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When it comes to sending eggs, the phrase, “You need to break some eggs to make an omelet” doesn’t apply. Shipping eggs in the mail with USPS is a relatively straightforward process, but since eggs are extremely fragile, you’ll need to use more packing material than usual. They’re also perishable without the proper refrigeration, so you’ll want to opt for the fastest available service so they don’t spoil during transit. Let’s crack this thing open (but not really, though)!
Table of Contents
- Is it Legal to Ship Eggs in the Mail?
- How to Properly Package Your Eggs to Prevent Breakage
- Ship Eggs with Priority Mail Express to Keep them for Spoiling
- What About Shipping Eggs Internationally?
- Insurance Won’t Cover You When Sending Eggs
- Save the Most Money on Expedited Services with Online Shipping Software
Is it Legal to Ship Eggs in the Mail?
It is perfectly legal to ship eggs in the mail with the US Postal Service. However, don’t let the word “mail” confuse you here, though, because it’s technically inaccurate; in fact, you won’t be paying for a mail service like First-Class Mail at all. Instead, eggs need to be shipped, not mailed, and the difference between the two refers to sending a packaged product versus sending a letter inside an envelope.
All this said, shipping eggs isn’t as easy as just sticking a carton inside a box, slapping a label on it, and calling it a day. In this case, sending eggs is all about protection and speed.
How to Properly Package Your Eggs to Protect Them from Breaking
The key to shipping eggs the right way is to package them the right way. First, start off with a brand new corrugated cardboard box that isn’t too big (or too small). Don’t reuse any old boxes, since they might not be as sturdy as they once were, and will have a lower chance of withstanding bumps and shocks without crumpling. To browse some corrugated cardboard packaging options that might work for you, visit the ULINE website.
The second step here might shock you. Believe it or not, the best way to send eggs is to get rid of the carton altogether! Yep, you read that right. Egg cartons provide little to no protection for eggs, as their sole purpose is basically just to hold a bunch of eggs in place. Instead, USPS suggests that you cushion each egg individually. In our experience, bubble wrap is the best kind of packing material for individually cushioning each egg…and when you’re wrapping and taping them up, be sure to use at least three layers. It might take you some more time, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Once you’ve bubble-wrapped each egg, the job isn’t over! Next, you’ll want to use shock-proof material such as shredded paper, packing peanuts, or air pillows to fill out all of the empty space inside your box. Lay some shredded paper or packing peanuts on the bottom of the box, then carefully place your eggs on top, and then pack as much more material on top of the eggs as you can.
Use Ample Cooling Packing Material
Just like you need to keep eggs in your refrigerator to keep them from going bad, you need to keep them as cool as possible during transit. The best way to do this is to include cooling packing material in addition to your other cushioning that you can place inside your box. Cold packs are a great option here; you can line the outside of your package with them, and on top of keeping your eggs cool, they will also act as a second protective barrier to shield them from any shocks or bumps.
If you’re on the hunt for cold packs to include in your shipment, you can pick some up on Amazon.
Ship Eggs with Priority Mail Express to Keep Them from Spoiling
Eggs are sensitive to temperature changes, and the longer they go without being in a proper refrigerator, the higher chance they have of spoiling. Since this is the case, you need to use the fastest available service, and when it comes to shipping with USPS, that’s Priority Mail Express.
USPS Priority Mail Express is the Postal Service’s fastest service, featuring overnight delivery to most urban locations, and two-day delivery to certain rural areas in the United States. It is the most expensive service that USPS offers…however, there is a way you can save a lot of money on shipping costs by avoiding the Post Office (more on that towards the bottom of the post).
Pro Tip: If you’re shipping Priority Mail Express, you can order free Priority Mail Express boxes on the USPS website, and USPS will deliver them right to your door! USPS even offers special “cold chain” Priority Mail Express boxes for shipments just like these, which you can check out here.
What About Shipping Eggs Internationally?
You can ship eggs internationally, but your options are limited; USPS relegates you to only using Priority Mail Express International. On top of that, some countries have different restrictions than others when it comes to types of foods they allow for importation. So, before you ship, it would behoove you to check out the USPS Individual Country Listings to see if your destination country allows for shipments containing eggs in the first place.
Insurance Won’t Cover You When Sending Eggs
Eggs fall into the perishable food category, and as a result, shipping insurance unfortunately won’t cover you in the event that your shipment gets lost or arrives with broken shells inside of it. All shipping insurance companies explicitly exclude perishables from coverage, and USPS won’t cover eggs with the built-in Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express insurance, either. Since this is the case, it’s extra important to pack your eggs properly before you ship them!
Save the Most Money on Expedited Services with Online Shipping Software
As is the case with shipping anything, don’t pay Retail rates for your package at the Post Office! Instead, use free shipping software to buy discounted postage online.
When you use shipping software, you can buy and print your postage from the comfort of your own home or office. On top of the convenience, you also gain access to special discounts that the major carriers reserve for huge shippers sending tens of thousands of packages per year. For USPS, that special level of discounts is called Commercial Pricing rates…and in some cases, shipping at those rates can save you 89% off of what you’d pay to ship the same package at the Post Office! At the end of the day, it’s just a no-brainer.
There are a lot of different shipping software companies out there, and finding the right one for your business all depends on what you’re looking for. A great place to start is to check out our Reviews page, where you can read reviews and recommendations from hundreds of shippers just like you!
Jennifer
Actually eggfoam shippers are the best way to ship eggs. I ship eggs daily and my foam is custom to fit the free usps boxes. Several sizes available at http://www.eggfoam.com
J. A. Jackson
My eggs are empty of content, made into diorama’s,’ decoupaged, painted, etc., using rhinestones, miniatures etc. It seems that this is different than eggs sold that are whole eggs regarding insurability. Can these cleaned and disinfected decorated eggs be insured?
Helen
You can file in the mailing insurance if your eggs are list, or do not arrive within a reasonable amount of time. 2-3 days is a Priority mail contract you pay for. Off your eggs arrive on time and spoiled because of faulty handling, it’s more difficult because you have no proof they were perfect when they left.
But as a business person, I am harmed when I pay for property mail and the eggs don’t make it to the BMC as promised, them sit in a hot truck for 2 days before anyone processes them into the BMC, after arriving from my post office 30 minutes away. And they don’t arrive until 8 days after shipping. It is unreasonable not to expect payment after you have returned a clients money and list 12+ dollars for shipping to an area 6.5 hours away. Make an itemized list of your cost. Include cost of the returned money, the extra eggs you shipped over 1 dozen (or promised amount), packing materials, AND take a receipt book with you. Declare the value of the package, confirm ONLY THAT THE PACKAGE IS INSURED FOR UP TO 100.00, AND GET THE POSTAL WORKER TO SIGN THAT YOU HAVE DECLARED THE VALUE OF THE PACKAGE TO BE “X. 00”. PLUS SHIPPING. Take pix of the auction closing or receipt where you were paid. Screen shot emails. Supply tracking number to client. Keep your receipt. Tell your client when the eggs will arrive per the post office . It’s usually 2 days, but they have 3. Now temps outside in the areas these eggs are passing through. If your eggs arrive 8 days late in 85-95°F temps sitting in the trailers, and in shifting temps inside the P. O, or on a dock, they will start to develop and die, or spoil. That is because of specifically shoddy, sloppy practices. And they broke the contact… It is a contract, it’s printed on the box.
File a claim on line. Get pix from the client, or have them take the eggs to the P. O. And show them the eggs or pix of the eggs, and smell is always good. Have them get a receipt that they’ve proven the eggs were bad on arrival due to poor handling or time in transit.
I haven’t had to do this with the client but once. I have had them supply pix I could up load, showing partial development and death, and rotted eggs cracked in a bowl. I supply the auction details. I supply a screen shot of the “refunded money”, and a screen shot of my shipping costs.
I received one letter from the St. Louis Administrative postal service that “I might not get refunded without hard evidence, but they paid anyway because I had declared the value of the package to bee 75.00 plus shipping. They can and should refund you shipping, at the P. O. you shipped from, or in the claim. Thigh they will t tell you at the P. O. they don’t do that, the St. Louis Admin told me too take the receipt when I reshipped, if I did so, or request a refund. That is definitely refundable, even if the test doesn’t happen to be. I just got a check for 75.00 from the P. O. I live in NC. The Admin folks are in MO. THIS IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE USPS. I believe this gentleman lives in Europe?