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Shipping cookies, I am not happy with USPS

post #1 of 18
6/16/09 at 7:03am
Thread Starter 
I am not happy anymore with USPS service to ship my cookies. Lately I have bad reviews with shipments. I pack my cookies carefully, each is wrapped in bubble wrap, padding all over, "Fragile" all over the box, and they still got broken. I am curious, which carrier are you using to ship cookies? Or are they all the same?
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post #2 of 18
6/16/09 at 8:44am
I prefer to use UPS and only use USPS when UPS would cost too much. I haven't had breakage though with either, but feel better with UPS. Like you, I wrap each one in bubble wrap, going around twice in the front. I then place these stacked on their sides on top of peanuts on the bottom, bubble wrap above. On top of the cookies (which have more bubble wrap in the front of the stack and at the back) I do a layer of bubble and peanuts. Same for the sides. Were you placing them on their sides? Maybe that is the trick.

I used to put one box inside of another with a layer of peanuts surrounding, but have found that wasn't needed. I print out a label that says "FRAGILE - TOP LOAD ONLY" for the UPS boxes. As for whether or not they read it, I do not know, but I feel I have a better chance with UPS reading it than USPS (I give the UPS guys cookies when I bring a box it icon_lol.gif ). The first time I droppped a box off at USPS, I told them they were fragile and watched them put the box on a chute and saw it drop down into a bin. Thunk.

For cookies that have a fragile shape (wine bottle, electric guitars), I place a piece of cakeboard in the cello bag to protect the fragile area. If you do this, just put a piece of parchment paper in between the cookie and the cakeboard to prevent butter staining.

So sorry you have had breakage! icon_sad.gif I don't ship a lot, but of the two, I prefer UPS.
"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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post #3 of 18
6/16/09 at 8:53am
Thanks for the tip TracyLH. I haven't shipped any orders yet because of breakage but would love to expand my area and start shipping. Can I ask how much you charge for shipping?
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http://cookiesmadewithlove.blogspot.com/
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post #4 of 18
6/16/09 at 9:30am
I used UPS once to ship my cookies and a couple of them broke. It doesnt matter if you write "FRAGILE" in all CAPS or what ever....they still get treated the same. I wont ship cookies anymore.
I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.
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I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.
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post #5 of 18
6/16/09 at 11:10am
I have used both with not much breakage (I'll try the tip of putting them on their side) but have found USPS to be cheaper than UPS.
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post #6 of 18
6/16/09 at 11:40am
Thread Starter 
I just ship cookies today, again with USPS, box in the box, and will see...
Thank you for your opinions.
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post #7 of 18
6/17/09 at 6:09am
Zlatka - I charge the actual shipping cost, but if I start shipping more, I am questioning charging for packing supplies. Bubble wrap adds up. I have been lucky thus far, but if I do start shipping more, I plan to include a couple of extra in case of breakage. I know that UPS has some sort of coverage in case of breakage (you can file a claim perhaps?), but I don't know anything about it at this point.

I hope they make it there safely!
"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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post #8 of 18
6/17/09 at 7:25am
ZlatkaT...yesterday the EXACT SAME THING happened to me! icon_sad.gif I sent three cookie "samples" to someone on the east coast, and used USPS. What a BAD decision! Each cookie was about 5 inches across and individually bubble wrapped almost exactly the way Tracy described hers.
These were inside a box with TONS of bubble wrap. I was told that two of the three arrived broken! icon_cry.gif I sent SIXTY cookies to my daughter's sorority this past Spring and used UPS and not ONE COOKIE BROKE! Go figure. (and those were not even individually bubble wrapped) I'm going to send cookies UPS from now on.

Let us know how your next package of cookies arrive.
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post #9 of 18
6/19/09 at 10:13am
Oh! icon_cry.gif I am sorry to hear that Joanne! I just sent two boxes off yesteday - one via USPS with hopes it will get to CT in time for Father's Day and the other UPS for Monday delivery. I packaged the one via UPS a bit differently than normal and am sweating it out. I wanted the cookies to be viewed horizontally in layers, easily seen as they opened the box and went down through the layers. I put bubble wrap in between each layer, so I may have walked a thin line. I also put peanuts on the bottom and top of the cookie gift box with a piece of cardboard underneath the gift box. (Knock on wood on this one).
"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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post #10 of 18
6/19/09 at 2:16pm
so sorry to hear about the unfortunate breakage! I always ship USPS and rarely have a break. Although, I send in samples to the post office every once in a while, too...
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post #11 of 18
6/20/09 at 8:32am
I have read where people that ship cookies professionally will layer them in single layers on cardboard cake circles with plastic wrap over that and another cake circle over that. The cookies are flat with protection over and under them, like a sandwich.

My business is vintage glass and porcelain that I ship all over the world. In 10 years I have only had 2 items arrive broken. I know how to pack fragile items!

The one and only time I shipped cookies via USPS they arrived broken because the box looked like a truck ran over it. How do you pack for that carelessness? icon_sad.gif
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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post #12 of 18
6/20/09 at 8:35am
I have read where people that ship cookies professionally will layer them in single layers on cardboard cake circles with plastic wrap over that and another cake circle over that. The cookies are flat with protection over and under them, like a sandwich.

My business is vintage glass and porcelain that I ship all over the world. In 10 years I have only had 2 items arrive broken. I know how to pack fragile items!

The one and only time I shipped cookies via USPS they arrived broken because the box looked like a truck ran over it. How do you pack for that carelessness? icon_sad.gif
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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post #13 of 18
6/20/09 at 12:12pm
I always use USPS and bubble wrap each cookie separately, place in box with bubble wrap, then place in a USPS box with excess gaps filled with tissue paper. They have always arrived unbroken (with the exception of just a few), but I may send the next batch without the interior box and see how that works since the interior box adds more cost due to the weight. I always bring a couple of cookies to the postal clerk, and she stamps "fragile" & "perishable" all over my packages and gives me boxes for my next use. It is so convenient since it is a small USPS outlet located in the back of a local Hallmark store. For fragile cookies, I have used Tracy's technique of placing cake board in the cellophane bag, and it works very well.
"I'm not a sponge exactly, but I find that something I look at is a great opportunity for ideas." - Martha Stewart
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"I'm not a sponge exactly, but I find that something I look at is a great opportunity for ideas." - Martha Stewart
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post #14 of 18
6/20/09 at 2:19pm
Quote:
Quote:

they arrived broken because the box looked like a truck ran over it.



I kid you not, I actually had our postal carrier hand me one of my boxes I had shipped, all smashed and a mess. She said that she was sorry, but someone at USPS had backed over it. (Luckily, it wasn't cookies.)

So, maybe that is indeed what happened with you! (Sorry, just had to share as I really couldn't believe it when it happened.)
"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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"I think every woman should have a blowtorch." - Julia Child
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post #15 of 18
6/20/09 at 2:30pm
In January I flew to Florida and when I collected my luggage there were large tire tracks right down the middle of the case and my $$$$$$$ vases inside were broken.

How odd considering I took the time to cover the hard-sided, foam filled suitcase with FRAGILE stickers and registered it with the airlines as FRAGILE, which they noted on all of their paperwork with me standing there.

I always pack my fragile items knowing that USPS gives my packages the same careful consideration...
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
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