is it safe to ship mantises in flat rate box??

[agent A]

hey all, 6 peeps want mantises from me to be shipped on wednesday, but i only have 5 regular boxes

but i do have some small flat rate boxes, they r like 1.5 inches tall by 8 inches long by like 4 inches wide

if i only have to send out like 3 mantises and they can fit in it, is it safe to send them out in it??

thanx

 

[Paradoxica]

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe if you reinforce the inside a little and put them in a few smaller cups inside? pack the rest with news paper?

Just a thought...

 

[patrickfraser]

Flat rate boxes to ship a few mantids is usually more expensive than paying regular priority by weight. Priority flat rate is good to send heavy items. I have repackaged flat rate boxes into regular boxes at the post office due top the price difference. Mantids weigh next to nothing for calculating shipping cost.

 

[agent A]

Flat rate boxes to ship a few mantids is usually more expensive than paying regular priority by weight. Priority flat rate is good to send heavy items. I have repackaged flat rate boxes into regular boxes at the post office due top the price difference. Mantids weigh next to nothing for calculating shipping cost.

can't i use a flat rate box but ship it based on weight? shippin a flat rate box is a few dollars, not a huge deal

i ordered free boxes today from them but they said it could take up to a week

 

[jrh3]

ihave never shipped small flat rate because there is not enough room to pad them from being thrown around i use medium flat rate.

 

[agent A]

ihave never shipped small flat rate because there is not enough room to pad them from being thrown around i use medium flat rate.

ok, i only have 5 good boxes and 7 peeps want mantises from me

looks like 2 peeps will have to wait...

dont worry i will send u your mantises wednesday but the 2 peeps who want express shippin will need to wait until i get my dual purpose priority/express boxes next week

 

[jrh3]

I have been waiting 5 days on my boxes from usps, i hope they come soon.

 

[agent A]

I have been waiting 5 days on my boxes from usps, i hope they come soon.

well that's promising

and i live like 2 miles from those bozos

 

[Rick]

Are you concerned about the size of the box or the shipping method? If flat rate can get there in minimal time and the box is large enough I don't see the problem. I don't use flat rate because I always figured it was cheaper to use priority.

 

[agent A]

Are you concerned about the size of the box or the shipping method? If flat rate can get there in minimal time and the box is large enough I don't see the problem. I don't use flat rate because I always figured it was cheaper to use priority.

concerned abt the size

it's one of those boxes u would get fly pupae in if that's all u ordered from mantisplace

 

[angelofdeathzz]

The small $5 flat rate boxes are fine for shipping L2-3 mantis(I put them in 2-3oz solo cups with paper towel on the lid) as long as they're not a rare expensive species if so go with the medium flat rate or reuse a box of your choice, I tend to save a good box that I could reuse for shipping. When someone sends you something in a good box save it and re-ship in it(they can be used more than once).

I just go to the PO and grab as many boxes as I want, you can take ten of each size if needed, they're FREE...

You can also cut one side turn them inside out and make your own box that may ship cheaper.

 

[hibiscusmile]

yes, u can pick them up at post office, but warn you, the small boxes like that, get thrown in the bins as they are throwable with one hand, so expect them to be dead, not positive, but I have seen their methods and small flat rate box is 5.15 now, they upped the price

 

[massaman]

I used to use small boxes and turn them inside out and ship that way so I could put the addresses on the cardboard side and have used boxes of different sizes from cereal boxes to small boxes used for other items and still do this on occasion in case I run out of boxes that I use that had mantids sent to me inside!

 

[Rick]

I think all shipping methods have various sized boxes. If the container you plan to ship them in fits with some extra space then it should be fine.

 

[patrickfraser]

I love the cube boxes.

This box with mantid and packing costs about the same as the small flat rate, which is about half the size.

 

[agent A]

I love the cube boxes.

This box with mantid and packing costs about the same as the small flat rate, which is about half the size.

i have 4 of those and 1 slightly larger