How to ship rugs

[Sharyn]

I bought a bunch of rugs over the past month or so. I’m going to clean them up this week, but I need to figure out the shipping before I list them. I know that this has been a subject of discussion in the past, but I don’t remember it all. I know that I need to buy thick plastic. If the rug is small enough, I can use a few polyshippers on the outside.

My questions: is there a video or blog somewhere that I can use for reference on how to ship? Where can I buy the thick plastic and what kind? How many pounds do you add to the weight of the items to account for the plastic? I’m thinking not as much as breakable housewares that need a box in a box.

My scale only goes to 11 pounds. For heavier items, I have to get out my bathroom scale. I weigh myself, myself carrying the item, take the difference, and then round up. I’ll have to do that for one or two of the larger rugs. This is the only reason I know how much I weigh these days LOL.

[MDC Galleries & Fine Art]

Hi Sharyn.. Fairly easy questions and answers.
First, yes there are tons of “How to Ship Rugs” instructions and Videos. To borrow a phrase from Jay [Trash Elf 3000]. Make sure you always use the obvious research tool we all have and that is to Google your questions first so that you can get the basics down, then from there fine tune the more specific points for digging up Forum responses. But I saw 64,700,000 results from “How to ship a rug” just now on Google.
Next, Make sure you visit the FedEx and-or UPS web site and view there video(s) on how they want you to prepare your packages for shipment through their system. Great info. on there about their drop tests on breakables.

Either roll your rug or fold it, depends on how big and thick your rug is. Folds sometimes create creases. I then use a 5″ wide x100′ spool of thin stretch wrap [You can get a roll for about $3.50 at WalMart.]. I then use a few wraps of that in several spots going down the roll to secure the roll together. [almost like putting cable ties or rubber bands around your roll for a mental picture]. Then wrap it up in the 8 mil plastic like a present and secure with either clear packaging tape or use the new Ebay tape. I use the Ebay tape just for brand recognition.

Next: You can go to Home Depot [or a Lowe’s or Ace Hardware] and get 8 mil or heavier plastic. I use 8 mil black construction grade poly. It costs about $35 for that giant roll. They also have smaller rolls but make sure it is 8 mils thick or more. Less rips through too easily. 8 mil is what construction guys put down on the ground then pour concrete over it. Just like you may have saw in J&R new shed video. It comes 12 ft. wide x 100 ft. long [folded up in a box about 2 ft. wide]. Unfortunately it only comes in clear or black. Never been able to find white, which looks more professional.
>>> You just cut a piece off of this just like Christmas wrapping paper and proceed to wrap your package in it just like a Christmas present. The 8 mil will do as a single layer, but big packages get fairly beat up on conveyors, so a second layer may be in order.
Then weigh yourself while holding the package on your scale. My shipping scale will go up to 600 lbs. but for an 8′, 10′ or 12′ long roll it is ackward, so I do just as you do. Then create your label, most likely FedEx because USPS has it’s “DIM WEIGHT” restrictions and something real long and over the limit will drive the costs way up.
Then attach your label to the plastic roll and make sure you also put some clear tape over the whole label, to extra secure it. Now also put your packing list in one of those stick on “Packing List” envelopes [also get at Walmart] and you are ready to call or take your package to FedEx.

Think that about covers it unless others have better suggestions. Hope this helps somewhat … mike at MDC Galleries in Atlanta

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by MDC Galleries & Fine Art.

[Sharyn]

Hey Mike –

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I believe you answered another one of my questions a week or so ago, and I really appreciate your help. I remember seeing a discussion on shipping rugs here before, so I thought I’d ask. I will check the resources you mentioned, and I’ll do a Google search as well.

These rug purchases are kind of an experiment for me. I only started on eBay earlier this year, so I find myself trying different products to sell all the time. Cleaning the rugs this morning was much more of a hassle than I thought it would be.

I don’t know whether this experiment will be successful or not, but time will tell. So, I’ll look into buying the supplies you mentioned, and let’s see how selling and shipping goes!

Again, thanks for your help.

[Libby]

This is great information, how did you end up shipping? Fedex? Was it worth it?

[Sharyn]

I had one very heavy rug that I sold around that time. I used the rolling method with FedEx shipping, and it made it successfully to the buyer.

The one issue I ran into was that eBay had no problem charging the buyer shipping, but it wouldn’t sell me a label. There is some issue with buying a FedEx ground label over 70 pounds shipped to a residence. I had to buy the label through the FedEx website and then call them to credit back the difference between the eBay price and the website price.

Steve Shultz had this issue a few weeks ago, so the problem hasn’t gone away.

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