Hey everyone…so it’s been a minute since I shipped babies. I can’t seem to find a very large size Priority box on the USPS site. What size boxes are artists using nowadays? I’m reborning 22-24" kits right now. I’ll be enclosing a few goodies but not an excessive amount…a change or two of clothes, a couple of small toys and a care sheet packet. Thanks!
I’ve been using large priorty boxes, not flat rate. The 12x12x8 https://store.usps.com/store/product/priority-mail-large-box-P_O_BOX7
I, among many other artists on here, have been using Pirate Ship to get shipping quotes. They even offer discounts on priority mail shipping. I highly recommend trying Pirate Ship. It’s completely free
Some of the ladies have recommended Uline for buying boxes. You could buy some of their longer boxes and have the opportunity to use other shipping services, such as USPS ground advantage, to save your buyers some money. But what stopped me from buying boxes from Uline was their outrageous shipping. Their cheapest shipping is 2 days (they offer 2-day and overnight), and my order was quoted $36. I don’t know if it is different across the states or if it depends on which location your boxes ship from.
Surprisingly, out of all the research I did when I was considering investing in more boxes, Uline was cheapest (compared to Amazon, Walmart, Office Depot/Max).
As for me, I have been reusing boxes from other purchases. I don’t make dolls that often, though.
Hope this helps!
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I do much of my shipping in recycled boxes from Amazon and other mail orders. I just flatten them and put them away until I need them. I save the packing materials, too. Toddler boxes I have to buy individually. Depending on how many boxes you ordered $36 might not be unreasonable. What does it come out to per box? They’re heavy.
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If you curl the baby in half on it’s side, after you wrap it in a blanket, you should be able to get it in a large flat rate box. It’s not as nice a presentation as lying flat but most people won’t care about that and you can tuck the other things in the spaces around the doll so they serve as packing.
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This is what I do, it works great for newborn and preemie sized babies!
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I recently mailed - Seven kits, two heads, two bodies (12lb) = $18.10 in a regular brown box thru Pirate Ship. Mailed on the 3rd, received on the 6th. I know this is not a completed kit, but wanted to share the money you can save going thru this site using a plain box vs. USPS using priority/flat rate. I often see a single kits shipped for $25. Just remember to match the box type to the shipping option-that’s something I tend to space out and have to backtrack and recalculate.
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I sent an 8 pound box with a baby in it and insured for $800 through PirateShip using Priority Mail for $21.53… I always use PirateShip. It would have been $15.83 without insurance,
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I just got a quote from pirate ship for 72 dollars. Is there a specific box you use? I estimated a 25 x 25 box weighing 10lbs 
am i estimating a box too big?
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I would definitely get more specific measurements for the box and weight.
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That is a huge box… large priority box is what I use…
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I realized after commenting my box estimate was way too big and that a large flat rate box could be used haha it went down to 21 dollars 
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Use the large mailing box (it is larger than flat rate) and your price should drop by about $7.00 or $8.00.
It’s also depends on destination. Shining from one side of the country to another brings cost up significantly (if it’s not flat rate box where I NEVER could fit any of my dolls).
Large flat rate boxes are smaller than they used to be.
And those are available on pirate ship? Im no where near selling yet just wanting to familiarize myself with the process. New things tend to give me anxiety if i dont pre teach myself
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Pirate ship doesn’t sell boxes. But gives you different pricing for different carriers and how quick you want your package to be delivered.
You can order the USPS large mailing box for free from the usps.com website. They deliver the boxes to your home for free.
You input the dimensions and weight like usual.
When you use a flat rate priority box, be sure to select the flat rate shipping option. It should be under “box type.” I forgot to do that once and they refused to ship it haha.
What exactly are you sending? These boxes contained blank kits only- not finished dolls.
(these all were mailed in reused amazon boxes)
UPS (23x13x8in) 6 kits and bodies –10lb,12oz --$15.10
UPS— one kit (11x8x6 box) $9.30
USPS—a bunch of kits–(15x13x10)–11lb14oz- $18.00
USPS–one kit 7x7x6 new priority box -2.5 lbs–$7.57
The USPS 7x7x6 box is perfect for a single kit and maybe a couple extras, that is a priority box. . However, if I used that size in a plain brown box, i have other options with UPS etc. My problem, I keep forgetting those are priority only boxes and can be still be higher than other rates such as cubic.
Flat rate is only beneficial if you exceed a certain weight threshold, i think it’s around 5 or 6 lbs. Anything under that would be cheaper using a large priority-not flat rate. I have a print out around here in my special hidden spot. As soon as I remember where that is, I’ll post it for you. Might be of some help.
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Im not shipping anything yet, i just wanted to get familiar with shipping for when i do sell a finished doll with a few extra items
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Me too, that’s why I started the thread. So glad for all of these answers.
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