Package exchange tips
Posted by Allychristine on Jul 07, 2008 · Member since Dec 2007 · 15438 posts
This is my first package exchange, and I would love some tips! The only things I ever ship are ebay items..so I have no experience shipping food stuffs. What are some "no nos" for sending food? How do you like to pack it? ??? Tips?
My food shipping advice is to make things that are not delicate. If your favorite cookie is delish but slightly crumbly, include the recipe and ingredients but not the cookie itself.
Also, invest a small portion of your total budget into some cheap Tupperware or tins. I like to pluck a long but shallow plastic container from my cupboards and wedge in 10 cupcakes. You should have some head room for them but I just leave that space empty. Next fill a pastry bag or Ziplock bag with frosting so the recipient can simply snip the end and pipe on the goodness. I usually double bag just to make sure nothing bursts.
Fun ideas to include: cupcake liner papers, candy bars, exotic spices, personal recipe, small hobby items like knit stitch counters or stickers or paint brush, hair clips, diva cup, fun mug or tea cup, wind chime, organic bug spray, favorite product for home or health or even something homemade by you.
I also like to include family members, be they kids, spouse or furry. Make dog biscuts! OR include a catnip mouse for feline friends. Finger paints for toddlers or clay for older kids. Fun things to do together.
Pick up a flat rate box from the post office. Make your baked goods, load up your plastic or tin and fit it in the base, slide in the next largest thing or something squishy. (Like a Vegan T-shirt!?) Pack it so when you hold it closed nothing slides around. I always like food items to be separate but I just envision a huge mess should the cookies crumble into the yarn or the frosting explode all over the cute stuffed toy.
I knew I could count on you, Cali! :)
ohhh..thats the secret for cupcakes..sending them unfrosted..
i sent spearoflight cupcakes for his birthday..and uh. they didnt make it. it looked like there had been a brutal battle inside the tupperware haha.
and remember in july it is hot as hell in some areas, it's about 90 here and really humid
I can't imagine sending frosting in the mail this time of year. It's been around 100 lately, and even with an ice pack, I think frosting would get really melty.
do you think breads would make it ok? i am like...a bread master. and i wanna share the love!
Oh, my person will be getting bread. Possibly with some type of herbal addition from my front steps.
Bread should mail fine if its a whole loaf (mini or regular) but not slices. Package it in cling type wrap or parchment paper and then put it in a tin / plastic container.
For this season, my plan is to include homemade crackers, cupcakes that do not need icing, cookies w/o chocolate and a mini loaf of bread for the baked goodies. Maybe in the winter we can do this again and I can send out some PBCanonballs. mmmm
Mmmmm, crackers!!! I haven't had crackers in a very long time.
I have been planning, planning, planning... Actually, I woke up really early this morning, couldn't get back to sleep, so then did *a little* planning. I made a list! I have some ideas, but I'm worried my baking skills aren't up to snuff I haven't baked in months... and I don't want to disappoint.
I'm a bit worried too...but I'm trying not to be. Apprehensive?
Cali, you mentioned picking up a flat rate shipping box from the post office. Can I assume you're talking about the Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes? That's what I used to mail my brother a package a couple months ago. The boxes are free, so you can just go into the post office, pick one up, bring it home, get your package all together, and then take it back to the post office and mail it out. I definitely recommend Priority shipping over regular slow mail. I worry about baked goods staying fresh, and Priority shipping seems to be the best route. The Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are available for $9.80 or $12.95 depending on size, and this includes the Priority shipping to anywhere in the US (Here's a link to the USPS site info: http://www.usps.com/shipping/flatrate.htm).
I have been planning, planning, planning... Actually, I woke up really early this morning, couldn't get back to sleep, so then did *a little* planning. I made a list! I have some ideas, but I'm worried my baking skills aren't up to snuff I haven't baked in months... and I don't want to disappoint.
I know what you mean....I don't want to disappoint either!
Regarding the cupcakes, you could also make cupcakes and fill the insides with frosting rather than frost the tops. Like VCTOTW hazelnut cupcakes or some such cupcakes. Anything really.
Would this be a good place to list allergies/dislikes?
If so, do it.
I don't have any food allergies (except cats..so no cat hair?). I'm up to try any vegan thing. I know some veg*ns eat honey....so remember no honey!!
No food allergies, strict vegan, not terribly picky--only thing I can think of that I don't like in home made baking is dried fruit like prunes or dates.
I adore chocolate and things that smell pretty--like lavandar and rosemary and tropical smells like mangos!
I'm not vegan, but i enjoy vegan stuff anyway! No food allergies, only latex, so yeah, no condoms i guess ??? Um that's about it. Not the biggest raisin fan. I love fudgy brownies w/ no nuts possibly more than anyone on the planet. Oh, i live in the middle of nowhere, one road in, one road out, so stuff takes awhile to get here. And I will be out of town from July 16th til the 29th. I would cry if my shady neighbors stole it, or the nasty bugs and stuff got into it. Also, if you're not the baking type, honestly, rice would be awesome. or ramen, lol. i'll take anything right now!! Oh my goodness, I am so frakkin excited, I can barely stand it!!!!!
Yay, I'm so excited for another exchange!!!
Some stuff about me...I'm not super picky and don't have any allergies. I don't like nuts in or frosting on brownies, but that's about it...I have a huge sweet tooth. I also don't care if my desserts are super healthy or not (i.e. not afraid of fats and/or sugars but I enjoy "healthier" versions as well), but I am anti-transfat and HFCS. Non-dessert foods...I like spicy things and Indian food a lot. Non-food things...I really love books, outdoorsy stuff, locally made products, and handmade things. I also love thrift stores, so a cool thrift store find would be exciting :)
I have to go to South Dakota for my BF's family reunion (read: lots o' meat and mocking Kim the vegan) at the end of July, so if my super awesome veg buddy could ship a couple days earlier than the deadline (if possible), it would guarantee that I'll still be here!
Thanks in advance, secret veg buddy!! :)>>>
No known food allergies. I'm pretty open, so long as it's vegan. It's HOT where I'm at (like 100 F), so it's probably a good idea not to send anything that may melt. Thanks!
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