Poly mailers guide: Why use them, when to use them, and how much they cost (Part 1)
Which types of e-commerce products can be shipped with mailing bags?
Poly mailers are a good option for any products that can’t be crushed like apparel or fabric, or useful for products that are already in sturdy packaging like shoes that you don’t think will stay sealed while in transit. If it passes the test of ‘Will this product be okay if a carrier throws the poly bag into a pile that gets heavy boxes tossed on top of it?’ then you can use a poly mailer.
Mailing bags should never be used for fragile items like sunglasses, foods such as chips that can be smashed and crumbled, and products made out of glass. Unless these products are already in sturdy packaging, stick to boxes.
Apparel
Poly mailers are great for apparel because it’s hard to crush clothing. When fulfilling apparel orders, you want to use poly mailers for products like jeans, shirts, or footwear that aren’t at risk of being crushed while in transit. However, if you sell dresses with intricate beading or ornaments on them, they’re better suited for boxes.
Cloth and fabric-based products
Like apparel, most products made of cloth, cotton, or any type of fabric are good candidates for poly mailers. Ideal products include swatches, yarn, face masks, and bedding products like sheet sets.
Books and printed media
Books are a good option for poly mailers as they’re often already sturdy since a bubble-lined poly mailer can provide the extra security needed to prevent rips and dents in the book when shipping books with a poly mailer.
Some health, beauty, and wellness products
Fulfillment for health, beauty, and wellness products can be done in both boxes and mailers, but it’s ultimately dependent on the product’s packaging and materials.
Liquid products like face wash and products in glass aren’t good for poly mailers, however, shipping vitamins and supplements, nutrition products, and cosmetics (e.g., shipping makeup like a tube of mascara, liquid eyeliner, or lipstick) may be done in poly mailers so long as they are sealed tight and already encased in materials that won’t break when dropped or thrown.
Anything else is strong, sturdy product packaging that’s soft and flat or not easily crushed
One of the reasons brands use poly mailers is to ship products that are already in sturdy packaging. It’s often overkill to ship products in cardboard boxes if the product is already packaged in cardboard.
Other examples of sturdy packaged products include:
- A deck of playing cards
- Smaller board games
- Phone cases
4 types of poly mailers
There are several types of poly mailers available, and the type you use will depend on your goal(s), whether that’s to save money, showcase your brand, be eco-friendly, or play it safe and add more protection.
Regular white poly mailing bags
These standard plastic poly mailers have no bubble padding. They are your most cost-effective option and best suited for products that don’t need more cushion like bubble wrap. They cover the product and don’t offer much protection.
Bubble padded
These poly mailers come bubble-padded on the inside to provide extra security for any high-quality products that require it or for those that you are worried could get scratched.
Expansion poly mailers
These are your heavy-duty poly mailers, made from strong polyethylene and designed to protect products from moisture during shipping. They are puncture, moisture, tamper, and tear-resistant and feature padded bottoms to allow for thicker items.
Eco-friendly options
Eco-friendly poly mailers include biodegradable and recycled options. For eco-conscious brands, these are the poly mailers to use as they minimize waste, maximize the use of renewable energy during production, and are safe for both consumers and the environment throughout their lifecycle.
Where can I get the mailing bags?
Poly mailers are available for purchase at just about any location that sells shipping supplies. Some of the most popular places to get poly mailers include:
- USPS (at post offices and online)
- FedEx (at retail store locations and online)
- UPS (at retail locations and online)
- Walmart (at retail locations and online)
- Target (at retail locations and online)
If you choose to work with Hanpak for outsourced fulfillment, we provide poly mailers for shipments at no extra cost. If you want custom-branded poly mailers, our partners can help.
Pick the perfect packaging for all your products with Hanpak
With Hanpak, you get best-in-class e-commerce fulfillment services, support, and technology. You can choose between poly mailers and boxes on a product-by-product basis. Even if you have a diverse set of products, you can still choose boxes for more fragile products or combinations of fragile and non-fragile items.
We also have custom packaging vendors who can help create branded poly mailers for you to help your brand stand out even more.
Visit us at our website or online shop.