Pass Around box idea

[DavidR8]

Ont eh Hobby Machinist (H-M) forum they have a thing where a flat rate box is mailed around to forum members who sign up to receive it. People agree to take something and replace it with something else.
I've pasted some of the pertinent info from H-M:

"We start off with a medium sized flat rate box from the USPS. It has a stainless steel interior box which is filled with various odds and ends, doo-dads and goo-gahs, not to mention thing-a-ma-jigs and whatchamacallits (highly technical terms for various machine shop related items ). The box gets sent from one participant to the next and the next, with each participant removing items of interest from the box when it arrives, then putting other items in their place before sending it to the next individual. This box will circulate down the list until late summer, early fall at which time it will be returned to the admin in charge. It is a lot of fun with some nice surprises along the way!"

Here's a link to the start of the 2023 thread. I think non-H-M members should be able to read it. If not, let me know and I'll see what I can do about reproducing the info here.

 

[YYCHM]

Is suspect CP flat rate boxes are one time usage........

 

[DavidR8]

Is suspect CP flat rate boxes are one time usage........

So are USPS boxes I believe.

 

[140mower]

Is suspect CP flat rate boxes are one time usage........

I think that the flat rate box is kind of the price of admission and only the inner box passes on with a new box....

 

[DavidR8]

Might not be practical as our flat rates boxes are tiny.
3/4 inches x 11 13/16 inches x 7 1/2 inches

v.s
USPS medium box
11 1/4″ x 8 3/4″ x 6″

 

[140mower]

Might not be practical as our flat rates boxes are tiny.
3/4 inches x 11 13/16 inches x 7 1/2 inches

v.s
USPS medium box
11 1/4″ x 8 3/4″ x 6″

They have bigger ones as well, I think. Seems to me that there's three different sizes.....

 

[DavidR8]

Send a flat rate box | Personal

Send a parcel anywhere in Canada using our flat rate boxes and avoid searching for packaging or any surprise shipping costs.

www.canadapost-postescanada.ca

 

[trlvn]

Note that our Flat Rate boxes, no what the size, are limited to 5 kg / 11 pounds. With metal items, you can hit that limit pretty quickly.

Craig

 

[KeeponDragon]

I had once caught a series on YouTube between various creators, a Machinist's Relay.

Just did a quick google, and it started with Quinn @ Blondihacks, then went to Adam from Abom79, I think from there, on to AvE in Kamloops....nothing after that...maybe there wasn't enough views...or customs held it, wondering what it was lol...

I believe the idea behind it was, make some sort of tool, using various methods, means and materials.

Maybe a relay would make more sense then sending up to 11 lbs of random?

 

[Susquatch]

X SML - 9.5" X 6.5" X 3.5"
Max. 5 kg $16.99

SMALL - 10 3/8 x 14 x 2 1/8
Max. 5 kg $19.99

MED - 15 3/8 x 10 1/4 x 4 3/4 Max. 5 kg. $24.99

LRG - 15 3/4 x 11 13/16 x 7 1/2 Max. 5 kg. $32.99

No idea why Max weight doesn't scale with size and price.

5kg is 11 lbs

 

[DPittman]

So I haven't figured out how the box keeps getting shipped....is the receiver resending the box at his expense or is there another way? It seems to me from what I read some others were getting a box returned to sender sort of scam/shady method to avoid new charges? I could be wrong on that tho.
I think a new flat rate box and charge is the only way I can see it litgitaly done here. Then it could be questioned if $35 is worth more than the items one would receive?

 

[DavidR8]

So I haven't figured out how the box keeps getting shipped....is the receiver resending the box at his expense or is there another way? It seems to me from what I read some others were getting a box returned to sender sort of scam/shady method to avoid new charges? I could be wrong on that tho.
I think a new flat rate box and charge is the only way I can see it litgitaly done here. Then it could be questioned if $35 is worth more than the items one would receive?

Yup, the receiver pays for shipping to the next person on the list.
I think it works well in the US because they can ship a 70 lb box for next to nothing.
Likely not viable for us

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I don't think it would work up here. Canada Post would make a killing off us.

 

[Susquatch]

I think if you look at this as a way to get some cool tooling, it will never work. Shipping in Canada will make sure it doesn't.

If you look at it as a way to have some fun at a cost, it might be a laugh worth the cost.

I Love the Tap Game - @140mower is a genius!!! I signed up immediately. I dunno about the Geocaching by Canada Post game though.

 

[JustaDB]

I think it works well in the US because they can ship a 70 lb box for next to nothing.

I read somewhere (maybe on this forum) that, based on material weight vs volume, it was impossible to overload the USPS box.

 

[PeterT]

I read somewhere (maybe on this forum) that, based on material weight vs volume, it was impossible to overload the USPS box.

Depends what you mean by overload. As mentioned I think there are several flat rate boxes to choose from, but this link mentions one new larger size in particular?
12 x 12 x 5.5 in = 792 in3 volume. Steel is ~4.5 oz/in3, so 3,564 oz = 222 pounds if filled completely. Their max domestic shipping weight is 70 pounds, which is still impressive as far as shipping goes. For international, Kanukistan for example, the max drops to 20 pounds which is why that mode often taps out.

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