Materials guide for LEGO selling & shipping

Many members have asked for a centralized place where they can go for shipping box information. I'm going to pin this post and update it as new information is provided. I just want to take a few minutes and thank those who wrote the following articles. They are still very good reference materials for the LEGO storage and shipping process. I may develop this into a blog article eventually.

Fcbarcelona101's : Selling LEGO : Basic Materials Guide
Mos Eisley 's : LEGO Storage Wars

Incompetech's Catalog of Amazon.com Box Sizes - (thanks No More Monkeys)

Amazon Boxes Sorted list by length - courtesy of pstebbing

I've scoured the forums and here is a list of box sizes with basic set information:

Boxes:
24x20x8 : Super Star Destroyer; Death Star, Roller Coaster, UCS Sandcrawler, Assembly Square
24x20x6 : Thicker sets like Town Hall, Tower Bridge
24x16x6 - 60052 Cargo Train, R2-D2, Maersk Line Triple-E, 7939 Cargo Train
24x16x4 - Helm's Deep, Vampyre Castle, Black Pearl, Friends Riding Camp, Parisian Restaurant, High Speed Passenger Train, Jabba's Palace, Downtown Diner
24x20x4 : Grand Emporium, Pet Shop, Imperial Shuttle, Haunted House, Palace Cinema, Fire Brigade
24x14x4 : Dolphin Cruiser, Coast Guard Patrol
24x4x12 - Dolphin Cruiser, Coast Guard Patrol
20x16x4 - Volkswagen Camper Van, Olivia's House, Sonic Raider, Sopwith, Creator Bike Shop, Batcave, Quinjet, Moria & Ambush
20x16x6 : Thicker sets like the Republic Gunship; City Cargo Plane
20x14x4 : Attack on Weathertop, Hulk 's Helicarrier Breakout, X-Wing 9493, Black Gate
16x16x4 : Gungan Sub, Pre Viszla, Tie Fighter
16x10x4 : Council of Elrond, Desert Skiff, City Grand Prix Truck
16x10x6 : Thicker sets like Creator Family House, Hillside House
15x12x4 : Funhouse, Orc Forge, Tumbler Chase, Daily Bugle Showdown, Hulk Lab Smash
12x12x4 : Uruk Hai Army, City Cargo Truck, Creator Treehouse, City Fire Emergency
11-3/4x8-3/4x4-3/4 : Wolverine Chopper, Arctic Batman, Power Armor Lex, Droid Escape, Cloud Cuckoo Palace
12x8x3 - Battle Packs, CA Avenging Cycle, Catwoman, Gandalf Arrives, Holiday sets
10x8x4 : Battle Packs, CA Avenging Cycle, Catwoman, Gandalf Arrives, Holiday sets

Envelopes:
4x8 : Minifigs & small polybags
6x9 : Polybags small & larger
10.5 x 16 : Larger shipments of 3 x polybags or more

Packing Tape : buy in bulk or on sale : you can throw some in during a Staples coupon promotion to get up to free shipping
Walmart.com Duck Brand Packaging Tape
http://www.staples.com/Staples-Standard-Grade-Packaging-Tape-Clear-189-x-110-yds-6-Rolls/product_380107

Retailers:
Uline.com : holiday sale starts first part of November (usually 30% off)
Staples.com : use coupon promotions - $10 off $30, $20 off $75, free shipping over $60
Walmart.com
USPS Priority Mail (free boxes at USPS.com)

 

Michigan Box Company:

Flat Boxes 18"-23" L  (thanks pstebbing)

GBE Packaging (thanks pstebbing)
 

PackingSupplies.com

http://www.packaging...ated_boxes.html     (thanks pstebbing)

 

Bubble Wrap:
3/16" thick x 350' ft x 12" wide - eBay

 

Sams Club

3/16" - 12"x240' $12.98 (In store) ($.05/LF) (thanks pstebbing)

I like to use large and small retailer plastic bags to wrap items in, even after I bubble wrap it.

For battle packs and even small sets, I sometimes use Wal-Mart, Target, or plastic bags from any store. Additional packing isn 't really needed. Usually like 2 bags on bottom, one to wrap the item, and two bags on top. Make sure to cover the corners of the item real nice to provide extra padding.

Rule of thumb : ship & pack all of your items the same way you 'd like to receive items you've purchased.

Shipping Paper:
Collect it when you receive shipments.
http://www.amazon.com/Pratt-Multipurpose-Packaging-KPR30241200R-Length/dp/B00AI652CM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408061459&sr=8-1&keywords=pratt+kraft+paper+1200?

Shipping Labels & Printers:
Dymo 450 & Dymo 400
Brother QL-700

DoNotInsertIntoMouth's : How to setup your label printer for shipping on eBay


Feel free to post a follow-up or point out anything I missed. I 'll update it with what everyone wants added. I hope this is helpful.

Quote

 

I decided I'm going to start boxing some of my higher value small sets before sending them in to amazon fba, had too many crushed returns due to amazon being lazy with mailing them in envelopes. I ordered:

14x8x4

10x8x3

8x6x3

5x4x3

If anyone can think of a common small size I missed please let me know. Also I think the 8x6x3's from amazon are a pretty good deal right now at $8.75 for 25ct, free prime shipping for those who are interested: 

https://www.amazon.com/Partners-Brand-P863-Corrugated-Boxes/dp/B01EN0WC5S/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Partners+Brand+P863+Flat+Corrugated+Boxes%2C+8"L+x+6"W+x+3"H%2C+Kraft+(Pack+of+25)&qid=1566023594&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Edited August 17, 20196 yr by isocleas
Not sure why I was quoting myself

I have to ship a package to Canada.  I have not done this in a long time.  I assume I just go through paypal still.  Do I have to sign anything or print a separate customs form?  Or is the custom form part of the label?

For what it's worth, I went with the Rollo, https://www.amazon.com/ROLLO-Label-Printer-Commercial-Compatible/dp/B01MA3EYC5, and I've been happy with it.  It's compatible with many brands of labels, and even works with Linux. 

I use chromebook for printing (samsung 2020W) labels so WiFi thermal printer [emoji986] way to go? Which one your recommend?


Sent from my iPhone using Brickpicker Forum mobile app

On 8/20/2019 at 6:19 PM, stackables said:

I have to ship a package to Canada.  I have not done this in a long time.  I assume I just go through paypal still.  Do I have to sign anything or print a separate customs form?  Or is the custom form part of the label?

Yes. You can do customs shipping labels through PayPal.

Staples.com has a coupon for $25 off $100 order: 54576

Does anyone else know other coupons for Staples before I place my order?

Pretty good box sale going on at Staples, alot of sizes are 50% off combined with the $20 off of $80 promo code I found enough to stock up on. Free shipping if you spend $50. 

I see only deal on one size 20x12x4


Sent from my iPhone using Brickpicker Forum mobile app

Looks like they made some kind of error and have now corrected it. I placed my order at 10am, got an email at 12:30 saying there was an issue with the coupon and they cancelled it. Now all prices are back to retail. 

1 hour ago, isocleas said:

Looks like they made some kind of error and have now corrected it. I placed my order at 10am, got an email at 12:30 saying there was an issue with the coupon and they cancelled it. Now all prices are back to retail. 

What a load of crap.  They cancelled my order from 9AM without as much as an email

Question:  r u suppose to tip shipping companies that deliver pallets of shipping boxes or are they viewed the same as Fedex/ UPS?

1 hour ago, joch29 said:

Question:  r u suppose to tip shipping companies that deliver pallets of shipping boxes or are they viewed the same as Fedex/ UPS?

I haven't, it wasn't shipping boxes, but that wouldn't change my approach if it was. 

Anyone know of a place to buy wooden or plastic pallets?

3 minutes ago, Jackson said:

Anyone know of a place to buy wooden or plastic pallets?

Lowe's or Home Depot probably sell pallets.

Tractor Supply and Rural King are probably good places too.

Go down to a local trade centre / hardware store / wholesalers and talk nicely to the warehouse supervisor and you can typically get one for free [emoji1360]

19 hours ago, Jackson said:

Anyone know of a place to buy wooden or plastic pallets?

Look on offer up. There are always people trying to get rid of them. I used to break them down for wood for a fire pit.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/11/google-is-killing-google-cloud-print/?amp=1

I have a shipping question.  What would be the best way to ship an old gobot command center.  The toy in box is already 18x14x9 and around 5.5lbs.  Best box size recommendation and shipping service? Any help would be appreciated.

 

I have a shipping question.  What would be the best way to ship an old gobot command center.  The toy in box is already 18x14x9 and around 5.5lbs.  Best box size recommendation and shipping service? Any help would be appreciated.
 

I suggest a box larger than 18x14x9.

Where ever possible I double box this sort of thing. I'd wrap this in a single layer of large bubble, box it, then wrap that in bubble again to fill out the outer box. 

100% damage free shipping. 

13 hours ago, Shortbus311 said:

15 hours ago, stackables said:

I have a shipping question.  What would be the best way to ship an old gobot command center.  The toy in box is already 18x14x9 and around 5.5lbs.  Best box size recommendation and shipping service? Any help would be appreciated.
 

I suggest a box larger than 18x14x9.

I was going to try a smaller box but unfortunately I don't have any pym particles. 

STAPLES $15 Off Your Online Order of $60+

32331

I feel dumb for asking but....

Best way to ship a base plate? I’m thinking in small quantities, like one or two at a time. They’re a smidge bigger than 10”x10”

Padded envelopes

1 hour ago, Alpinemaps said:

I feel dumb for asking but....

Best way to ship a base plate? I’m thinking in small quantities, like one or two at a time. They’re a smidge bigger than 10”x10”

I concur with padded envelope, but maybe throw in a square of stiff cardboard for added protection from bending.

i just shipped a 10x10 plate today..  wrapped it in some scrap cardboard, than padded envelope.  was 8oz