Cheapest way to pack/ship license plate topper?

DangerRuss

DangerRuss

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Hi all. My folks made these aluminum license plate toppers at the foundry for years, and I’ve had some interest, so I’m going to start making them again. See the pic below. (We have them for multiple cities, and I’ll list them on CFF once I get them back in production)
My folks never shipped them - they had a customer who bought them to sell at flea markets, and he’d pick them up in person. I’d need to be able to ship them to folks who want them.
I know I could ship multiples in a box, no problem.
But what would be the cheapest way to ship 1 or 2 of them, which is likely what most people would order? I don’t want them to get bent. But I want to keep it cheap for buyers.
Who has experience shipping something like this? I don’t want to learn it by trial and error arriving damaged to customers. :)
Can I just put them in a flat cardboard envelope?
Do I need to add reinforcement like a sheet of cardboard on each side?
Thanks!
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I think I’d search for someone to make me a piece of styrofoam with a depression routed into one face. Then I’d sandwich the object between the foam and a piece of cardboard and tape it together.
 
thecarman said:
Hi all. My folks made these aluminum license plate toppers at the foundry for years, and I’ve had some interest, so I’m going to start making them again. See the pic below. (We have them for multiple cities, and I’ll list them on CFF once I get them back in production)
My folks never shipped them - they had a customer who bought them to sell at flea markets, and he’d pick them up in person. I’d need to be able to ship them to folks who want them.
I know I could ship multiples in a box, no problem.
But what would be the cheapest way to ship 1 or 2 of them, which is likely what most people would order? I don’t want them to get bent. But I want to keep it cheap for buyers.
Who has experience shipping something like this? I don’t want to learn it by trial and error arriving damaged to customers. :)
Can I just put them in a flat cardboard envelope?
Do I need to add reinforcement like a sheet of cardboard on each side?
Thanks!
View attachment 156438
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What's the weight of each unit? The destination will play a part as well. UPS or fedex are likely not going to be the cheapest. I would look at USPS regional rate or even priority flat rate. Of course how many units you want to fit will apply. Regional rate will depend on the destination as well.
 
Depending on length, USPS flat rate. People are gonna say “don’t do it, post office sucks”

I’ve shipped stuff flat rate all over the country and to Puerto Rico and never had an issue.
Flat rate box and some bubble wrap. Look on USPS website for box varieties. The dimensions will be noted, and they’ll bring you a bundle of boxes for free
 
Sandwich it between two pieces of cardboard and use the shirt size Priority Mail box.

O_1095-L0.jpg
 
Thanks all! I’ll let you know what I end up doing
 
Any WS ones?

Also, I think I bought the last two, but have any more of the brass tobacco leaf trays?
 
HMP said:
Any WS ones?

Also, I think I bought the last two, but have any more of the brass tobacco leaf trays?
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We might have a pattern a for Winston Salem topper - I’ll look this weekend. I’ll try to get pics of all the locations/styles we have.

I’ll also look for the tobacco leaf trays - if we don’t have any already made, I’ll get pics and pricing for the patterns we have that I could run in brass, aluminum, or white bronze (silver). I think we have at least 2 different styles.
 
@HMP - we have these 3 Winston patterns. None of them made yet, but could run them. $20 for each of the 2 normal size, and $35 for the giant one. I put a regular size topper on top of the giant one to show the comparison.
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HMP said:
Also, I think I bought the last two, but have any more of the brass tobacco leaf trays?
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@HMP we have 4 of the brass tobacco leaves made. These are $15 each in brass or white bronze (silver). (The last ones I sold were cheaper because they were zinc ones that had been plated, not ones we casted). In this pic, 2 of them are dusty.
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I want one
It'll take the place of the plated one I already have lol
Hmmm or should I get two?... ha
 
HMP said:
I want one
It'll take the place of the plated one I already have lol
Hmmm or should I get two?... ha
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I’ll be at the foundry all weekend this coming weekend. Or I can meet you somewhere Around, or another weekend.
These have been sitting in storage for a while, so they have this darker aged color. I can clean them to where they are bright gold. But some people like the darker color. I’ll send you a picture next weekend of a part that is shiny and one that is this darker color.
 
ripv2 said:
I'll take a brass leaf as well. When are you in Kernersville?
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I will set one aside for you. I am there most weekends, just not today. Shoot me a PM and we can figure out whether you’d like to come by, or if you are on my way to or from the foundry, I could meet you somewhere.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Is shipping out of the question?? I'd take the 2 that are left if I could get them here. Anybody around there coming here on the 19th??
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You got it. I can ship if no one can bring to you. When I post a pic next weekend of shiny vs aged color, let me know how you’d like them. Thanks!
[edit] @Jeppo we can coordinate getting them to you [/edit]
 
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ronn47 said:
I'd like to get 4 of the brass leafs from you for Christmas presents.
So time is not an issue just yet :)
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Thanks! That should not be a problem. I will pour them the next time we are running some brass parts, and then tumble them. Will keep you updated.
 
I have learned from recent experience that USPS Priority flat rate is the way to go.
But.
You must protect the contents from impact injury. <- This is mandatory.
 
Inglis said:
Can you make belt buckles, brass ones?

CSA, US, or others?
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Yes. I will find the patterns for them this weekend and post some pictures.
I know we have both US and CSA, and may have some different styles of them. And probably some other patterns too.
My parents made them in the past, but I have not cast them since I’ve been running the place.
I may have one or two already made - just need to look. I sold two CSA ones on here a year or so ago.
 
thecarman said:
Yes. I will find the patterns for them this weekend and post some pictures.
I know we have both US and CSA, and may have some different styles of them. And probably some other patterns too.
My parents made them in the past, but I have not cast them since I’ve been running the place.
I may have one or two already made - just need to look. I sold two CSA ones on here a year or so ago.
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I have one of your CSA buckles and I like it a lot.
 
Dude! Want that wilkes plate! How much they selling em for?

Should I could prolly use 2 or 3..
 
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Jabroni said:
Dude! Want that wilkes plate! How much they selling em for?

Should I could prolly use 2 or 3..
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Hey! They are $20 each plus actual shipping cost. I *do* have some of these in stock. Shoot me a PM. Thanks!
 
@HMP @ripv2 @BatteryOaksBilly here is the “aged“ tarnished color of the tobacco leaves versus what they will look like if I clean them off. hopefully the picture shows how much different the kneeling child and the small USMC eagle globe anchor look because the tarnish has been cleaned off of them. They are way shinier, and a bright gold color, rather than the deep gold look it gets when it is a little tarnished.
Just let me know if you want yours left aged, or cleaned off to be bright.
Thanks!
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