Thickness Measurement of a Good Poly Mailer?

[Deleted]

My last batch from my long time supplier was thinner that what I have been receiving for years (the seller doesn't give a thickness measurement). So I've been browsing listings where this measurement is given. I noticed one seller of a 2.4 mil thick poly had a complaint that the buyer was able to stick his finger through it. I don't need super heavy duty, but I need better than that. So I think I should probably be looking at 3 mil or better?

Does anyone know the thickness of your poly mailer? Are you happy with it?

[Deleted]

Heck, 3 mil is what I get in commercial/contractor bags for tough cleanup jobs. That thickness would be overkill for clothing items. I've been very satisfied with the quality of poly's I have. I think mine are 2.4 mil. I have stuffed some with 2-3 lb clothing items and never had any split. The ones I get are white with silver lining. I tried logging into my buying account to see where I got them, and my dang browser got hung. I might try again later, if I don't fall asleep before then!

[Deleted]

You could test the mailers you have and see if your finger or other random objects will puncture them. I've never been able to stick my finger through a poly mailer of any kind. Of course I haven't really tried all that hard either.

[Deleted]

I could stick my finger through one from my latest batch, but I haven't tried that hard either. I don't want to waste a bag.

I found this on a site that sells zip lock type bags. The numbers don't mean anything to me, but I like that they make comparisons to bags we're all familiar with.
How thick is 2 Mil.
2 Mil. = 50.8 Microns = .0508 Millimeters = 2/1000 inch. The standard household Ziploc® Brand sandwich bag is 1.5 Mil. The heavier freezer bags sold in stores are about 3 Mil.

How thick is 4 Mil.
4 Mil. = 101.6 Microns = .1016 Millimeters = 4/1000 inch. 4 Mil bags are considered heavyweight.

So I think 3 mil is about what I'm looking for, freezer bag thickness. I would be comfortable putting something like a shoe box in that. Or an expensive item that I don't box instead for whatever reason. I received an order from a big box store last week in an oversized poly mailer. It looked like it had been pricked with a pin all over. But it was really thick, so whatever had jabbed at the outside hadn't gone all the way through.

[Deleted]

elly, I saw your question before I went to bed last night and I checked my past orders to try and give you an answer. I've always been happy with mine, but it turns out they don't have a stated thickness either. I've always gotten mine from corijenn, but haven't reordered in probably over a year. Is that who you got your last batch from?

[Deleted]

I finally got around to pulling up my buying acct. to check where I got my last few batches of poly mailers from. lcmailers @ebay
The thickness isn't listed, but I've never had a bit of trouble with any order. Plus, I've never had any odors to worry about!

Oh, and don't forget Royalmailers...ALL of their poly's are advertised as 3.2 mil!
And we're entitled (or at least were...) to a 5% discount, according to what they posted on this forum. Royalmailers poly bags

[Deleted]

Feb 25, 2016 0:15:31 GMT @classring said:

elly, I saw your question before I went to bed last night and I checked my past orders to try and give you an answer. I've always been happy with mine, but it turns out they don't have a stated thickness either. I've always gotten mine from corijenn, but haven't reordered in probably over a year. Is that who you got your last batch from?

I don't remember.

I bought all my bags from cori for about 6 years. About two years ago I started buying a multi size variety pack from threerb. For the most part I continued to order 10 X 13 from Cori. But if I needed that size at the same time as I needed the variety pack, I ordered them all from threerb. So odds are that they came from Cori, but they really could have come from either seller. I have both in my FB from the last 6+ mos to a year.

We have Amazon Prime (free shipping), so I was browsing over there. I found recent reviewers for more than one seller with my same complaint. Buyer had been dealing with the same seller for years with no quality issues, then suddenly they're receiving thin shiny mailers instead of the thicker matte ones.

Funny, you mention Royalmailers Bets. Just before I came here I found what I wanted from RoyalMailers on Amazon for 16 cents a bag. I'm pretty sure I paid 12-13 cents a bag for what I have now, so I'm more than willing to pay the extra 4 cents for a better mailer. I had forgotten we got a discount, so thanks for the reminder!

[zoesam]

I did the same as Class, but forgot to post my findings. I will say I've never noticed or paid any attn. to thickness & I've never had a problem. Like she said, Corij didn't have the thickness on the listings, but that's where I get most of mine. Threerb did & it look like most of them are either 2.0 or 2.4. Also never had any problems with his bags. So to me, the big seller's are all fine.

[thekloset]

I was one of those who bought the cheap pink polymailers from corijean and they were awful. REALLY awful. I just checked my purchase history and there was no thickness noted.

I DID put my finger right through one. I don't use them for shipping--i'm afraid to.

i also buy clear t-shirt bags and they are 1ml thick--but they are packaging material, not shipping material. i wouldn't DREAM of sending something through the mail in one of them.

hope that gives you some perspective.

[Deleted]

I can't figure out why no orders from cori or threerb are in my purchase history on my buying or selling ID. Based on FB it looks like I've bought from both, multiple times from Cori, some time after I purchased my Christmas gifts in 2014. So probably 2015. One order was a smelly batch from Cori that I keep only as a back up - if I ever order too late and run out completely.

But I did find an order of extra large bags I bought on my selling ID last winter for puffy coats. They were 2.5 mil. I still have two of them and I'm happy with them.

Thanks for your help everyone. I'm going to look at those clear T shirt bags too while I'm shopping too. I've been meaning to price those and compare with the generic zip locks I'm using from Dollar Deals. Even with a good poly, I like to double bag.

[Desire]

Elly - did you see my post about a new supply of pink poly bags not being a full 10 x 13"?

It  made it difficult to slide an item packed inside a 10 x 13 zip-lock. First time it happened to me, so I measured the bags and they are 9-7/8" instead of a full 10" across. That 1/8" makes a big difference. Threeb has the full 10" wide pink, purple, and blue bags - I just got an order last week.

[Desire]

Feb 25, 2016 11:49:58 GMT thekloset said:

I was one of those who bought the cheap pink polymailers from corijean and they were awful. REALLY awful. I just checked my purchase history and there was no thickness noted.

I DID put my finger right through one. I don't use them for shipping--i'm afraid to.

i also buy clear t-shirt bags and they are 1ml thick--but they are packaging material, not shipping material. i wouldn't DREAM of sending something through the mail in one of them.

hope that gives you some perspective.

Kloset - are the clear t-shirt bags the ones that you put an item in and they either pocket-fold over the back of the item, or they have  strip of adhesive to seal them on the back?  I'd like to get away form the zip-lock type and get something that looks more like clothing bags you receive from online catalog orders.

If so, are you ordering them on ebay?  Thanks!

[Deleted]

I did see that Desire. My ziplock just fits (width wise) in the bags I'm using now that measure 10". So I'm with you, I don't want to be shorted.

I was just looking at these clear T shirt bags. www.ebay.com/itm/500-9x12-PLASTIC-POLY-T-SHIRT-CLEAR-BAGS-2-FLAP-BACK-1-MIL/111298841615?rt=nc&_soffid=5011172500&_soffType=OrderSubTotalOffer&_trksid=p5731.m3795. It says youth T, but I'm pretty sure I could work with this size. I've put plus size Quacker cardigans in a regular gallon size ziplock. The price is less than a penny more per piece than I pay for the ziplocks, and I don't even know if this guy has the best price. It's just the first listing I saw for what I was looking for. I'm going to switch. I agree with Desire - it's a step up in presentation.

[zoesam]

Feb 25, 2016 11:49:58 GMT thekloset said:

I was one of those who bought the cheap pink polymailers from corijean and they were awful. REALLY awful. I just checked my purchase history and there was no thickness noted.

I DID put my finger right through one. I don't use them for shipping--i'm afraid to.

i also buy clear t-shirt bags and they are 1ml thick--but they are packaging material, not shipping material. i wouldn't DREAM of sending something through the mail in one of them.

hope that gives you some perspective.

I agree with Kloset abt the pink ones from CJ. Those WERE thinner than her white ones. They were total crap & i got my $$ back thanks to a helpful boardie on the 2 batches I ordered. I've never had a problem with her or Threerb's white ones though.  They were a really weird pink color too :-(.  Reminded me of Pepto Bismol.

[thekloset]

Feb 25, 2016 18:02:38 GMT Desire said:

Feb 25, 2016 11:49:58 GMT thekloset said:

Kloset - are the clear t-shirt bags the ones that you put an item in and they either pocket-fold over the back of the item, or they have  strip of adhesive to seal them on the back?  I'd like to get away form the zip-lock type and get something that looks more like clothing bags you receive from online catalog orders.

If so, are you ordering them on ebay?  Thanks!

www.ebay.com/itm/172005554710?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

this is the current one I just ordered. they were the cheapest. I haven't gotten them yet, but I presume they are all the same ;-)

they are pretty much like old fashioned baggies. they have the foldover, no adhesive, no ziplock. nothing fancy--I just use them as extra protection and to help slide stuff into envelopes. my original intent involved inventory organization but uh, that never happened.

they work fine for I use them for.

[Desire]

Thanks Elly and Kloset for the links on the fold-over bags!

[Emerald_Door]

The last mailers I bought are 2.5 mil thick. The seller is pacdepot.

I use ziplocks inside the mailer because I know they're waterproof. About ten years ago I received a positive feedback that said, "Packed well enough to survive a dunking." I think that's a good standard. :-)

[kritter]

I use the storage ziplocks inside the mailer too.

They are a good thickness and waterproof for extra protection.

I don't think buyers are offended if the brand name is imprinted on the ziplock.

[bettyblackbent]

2.6 is the thinnest I will buy anymore. I get lcmailers.

[Deleted]

I would be impressed with a ziplock with a name brand. I buy cheap generics, nothing on the bag at all.

The mailers from Royal Mailers are nice. More than I need for FC domestic, which is most of what I ship. But I'll never have to question if I need to double bag for any reason. Which I sometimes do with international, even when using a ziplock.

[Deleted]

I use 2.5 mil mailers (bought on eBay from wholesaledirectchoice), with a sealed poly bag inside (the 3 mil ones from Uline are really nice).

[SA]

I have been ordering the 2.4 and have no problem.