My packages are packed and mailed but I have a burning question.

I opened the boxes of hot chocolate because I could put double into the box. I didn't want any wasted space in my FRB!

Did I do bad by opening the sealed boxes from the company?  I also did it for drink powders. Companies use so much packaging and waste so much space. I know the boxes are designed to make you think you are buying more than you are.

 Either I combined two boxes of stuff into one or I threw away the box and put the creamers, powder, or suger packets into ziplocs.

Advise please.  Thank you.

Anything that's individually wrapped can be taken out of the box. You're good :)

 Deb -  I do the same thing.  I pack more goodies into the empty space,  usually more of the same. 

I also don't send games without filling up all the empty space with surprise snacks that they find after they open up the game.

Lots to learn on the Forum and it sounds like you have a head start with your thinking.   

Always something new to learn!  I always repack boxes like that as well, or things like the hot pots I fill, but never thought about opening up games like the checkers, etc.  From now on I will, hate shipping air!   Anita

I feel better. I was a little worried!

If items aren't labeled for individual retail sale (or can not be bought individually), I leave them in the original packaging.  Items that are packaged to be sold inside the box frequently have flimsy wrappers that can be damaged in packing and shipping.  (For instance, I don't carry oatmeal or drink mixes in my purse anymore.  That was a mess). I don't want any of my contacts to have to make a judgement call on damaged packaging.  I know it's not a popular position but my FRBs still range in weight from 12 to 20lbs even with the air-space.

For non-food items I will often put other things inside the boxes to fill up the space.

What does FRB stand for?

FRB stands for Flat Rate Box.  There are three sizes available and regardless of weight and destination they have a set shipping cost.  The large one is $2 cheaper if sending to a military address.

What do you send that is around 20 lbs? I was excited that my last box was up to 10 lb. (My first couple of boxes were only around 5!!!)

Don't worry.  Your FRBs will get heavier and heavier with practice.  10lbs is a very respectable weight

If you want to get more of your dollars worth out of your FRB, include batteries and/or handwarmers. Batteries should be in original packaging or, if included in an appliance or something, removed and wrapped in plastic so they can not make ground to anything, per USPS regs.  Handwarmers, if not already in a second outer wrapper or box, I try to remember to put in a ziplock bag to reduce risk of the wrapper being torn.

My heaviest packages are generally canned goods or popcorn.  I reinforce boxes with canned goods that are dropped by sling-load because someone (I forget who) reported a package of soups rupturing in transit last year.  Arranging everything to fit without the box bulging is like fitting a puzzle and takes a few tries.  My postal clerks WILL send me back home if the flaps don't meet or the box bulges noticeably.  *Standard* hygiene or snack packages are usually 10 to 13 lbs, mostly depending on how many batteries I squeeze in.  Packages that include special requests are usually lighter than that just because I'm working with unfamiliar shapes.

Aha! Use them all the time, especially with contents over 12 lbs.  Since you have been at his longer than I have, what is your recommendation for packaging with items such as heaters or microwaves that re in the original box with packing.  Do you wrap in brown kraft paper and mail or do you pack in a larger box.  I sent a large heater and packed in another box that ended up having to purchase for $10-the UPS guy would not give me a break on the cost...alos didn't think I needed to rebox but he didn't seem that bright.

diggerdeb:

What do you send that is around 20 lbs? I was excited that my last box was up to 10 lb. (My first couple of boxes were only around 5!!!)

My heaviest FRB box was 19 lb. 7 oz., and it was full of freezer pops for a group of Army mechanics...my non-popsicle boxes are usually between 7 and 12 lbs., depending on what's been requested...Never had a 20 lb. FRB...but did have a 32-lb regular box that cost an arm, a leg, and my firstborn grandson to mail....d'oh!

Lucy:

Do you wrap in brown kraft paper and mail or do you pack in a larger box.

If the original box is heavy-duty and well-insulated (and they generally ARE both) I wrap in brown kraft paper, tape the daylights out of it, and send that way. The main reason I even do that is to conceal the contents of the package...makes it a bit less tempting for someone to grab before it gets to the intended recipient.

About removing food from the original box - I suppose you could call me a nit-picker about the troops receiving questionable items, but if an item has the notation "not labeled for individual retail sale", then I cut off a portion of the box that will identify the item and the ingredients and only package in a single baggie together with that label.  I don't scatter them around in that box or in separate packages.  Call me paranoid, but  we send to a lot of officers, i.e. Chaplains, CSM, etc. and don't want anything thrown out due to not being properly identifiable.  That is from the grandma of an Iraq vet.

Gran

Thanks Gran-that way I can put the contents in a ziploc (to save space) and include the label. This site is sooooooooooo full of good ideas.