I'm about to take cuttings to ship out.  Last year I went with the medium priority flat rate boxes.  They were a bit pricey to ship, though they had plenty of room for cuttings.

What's been your experience, especially those who sell on ebay?  I am looking to ship 10-20 cuttings per mailer.  What give the best bang for the buck?  I am looking at Staples as they're convenient and offer bulk packs of envelopes.  Easy sealing would be a plus.

Here's what I'm looking at that seems to give a lot of bang for the buck (I only need a few):
http://www.staples.com/Staples-8-1-2-inch-x-14-1-2-inch-Kraft-3/product_947207

i use kraft bubble mailer in 9x12. seems to fit most of my cuttings.

Those envelopes should be perfect.

USPS has flat rate larger envelopes. They are not padded but light-weight cardboard. You could probably put your own padding inside. I've received cuttings in them and they are very satisfactory. And they are free except for the postage, which is just over $5 for anywhere in the US.

Gina, that may end up being the cheapest/easiest route to go.  They have a 15"x9.5" unpadded envelop that ships flat rate for $5.30 (currently).  A little shredded newspaper in there and the cuttings would be fine I'd think.  Plus I think they'll deliver the supplies to your door for free.

I fit 25 cuttings in the small USPS priority rate box, which is $5.35 to send.  They're well protected in the rigid cardboard.  It fits 8 1/2" cuttings, exactly the length from my thumb tip to small finger tip when stretched out without straining so I have a convenient way of measuring, too.

I ended up ordering the unpadded envelopes from USPS.  We'll see how they work!

I have been using the USPS priority flat envelopes and inside use a FEDEX Padded Pak cut to fit inside. The cuttings fit inside the padded sleeve and that fits inside the USPS envelope.  provides for better protection

http://www.fedex.com/hk_english/services/tools/padded_pak.html

i typically send 3 cuttings at a time. with bubble mailer and all, i think i spend about $4.00 per a shipment. i'm sure it will go up if i send more cuttings.

Gina is correct.  Those are fine envelopes to use.

 Once you put the cuttings and moss or wet paper inside of a ziplock bag, you can just wrap in crumbled newspaper and shove in those regular envelopes, I received  packages in them and they work fine. I like recycling, so I send the same envelope out again, it handles many trips, if you prepare the packages at home, put the zip lock bag inside of a bread plastic bag and fill with shread paper.. then just put the whole thing in the regular envelope or the flat rate works best for many cuttings as the weight does not matter.

In the mail last night was a bubble CD mailer addressed to me from a forum member.  His way of packaging was ingenious!  Inside were two cellophane air pockets with 3-4 cuttings each, wrapped in damp paper towels.  How he got those big air bubbles sealed around those cuttings is a mystery to me.  JD thinks he must have some kind of industrial sealer. 

The CD size bubble envelope traveled a long way here and arrived in Southern California in perfect condition.  That size would only work for shorter cuttings, of which I am a huge fan!  MUCH easier to work with when rooted!

Rock on!

Suzi

Suzi,

I got those too:)  He just used a vacuum sealer but did not vacuum them just sealed them.  

USPS has a Padded Flat Rate Envelope for priority mail part # EP14PE. Use a USPS Mailing Box Part # O-1096L or part #O-SMALL-FRBX inside the Padded envelope. The small mailing box takes 8-1/4 inch long cuttings (see post #6 above) and the mailing box (O-1096L) takes 9  inch long cuttings. The Plastic bags with cuttings are placed in the mailing box which is placed in the padded envelope. Cost for shipping USPS Priority Mail (2-4 days Continental USA), with delivery confirmation/tracking $6.05.
Good Luck.

USPS Priority Mail Large Video Box (O-1096L)
Format: Pack of 25
9.25" x 6.25" x 2"
Item No: O-1096L

These boxes are perfect for 8" cuttings, but usually have to be ordered online.

The smallest Flat rate boxes are good for 6" cuttings or up to about 6 8" cuttings.

I don't know if these are the best, but your local 99 Cents only or Dollar Tree stores have packs of three bubble envelopes for a buck.

I used one to ship to PA from So CA today, and I had 2 varieties of cuttings (7 cuttings total) in damp sphagnum in their gallon baggies in the bag.  Cost $3.88 shipping.

And the bubble bag was only 33 cents!  The mailer was about 8.5 x 11.  Not exactly sure it was that size, but it was clearly big enough!!  It said 3M on it.

Love that 99 cent store!!

Suzi