General costs?

Can anyone give me ballpark figures on what shipping has cost them in the past, including supplies? I have a lot of offers of milk, but I have limited resources so I have to figure out what is worth it to do.

I've been shipped milk just once and it cost me around $100 for about 200 ounces. We did overnight shipping through USPS (it was cheaper than UPS or FedEx), the donor got a special cooler and used dry ice. The milk arrived completely frozen.

I did overnight shipping through Fedex from South Dakota to Wisconsin of about 500 oz worth. It was about $200 total. I had to ship the cooler out to her first. Also, I had to set up an account with Fedex and generate a label for her to use. We didn't do dry ice and it was August and arrived fine, totally frozen.

bhtimm, did you use anything to keep it cool, or just the cooler?

I made sure the donor packed it in newspaper and took as much air space out as possible. The free air is what can warm up and cause the milk to melt.

I have received shipped milk several times. Depending on how far you live away from your recipient, overnight shipping ranges from $120-200.

Once it's winter, you can get away with shipping 2 day, and if you live close enough to your recipient, you can use Fedex Home Delivery which is usually never more than $30 or so (just make sure the zip codes are in a range that it won't extend to 3 days).

If you ship overnight, you shouldn't need dry ice. However if you ship 2 day once it gets cooler, I would highly recommend it. You don't want someone's hard work going to waste.

As far as supplies, there are 3 ideal shipping containers:
1. Omaha Steaks cooler (these are amazing!)
2. RNC Industries insulated box
3. insulated box from a medical facility (that they use to mail refrigerated and frozen prescriptions

The only other expense you should need to reimburse would be milk bags. I hope this helps!

I just got 470 ounces shipped across PA for $30. That is by far the cheapest I've gotten it shipped for! The rest ranged anywhere from $70 - $280. Just depends how far it ships and if you have to overnight or not.

when i have worked with people on shipping... around 500oz (( pounds 42 )) accross NY it has been around $25.. I have shipped from NY to PA as well.. and it has only been $30. the trick is u go to ups guess the weight then put in the zip codes... and then u scrolll down and see how many days ground shipping is. If its only 2 days (( thats over night shipping )) just do last drop off time and as long as its 500oz or so it will keep its self cool enough. But keep in mind u have to ship mon-thursday cus the weekends always are a ordeal and have had issues with it getting there. But ground shipping with in a state or 6/9 hrs from u always shipps next day ground with ups!!! I just take my milk in there call the family that i am shipping it to and they pay for it over the phone... easy as pie

laura_mae99 wrote:when i have worked with people on shipping... around 500oz (( pounds 42 )) accross NY it has been around $25.. I have shipped from NY to PA as well.. and it has only been $30. the trick is u go to ups guess the weight then put in the zip codes... and then u scrolll down and see how many days ground shipping is. If its only 2 days (( thats over night shipping )) just do last drop off time and as long as its 500oz or so it will keep its self cool enough. But keep in mind u have to ship mon-thursday cus the weekends always are a ordeal and have had issues with it getting there. But ground shipping with in a state or 6/9 hrs from u always shipps next day ground with ups!!! I just take my milk in there call the family that i am shipping it to and they pay for it over the phone... easy as pie

Thanks for the tips I need to look into shipping milk because my son goes through so much. He takes 4 oz every 2 hours and that's through the night too, so milk just doesn't stay in my freezer long enough. I'm in MN and I looked into shipping milk from IA with FedEx and it was going to be $114 which didn't include the dry ice I don't have the money for that, but with your tips hopefully I can get it for a lot less.

MommaJenn wrote:

laura_mae99 wrote:when i have worked with people on shipping... around 500oz (( pounds 42 )) accross NY it has been around $25.. I have shipped from NY to PA as well.. and it has only been $30. the trick is u go to ups guess the weight then put in the zip codes... and then u scrolll down and see how many days ground shipping is. If its only 2 days (( thats over night shipping )) just do last drop off time and as long as its 500oz or so it will keep its self cool enough. But keep in mind u have to ship mon-thursday cus the weekends always are a ordeal and have had issues with it getting there. But ground shipping with in a state or 6/9 hrs from u always shipps next day ground with ups!!! I just take my milk in there call the family that i am shipping it to and they pay for it over the phone... easy as pie

Thanks for the tips I need to look into shipping milk because my son goes through so much. He takes 4 oz every 2 hours and that's through the night too, so milk just doesn't stay in my freezer long enough. I'm in MN and I looked into shipping milk from IA with FedEx and it was going to be $114 which didn't include the dry ice I don't have the money for that, but with your tips hopefully I can get it for a lot less.

yea, what i would do is look up states around u... then pm people seeing if they are willing to ship.. when u do it the way i posted it makes it easy for the both of u... and more people are willing to try shipping... here is a great site to get coolers they run around $12 each. http://www.cameronpackaging.com/insulated_boxes.html#13-11-10 (( its the Inside Dimensions of Foam Cooler
13-3/8" x 11-3/8" x 10-7/8" )) one... and it will hold over 500oz, this is the cooler i use when i ship out milk. Its lighter in weight and saves on money and better for shipping milk...U can by it off line and have it shipped to any mommy donating to ya... Then just have them fill it up tape it closed and take there box to the ups store... They dont need your address or anything on it at all... as long as they can pass the phone over to u wants they get there so u can pay over the phone. I have photos on my facebook profile feel free to add me and see how i did it and shipped it if u would like laura_mae83@hotmail.com of https://www.facebook.com/#!/mrs.lauramoore
Plus dont put dry ice in it... it just weights it down. As long as u have over 400oz or so, it will keep it self cool. Trust me since 2006 when i started donating i have donated to 19 babies and counting...

Do you know how much they normally weigh? And if I did, just an example, ship on Oct. 14 and arrive to me on Oct. 18 would that be too long and it would defrost?

yea thats about 4 days in trans. if it was more like 1000 oz u could do 3 days... but 4 days is kind of pushing it :-(

250 weights in around 22 pounds...

500oz weights in around 42-43 pounds

1000oz weights in around 76-80 pounds

where abouts are ya honey? did u want me to see if there was any of my connections that might be around ya...? Pm your city and state and i can see if there might be anyone with an hour of ya that might be able to help... sorriy for all the typos... hard to breastfeed and type with one hand... LOL