Here is the breakdown:
Date Packages Mailed: Dec 9th
Type and Size of Boxes: USPS Ready Post 12"x 10"x 8"
Cost of Box (empty): $1.98
Total Cost of mailing 4 boxes: $23.99
Total Cost of 4 Boxes (empty): $7.92
Sculptures cushioned with: Small round balloon (water balloon size)
Sculpture to Minneapolis, MN:
Photos before Mailing: (Duck in the Shower)
Price of Mailing : USPS Priority Mail $4.80 ($6.78 with box)
Date package arrived: Dec 15th
Delivery Time: 6 days
Did you have to sign for it? No
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift?
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out?
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right?
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? No
Do you like the size of the sculpture?
How did you feel when you opened the box?
Anything else I should know? Thanks!!!
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift?
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out?
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right?
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? No
Do you like the size of the sculpture?
How did you feel when you opened the box?
Anything else I should know? Thanks!!!
Photo upon Arrival:
Sculpture to Apple Valley, MN:
Photos before Mailing: (Seated Purple-Haired Fairy)
Price of Mailing : USPS Priority Mail $4.80 ($6.78 with box)
Date package arrived: Dec 15th or Sooner
Delivery Time: 6 days or less
Did you have to sign for it? No
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift?
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out?
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right?
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? No
Do you like the size of the sculpture?
How did you feel when you opened the box?
Anything else I should know?
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift?
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out?
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right?
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? No
Do you like the size of the sculpture?
How did you feel when you opened the box?
Anything else I should know?
Photo upon Arrival:
Sculpture to Amarillo, TX:
Photos before Mailing: (Purple Monkey with Tulips)
Price of Mailing : USPS Priority Mail $4.80 ($6.78 with box)
Date package arrived: Dec 13th
Delivery Time: 4 days
Did you have to sign for it? No
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift? Yes, but Sculpture held together
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out? No
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right? No
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? No
Do you like the size of the sculpture? Very Good
How did you feel when you opened the box? I felt very excited opening up the package knowing it was a balloon sculpture.
Anything else I should know? I think this was a wonderful experience. The only thing I would suggest is using priority mail boxes instead of ready post, because you can get the priority mail boxes the same size from except they are free. You can get them from anybody that works at the post office. I am so glad I was able to be part of this experience.
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift? Yes, but Sculpture held together
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out? No
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right? No
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? No
Do you like the size of the sculpture? Very Good
How did you feel when you opened the box? I felt very excited opening up the package knowing it was a balloon sculpture.
Anything else I should know? I think this was a wonderful experience. The only thing I would suggest is using priority mail boxes instead of ready post, because you can get the priority mail boxes the same size from except they are free. You can get them from anybody that works at the post office. I am so glad I was able to be part of this experience.
Photo upon Arrival:
Sculpture to Versailles, FRANCE:
Photos before Mailing: (Circus Elephant)
Price of Mailing : USPS First Class International $9.59 ($11.57 with box)
Date package arrived: Jan 12th
Delivery Time: 34 days (almost 5 weeks)
Did you have to sign for it? No
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift? No
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out? No
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right? A Bit
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? A little bit but really nice as well
Do you like the size of the sculpture? YES!!!!
How did you feel when you opened the box? Really excited! I had a bad day at work
Did you have to go pick it up? No
Did the contents shift? No
Was the sculpture distorted when you took it out? No
Did you have to adjust it to make it look right? A Bit
Did any part of it pop as far as you can tell? No
Did anything deflate? A little bit but really nice as well
Do you like the size of the sculpture? YES!!!!
How did you feel when you opened the box? Really excited! I had a bad day at work
and you make me feel better with the box :-))))
Anything else I should know? You are the BEST !!!!!!!
Anything else I should know? You are the BEST !!!!!!!
Photo upon Arrival:
Conclusion: I was really impressed with the durability of the Qualatex balloons to hold up through the mailing (even to France where I'm sure travel conditions ranged into freezing temps!). The local packages arrived within a week or so with no damages and the average cost was about $5-$7 for the box and delivery. Driving to the the post office was a bit of a pain since I needed to go get the box, go home and stuff it, then return that day to mail it. So sculpting and mailing would need to be done on the same day and on a day I don't work so I have enough time to sculpt and mail before they close for the day. Other than that it was pretty simple! If I were to decide to offer mailed balloon sculptures regularly, I would:
-Recommend domestic mailings only, but International can be done!
-Could not guarantee condition on delivery but damage is highly unlikely
-Would choose to send all sculptures at the flat rate of $25 (Better than most floral deliveries!)
-Would choose a regular day for mailing sculptures (Say Wednesdays) to assure enough time for sculpting and mailing without conflicts
-Could not guarantee delivery date, but can assume 3-6 days for domestic deliveries
-Could offer guaranteed delivery dates in person on a regular day (like Wednesdays) within a 3 hour time limit (good for work deliveries) with signature upon reception.
Thanks Everyone for helping me with this experiment!
I hope you had fun!
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