Shipping In Heat?

July 12, 2006

In a message dated 7/12/2006 9:59:29 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

chrisziggy writes:

just wanted to see if others here have had the same sort of

temperature related issues/concerns in their geographic locations, and

if so, see what are y'all doing about it?

I've been looking into those cooler things. especially for my body butters

and such.

I've had to take my lotion bars out of inventory from May-Oct because they

melt. BAD!

The last ones that I shipped were in the beginning of May, and I kept them

in the freezer for 2 days prior and packed them with ice packs. Shipped them

2-day(overnight cost more than the entire order did!) and they arrived in one

piece but very soft. This was from NJ to NV.

I've gotten so worried about orders and the heat that I will actually pull

weather reports from the customers location to make sure that the items will

survive, heat wise.

))

Michelle

July 12, 2006

This is a question for the pros and novices alike, but more so the pros

I suspect .. what do YOU do when shipping an order that can potentially

have its integrity compromised by, or is able to melt in, the extreme

heat, like we are currently experiencing in TX (the heat index will

easily be 100 through this week).

When I was in Colorado it was an on and off issue during about 3 months

of the year. In most cases I could wait a few days, the weather would

cool off and it was no problem. Here on the other hand it is an on and

on issue for more like 7 months out of the year. The heat itself here is

generally muggier and hotter too, with no cool breaks at night.

I consider this to be a crucial logistical issue and have taken finding

solutions very seriously.

I've had great success recently with some new Styrofoam insulated

shippers and cold packs. They are somewhat costly, but being in business

isn't cheap, and whining about the cost of packing materials isn't going

to make them cost any less

I suppose another option is to not sell most of my stuff for half of the

year, or just mail it and let it get hot and melted and gross and tell

my customers tuff noogies ... neither of which is very practical ;-p

I just wanted to see if others here have had the same sort of

temperature related issues/concerns in their geographic locations, and

if so, see what are y'all doing about it?

*Smile*

Chris (list mom - in the steamy jungle of suburban metro Houston, TX)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com <http://www.alittleolfactory.com/>

July 12, 2006

Oh Chris I don't take my whipped shea butter to outside shows for this very

reason. I have only ever shipped one order of something that would melt in

Texas heat, which is most anything that doesn't have a melting point of 120

or higher... LOL... I gather what you are doing is one of the best ways to

do it. Until I start making some more sales that enable me to ship stuff

like that I just let people know that I do my best to keep it completely

going to goo, and that just incase they may want to put in the fridge to

firm up before using, as there are people I know myself that already do that

just for good measure when they buy lipstick and leave it in their purses

here in TX. I'm guessing Louisianna people would have the same problem huh?

And if we wait a couple of days it may get hotter.

Jennifer

..

July 12, 2006

Hi Michelle,

That is exactly what I'm talking about!

Its not the EO's and stuff like that I'm worried about. Heck, they are

produced by steam, 2 days in the mail isn't going to hurt them ...

Its the body butters, pomades and the like.

My gal pal ( & fellow list member) Nikie from After The Rayne, sent me

some Cocoa Butter like 2 weeks ago. She lives about an hour and a half

from me as the crow flies, and in the one day to me, that cocoa butter

arrived in liquid form. Its HOT here! *lol*

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

naturesnotionsnj

I've been looking into those cooler things. especially for my body

butters

and such.

I've had to take my lotion bars out of inventory from May-Oct because

they

melt. BAD!

The last ones that I shipped were in the beginning of May, and I kept

them

in the freezer for 2 days prior and packed them with ice packs. Shipped

them

2-day(overnight cost more than the entire order did!) and they arrived

in one

piece but very soft. This was from NJ to NV.

I've gotten so worried about orders and the heat that I will actually

pull

weather reports from the customers location to make sure that the items

will

survive, heat wise.

))

Michelle

July 12, 2006

Hi Holly,

I am referring to heat sensitive crafted items such as Body Butters,

Pomades, Lotion Bars, etc...

I figure nobody wants to order a container of creamy, fluffy, Whipped

Shea Butter and have it arrive either melted all over the box, or flat

and grainy, cause it melted and then solidified all nasty

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

lovehealsyou

from one of the novices...

what is included in your list

of heat sensitive stuff?

Info for future reference...

Thanks, Holly

July 12, 2006

I wonder if you could use dry ice. But that wouldn't be cost effective

unless it was a large order. That's why we won't be doing any more Shea

buys till fall. You never know what the customers weather is. It may be

cool here but hotter than a firecracker where they live.

Evelyn

www.alternasense.com