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.

Thanks. These information is helpful for a first time poly seller. =)

Any speculation on what the SHIELD Helicarrier will need? 24x20x? (4, 6, or 8 )?  I'm hoping 24x20x6, because I still have a few of those from shipping Tumblers, but based on DS and SSD, would the 8" D box be more probable?

Also, what are the dimensions/weight of UCS Red-5 and ToO?  I apologize if it was in the list and my eyes passed over the obvious.

Edited February 9, 201510 yr by hockeyweasel

not sure about 76042, but you can use the price guide here for other info
http://www.brickpicker.com/bpms/index.cfm

Ahh! Thanks for educating me on how to use this site better! That info was in plain sight and I've been oblivious to it.

"15x12x4 : Funhouse, Orc Forge, Tumbler Chase, Daily Bugle Showdown, Hulk Lab Smash"

 

After buying these boxes and trying to use them during xmas season I realized that 16X12X4 would be infinitely more useful.

If people following a few pages back, yes a full set of 9 mixels fit in a padded flat rate envelope. $5 shipping anywhere in US makes shipping pretty decent and you don't have to worry about a surpirse

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Brickpicker mobile app

Sorry I could not find my original thread, but several members have me advice on shipping that has made a huge difference. I purchased a scale, labels,envelopes, and print straight from ebay (17% discount?!!) and thkngs are soooo much easier now. Able to list more items and do less work.

Still a little gun shy on requesting a USPS pickup but maybe I will give that a go soon as well.

Thanks to all!

Still a little gun shy on requesting a USPS pickup but maybe I will give that a go soon as well.

Don't be, it's super easy and will save you having to PO.  If you thought printing from ebay was great, you'll love not having to make an extra stop to drop off your packages.

Sorry I could not find my original thread, but several members have me advice on shipping that has made a huge difference. I purchased a scale, labels,envelopes, and print straight from ebay (17% discount?!!) and thkngs are soooo much easier now. Able to list more items and do less work.

Still a little gun shy on requesting a USPS pickup but maybe I will give that a go soon as well.

Thanks to all!

I do the pick up all of the time. When you finally start it, you'll be in love with usps

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Brickpicker mobile app

Sorry I could not find my original thread, but several members have me advice on shipping that has made a huge difference. I purchased a scale, labels,envelopes, and print straight from ebay (17% discount?!!) and thkngs are soooo much easier now. Able to list more items and do less work.

Still a little gun shy on requesting a USPS pickup but maybe I will give that a go soon as well.

Thanks to all!

You are it getting any discount. It's eBay being eBay and being shady. Put the same. Item into PayPal ship now or usps and you will get some rare. It's an online discount. Not eBay.

You are it getting any discount. It's eBay being eBay and being shady. Put the same. Item into PayPal ship now or usps and you will get some rare. It's an online discount. Not eBay.

Correct.

Another tid bit of info. The mail goes out the same time whether taken to post office or given to mailman.

Your mailman will take all items. I usually take larger items so mailman doesnt have to wrestle with it. But thats just me.

What size box are you guys using to ship the Creative Towers? If someone buys two from me I can use the Lego cartons, but what about one? Is there a box size that is sold at stores that works good? I don't want something I have to order 25+ of from Staples or something, I only have 6 CTs.

Take one out of the case pack and cut it down to size for the remaining one inside.

Sent from my XT1080 using Brickpicker mobile app

Take one out of the case pack and cut it down to size for the remaining one inside.

Sent from my XT1080 using Brickpicker mobile app

 

OK. Then I still have one with no box.

OK. Then I still have one with no box.

I've used a medium size Lego SAH box. It's the one just barely bigger than the CT.

I've used a medium size Lego SAH box. It's the one just barely bigger than the CT.

 

I'll dig through my stack of lego boxes.

Now that I am using labels OF COURSE I get an order that I need to ship in a 6x6 box. If I still want to print up the shipping label, would it be a bad thing if the tracking code folded over onto the side of the box? Should I got to PO and get a label there instead?

Now that I am using labels OF COURSE I get an order that I need to ship in a 6x6 box. If I still want to print up the shipping label, would it be a bad thing if the tracking code folded over onto the side of the box? Should I got to PO and get a label there instead?

If you are printing the label from eBay then the label  will fit on the box. The blank area/box on the bottom of the label will be the part that folds over the edge.

hope that helps.

If you are printing the label from eBay then the label will fit on the box. The blank area/box on the bottom of the label will be the part that folds over the edge.

hope that helps.

Oh, are you saying that if I enter the box dimensions it will adjust the size of the label? That is great to know! (so far I have just used 000 mailers so no need to adjust size)

Oh, are you saying that if I enter the box dimensions it will adjust the size of the label? That is great to know! (so far I have just used 000 mailers so no need to adjust size)

I cut a bunch of the excess label stuff off when I'm posting them and its larger than the envelope.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Brickpicker mobile app

Oh, are you saying that if I enter the box dimensions it will adjust the size of the label? That is great to know! (so far I have just used 000 mailers so no need to adjust size)

 

I do a combination of things.  In Windows, you can click-on Printer Properties from the select a printer screen and there is a Page Layout tab.  You can resize the label by percentage depending on how large the envelope is.  I shrink them down to 75%-80% for small 4x6 mailers.  I usually don't print anything larger than 90% and it makes for a nice compact label when you trim it.

Oh, are you saying that if I enter the box dimensions it will adjust the size of the label? That is great to know! (so far I have just used 000 mailers so no need to adjust size)

No.

I print my labels on 1/2 sheets. Then I trim off excess paper (around label) to the label border. This remaining label will fit on your box.

Sounds good. I will give it a shot at lunchtime. Thanks for your input!

Question about long term storage.  Do most investors put the lego boxes inside shipping boxes and tape them up for long term storage?  I've seen the pictures in the storage room thread, and it looks like many people don't.  Instead they just line up the boxes on a shelf.  But what about dust?  What about accidental dings, scuffs and damage to the lego boxes?   Wouldn't it be safer to box them all up so they're ready for shipping?  Is there any concern about storing them in shipping boxes like are there any smells (what does kraft wrapping paper smell like after 3 years in a box) or spiders that can sneak in through the tiny holes in the corners?

Question about long term storage. Do most investors put the lego boxes inside shipping boxes and tape them up for long term storage? I've seen the pictures in the storage room thread, and it looks like many people don't. Instead they just line up the boxes on a shelf. But what about dust? What about accidental dings, scuffs and damage to the lego boxes? Wouldn't it be safer to box them all up so they're ready for shipping? Is there any concern about storing them in shipping boxes like are there any smells (what does kraft wrapping paper smell like after 3 years in a box) or spiders that can sneak in through the tiny holes in the corners?

Boxing up takes up space.

Dust or dings do not concern me and shouldn't for you either. Makes no difference on resell value.

I often sell items in pairs, especially friends and city sets. Impossible to box up beforehand.

What if a customer buys more then one item.

All depends on your business model and how you do things.