I have spent the last 3 hours searching the web. I am looking for styrofoam coolers.[different sizes] You know, the cheap ones that you buy in the store? It is not the right time of year to go to walmart, etc. I want these so I can ship frozen rabbits. The insulated boxes are extremely expensive and basically a box outside of a cooler. If I can find the coolers I then could order the right size shipping boxes to put them in. Any suggestions?? I am also interested in hearing from people wyho ship frozen products. I will be using FEDEX 2 day mail.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), March 02, 2002

Answers

Sometimes when you do searches you need to start with a general search first. In your case using "styrofoam shipping container" doesn't help. Entering "shipping container" at www.google.com almost immediately brings up this.

Another appoach might be to contact the procurement office at a local hospital and find out where they buy them. A pet store that handles fish might also have some leads. You might also want to consider using dry ice to make sure the meat stays frozen over the two day period.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), March 02, 2002.

Tracy....My brother shipped us some frozen lobsters one time (love my brother!) He took a regular heavy duty cardboard box and cut sheets of styrofoam to fit inside. Put in the lobsters and then packed them with styrofoam peanuts....They came from Rhode Island and made it to SE Ohio and were still frozen. If you make your own shipping box, you can put as much as you want in it. I think UPS will ship a box up to 70 pounds.....

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

Check with your local florists!! They get flowers shiped to them in um!! There real thick to !! Most will give u them!

-- Grizz in Western Maryland (southerneagle@yahoo.com), March 02, 2002.

Checking with a florist was a great suggestion-as was using cut styrafoam to line a box(here we go dumpster diving again!)Along those lines check out nearly any food store talk to the manager. I would use FedEx overnite saver, not second day.

-- Kathy (catfish201@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

I was curious, so I went surfing-

Here's a couple- the first one gives prices- I don't think they're all that expensive, but of course first you have to have the boxes shipped to you!

http://amtylertape.com/foam_shipping_boxes.html

http://www.knoxandschneider.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProdID=133

-- shakeytails in KY (shakeytails@yahoo.com), March 02, 2002.

Might try these sites and plug in "insulated boxes" into google: http://www.protectivepackaging.com/, www.emballiso.com/Default1.htm

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), March 02, 2002.

the type you are looking for is made by the polar co.

-- Tim (goathillfarm50@aol.com), March 02, 2002.

Thanks, Shakeytails the one site is where I did order from, mr boxonline. The boxes werent that expensive but the shipping was. Over $25.00 for 3 boxes!!!That was the shipping charge. Most of the other sites do not give prices. The florists are a great idea and I will contact them on Monday. I guess I want panels that I can assemble inside a box. I can get boxes off of ebay. 25 boxes for less then $10.00. Now I need to find the insulation. I also have purchased reusable Ice packs that will be shipped along with the rabbits to insure they stay frozen.By the way, I have been selling to people that feed BARF[biologically appropiate raw foods] to their dogs. Huge market out there.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), March 02, 2002.

Tracy, I am so glad to hear your rabbit business is doing well!!! Best wishes!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

You may want to try stores that sell tropical fish. I believe they use foam coolers to ship fish as well. = Sheryl

-- Sheryl in NJ (all295@aol.com), March 03, 2002.

Another creative source for insulated packing materials is greenhouses and nurseries. We get a lot of baby plants in that we can't grow ourselves, and they come packed with wonderful sheets of styrofoam all around. There's only so much *we* can do with this; I'd love to find someone locally who can use it.

-- Marcia in MT (marciabundi@myexcel.com), March 03, 2002.

Any mega hog farms near you? They would have nice thick styerfoam boxes (2 sizes) which they don't re-use, probably be glad to give them away to get rid of them.

-- GibsonGirl in s.e.Illinois (bobtravous@email.com), March 04, 2002.