FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Masa Shinsato pads his box with newspapers stuffed inside of priority mail envelopes, then further cushions the contents with foam "popcorn" and bubble wrap.
By Masa Shinsato's reckoning, almost anything can be sent through the mail without danger of damage, as long as it's packed right. Pack with
Tastes of home
plenty of paddingBy Betty Shimabukuro
betty@starbulletin.com
Shinsato owns the Mail Box, a postal service at Century Center. He handles mailings through the United States Postal Service as well as private couriers, but most important for our purposes, he packs boxes. Lots and lots of boxes. He's sent televisions, computers, even valuable pieces of art through the mail.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
A box of munchies posed little problem.
Shinsato agreed to take our collection of food products and pack them in a single box as though preparing them for mailing. In the process, he offered these tips:
Choose a big enough box. Don't scrimp here. Your box should be at least 1-1/2 times the total volume of what you're mailing. Don't try for a snug fit. You need room for padding.
Speaking of padding ... Cushion the bottom, sides and top of the box. Wadded up newspaper is good, but place it inside large envelopes or plastic bags (Shinsato uses priority mail envelopes, which are soft). That way the inside of the box stays neat --providing a good first impression when opened. Fill between items with foam "popcorn."
Give some items extra protection. Enclose breakables such as jars in bubble wrap (below), then tape the wrap shut. Put delicate chips or crackers inside a box, then cushion that box inside a larger box for extra shock-absorption. Place breakables in the center of the box with sturdier items around. Bags of coffee, for example, are good extra padding.
Top it off. Once everything's packed, cover with a clean sheet of paper or cardboard. This is for extra protection and a neat appearance. You could write the recipients address here as well, in case something happens to the outside of the box.
Mail perishables in inexpensive foam coolers packed with dry ice (up to 5 pounds, available at GasPro) via overnight or two-day delivery service.
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