Skip to main content

I've been selling through Etsy for about a year now and every time my packaging and shipping costs are about $50. I use the method that I see most cookie decorators using. I individually bubble wrap the cookies and place them vertically in a box. Then I put that box in a bigger box with lots of cushioning. I try to allow for about a 4" cushion on all sides. I can't seem to get the price lower. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Last edited by Julia M. Usher
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I have cut down a bit on the bubble wrap, enough for each cookie to have it on each side but not individually wrapping each one. This way I can fit two dozen medium cookies in a 12 x 12 bakery box. I then put that box in a large priority mail flat rate box and stuff tissue and bubble wrap all around and on top and bottom. Flat rate shipping is $15.80 and I haven't had any breakage. 

Originally Posted by Lauren Dorsee Dillon:

I have cut down a bit on the bubble wrap, enough for each cookie to have it on each side but not individually wrapping each one. This way I can fit two dozen medium cookies in a 12 x 12 bakery box. I then put that box in a large priority mail flat rate box and stuff tissue and bubble wrap all around and on top and bottom. Flat rate shipping is $15.80 and I haven't had any breakage. 

What are the costs of all of the packaging though? I'm interested to know how your total shipping and packaging costs compare to what Blue-Eyed Bakery quoted. Also curious, Blue-Eyed Bakery, about how many cookies you're fitting into that box that is packed/shipped for $50?

I haven't itemized it all. The BRP box is $.70, the tissue and ribbon maybe another $2. The bubble wrap is the most expensive, probably around $3. I get the shipping boxes free from the post office. Of course, I include business cards, a post card, and a custom sticker, all from Vista Print. Around $7 for packaging, $15.80 for shipping, per two dozen cookies. If they order more, I send in separate packaging.

I ship a little differently than most. I don't individually bubble wrap each cookie. I did not have success with that method. I still got a fair amount of breakage even when it seemed like the cookies were well cushioned in the box. Instead I heat seal each cookie in a bag and then layer the cookies in a 10x10x4 BRP bakery box with paper shred. I can fit 12-18 cookies on average in the box. I then surround the bakery box with packing peanuts in a USPS Priority (not flat rate) 12x12x8 box. The box ends up weighing 3-4 pounds and the cost to ship ranges from 6-16 dollars depending on where it is going in the US. The bakery box costs me about $.60, the shipping box is free, I probably use 1-2 dollars worth of shred and 2 dollars worth of packing peanuts. So I am spending around $5 on supplies and charge a flat fee of $14 per dozen to ship, with an additional $4 for each additional dozen cookies ordered. Over hundreds of orders, I come out a few dollars ahead on shipping. 

How are all of you accounting for the time to pack and ship? Packing time can be quite a lot and should be built into cookie pricing in some way.

Now that is something I haven't figured out at all. I'm making slave wages as it is (I fell into this about three months ago while waiting to hear back from a writing job I wanted and was obsessing over; I needed distraction and then all of a sudden lots of people wanted to buy my cookies). I AM getting faster and planning my steps more efficiently; but it's still very time-consuming. I figure if I take this large, I can pay someone else to pack and ship but that's in a pipe dream in a galaxy far, far way.

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×