advice for shipping cookies around the country

[lilyanna]

your advice? do you use UPS or the Postal Service?

[SanseiDesigns]

I am a fan of the USPS flat rate box. For cookie shipments I use the 'just larger than a shoe box' size. I just sent a box from Oregon to Houston and it arrived in perfect condition. The box is free and the flat rate is $8.10 to anywhere in the US (I believe APO addresses are okay as well). Based on the selection I normally mail, the normal rate would be anywhere from $11-15, so it is a good deal.

Regarding packing - I normally mail 7-9 different types of cookies. I wrap drop cookies, and round cutouts two at a time in plastic wrap. Each little package gets a sticky label with the name of the cookie. Because I send them to my brother-in-law's office where some people cannot eat nuts, the nut cookies are labeled with red writing. I wrap biscotti as single cookies. With a lining of bubble wrap, the cookies are packed snuggly to prevent joshling (and breakage). So far, there hasn't been a box of cookie crumbles, and everyone seems pleased.

Happy mailing!

[Andiereid]

Definitely the USPS. Their Click and Ship thing ROCKS! I just got through shipping cookies from NC to CA, GA and points in between. I just logged onto the web site, filled out the info, paid for it with a debit card, and printed out the label. The postal carrier came and took everything away yesterday. I didn't have to leave the house and stand in line anywhere!

[chowser]

I've heard that Pringles cans make great packaging for cookies. You'd have to figure out what to do with the Pringles, though. When I packed cookies for my husband at sea, I'd wrap them in plastic wrap first (groupings of them), wax paper, then in a big zip lock bag. It crossed my mind to freeze them first and then add an ice pack to the bag but decided it wasn't worth the effort, especially since it could be a long time before he got them.

With all the shipping of cookies, I'm surprised no manufacturer has thought of making an easy package for them. Top/bottom/sides premade w/ protective padding, different compartment sizes, etc.

[China]

The US postal service will also send you boxes for free if you're planning to use priority mail. They've got some 7x7x6s that seem like they would work well for sending small packages of cookies and 12x12x8s for larger cookie packages. You can order them online at www.usps.com

[lilyanna]

I saw some crazy postings on another cooking board - not chowhound - where some people suggested individually wrapping cookies in Saran Wrap, or grouping them in twos...that seems extremely OCD to even me, and wasteful...but I'm open to ideas. Has anyone tried this?

[coll]

If someone sent cookies wrapped like that, I think I'd be annoyed more than anything.

[coll]

I prefer Fedex myself. If you open an account on your credit card, they have a very reasonable rate for ground which usually gets there quicker than either of the others.

[itsonlyfood]

Either method would be fine for your shipment, provided you pack them well---in the center of plenty of bubblepack, styro peanuts or popcorn, inside a corregated box. The Post Office will probably cost less. Their priority air (like UPS 2 day) is cheaper than UPS.

[BostonZest]

Use unbuttered popcorn to cushion your cookies. Wrap the cookies well and fill all the space in the package with popcorn.

[TonyO]

I worked for UPS and would not ship anything fragile through them. They are a wrecking machine especially this time of year.

[LisaN]

Not to mention, UPS manages to lose alot of stuff this time of year. The post office has flat rate boxes now that cost $8 to ship anywhere in the US. There are two sizes, and it doesn't matter how much it weighs, this might be helpful if you were shipping heavier brownies or bars

[Karl S]

Yes, UPS is the *worst* of the major shippers; foods I receive are often poorly handled by them, significantly more so than other carriers. The Postal Service is gold by comparison.

[HAF]

From my perspective either will work---the key though is to wrap your cookies really really well. Obviously bar cookies ship best, but if you're doing more fragile ones then if you can place layers of something between the cookies and fill the gaps in the package (paper towels would work fine) so they don't rattle around.

On the other hand . . . one of our favorite gifts every year is the cookies from our niece & nephew across the country that ALWAYS arrive totally smashed--it's the thought that counts and they still taste good!