Table of Contents
Shipping costs are skyrocketing, and the industry is asking for a solution. Some companies have been offering cheaper rates at the expense of customer service, so it’s important to take caution when searching for your next shipment. Here are five sources that offer good deals on shipping supplies in 2021.
Building customer connections and creating trust requires getting your items to consumers in one piece, and a successful delivery begins with your shipping materials. Based on pricing, product variety, user experience, reviews, dependability, and overall quality, we’ve compiled a list of the top shipping supplies.
How We Decided on the Best Shipping Supply Sources
We searched for aspects that would make your supply ordering procedure smooth and guarantee you received the highest quality items while reviewing the suppliers in this post. We also looked at budgeting aspects such as cost and delivery expenses to ensure you have a complete picture when creating a budget.
With a 4.65 out of 5 score, The Packaging Business came out on top. We discovered that The Packaging Business provides the most complete services, including distinctive branding and customization options, a large product range, reasonable pricing, and a strong customer service staff to make your life simpler.
30% of the overall score
We looked at the entire cost, as well as shipping, return, and bundle choices.
30% of the overall score
Product diversity, color choices, customization possibilities, and size availability were all taken into consideration.
20% of the overall score
We looked at how easy it was to navigate the website and how good the customer support was.
20% of the overall score
We considered overall quality, dependability, and customer feedback.
The Packaging Business
4.65 OUT OF 5
What We Enjoy
- Customization choices galore
- Pricing that is competitive
- A large number of products are available.
What Isn’t There
- There are no significant package savings.
- Returns are subject to a 10% restocking charge.
- Custom goods are not eligible for discounts.
Pricing
- Fees for returns include return freight and a 10% restocking charge.
- Bundle Sizes: There are a variety of alternatives.
- Yes, there is a price scale (excluding custom products)
- Price Point of the Product as a Whole: Low
The Packaging Business is an excellent resource for your shipping supplies needs. It has everything from your classic cardboard box to custom tapes and tissue paper. The Packaging Business also offers a competitive price point and allows you to customize every aspect of your shipping materials. You get to set your exact dimensions, colors, and can even add branding to your packaging; this is the only provider on our list with these branding features. With all this to offer, The Packaging Business was our top scorer with a 4.65 out of 5.0.
In addition to its custom products, The Packaging Business offers all your standard shipping materials—without any of the bells and whistles. It also has an excellent customer service department with 24-hour messaging support and doesn’t tag on any additional shipping fees. The Packaging Business lost points for its lack of price scaling for custom products and for its 10% restocking return fee.
Pricing
For both its standard and custom materials, The Packaging Business offers Pricing that is competitive. For standard materials, your minimum order is set at 10-50 and increases from there by set amounts, with the unit price dropping as you increase your quantities. For custom products, on the other hand, you buy in increments of 25, but the unit price stays the same.
The Packaging Business lets you design custom boxes from the inside out. (Source: The Packaging Business)
The Packaging Business also offers unbranded packaging materials at a competitive price. (Source: The Packaging Business)
The Packaging Business has a wide assortment of products, including food containers. (Source: The Packaging Business)
Features
The Packaging Business is most remarkable for the breadth of its supplies and customization options. It offers custom sizing, adhesives, stickers, boxes, and mailers of all kinds. In addition, it has standard packaging materials for every type of product, from food and perishables to posters and clothes. Almost as impressive, The Packaging Business uses eco-friendly materials and can keep its prices down simultaneously.
What The Packaging Business Is Missing
While it does offer a lot of great services, The Packaging Business does have a return restock fee of 10% and requires you to pay the shipping cost to get any unwanted items back to its warehouse; this means that returns can get expensive, especially if you order in large quantities, as shipping rates are based on size and weight. (Amazon, on the other hand, offers many free shipping and return options.) Additionally, while on non-custom merchandise the unit price decreases as the bundle sizes increase, for custom items your unit cost does not go down as your order quantity grows.
Amazon
Overall Score: 4.13 OUT OF 5
What We Enjoy
- Prime merchants provide free shipping and returns.
- A large selection of materials
- An interface that is simple to utilize
What Isn’t There
- Pricing inconsistency
- Unpredictable quality
- Customization and branding choices are limited.
Pricing
- Returns are free of charge.
- Bundle Sizes
Amazon is a website where vendors may post their products for buyers to purchase. Amazon is guaranteed to have the supplies to meet your shipping requirements, with thousands of vendors to pick from. Not only that, but if you’re a Prime member and deal with a Prime-eligible vendor, you’ll get free shipping and returns, which separates Amazon from the competition. The inconsistency of Amazon’s price point and quality standards, as well as its restricted personalization possibilities, are the company’s key flaws. Overall, Amazon received an amazing 4.13 out of 5 rating.
Pricing
Amazon’s pricing points are extremely variable due to the large variety of merchants. This implies that on the Amazon marketplace, you may discover both great offers and expensive costs. My best recommendation is to base your pricing point on a source like PackagingSupplies.com or ULINE, and then search Amazon for comparable items.
In general, Amazon may need a bit more digging and investigation to ensure that you are obtaining a fair deal, but the savings on shipping and return costs may be well worth it.
On Amazon, you’ll discover a wide variety of shipping materials, and if you choose a Prime seller, you’ll receive free delivery. (Image courtesy of Amazon)
You may pick from a variety of quantity and size choices in most listings. (Image courtesy of Amazon)
Amazon also has foam rolls and various packaging cushioning. (Image courtesy of Amazon)
Advantages
Like ULINE and The Packaging Business, Amazon offers a wide variety of products for shipping in addition to janitorial and other supplies you might need for your business. Amazon could really be your one-stop shop for setting up your entire store. Additionally, it offers free shipping and returns on eligible products.
You must become a Prime member for $12.99 a month to get free shipping and returns on Prime goods.
Amazon’s customer service department is also your point of contact. You may take any complaints you have to Amazon’s customer support staff, who will work with the seller on your behalf, rather than dealing with individual vendors. You can trust Amazon since it is a well-oiled machine that will be able to help you.
What Amazon Isn’t Providing
Amazon has a lot to offer; yet, individual listing bundle sizes are often restricted, making it tough to obtain the numbers and sizes you need in single transactions. Unit pricing does not often fall as order quantities increase, unlike ULINE.
PackagingSupplies.com
Overall Score: 4.13 OUT OF 5
What We Enjoy
- Pricing at the wholesale level
- Guaranteed price match
- With over 17,000 goods and an ever-expanding inventory, there’s something for everyone.
What Isn’t There
- Customization and color possibilities are limited.
- Large order sizes are required.
- Returns are subject to approval and a shipping cost.
Pricing
- Fees for Returns: Fee for return shipment; authorization is needed.
- Sizes of Bundles: There are a few alternatives.
- Low price point in general
PackagingSupplies.com, our exclusive wholesale source, is committed to providing you with the best possible rates for your products. It offers a diverse range of items and is continually adding to its inventory. PackagingSupplies.com is also known for its excellent customer service and simple buying process. With all of this, PackagingSupplies.com received a 4.13 out of 5 ratings, with points deducted mostly for product color and size limits, as well as return authorization and shipping fees.
Pricing
PackagingSupplies.com guarantees that it has the lowest prices on the market. With Pricing at the wholesale level and a Guaranteed price match, this is your place if you need quality budget supplies. Like ULINE, PackagingSupplies.com charges shipping based on the size and weight of your order, but it doesn’t tack on any additional handling fees. Plus, your price will scale down as you increase your quantities—there is really no shortage of money-saving opportunities.
PackagingSupplies.com offers Pricing at the wholesale level and bulk orders at steep discounts. (Source: PackagingSupplies.com)
PackagingSupplies.com has a huge selection of boxes and shipping materials. (Image courtesy of PackagingSupplies.com)
The majority of shipping containers are available in a wide range of sizes and volumes. (Image courtesy of PackagingSupplies.com)
PackagingSupplies.com’s best asset is its pricing. Additionally, PackagingSupplies.com offers some of the largest order sizes available. Unlike The Packaging Business, which offers small orders perfect for budding businesses, PackagingSupplies.com provides orders for up to 2,000 units.
It sells in-store packaging materials within the Retail Packaging product category. Consider bagging bags, candy and jewelry boxes, and takeaway containers—everything you may possibly need for your in-store operations.
What PackagingSupplies.com Doesn’t Have
Typically, PackagingSupplies.com is best for larger businesses simply because of the large orders it expects you to place with them. Most products can be ordered in bundles that range from 500-to 2,000 pieces, and PackagingSupplies.com does not allow you to split cases or order custom quantities. Additionally, there are limitations to its customization options (check out The Packaging Business for extensive customization), and it requires a return authorization for any return requests and charges Fee for return shipments, unlike Amazon.
ULINE
3.95 OUT OF 5
What We Enjoy
- A diverse range of products and bundling options are available.
- Timely and dependable delivery
- Site navigation is simple.
What Isn’t There
- Customization and branding choices are limited.
- Fee for the return shipment
- Deals and discounts are limited.
Pricing
- Return Fees: Fee for return shipment
- Bundle Sizes: There are a variety of alternatives.
- Generally speaking, the price point is in the middle.
ULINE is one of the most widely used and trustworthy suppliers of shipping goods in the nation, earning a 3.95 out of 5 rating in our review. It provides a wide range of shipping materials in various bundle sizes. It also has eight warehouses around the nation, and although it isn’t free like Amazon, ULINE can deliver your supplies to you quickly. It can guarantee a two-day shipment window in most cases. Because of its mid-tier product pricing range and limited customization possibilities, ULINE lost a lot of points.
Pricing
While it does not run many sales or offer Pricing at the wholesale level, ULINE offers consistent midrange price points (along with its fast shipping). All of its products come in various bundle sizes, and unit prices decrease as your quantities increase.
While it does not provide free delivery, it does not impose an additional price on top of what USPS charges. All shipping and handling prices are calculated depending on the weight and size of your materials, so expect higher yet reasonable delivery rates for bigger purchases.
As you raise your order quantities, ULINE’s prices reduce. (Image courtesy of ULINE)
ULINE also has a wide range of colorful items and interesting packaging choices. (Image courtesy of ULINE)
ULINE provides a wide range of business products in addition to shipping services. (Image courtesy of ULINE)
Advantages
ULINE’s most valuable advantages are its reach, the breadth of its product and bundle size options, and the speed with which it ships. ULINE also sells office and cleaning supplies, so you can purchase everything you need for your company in one place. In addition, if you wish to examine the latest goods and place purchases over the phone or by mail, ULINE offers a free catalog.
What ULINE Isn’t Providing
Unlike Amazon, ULINE requires that you pay return fees in the case of a return. It doesn’t require a restocking fee like The Packaging Business; however, larger orders can incur high shipping costs, which will be your responsibility. Additionally, its prices are not wholesale (unlike PackagingSupplies.com) and you might be able to find better deals elsewhere.
ShippingSupply.com
3.14 OUT OF 5
What We Enjoy
- the quality of the materials
- Customer service department that responds quickly
- Site navigation is simple.
What Isn’t There
- Bundle selections are limited.
- a more limited selection of materials
- Returns are subject to a 10% restocking charge.
Pricing
- Return Fees: Fee for return shipment; 10% restocking fee
- Sizes of Bundles: There are a few alternatives.
- Generally speaking, the price point is in the middle.
ShippingSupply.com is a smaller shipping supplies provider known for its commitment to customer care and delivering a hassle-free shopping experience for its customers. ShippingSupply.com prides itself on being able to provide a more customized experience as a small business.
Features of ShippingSupply.com a more basic variety of shipping supplies, with less of the flashier or higher-tech packing materials, at a competitive mid-tier pricing point (unlike some of the larger companies like ULINE). It also charges restocking and return shipping expenses. ShippingSupply.com has a 3.14 out of 5 rating for its services.
Pricing
While its prices are not as low as PackagingSupplies.com’s or some you might find on Amazon, in most cases, ShippingSupply.com offers Pricing that is competitive. However, unlike PackagingSupplies.com, ShippingSupply.com does not offer price matching and not all of their goods scale their pricing with bundle size.
ShippingSupply.com has a wide selection of low-cost items in a variety of sizes. (Image courtesy of ShippingSupply.com)
Features of ShippingSupply.com a large selection of common shipping supply categories, making it simple to discover what you need. (Image courtesy of ShippingSupply.com)
Foam and other padding may also be purchased at ShippingSupply.com. (Image courtesy of ShippingSupply.com)
Features
Standard shipping materials are available in a range of sizes at ShippingSupply.com. It also has a user-friendly website and a solid customer service staff (as highlighted in user reviews).
What ShippingSupply.com Doesn’t Have
ShippingSupply.com is a useful resource for small-batch orders, but not all of its products’ pricing scale with bundle size, making it less competitive for larger-scale demands. In addition, all returns are subject to a 10% restocking fee, as well as return shipping and handling expenses. Another disadvantage is that, unlike Amazon or ULINE, which provide one-or two-day delivery on many things, ShippingSupply.com has lengthier shipping timeframes.
Alternatives: USPS, UPS, and FedEx provide free shipping supplies.
FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) all provide free shipping supplies—yes, even free delivery—to your company. While free is hard to match, there are tight quantity restrictions, so this option is suited for microbusinesses or businesses just getting started. You can’t purchase more than 500 units from any of the vendors, and you can be limited to just one unit for some kinds of shipping containers. There are also only a few kinds of materials available, with boxes, mailers, and tape in conventional sizes being the most common.
In terms of returns, you may either mail your items back on your own or drop them off at their relevant post office for free (USPS supplies get returned to a USPS location and so on). Another disadvantage of selecting one of these free choices is that you must ship using the courier provided by your provider. So, if FedEx provides you with complimentary boxes, you must employ FedEx as your carrier for those goods.
The USPS website has a lot of fantastic freebies. (Photo courtesy of Obeki)
FedEx has a simple order form that you may use to get your goods. (Fedex is the source.)
When you create an account with UPS, you may buy free shipping materials directly from your profile. (UPS source)
Conclusion
There are several solid options for shipping goods available. Finding vendors that can help your company expand and satisfy all of your requirements may be a difficult challenge. With the websites we’ve supplied, you’ll have a better understanding of the top suppliers on the market, their strengths and shortcomings, and how they’ll fit into your company’s operations.
Taking them all into account, we think that The Packaging Business will be your best bet for reliable and customizable shipping supplies at a good price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest packing material?
Bubble wrap is the cheapest packing material, costing about $1 for 100 square feet.
