Packaging for UPS

[MSMD]

I am planning on ordering my packaging materials from Superior Enterprise. I just have a few questions I wonder if those of you who are experienced with shipping could give me some advice:

What size deli cups do you generally use??

I was thinking the 4.5" 8oz. cups for the little leos (15-35 gram rangish) and the 6.75" 18oz. cups for the sub adults and adults. Is this appropriate??

What size boxes do you use??

Do you have a variety of sizes on hand at all times? I am thinking the 7x7x6 and the 9x12x6, depending on what size cups I end up using.

What thickness of insulation do you order for the boxes??

Not sure whether the 1/2" or 3/4".....what do most of you use??

Also, are the 40 hr. heat packs enough?? I am thinking that even if there is a delay with overnight shipping, these should last almost 2 days, just in case....

Thanks so much for looking and for your time and thoughts!!

 

[fallen_angel]

Well I have yet to ship anything, but I have ordered all of our supplies from Superior Enterprise, and so I can tell you that the 6.75" deli cup is HUGE, probably only truly needed for a Giant leo. Although for some really big adult leos, you may want a few (you can always add extra paper towel to hold the gecko in place). I actually have a pic that I did for our website to show people how geckos are shipped. The gecko in the pic is our Mack Snow male that weights nearly 120 grams, so that gives you an idea of how BIG the 6.75" deli cups are!

I got a bunch of the 4.5" 8 oz. ones for most geckos (young to juvie and some adults) and the 6.75" for big adults.. Based on geckos that have been shipped to me, I know that some people use the 12 oz. 4.5" cups for juvies/small adults.

I did exactly what you mentioned about the boxes, got mostly the 7x7x6 for single gecko orders and some 9x12x6 for multiple gecko orders. Both size boxes are the $50 flat rate and any bigger costs more (I believe).

I got 3/4" insulation on the bigger boxes and 1/2" on the smaller ones. I was afraid 3/4" on the smaller boxes wouldn't leave me enough room for a heat pack and the deli cup, and figured 1/2" wasn't thick enough for the bigger boxes.

and I didn't get any heat packs because I assumed we'd be selling in the summer time (I bought a bunch of cold packs) so I still need to buy some..

Hope this helps!

 

[goReptiles]

I keep the 4.5" 8 oz and the 4.5" 16 oz cups. I use the smaller cups for younger geckos and the 16 oz for larger geckos. I've received a few geckos with the 6.75" diameter and they really are huge.

I'd purchase a few small heat packs for the smaller boxes. The regular size heat packs would probably overheat the small boxes. I'm not sure where to get them though. I have recieved a few in the mail with geckos, so I know they're available somewhere.

 

[MSMD]

Thanks, Jess and Whitney. That really does help me out a lot! Thanks for the pic, Jess! That really helps put it in perspective!! :main_yes:

 

[fallen_angel]

Yeah, I didn't expect the 6.75" cups to be so huge!! I don't know why, I mean, they are as big as the name suggests :main_rolleyes:

On my page I even say "this gecko was not shipped, just posing for the purpose of the picture" because I didn't want anyone to think that I was actually shipping geckos in those huge containers and letting them get knocked around everywhere! Since I'm already stuck with a bunch of them, I have been using them to keep mealworms in and stuff like that.

I like Whitney's idea of getting the 16 oz. 4.5" cups for bigger leos.

and you're very welcome Mari :heart: