Reduce, reuse, re... ship?

[theeagle82]

Not sure if this is just me, but how many of use reuse the materials we've had shipped to us?

I have boxes in my basement of packing peanuts, bubblewrap, clamshell packs, and boxes. Yes, boxes of boxes. While i generally use USPS flat rate shipping boxes, sometimes for small lots i'll use a small box and first class.

So, how many of use reuse stuff to ship? Anyone ever returned an item in the box we got from that person? How many of us actually buy new packing materials?

Just curious if we're environmentally friendly cheap gamers

~Allen

[gpfredette]

Good day,

I work for a very enviro-friendly comnapy and they have drilled recycling into us and encourge us to do so at home.

I have done exactly the things you talked about. I save almost every box we get, all the packing materials and reuse them whenever I can, heck I've even used the plucked foam from my army transport cases as packing material.

I can attest that Porkuslime and I had a few trades early in my career where we sent the same box back and forth about 3 or 4 times to each other.

Thank you,

[kturock]

I've had a wall of boxes & packing material in the house for years.
I get bubble wrap from work and sometimes the air filled bags. I have boxes of varying sizes. I only use flat rate, when the item weighs over 3-5 pounds. ANythinglighter, regular priority mail or 1st class is cheaper.

[porkuslime]

In addition to gpfreddette and myself doing the exchange program, I KNOW I have gotten a box from TheRhino who was sent it by someone else here on the site..

I think everybody does this to some degree. I know I keep an eye out for interesting small boxes at work, just on the offchance I can mail in them..

[WyvernEye]

Definately the way to go. I have a standing order with my wife and her sister to give me any small boxes or packing materials they get also. I do have to get some flat rate boxes, but not that many.

Those darn plastic sprues kill me though. I think theres some company in Europe they can be sent to, and I thought I heard someone talk of remelting them down. If I could figure that out it would be sweet as I do have molds I could use them in!

J

[Norseman]

Whole shelf in my garage that is dedicated to shipping boxes for Btown, c/w packing materials. Also I have a standing order with our shipping/ receiving dpt at work to give me all the small bubble wrap they get. I currently have about 5 rolls of bubble wrap behind my desk at work.

I find it interesting getting boxes that have been used before and recognizing names from previous trades. I also once received a box back from a trade that I did not send them but I had sent someone else that they had traded with. I use boxes from work sometimes so certain boxes i sent will stand out.

[Imaginos]

I typically reuse packaging materials and boxes, though if there is any damage to the box, I won't reuse it. Even a small hole puts it out of reuse for me and into the recycle bin.

But on the flip side, I keep an eye out and will pick up packaging material on sale too. I've got a few rolls of bubble wrap at home, and a few shipping boxes.

[MagickalMemories]

I think you'll find that anyone with a rating of about 20+, who's actively trading, does this. I've done it since the beginning.
I've definitely sent and received boxes that have been used in other trades before. Never received one of my own, back, though. LOL
Like others, I reuse my pluck-foam. On top of that, every Battlefoam tray I've ordered has been sent with a request that they include the cut outs wherever possible. So, I've got BOXES of Battlefoam cut outs that I use, as well. Jim's received some of those recently, in fact.
My family also has the "save shipping materials" requirement. I've almost totally managed to cure the women in my house of their need to pop bubble-wrap bubbles by freaking out whenever they do; "Do you know how valuable that stuff is? I need that! I have to re-use that!" LOL On rare occasion that I get a tiny little piece that I can't reuse and give it to one of my daughters, she practically squeals now. LOL

I've got boxes full of:
Foam peanuts
Foam pluck
BF foam pieces
bubble wrap
Walmart bags (they're good for keeping things together)
Boxes

I also have ziploc bags full of smaller ziploc bags.

Eric

[tordeck]

Ive just found recently that (once cleaned) the Gerber baby food that comes in a two pack of small plastic containers helps in keeping things easy to ship.

[aurak_merc]

I reuse shipping stuff as long as it is still in decent shape. I have received a few boxes that were barely held together with a mountain of tape, and opened boxes that were full of packing peanuts that smelled of cigarette smoke and cat pee. I don't reuse those.

[MagickalMemories]

and opened boxes that were full of packing peanuts that smelled of cigarette smoke and cat pee. I don't reuse those.

I've had the cigarette smoke issue before. As a non-smoker who's got smoke allergies, that always annoys me, and I never hesitate to tell my trade partner how little I appreciate it.

Also... Pubes. WTF? Really? Why am I getting your short & curlies in my trade?
Maybe it's chest or armpit hair.
Fine. So what? Don't care. Keep your strands off of my stuff! LOL

Eric

[Imaginos]

One trick to help reduce the smell of smoke is to toss a dryer sheet in the package for a few days. Allergies here too.

[oaflord]

Also... Pubes. WTF? Really? Why am I getting your short & curlies in my trade?
Maybe it's chest or armpit hair.
Fine. So what? Don't care. Keep your strands off of my stuff! LOL

Eric

I can imagine this happens when people use their bed as a packaging station. Gross, but probably accurate.

oAF

[tordeck]

Anyone that gets a package from me that contains hair I apologize. I have two huskies that shed like none other and I do my best to keep their hair out of things but every once in awhile it might slip through.

[kturock]

2 dogs.. bah. we have 8 cats... there always is hair/fur everywhere, in everything.