HOW TO PACK AND SHIP VINYL RECORDS using Common WalMart Boxes / Build Your Own Boxes! / Nov 2021

I've made another video on how to pack and ship a vinyl records based on the new economy small boxes (17"x11"x13") currently being offered at WalMart. I use these boxes because they are (usually) readily available and also because of the cardboard quality. My previous videos showcased WalMart's 14x14x12 boxes and before that their 14x14x14 cube boxes. Neither of these sizes are available any longer. The new size box creates an interesting problem that I attempt to address here in the video. Inflation is making it hard to keep up! Hope this is helpful for anyone out there having to ship vinyl records. Thanks for watching!

[@Thecoingarage]

Just what I was looking for. Somebody to ship an album from scratch. Good show👍

[@MusicBoxVinyl]

This is the video I’m looking for. Your video is short and gets to the point. Thanks..

[@miamiwax5504]

here is a tip u can cut your boxes in bulk with a circular saw. It's a lot quicker.

[@counterprosdfw1931]

Genius thank you!

[@DWMBAM152]

very efficient set up, you really do a great job packing....

[@MikeJackVideo]

Thanks! Its been an evolutionary process ;)

[@DetroitStars]

Good demonstration! I've been using bulk cardboard to make my own shipping boxes for books for over 20 years. We have a local packaging supply company, Pantero, which delivers locally for free. I use their 20x20x20 and 22x22x22 boxes to make my own boxes. It comes out to about 25 cents to 35 cents per mailing box. I've been using the Bags Unlimited Mighty Music Mailers for shipping records because of their excellent protection, but they're getting expensive. I might try your method on the less valuable records I ship out.

[@MikeJackVideo]

Its becoming much harder to pack records with the WalMart boxes these days since they keep cutting the size down. The 13x17x11 boxes still work but have increased in price so the boxes you can get from the nearby packing company sounds like a great deal. You are lucky to have that resource!

[@Chispa6666]

Thank you for this and your other videos. They have been a godsend. I'm doing album mailing for my son's new album (very low tech -analog-home biz here right now. when your mother is the "distributor" !!!!! haha! But he's out of the country and I got stuck with holiday orders. So I watched a bunch of how-to's and yours were the best.() I ordered the tape dispenser from walmart though and I put some "shipping' tape on the large side. I don't know if it's the tape or the teeth on the dispenser, but I end up having to hold it down with one hand and rip it and it isn't working out at all. Been cussing A LOT!!! When I finish , they can have their dull bladed thang) back. Your whole set up looks cool and everything works! Anyway thanks from "the mailroom" of this mom.

[@MikeJackVideo]

Excellent to hear my videos help a bit. My only complaint these days really is the lack of 14x14x14 boxes to buy at WalMart - they then cut the sizes to 14x14x12.... and now to 11x13x17. The last size is hard to deal with because its impossible to fully wrap the cardboard completely around the record. Still, there's tons of free cardboard out there to use to make great boxes with this method. Glad it helped you! Thanks for the comment ;)

[@Chispa6666]

@@MikeJackVideo I figured a work around to this. I only do the FIRST cut and make a gusset to do the first wrap. Now I still have 3 sides of the box still connected. Turn the LONG WAY and now you can cut a long piece that wraps all the way around. Try it and see if it works for you. Good luck. Oh, and you can get FREE brand new boxes from Walmart if you order them delivered. Then report they arrived late and you'd like to send them back ON THEIR DIME. Too much trouble for them. They'll tell you to just keep the boxes. No charge. Yeah, I have more boxes thanI need also got 'free' packing tape that way. I only hope it's Walmart losing out and not the supplier.

[@kathleenlabella8252]

@@Chispa6666 Getting boxes from Wall-Mart delivered to you, then saying they did not arrive, is rather dishonest. Do we really need more of that in this world?

[@Chispa6666]

@@kathleenlabella8252 Walmart is a huge exploiter of people and you need to put your energy to educating your honest self and not worry about poor little Walmart missing some cardboard

[@kathleenlabella8252]

@@Chispa6666 So is Amazon. They want to rule the world. Do you shop with them online or at Whole Foods? I don't. Jeff Bezos is not my master. Honesty is the high road and the path my "honest self" takes.

[@danielfiore8865]

Boxes went way the Fook UP in price June 2023

[@MikeJackVideo]

Yeah, $1.00 each for the 'small' 17"x11"x13" boxes at our local WulMurt here in NC... not sure if prices vary elsewhere. Still can find those generic record mailers on eBay for like 60 cents a piece if you buy 100 at a time though...

[@marniewilliams6485]

Do you always tape over the barcode? I had a package returned because i put tape on the barcode. Great video. TY!

[@MikeJackVideo]

I tape all my shipping labels with 2" wide clear tape... I use the DUCK brand you can find in WalMart for $12 or so for a 4 pack I believe - its not the Scotch brand or the 'strong tape' but the standard clear packaging tape. The 'tack' or stick of the tape is great and works well. Haven't had a problem with the problem you've encountered though I do remember 8-10 years ago something like that happening once. But its never been a problem per se. Best thing to do also is take your orders to the post office and have the clerks scan them in front of you incase there's some issue... also that insures the package is scanned as soon as possible. Once orders get scanned into the USPS system, a delivery confirmation number with the order will be posted. Since you've printed your shipping label and sent that number to your customer, they'll be notified immediately... this eliminates 'where is my order' questions but more importantly helps promote your items' visibility on the marketplace. I'm not exactly sure how this works but it does. Often, once I get all my orders processed - all shipping labels printed - I'll get another order immediately after. Of course, this depends on the demand of what one sells, but generally, I've found this to be true. Hope all this helps ;)

[@marniewilliams6485]

@MikeJackVideo I did not know about increasing visibility after an order is placed, but I did sell another obscure album after the first was shipped. Good to know!

[@davidrule1335]

Large Pizza Hut box.

[@MikeJackVideo]

that will work too ;) but you'll have to use plenty of padding since the record will be loose inside that box with all the extra space.

[@marcmarc1967]

The problem with this, is the person receiving the record will need a chainsaw and a blow-torch to open the package. Seriously, they'll have to surgically cut and dig with a knife and/or scissors for 10 minutes to get the record out, and risk damaging the item. Sellers never seem to consider this when they pack things.

[@MikeJackVideo]

Not at all, its easy to open just by setting a razor knife very shallow or anything sharp that can split the tape. Just cut carefully along the edges and the box will unfold easily. The inner box isn't taped so it just pops out. I've received nothing but praise from over a thousand customers so far since I've been shipping records like this. Cool thing about this method is its possible to scale the protection of the package based on how many layers of cardboard used.