AM Shipping Supplies -- Expert Guide to Saving
AM Shipping Supplies: Packaging and Shipping Materials for Businesses
AM Shipping Supplies is a supplier of corrugated boxes, poly mailers, bubble mailers, foam and paper void fill, tape, and specialty packaging materials for e-commerce businesses, retail operations, and distribution centers. Packaging is a significant recurring cost for shipping-intensive businesses, making efficient procurement and material selection important for maintaining margin.
Choosing the Right Packaging for Your Products
Packaging selection should match product fragility, weight, and geometry. Rigid products with flat surfaces (books, clothing) ship efficiently in poly mailers at low cost. Fragile items require cushioned protection from bubble wrap, foam inserts, or paper fill inside corrugated boxes. Liquids need inner containment bags plus cushioning. Over-packaging -- using triple-wall boxes for non-fragile items -- wastes material and adds weight cost; under-packaging creates damage claims.
Understanding Corrugated Box Strength Designations
Corrugated boxes are rated by edge crush test (ECT) values, with common ratings of 32 ECT (standard single-wall), 44 ECT (heavy-duty single-wall), and double-wall for heavy industrial goods. The ECT rating indicates the box's resistance to stacking compression -- relevant for multi-tier warehouse stacking. For most e-commerce shipping, 32 ECT single-wall boxes provide adequate protection for average-weight items.
Right-Sizing Packaging to Reduce Dimensional Weight Charges
Major carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS) calculate dimensional weight (DIM weight) by multiplying box dimensions and dividing by a DIM factor. When DIM weight exceeds actual weight, the higher value is billed. Using packaging closely sized to the product -- eliminating excess empty space with void fill rather than using oversized boxes -- reduces DIM weight charges that can add $2-$10 per shipment for lightweight items in large boxes.
Sustainable Packaging Options and Their Business Case
Consumer preference research shows significant segments of e-commerce buyers prefer sustainable packaging -- recycled corrugated boxes, paper void fill over plastic bubble wrap, biodegradable mailers. Beyond consumer preference, sustainable packaging increasingly qualifies for carrier sustainability certifications and meets retailer requirements for suppliers. Kraft paper void fill is often cost-competitive with bubble wrap while eliminating plastic waste.
Bulk Purchasing Economics for Shipping Supplies
Shipping supply costs scale significantly with volume. Single-pack pricing at office supply stores can be 3-5x higher than case pricing at dedicated supply companies. Buying 6-12 months of standard packaging consumables in single bulk orders dramatically reduces per-unit cost. Storage space for bulk packaging inventory is the primary constraint -- adjusting order frequency based on available storage optimizes the cost-versus-storage trade-off.
Using SaveSpire for Shipping Supply Discounts
SaveSpire maintains promotional codes for shipping supply and packaging companies. Before placing bulk packaging orders from AM Shipping Supplies, checking SaveSpire for available discount codes can compound savings on top of already-discounted bulk pricing. Many packaging suppliers offer additional promotional discounts for new account orders.
Q: What is the most cost-effective packaging for clothing and soft goods?
Poly mailers are the most cost-effective packaging for non-fragile soft goods -- clothing, fabric goods, books without glass elements. Self-sealing poly mailers at $0.10-$0.25 each weigh almost nothing (reducing postage), require no tape, and provide adequate weather protection. Compostable mailers provide the same convenience with reduced environmental impact at slightly higher cost.
Q: How do I calculate how much packaging material I need to stock?
Analyze your shipment history by box size and mailer type over the past 90 days. Multiply the monthly average by 3-4 months to determine a conservative bulk order quantity. Adjust based on seasonal sales patterns -- stocking heavier before peak season avoids supply disruptions during high-volume shipping periods.