The poll is closed as of 28 Sept 2012 and thank you 5 who bothered to answer the poll. You are great pepper heads.
I am now offering the packs for sale in my classified advertizements and on the classified market forum titled Covert seed 5 packs For Sale.
thank you for viewing and happy growing.
Balac
Tired of trying to reuse old bubble packs to send 2-3 types of seeds to a buddy?
Sick of buying $.70 packs and spending $1.70 on post?
How does 10 individual seed foam packs for less than $.80 that can go in a standard
letter envelope for $.44 sound?
Having troubles getting foreign seeds into the US or through another counties customs
inspectors?
I need your feedback for selecting the pack and the foam thickness to make for sale to
the pepper community. The current design uses a 1-1/2 inch square individual zip-lock bag
arranged in a linear 9 inch row of 5 baggies.
Currently I have a double sided foam sandwich (Center) and a single sided foam (Bottom) covered with tape approach as seen in the above photo. US Postal rules (see below) are that a standard letter envelope can not be more than 1/4-inch thick in total including the envelope. So the Microfoam double sided 1/16 inch pack could be doubled up in a envelope while the 1/8 inch foam on the right could not be doubled up. The 1/8 on the right has a clear tape cover over the zip locks but it may be able to adhere a thin foam to it as well and still keep it thin enough for the postal rules.
The Microfoam has some advantages and disadvantages. First it is expensive with one linear pack being about $.75 but it is a very tough and soft material that can take a lot of abuse and will do a good job at protecting seeds. It also has a removable tape on the top so you can remove it and stick it onto the inside of an envelope. By postal rules the letter sized mail has to be uniform in thickness and this removable tape can fix 2 or 4 linear packs into a envelope so they will not move thereby not being obvious to inspectors.
The 1/8" foil backed pack is cheaper ($.40) and the foil back Might make the seeds safer for going through irradiation machines. No Guarantees however. These should be taped to the inside of the envelope using your own tape. I also can make 1/8" foam packs with a tape top for $.40.
Instead of the Tape cover I could apply a thin foam like the 1/32 inch foam below if I can find an adhesive that will bond 2 foam sheets together. But that will add some money to the cost which I do not know at this point. Lets call it a nickel? The same will go for 1/32 large cell foam sandwiches seen below on the left. Large cell here refers to the relative differences between the other micro type seen above. Tape can be affixed to the foam surface like above and these linear packs would be about $.35 and $.30 respectfully.
Since these linear packs have no internal glue they should be taped up inside the envelope so they do not bunch up and make the envelope irregular thickness. If sending more than 2 linear packs then the other packs should be taped to the other side of the envelopes inside so neither move.
Here is a picture of 4 types of packs proposed.
Now instead; or in addition to; those shown above I could also make sandwiched 1/16 inch foam and taped like those shown above. There would be about an nickle more to the cost as indicated above so $.40. But as the following photo shows the 1/16 inch foam sandwich packing is adequate to protect seeds if they are normal. If they are narly seeds then 1/16 inch packing will be needed.
his shows the packing of 5 Seeds like those shown on the top. They were the narliest, twisted, inverted seeds I could find and the sandwiched zip-lock looks like it will do well for those seeds. I would not recommend the single 1/32 with tape cover because these seeds are so ornery that they need more than a single layer. But you could used 2 lineal one sided packs back to back and that would work as well as one 1/16 tape covered pack. Normal seeds should do well with one single foam layer.
Currently I only have Microfoam; Foil backed; and 1/16" to use. The 1/32" foam I like best but need to come up with $200 to buy a roll. Any banker out there that want to float me a loan?
Additional evaluation questions for the packing:
* If you would rather have another sized pack like a full 4x9 inch foam with 10 zip-locks or other size please indicate in the text response.
* If you would rather have a different sized zip-lock then 1-1/2 please indicate in the text response. But remember that normal envelopes are 4 inches high.
* If you would like to have fewer zip-locks in the linear pack please indicate in the text response.
* If you would rather buy the foam and baggies separately and put them together yourself please indicate in the text response.
In conclusion the linear 1/16 inch tape faced is the cheapest alternative with an estimated cost of $.30/linear 5 zip-lock packs. The most secure is the microfoam sandwich with the self adhesive collar for an estimated $.75. And the 1/8 inch foil back with tape cover may be of value when covert and protected shipments are needed.
Note: Estimated cost may need to be revised after man-hour analysis has been completed. Estimated prices does not include postal rates or packing for shipping to your location. At this time only paypal payed orders are being accepted for Evaluation Packs; PM me for further info.
Edit(Added a 1/16" glued on linear 5 pack that would cost $.30)
NOTICE---DO NOT Fold or Stack my packs in envelopes because the envelopes have to be less than 1/4" and without bumps that will catch in the Post Office equipment.
FROM:
http://pe.usps.com/c...m300/101.pdf1.0
Physical Standards for Letters
1.1 Dimensional Standards for Letters
Letter-size mail is:
a. Not less than 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007-inch thick.
b. Not more than 11-1/2 inches long, or more than 6-1/8 inches high, or more
than 1/4-inch thick.
c. Not more than 3.5 ounces (First-Class Mail letter-size pieces over 3.5 ounces
pay flat-size prices).
d. Rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sides. Letter-size,
card-type mailpieces made of cardstock may have finished corners that do not
exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch).
1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria
A letter-size piece is nonmachinable (see 6.4) if it has one or more of the following
characteristics (see 601.1.4 to determine the length, height, top, and bottom of a
mailpiece):
a. Has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
b. Is polybagged, polywrapped, enclosed in any plastic material, or has an exterior
surface made of a material that is not paper. Windows in envelopes made of
paper do not make mail pieces nonmachinable. Attachments allowable under
applicable eligibility standards do not make mailpieces nonmachinable.
c. Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.
d. Contains items such as pens, pencils, keys, or coins that cause the thickness
of the mailpiece to be uneven; or loose keys or coins or similar objects not
affixed to the contents within the mailpiece. Loose items may cause a letter to
be nonmailable when mailed in paper envelopes; (see 601.2.3, Odd-Shaped
Items in Paper Envelopes).
e. Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of
40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn).
f. For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less
than 0.009 inch.
g. Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.
I am now offering the packs for sale in my classified advertizements and on the classified market forum titled Covert seed 5 packs For Sale.
thank you for viewing and happy growing.
Balac
Tired of trying to reuse old bubble packs to send 2-3 types of seeds to a buddy?
Sick of buying $.70 packs and spending $1.70 on post?
How does 10 individual seed foam packs for less than $.80 that can go in a standard
letter envelope for $.44 sound?
Having troubles getting foreign seeds into the US or through another counties customs
inspectors?
I need your feedback for selecting the pack and the foam thickness to make for sale to
the pepper community. The current design uses a 1-1/2 inch square individual zip-lock bag
arranged in a linear 9 inch row of 5 baggies.
Currently I have a double sided foam sandwich (Center) and a single sided foam (Bottom) covered with tape approach as seen in the above photo. US Postal rules (see below) are that a standard letter envelope can not be more than 1/4-inch thick in total including the envelope. So the Microfoam double sided 1/16 inch pack could be doubled up in a envelope while the 1/8 inch foam on the right could not be doubled up. The 1/8 on the right has a clear tape cover over the zip locks but it may be able to adhere a thin foam to it as well and still keep it thin enough for the postal rules.
The Microfoam has some advantages and disadvantages. First it is expensive with one linear pack being about $.75 but it is a very tough and soft material that can take a lot of abuse and will do a good job at protecting seeds. It also has a removable tape on the top so you can remove it and stick it onto the inside of an envelope. By postal rules the letter sized mail has to be uniform in thickness and this removable tape can fix 2 or 4 linear packs into a envelope so they will not move thereby not being obvious to inspectors.
The 1/8" foil backed pack is cheaper ($.40) and the foil back Might make the seeds safer for going through irradiation machines. No Guarantees however. These should be taped to the inside of the envelope using your own tape. I also can make 1/8" foam packs with a tape top for $.40.
Instead of the Tape cover I could apply a thin foam like the 1/32 inch foam below if I can find an adhesive that will bond 2 foam sheets together. But that will add some money to the cost which I do not know at this point. Lets call it a nickel? The same will go for 1/32 large cell foam sandwiches seen below on the left. Large cell here refers to the relative differences between the other micro type seen above. Tape can be affixed to the foam surface like above and these linear packs would be about $.35 and $.30 respectfully.
Since these linear packs have no internal glue they should be taped up inside the envelope so they do not bunch up and make the envelope irregular thickness. If sending more than 2 linear packs then the other packs should be taped to the other side of the envelopes inside so neither move.
Here is a picture of 4 types of packs proposed.
Now instead; or in addition to; those shown above I could also make sandwiched 1/16 inch foam and taped like those shown above. There would be about an nickle more to the cost as indicated above so $.40. But as the following photo shows the 1/16 inch foam sandwich packing is adequate to protect seeds if they are normal. If they are narly seeds then 1/16 inch packing will be needed.
his shows the packing of 5 Seeds like those shown on the top. They were the narliest, twisted, inverted seeds I could find and the sandwiched zip-lock looks like it will do well for those seeds. I would not recommend the single 1/32 with tape cover because these seeds are so ornery that they need more than a single layer. But you could used 2 lineal one sided packs back to back and that would work as well as one 1/16 tape covered pack. Normal seeds should do well with one single foam layer.
Currently I only have Microfoam; Foil backed; and 1/16" to use. The 1/32" foam I like best but need to come up with $200 to buy a roll. Any banker out there that want to float me a loan?
Additional evaluation questions for the packing:
* If you would rather have another sized pack like a full 4x9 inch foam with 10 zip-locks or other size please indicate in the text response.
* If you would rather have a different sized zip-lock then 1-1/2 please indicate in the text response. But remember that normal envelopes are 4 inches high.
* If you would like to have fewer zip-locks in the linear pack please indicate in the text response.
* If you would rather buy the foam and baggies separately and put them together yourself please indicate in the text response.
In conclusion the linear 1/16 inch tape faced is the cheapest alternative with an estimated cost of $.30/linear 5 zip-lock packs. The most secure is the microfoam sandwich with the self adhesive collar for an estimated $.75. And the 1/8 inch foil back with tape cover may be of value when covert and protected shipments are needed.
Note: Estimated cost may need to be revised after man-hour analysis has been completed. Estimated prices does not include postal rates or packing for shipping to your location. At this time only paypal payed orders are being accepted for Evaluation Packs; PM me for further info.
Edit(Added a 1/16" glued on linear 5 pack that would cost $.30)
NOTICE---DO NOT Fold or Stack my packs in envelopes because the envelopes have to be less than 1/4" and without bumps that will catch in the Post Office equipment.
FROM:
http://pe.usps.com/c...m300/101.pdf1.0
Physical Standards for Letters
1.1 Dimensional Standards for Letters
Letter-size mail is:
a. Not less than 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007-inch thick.
b. Not more than 11-1/2 inches long, or more than 6-1/8 inches high, or more
than 1/4-inch thick.
c. Not more than 3.5 ounces (First-Class Mail letter-size pieces over 3.5 ounces
pay flat-size prices).
d. Rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sides. Letter-size,
card-type mailpieces made of cardstock may have finished corners that do not
exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch).
1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria
A letter-size piece is nonmachinable (see 6.4) if it has one or more of the following
characteristics (see 601.1.4 to determine the length, height, top, and bottom of a
mailpiece):
a. Has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
b. Is polybagged, polywrapped, enclosed in any plastic material, or has an exterior
surface made of a material that is not paper. Windows in envelopes made of
paper do not make mail pieces nonmachinable. Attachments allowable under
applicable eligibility standards do not make mailpieces nonmachinable.
c. Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.
d. Contains items such as pens, pencils, keys, or coins that cause the thickness
of the mailpiece to be uneven; or loose keys or coins or similar objects not
affixed to the contents within the mailpiece. Loose items may cause a letter to
be nonmailable when mailed in paper envelopes; (see 601.2.3, Odd-Shaped
Items in Paper Envelopes).
e. Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of
40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn).
f. For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less
than 0.009 inch.
g. Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.