After much thought and research on the best way to ship I have decided to start selling seed again next year. When we were selling several years back, we were shipping in padded envelopes and had a lot of trouble with the postal service crushing the seed if you didn't put something in the envelope to protect the seed. I have found a box which will withstand 200 lbs of pressure and have taken one to the post office to get the shipping cost ($2.55) anywhere in the USA. I could still ship for $3.00 and almost cover the cost of the box($.48). I have a photo program that will make the duel photos below but would like something a little easier to use and compatible with Windows 10. I don't want something that cost an arm and leg like this one, just something simple and cheap. ANY IDEAS.

That's odd that your seeds were getting crushed, although it did happen to me a few times until I started wrapping the seeds in bubble wrap and then put them inside a padded bubble wrap envelope. I have had no problems since.

Apparently Windows 10 still has Paint. For basic things that's pretty easy. I use it to crop and resize etc. when I want something quick and easy to use, I haven't tried to join two images with it but I know it can do it.

I send me seeds in bubble envelopes and wrap the seeds in a little extra bubble wrap. Have had no problems since I have been using the extra wrap. I send my seeds all over the world.

Picasa , it's free

Yes, Picasa is very nice!!! You can download it free.

http://picasa.en.softonic.com/

I haven't shipped any seed in almost six years, I just didn't want to start out with the same problem as I had in the pass. Thanks for the advice, I have solved the shipping problem, and will look at Picasa. Are you guys running Windows 10 (Edge)?

I have windows 10

I have Windows Vista because my sis gave me her computer and that's what it had on it. I used to have XP. Not sure I want to venture into a newer version of Windows at this time.

That is strange, because I ship in padded envelopes without extra padding and have never had anyone complain about crushed seeds. But I do not ship overseas.

And the postage is going up next January Fred.

Dot

Postage seems to go up every January. I am wondering what a large flat rate shipping box will now cost.

I have received a lót of seeds from people in the USA this Summer/Fall
Some were extra wrapped in bubble plastic, some were in 'just' a padded envelop, but all arrived safely


Mayo
(the Netherlands )

Thanks for the help everyone I will try Picasa. I can always remove it if it doesn't help me.

Re: posting photos --- PicMonkey is a free on-line program ... give it a shot and see what you can do .. it is used for most of my editing, including re-sizing. The double photos can be done in the 'collage' section.


Click on photo and it opens to both frames . Can resize to your preference. Not a techie person .. you can tell :)

Fred,
What kind of boxes did you find to ship seeds in? Sometimes when I ship a lot of packages together I ship in a small USPS box, but those are going to cost $6.05 to ship next year. So when I charge $3.00 for shipping I lose money. Thanks for any info.

Dot/ Dorothy Parker

I guess this may be off subject, but wouldn't you think with the huge savings in fuel costs over the past two years and future years(maybe at least the next year or two) the post office could hold off on price increases.

I would think so. They raise the rates just about every year now. Years ago rates were raised only every 2 or 3 years.

Dot ask
What kind of boxes did you find to ship seeds in? Sometimes when I ship a lot of packages together I ship in a small USPS box, but those are going to cost $6.05 to ship next year. So when I charge $3.00 for shipping I lose money. Thanks for any info.

I buy the boxes from Uline , but you have to buy them in bulk, 100 boxes for $49 plus shipping, the depth of the box is adjustable. The shipping cost is the same as a padded envelope. The box # I will use S-5821

http://www.uline.com

Thanks Fred. I found some on Ebay that I can buy 50 of them same size boxes. I'm just shocked that the post office doesn't charge more for the little boxes.

Dot

I had the box checked by two different postal workers and both came up with about the same cost. If you look at a corrugated box its probably 75% air so there's very little weight. If I have to charge a little more for shipping I can make it up with extra seed.