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At Wirecutter, we ship many packages. Most of our employees work remotely, so we need to be able to move a large number of products for testing and photography. Even before the pandemic, since March 2020 (when most of our office employees switched to working from home), the number of packages we shipped has increased dramatically. We understand that no matter how often you ship, you need good supplies and the right tools to make the process (relatively) easy. Here is a quick tour of some of our favorite tips, tricks, and products to ensure that what you send reaches its destination as quickly, safely and economically as possible.
I have had a USPS account for about eight years and I have no regrets. Once you register (free of charge), you can order stamps and packaging tape, save common addresses, calculate shipping costs, and print shipping labels—basically any pressure that once made me feel compelled to mail something. However, what I like most about my USPS account is that it allows you to apply for free shipping boxes online. I used to have an Etsy store, so I shipped many packages before I worked at Wirecutter. No longer need to go to the post office countless times-because the post office tends to have long queues, limited time, and may be difficult to reach, depending on where you live-I can now choose the size and type of mailbox I need online, and then deliver To my door. Once your package is ready to be shipped, you can also arrange a free pickup during regular mail delivery times-this is not the case for most shipping services such as UPS or FedEx.
If you use packing tape at home, you may just use one of the cheap applicators that comes with a roll of tape for free. Although these can get the job done, they usually make the tape fall back onto the roll, making it more difficult to use. (Even if these applicators are working properly, the tape will not come off the roll so smoothly and easily.) If you spend a little time on a stronger tape applicator, you will get something easier to hold and stick. The tape is smoother and will not let the tape stick to yourself. The design also makes sealing at the corners easier, so the box is less likely to be damaged or opened during transportation. This applicator may seem a bit overkill, but I am always happy to use it when I pack things.
——Chris Henonen, senior writer
"There is no good or bad packaging tape" is what you say before you try good things. Duck EZStart is the opposite of the cheap tape that somehow stayed with you the last time you moved. Duck EZStart sticks, and sticks well, there are no floating jagged edges, which can threaten your packed package. It does not scream when you dispense it, and, perhaps most amazingly, the tape has a magical crack resistance. This means no longer peeling off the barbs of the adhesive when you try to start rolling, and no more grunting curses when you try to reconnect the two straps into a piece of sticky tape. It is a tape that can handle everything properly, but despite this, it is still one of the most affordable brand-name options you can find. It may seem strange to put poetry on packaging tape, but it does make a difference if you ship it regularly.
About two or three years ago, TV companies stopped using boxes that were easy to reassemble with plastic clips. Instead, they started using disposable strapping around the box. This works for the initial shipment, but if you want to move or transport it again, it will make the box useless. After returning some test TVs that required half a roll of packaging tape to prevent the bottom from falling off and damaging the internal TV, I found a household strapping kit that can easily reseal the box or tie it to a pallet. Most other strapping solutions require expensive hardware, which may make sense in a warehouse, but is not suitable for home use. However, this one suits my needs very well: in the long run, it is cheaper than strapping, and wire clips are far superior to the plastic clips usually found in cheap strapping kits. Now I no longer have to worry about the TV box—or any other heavy objects I transport—will open again in transit.
——Chris Henonen, senior writer
I post a lot of things for work, and I often post my collections that I sell on Facebook and eBay. When you ship a large number of packages, especially small packages, every ounce costs money. To make sure that I don't spend extra money when shipping, I use Wirecutter's favorite kitchen scale, Escali Primo, to weigh each package, which can be accurate to ounces. I used to use a bathroom scale to weigh packages, but it was not accurate enough for smaller packages, so I often had to round up and pay more. Primo can easily switch between the ounces I use for transportation and the grams more suitable for baking. I use a scale more for baking, but it must have paid for the cost of transportation.
——Chris Henonen, senior writer
When I test textiles such as bed sheets or towels for Wirecutter, I often ship some textiles across the country. Sometimes I need to take photos of the fabric for guidance, and sometimes I mail it to other staff for testing. Either way, it needs to be kept clean. In addition, the bedding is bulky. Pillows, bed-sized blankets, and fluffy towels are not heavy, but when you pack them into a box, they take up a lot of space. I tried to save the zipper bag of the new bedding to keep the mail clean. But I don’t always have enough, and sometimes I need things of different sizes. In these cases, I would use compression bags, such as the SpaceSaver vacuum storage bag in our closet organization guide. If I need to pack something into a compact box, I can vacuum seal them, but usually I just use them as huge zipper bags. They work perfectly and can send textiles where they need to go without getting dust and stains on the way.
——Jackie Reeve, senior writer
Pirate Ship is a website that helps you pay as little as possible when shipping via USPS. Enter the size and weight of the package, as well as its origin and destination, Pirate Ship will compare USPS shipping rates and provide you with all options. Unlike USPS.com, Pirate Ship offers discounted commercial prices, otherwise it can only be obtained through eBay and other commercial suppliers. It is free and easy to use. Whether your goal is the lowest price or the fastest delivery, it can easily handle large and small packages.
Between the products I tested, the products I sent for photographs, the online orders I placed, and the closet cleaning eBay sales of personal items I was about to give up, I usually have six packages (give or receive) that come to me on any given day Or go out. My personality does not allow them to appear without warning, which is why I use our favorite package tracking app Parcel on iPhone and Mac. There is not much bells and whistles: the packages just let me insert the tracking numbers of the in and out packages (manually, forward via email, or use the built-in barcode scanner), and it will tell me where they are and when they will arrive. It is easier to use than most similar applications, updates faster, and can be synchronized between Apple devices. The annual subscription fee is lower than the price of the Big Mac.
——Nick Gay, senior writer
If you are transporting for entertainment rather than business, it will be fun to modify outgoing letters and packages with some simulation equipment. After months of consistent written exams (and years of living in one place), I splurge and purchase a custom return address stamp. Although many of these stamp products seem to be aimed at people about to get married, by using some selective keywords, you can find stamps in various styles and sizes on Etsy and elsewhere. Stamping my address is fun and quick, instead of trying to find a waterproof mark or messing up the freebie address sticker when the organization collects donations. If you want to go further, the wax seal set is a very affordable way to add interest to your letters. Etsy, Amazon, and AliExpress all have many options, including pre-made and customized ones. Sealing the envelope with wax will add some solemnity and style. But remember, you need to cancel it manually at the post office, or at least add the extra 20 cents of postage required for non-processable mail.
I like office supplies, but for some reason, I think having to buy padded envelopes is a personal failure. Whenever I receive a padded mail, I try to remove it without damaging the envelope. This means opening it at the end, even if it is one of the kraft paper envelopes with a convenient pull tab on the side. Then I added the empty envelopes to the stack in my office supplies closet. (See? I really like them.) When I need to mail something, I will find the right-sized envelope, insert the thing I want to send, fold it on top of the envelope, and then staple it with a stapler ( Each staple) is about inches). Next, I stretched a piece of scotch tape on the staples (front and back) to prevent them from scratching anyone handling the package. Then I used Fat Sharp to erase all old addresses or barcodes on the mail. The last step: I write down the address where I want to send the mail and my return address on a clean note paper, and then paste the paper on the front of the mail. If I am really ambitious, I will cover the entire paper with transparent packaging tape to protect it.
Nick Guy is a senior writer at Wirecutter, responsible for Apple and accessories. Since 2011, he has been reviewing iPhone, iPad and related technologies, and stopped counting after testing his 1000th case. It is impossible for him not to mentally classify any cases he sees. He once had a good idea to build and burn down a room to test a fire safe.
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