Which one you use changes what the carrier charges you.
Verdict
Mailers for soft goods, boxes for anything that can be crushed. A poly mailer costs around ten cents, weighs almost nothing, takes no storage space, and adds no dimensional weight, which is why clothing resellers use nothing else. A box costs several times more and is the only correct answer for anything rigid, fragile or breakable. Sending a mug in a mailer is how you fund a replacement out of your own margin.
Under $50
Check Corrugated Shipping Boxes 12x9x4, 25 pack Price| Poly Mailers 10x13, 100 pack | Corrugated Shipping Boxes 12x9x4, 25 pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per parcel | Around ten cents | Around a dollar |
| Protects rigid items | No | Yes |
| Adds dimensional weight | Barely | Yes |
| Storage space | Almost none | Considerable |
| Waterproof | Yes | No |
| Best for | Clothing, textiles, soft goods | Anything rigid or fragile |
You sell clothing, textiles or anything soft. Mailers are waterproof, cheap, and take almost no room in a spare bedroom, which matters more than resellers expect. They also keep the parcel small, which keeps you out of dimensional weight pricing. Do not use them for anything with a corner that can be crushed.
Check Poly Mailers 10x13, 100 pack on Amazon
You sell anything rigid, breakable, boxed or collectible. A box plus filler is what stops a claim, and claims cost you the item, the postage and often the rating. Buying one size that fits most of what you sell is cheaper than a range, and a box that fits reduces both filler and dimensional weight.
Check Corrugated Shipping Boxes 12x9x4, 25 pack on Amazon
Free carrier-branded packaging where a service allows it, then mailers, then boxes bought in bulk. Reused boxes are fine if they are structurally sound and all old labels are removed, and plenty of buyers appreciate it. Filthy or collapsed boxes cost you ratings.
Enough filler that nothing moves when you shake the parcel, and rigid protection on corners and edges. Most damage happens because an item was loose in the box, not because the box was too thin.
A packing slip and a short thank you note cost almost nothing and show up in reviews. Anything asking directly for a five star rating breaches most platforms' rules, so keep it to a thank you.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.