place peanuts in the slots above and below each bottle for more protections. They are also recyclable when worn out.

 

The best way to pack is to use so much bubble wrap and tape that they need a knife to undo it all and accidentally cut open a can, and blame you for it.

 

It would be really nice if everybody just committed to styro/gorilla/uline/etc shippers. It just cuts the packing time down by so much...

 

I pay $3 for any size shippers so I try to use them as much as possible. The small charge is worth the quick packing time and piece of mind while its in shipment.

 

I use styro shippers from time to time, but to me it makes it pretty obvious that I"m shipping liquid/bottles of something. When shipping 6+ bombers, I like to bubble wrap each. Put them in a bomber box and pack it tight with paper. Then I get 14x14x14 boxes for $0.68 at walmart. Lay a layer of packing peanuts on the bottom. then a layer of cardboard. Then put in the packed bomber box. Stuff newspaper all around it then put large-bubble bubble wrap on top. Tape it up. I use strapping tape on the seams if it's heavy. Bottles ship upright and don't make much noise. The box isn't obviously a bottle shipper.

The key thing that I notice alot of people don't understand is that everything needs to be packed tight. if you shake the box, you shouldn't hear stuff moving around.

 

I typically wrap the bottles in bubble wrap and rubber bands. As long as the bottles aren't touching the edges of the box and the paper is packed really tight they should be fine. Haven't had any problems yet.

Only reason I don't use styrofoam shippers is because I'm a cheap ass. I just recycle all the packaging material that shows up at work.

 

As long as my beer gets to me safe and secure I don't care what the other trader uses, and I'm too cheap to order shippers so I just reuse what other people send me.

 

This.

I re-use everything. Tape on bubble wrap...who cares? I stick a piece of scotch tape on my UPS pad-things to make sure they stay closed, but if you feel like mummifying your bottles gives them the best chance to get to me safely I say go for it. I'll use the bubble-corpse for pad/filler in the next box I send.

One thing I really do try to do is send someone's styro-shipper back to them. Those things aren't cheap.

 

When sending or receiving, I like to consider a styro shipper sort of a nice extra.

 

I definitely extra styroshippers in all of my trades. I also put packingtape on the sides of the styro shipper that comes into contact with the cardboard, and make sure everything in the shipper is packed so tight I have to tale the shipper halves together just to make sure it'll fit in the box. Never hear styro rubbing, rarely hear sloshing.

Just wish I got more of them back

 

I'll have to make a video of my packing techniques , Everyone I send to compliments me on it ..out of 60+ trades never once had an issue with my box's..
Edit: Knock on wood

 

I have gotten a few of these with no or minimal bubble wrap. These are a nice way as well.

 

I've received a lot of those shippers in the past and I've bought them to use if I can't get a styro. I think a lot of people know about them. The "problem" with them is that noise can be a bit more difficult to conceal. The best Eco-friendly alternative (it seems that you're pretty concerned about recycling) would be the standing cardboard shippers that Mordormongo noted above. Also, U-Haul sells styro shippers for $9.95 after shipping if you have a $25 or more purchase, just to give a price comparison.

Regardless, if someone sends me a shipper, they're getting a shipper in return unless I'm completely out of them (yes, it happens from time to time).

Buying/sending shippers, no matter the style, is a cost of trading. Established trading partners generally return the favor by sending a shipper anyway.