I know we have some folks on here who live in Italy or have lived in Italy. What type of store does one go to in the city of Rome to purchase packing/shipping materials such as different-sized boxes, tubes, bubble wrap, padded envelopes, etc.? I know there are several shipping places like Mail Boxes Etc., and others; I am not interested in going to shipping place where they do it for you and then charge you an arm and a leg. Help!
Posted by
OP
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
290 posts
Thanks. I would mail stuff via the Vatican Post Office. Poste Italiane is not quite as bad anymore, but their reputation hasn't caught up yet. In any case, the challenge has been knowing where to get the needed mailing supplies. Thanks for the suggestions!
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
You can go to Mailboxes Etc and purchase the supplies without having them ship the items.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Unless you ask a local, I too would start with Mailboxes Etc. As I recall, they do sell the supplies. I've also used them to ship and don't recall them charging much for the packing and supplies. It's the actually shipping that will bankrupt you... If you're not shipping through a place like Mailboxes Etc, then I assume you are taking your chances with the Italian Post? It will be cheaper but less reliable.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15168 posts
Look for (or ask for) a 'CARTOLERIA'
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15168 posts
It's unfair to compare the performance of the Italian Postal Service with the Vatican's. It's easy to be the top of the class with the kind of high ranking connections the Vatican has :)
Posted by
OP
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
290 posts
Roberto - ha! However, I am not so sure that they have the high ranking connections on postal service anymore... Even though most travel guides continue to perpetuate the idea that the Vatican Post is more secure and faster (because they run everything through the Swiss Postal Service after initial processing), in fact, I have heard more recently that they now contract with Poste Italiane. In other words, they do all the initial processing/sorting, but then they consign it to Poste Italiane for delivery fulfillment. This is still more secure, then, since it is spending less time and fewer steps in the Poste Italiane system, but still... Which might explain why, even when I mail something to the States using the Vatican's "priority" service, it has still taken 2 weeks to arrive... Or when I mail something using their normal service, it takes 2-3 weeks.. Really important or urgent things I mail via Fedex. Everything else goes through Vatican Post...