FAQ about packing and shipping cigars.
I was asked the other day about shipping cigars to another board member. This is about the umpteenth time I've been asked, so I decided to start a thread with shipping information...
I just about always use the Postal service. I pick up priority mail boxes for free at their website (they ship them right to you within about a week).
The ones I use for 5 - 10 cigar bombs are these:
Priority Mail Shipping Boxes
It is Item No: O-1096S, the "small" priority mail box. They are about the size of a VHS tape case, and are perfect for mailing cigars in.
I put the cigars in a plastic zip loc bag (the quart size are about perfect). Or I use the baggies the cigar shops give you when you pick up a few cigars.
After I put the cigars into the zip loc bag, I wrap them with bubble wrap I pick up at Walmart, K-Mart, Target, etc. If you ask the person in the area where they put out picture frames, they usually get boxes full of the small bubble wrap they end up tossing. Most times they'll hold on to some for you (I had a HUGE box full when my wife worked at Targer).
You want to make sure you put just enough bubble wrap that the cigars don't shake around inside the box, but not so much that the cigars are crushed. I've also seen guys use the plastic bags you get from the grocery store - if you wrap the cigars in those (with the cigars in a zip loc bag), it does a decent job of keeping the cigars from rolling around.
Whatever you do, DO NOT use the padded envelopes to send cigars. I've had more than a few come to me all busted up....
To ship one or two cigars, you can use a shipping tube. Those seem to hold up very well in the mail.
When you get ready to ship - go to USPS.com, and use Click and Ship. You can pay for the postage on line. If you're only shipping 5 - 10 regular cigars (not in glass tubes), you are under 1 lb. I just put one pound because it doesn't matter if it's one oz. or one pound, the price is the same ($3.85). Over a pound it is more, depending on where you are sending it to. I like to use the address book in Click and Ship to store addresses of other members so I have it available for future passes or box splits. Also, when you use Click and Ship, they throw in Delivery Confirmation for free.
If you want the individual baggies for your cigars (the baggies fit one cigar), check here:
Veripack Zip Loc Bags
That price quoted is for 1,000 2" X 8" bags - which fit MOST cigars (except the double coronas)
I hope that helps....
