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?
No food allergies, but I don't like strongly scented soaps or cosmetics. I love coconut, lavender, rosemary, and blueberries...and chocolate, naturally. I can't really remember what was on the last question things from the other swaps...
I'm also rusty on the baking thing--I just made a batch of blueberry muffins for myself to, you know, practice. (yummm...)
the only allergy I have is to carrots, but besides that I'm very easy to please. I love homemade crafts, foods, thrift store finds, used books
Oh, I don't drink coffee or tea.
For reference....
OMG! I just looked at my original "ad" and it seems so old! Also some of my info is wrong--that package was sent right before I went vegan--actually I'm positive I went from lacto vegetarian to vegan just days after I wrote that--wonder why I didn't update it...hmmmm thinker! At any rate it gave me a chuckle to see that post! Thanks Shar!
OMG! I just looked at my original "ad" and it seems so old! Also some of my info is wrong--that package was sent right before I went vegan--actually I'm positive I went from lacto vegetarian to vegan just days after I wrote that--wonder why I didn't update it...hmmmm thinker!
HaHa Capture! Mine needs updated too. :)
For my swap buddy....I no longer live in Michigan and instead live in HOT San Antonio, Texas. Don't really have any food allergies...for some reason garlic doesn't bother me anymore. I'm not a picky eater although I've been avoiding sugar/white flour for the last few weeks. Let's see...my favorite colors are greens and teals. I love tropical smells like coconut, pineapple and mango. I'll read anything but westerns and am a big science fiction geek. Like other vegwebbers...I love thrift stores and being crafty. So if you are too...a homemade item would be a cool!
I'm so excited....I'll be getting mail! Except for my twin, my family are losers about sending reminders from home. :(
Cali's swap info!
Allergies: Dairy, Meat and Sweet Potatoes oddly enough. I also get migraines from almost any and every fragrance.
Likes: For sweets I like chocolate, lemon, cinnamon, vanilla, berry (any kind!) and peach. For savories I like garlic, smoked paprika, saffron, and basil. My favorite cuisine is Mexican followed closely by Indian and Japanese. I am a novice knitter, basic seamstress, horrible gardener and avid reader. We just bought a house and moved in and I am decorating it in a Medieval theme. I also consider my personal style to be rather piratical.
Dislikes: Scented things, unpacked boxes and bugs.
i have no food allergies. the only things i don't really like are nuts (exceptions are cashews and almonds, i am obsessed with those) and i HATE mushrooms. i don't know if anyone would send anything with mushrooms anyway, but if so, please don't for me! basically, i love sweets and savory foods. i am an herbaholic (rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, etc) and a chocolate fanatic. really i am not too picky though ;)b
i'm so excited! i have the perfect thing in mind for my exchange buddy...woot!
Having participated in multiple swaps in the past... and sending heaps of care packages... these are my best suggestions..
Bubble wrap/newspaper wrap jars AND cans. Dented cans can explode, and of course jars can break. Once the box is full of whatever you want it full of, pack in all the extra space with crumbled paper or packing peanuts (I save them from things i've mail ordered). You don't want things to wiggle.
Cookies actually survive pretty well in ziplock bags as long as they're not fragile cookies. This also saves room and is a more flexible shape than a tupperware.
If you're packing small things (lip balms, individual candies), either put them in something/tape them to something bigger so they don't get lost in the packing materials, or include an "inventory" (either specifics or "be sure to find the three smaller treats") to be sure they don't get accidentally tossed.
Don't homebake things days in advance of mailing. This seems obvious... but.. yea...
No melty things to warm climates! :D Or if you want to send melty things, put them in a plastic bag/container so if worse comes to worse, everything else won't be sticky!
not a huge nut fan. peanut butter is yum. but not peanuts.
umm eep i should be leaving for work but i will try to make a super quick list thing
k. like: bright colors, fruity things (like candies and stuff), wasabi, white chocolate, yummy things? oh! i loove funky earrings. and ghosties!
dont like: spicy stuff. umm. the color brown. hm. i dont like salad that much..but then. i cant really see anyone sending me salad haha.
stuff that is random but maybe helpful to know?:
i knit a little bit, but its mainly things that are square or rectangular because im not too good. im starting college at kansas state in the fall. i bake too much. no allergies. aaand im gonna be late for work haha.
OK so, the only things that I'm allergic to are penicillin and sulfur,but those are in medicines so ..yeah
I'm not a picky eater but i have a hard time with spicy foods and most things in Indian cuisine(the spices,chickpeas, etc). So besides those anything else will be accepted and greatly appreciated!!
:-* XbxnX :-*
I have no food allergies...but i do have things that i dont LOOVE...
nuts in baked goods (unless supposed to be nutty, like a cookie..not like nuts in brownies, for example), i have a hard time eating really spicy things, though i love them.
I cannot eat straight up peanut butter, but cookies, etc that might contain them are fine.
Im also not a huge chocolate person...like i dont crave chocolate bars or anything.
I also dont love dates or figs...i dont think. Its not a taste thing per se,im just sketchy about the bugs inside.
I dont love heavily scented things...i especially get nauseas from Lavendar.
I love sandlewood tho. :D
I love crafty and artsy things.
I love being exposed to new music (and old 80s stuff).
I will appreciate anything though, i am totally willing to be enlightened to the way of the date! I thinki it would be great to learn more about the person sending to me, their likes, cooking style, etc through the goodies in the box.
Im sooo excited!!
I know I'm sending to someone in the US so I'll try to come up with some stuff from UK companies and sources. In return, if the person sending to me is from the US, I'd love some American-type stuff... hint hint!
I have literally no idea what to send as of yet but I will work on it, I promise! We have no flat rate boxes here so I think I'll just have to come up with an equivalent. Could someone let me know the rough dimensions of the US boxes you guys are planning to use?
Could someone let me know the rough dimensions of the US boxes you guys are planning to use?
I think I'm going to use the priority flat rate shirt box..b/c that's one that I have: shirt box size (11" x 8.5" x 5.5").
I have celiac disease so no gluten! I have 'issues' with nutritional yeast also, so none of that please.... I think that's about it!
I've never shipped anything food before and anything I've ever gotten food is around Christmas so it's cold. My person is a few states away so I would think it could take up to a week for the package to be delivered.... do you guys think baked goods would make it that far if I wrapped them up really well???? Like double bag them and then put them in tupperware? One of my concerns about that is in my experience anything with a little moisture in it (like say banana bread) will condensate in a bag and mold more quickly....especially if it's hot!
Another question.....if we include furry friends in the exchange....should we send only vegan items for dogs and cats also? I'm not sure how many people feed there pets vegan as well.
ohh yay...I don't have any allergies and I love everything...accept fresh papaya but I doubt anyone will be sending one of those hehe. My fav color is purple, I like knit stuff, colorful things, cute things, pins, postcards, yadda yadda. Other than that I love and appreciate everything :)>>>
Can I steer everyone the way of the other thread with the survey in chat? I feel like that might give more info on people's personalities.
My person is a few states away so I would think it could take up to a week for the package to be delivered.... do you guys think baked goods would make it that far if I wrapped them up really well???? Like double bag them and then put them in tupperware? One of my concerns about that is in my experience anything with a little moisture in it (like say banana bread) will condensate in a bag and mold more quickly....especially if it's hot!
Another question.....if we include furry friends in the exchange....should we send only vegan items for dogs and cats also? I'm not sure how many people feed there pets vegan as well.
As far as the shipping baked goods, definitely ship Priority Mail (that's 2-3 days delivery time) with one of the flat rate boxes (I posted a link to the USPS site giving the prices/info earlier in this thread). There's usually a minimal difference between shipping regular and shipping Priority in the US. If you're concerned about humidity and moisture, I'd go with dryer baked goods like cookies (no chocolate if melting is a concern).
As far as pet goodies, that's a tough call. It's not generally thought to be healthy for cats to be vegan, but dogs are capable of going either way. I'd probably skip sending pet treats/food items and send toys instead if you want to send something for furry friends.
I shipped mine today!! My swappee of course doesn't know that I'm talking to him/her...but it's on the way. I hope it makes it..
I had a priority shirt box (ebay box)..and I really thought it was a flat rate box. Apparently it's not....My two packages (for adoptee and swapee) were different prices...but the total came out to be about what I was expecting anyway...oh well.
I hope I'm not banned...
I am vegan & allergic to kiwi, oddly. Nothing else though. :)
I hope I'm not banned...
Why would you be banned...what did you ship? Pot brownies? A pound of herione? Nuclear waste???????????
Pages