Vacuum Packaging. Anyone using it?

[clarry100]

Our items are inexpensive and soft and "squishy" so we have been thinking that this might be an easy way to make sure they will always fit inside the thickness requirements for AP. Sometimes if not compressed they kind of push the 20mm thickness limits for large letter packages. So far we have been pinged on a couple and have had to wear the fee.

Anyone have any experience using these cheaper (under $100) kitchen food sealers?

Are the bags very expensive?

Any thoughts or advice on these machines?

[*crikey*mate*]

I think they may crinkle up your clothes, so when the customer takes them out of the packet, their appearance won't be as nice.

I don't think they always cryovac dead flat, so there is no guarantee that they will always be under the 20mm - i.e they may be kind of wavy iykwim. So whilst each part of the package may be under 20mm, when it is laid out on a table or in the envelope, some bits will be higher with space underneath and other bits will be lower with the space below. And once cryovaced, they don't tend to be very flexible or pliable, so I doubt you could squish them flat iykwim. They're pretty rigid.

I don't know cost on domestic bags, I only use food grade bags on a commercial machine for food. (because I cryovac food) I pay about 4c each for the small ones I buy - but have a look on eBay heaps of competitive listings - don't know the quality though.. Bag cost and availability may also depend on the machine you buy, I don't know if the domestic ones are a standard size.

Would a sheet of cardboard and gladwrap do the trick? Stiffer envelopes? Cardboard mailers (eBay search 16mm cardboard mailers - a huge selection of sizes)

How many items would you need to post to recoup the cost and maintenance of a cryovac machine? Will the machine last long enough to produce those quantities? (rhetorical questions - even if you give an answer, I won't be able to advise you LOL)

May I suggest that you take a few items down to your friendly butcher and ask him if you can have a go on his machine to see how the products turn out, so that you can judge for yourself?

[*crikey*mate*]

There is a seller who seems to use it for clothes in this thread and they recommend it.

Posting Clothing

[beautbots01]

Am completely happy with my vacuum packaging machine. It's a Sunbeam VS4300 bought from HN for $115, but I think you could pick it up cheaper (did see it in BigW for $108).  Don't know about those being sold on eBay, but when mine packs it in (have had it for nearly a year now) I will probably look at it. It has more than paid for itself, both in time saving and postage and also peace of mind.  The food grade 6m rolls I buy from Nth Qld and come in 28cm and 22cm widths.  They are cut to size as needed so no wastage.  I put a note in with my items explaining that the vacuum sealing ensures safety during postage and that after airing items will return to their normal shape.  And no extra packing materials are needed. Feedback from buyers has been all good.  Win Win  

[lyndal1838]

Don't even consider the cheapies on ebay.

I had a Sunbeam for years and my daughter talked me into "lending" it to her when she needed it in a hurry.  I never got it back and decided to go for a cheap one from ebay as I don't use it a lot anymore.

Worst decision I ever made and it was quickly replaced with a new Sunbeam.

[harley_babes_hoard]

I just use a ziplock bags and squeeze all the air out manually....... works well.

[phorum_junkie*]

I too use ziplock bags without any problems to date, if you are having trouble getting enough air out just close it up all but a small bit at the end and insert a drinking straw and suck the air out then seal quickly.

[zigzagdot]

Sad state of affairs that we now have to resort to vacuum packing just to save on postage, should we be a mm over the 20mm allowance.    Most overseas postal services specifically cater for 250g parcels, not like AP who bundle and charge it all under the 500g umbrella.    How many times have you sent a tiny item in this ridiculously large 500g satchel just because it's thicker than 20mm....

[zigzagdot]

insert a drinking straw and suck the air out then seal quickly.

Not terribly hygienic though.... imagine when the fussy buyers find out you are doing this to their items....

[digital*ghost]

Try the rigid card mailers - there's a seller on eBay who sells them specifically to keep under the letter dimensions, and they won't be susceptible to expanding like envelopes etc are. 

I use them for more delicate items of jewellery, but I think they would be quite good for your softer items that can be folded or packaged nicely, but may bunch up etc in a padded bag or envelope. 

Like others, with clothing items I used a ziplock bag with the air pressed out and sealed, then put them in TB2's (tough bags). 4 years of sending clothing that way resulted in 0 items damaged & 0 complaints. In fact, I found most people appreciated the cheaper postage over everything else, and it was still done carefully, nicely folded,

waterproof and all that.

Edit: I never used a straw, lol. I went down to my local Salvos and bought one of the biggest, heaviest books they had, then used that to compress the contents in the ziplock bag, then I'd seal it before removing the book. Then I'd fold over the top and tape it down securely. (Be careful of items that have delicate attachments if you do that - you don't want to whack the book down and break buttons etc  ).