I just need the standard ~13x13x2" ones that most people seem to use, nothing fancy, just the outer box. I checked usps.com and at UPS and couldn't find what I needed.

Try searching vinyl or lp shipping box for shipping packaging. They are the same size and need the same care for shipping. If you buy in bulk you can get them .50 per box

Bags Unlimited. They have every kind of box, paper sleeve and plastic sleeve imaginable.

look in that thing called the phone book and find a local shipping supply store.
they have everything you need.

I use these from Uline: http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-4 ... ated-Boxes . I fyou plan on doing a really good job, might I suggest using a bookfold box inside this box wrapped in large bubblewrap. This will give you a very protective double boxed shipping system. Also, remove the discs from the jacket and ship them on top of the jacket so as to protect the jackets from seam splitting during transit. We also do a bit more than that, but those are the basics to keep your customers happy!

Kevin

hey, lookie here.
http://www.bagsunlimited.com/p-3129-alb ... older.aspx

i don't think we were asked to get the best price
if someone needs the boxes and wants a better price then they have to do the old standby and contact packing supply stores near them.

as for me, i'm green when i sell stuff
i make my packing out of older boxes, it takes a little more time but i again i am green

And we weren't specifically relegated to how we choose our boxes either.



Or they can take 30 seconds and find that there are ten sellers on eBay who sell boxes for 50 cents per box. Apparently, the "green" you mention has nothing to do with money.

Well...my 2 cents is to just be warned that the first time you ship a valuable laserdisc in a 50 cent bookfold mailer and the USPS sorting machines and/or angry postal worker gets ahold of one and crushes it and bends a corner or 2....you are going to have one pissed off laserdisc collector on your hands. I am a firm believer in my method as it is carrier proof...and then some!

Remember...if the collector aint happy...aint nobody happy!

Remember...Customers are not easy to come by...do whatever you can to make them a repeat customer!

Kevin

Does anyone recommend using pizza boxes?

From all the laserdiscs I've received the ones that are double boxed, usually arrive in the exact condition as they were when mailed.

I've had more then a few perfect covers that arrived creased, dinged or bent corner, from postal roughing a thin package.

I can testify to Kevin's quality packaging techniques which really do work. As he says if you scrimp and use just one of those mailers there is a very high probability of corner damage to one or more sleeves and that's if you are lucky - the damage can be far worse. With Kevin's suggestion you don't get any damage and as a collector that is exactly what I want. In every single case where I received a laserdisc that arrived cracked it was shipped in one of those mailers with no other protection. So for me they are not a recommended method of shipping - they just qualify as a bare minimum method of shipping.

i've received over 200 discs in the mail from all over the world and never received a cracked one.
bent corners and other damages to the sleeve, yes but never damaged discs by shipping.

I've received well over 5000 LDs in the post so as the number goes up the potential for getting a cracked one rises.
The total number of cracked LDs I received wasn't that high - around 10 or so from memory - all shipped in those mailers.

What do you guys think of using that floor protection material (one brand is Protec) that builders use to protect floors and walls while work is ongoing? I have received a few discs this way and after initial doubt, it seems pretty good.

It's rigid, it's padded, it's easy to cut oversized to protect corners. It resists sharp object intrusions too. (I have received one cracked disc that was packed in a mailer. Obviously due to a sharp object impact - not having been dropped.) In combination with bubble wrap it will provide dropping protection too. It's also light, which helps. Oh, and it's watertight if you seal the edges ok.

No idea what it costs though.

A pizza box can be used as a good second outer box for the inner box.
Put some bubblewrap around the inner box to keep everything snug so it doesn't move.

Another tip for the paranoid (and I am paranoid!) is put the parcel in a plastic bag so if it gets rained on the box strength does not deteriorate.
I received a few recently where the boxes were like pulp because they had soaked up water somewhere en route. It was a miracle the discs and sleeves
were not damaged and this was only because they were inside plastic sleeves and also inside bubblewrap that was well taped up.