Shipping with packaging tape, large bubble wrap, and foam board insulation

It has happened. You have to mail a package. Maybe you need to send a gift for a wedding. Maybe you need to return some clothes that someone left your house. Maybe your mother asked you to mail a quilt to aunt Emma. It doesn't matter what it is.  You have to mail a package. It is easier today to send a package today than it has ever been.  The old days of struggling to find a box, wrapping the glass vase in an sheet and praying it arrives in one piece, finding string to go around the box,  making the knots tight and dragging the box all the way to the Post Office are gone.

Boxing it up.

First, you have to find a box for the item. You want a box that is larger than the item you are going to ship. Of course the item is probably an unusual shape. That just means you are going to have to put more packing. You measure the item and find a box that is larger than the item. If you do not have a box that will work, you just buy an empty box.  Today you can buy boxes in many stores.  These boxes come in many sizes and are very sturdy.  You fit the item in the box to make sure it will fit.

Once the item is in the box you have to put something around it to protect it from being damaged during shipment.  The old stories about the workers playing football with the boxes at shipping places are probably just stories, but do not take any chances.  If the item is sturdy and cannot be easily damaged like a book, you can use foam board insulation to protect it. If the item is a something like a ceramic vase, you will wrap the vase in large bubble wrap to keep it safe during shipping.  You will pack as much of this around the vase as you can.

After the item is securely wrapped and placed in the box, you take your packing tape and tape the box flaps down. This packing tape comes in different sizes and strengths.  You go around the box in both directions with the packing tape. This secures the flaps from popping opened or from accidentally being ripped open. With these modern conveniences today securing a package to be shipped is easy.

Once you have packed up the box and wrapped it with the tape, all you need to do is address the package and ship it. You can take the package to the US Post Office, Fed Ex, UPS or any store that accepts packages. Insurance on the item inside is available.  You can insure it for the full value.  If the item arrives broken, the person you mailed it to will get the money instead.

With today's modern conveniences shipping a package is a lot easier than it used to be. You can box it, wrap it, and send it on its way in just 10 minutes or so.