Lets Talk Egg Cartons! Thread

[Red Barn Farms]

I hope it's OK to post my question here because I couldn't find a correct category.

I'd like to know where and how you buy or obtain your egg cartons? I've looked online and seen so many sites. Like everyone else I'd like to find a good source for purchasing cartons which are 'well made high quality' but at a price I wont have to charge more for my eggs'! I would probably much prefer a paper product over Styrofoam too. I'm not concerned about custom printing or anything like that. If I want I could design my own labels and print them out. So, that's no concern.

 

[7L Farm]

I bought 600 from egg cartons . com for $54.00. I got lucky & they were selling them cheap. I also get some from my customers. They return them to me. Ask your friends to save them for you.

 

[devora]

Wow, I just went to that site and I'm amazed at how expensive it is! It's about a buck a piece for paper cartons if you buy 25. My goodness, they are 35 cents each at my ag store, what gives?

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Wow, I just went to that site and I'm amazed at how expensive it is! It's about a buck a piece for paper cartons if you buy 25. My goodness, they are 35 cents each at my ag store, what gives?

I know I seen that too. I'm looking for something cheaper than that! 7L Farms idea to ask people to save them is a good idea. I'd still like to find some cheap with no labels. Just a blank carton.

 

[7L Farm]

Sometimes egg cartons.com has a bad run & sell them cheap to get rid of them. Mine were perfect I just got lucky 9 cents each.

 

[coffeenutdesign]

I only have 11 hens, but I had friends collecting egg cartons from the second I ordered my first set of chickens. Most people I give eggs to return my carton and any others they have around, so I have plenty of extra at the moment. I would just put the word out that you are collecting egg cartons. Teachers and club leaders do this all the time for projects. People are usually happy to do something useful with them instead of filling a landfill.

My aunt sells a lot of eggs and she just requests that her customers return the carton or she charges more per dozen.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I'm not as big as some guys, but I'm selling about twenty five dozen a week right now and will peak at around thirty dozen in the fall/winter. I go through a fair amount of cartons.

Mostly I use "previously owned" cartons because most of my customers don't care and I'm able to keep enough used ones on hand for my needs. Once word gets around that you want egg cartons chances are you'll have folks give them to you. I always ask my customers to bring their cartons back. My hands down favorite carton type is Styrofoam since they can be cleaned (unlike the pulp paper types) and seem to do a better job of cushioning their contents (unlike the clear plastic types).

I do have one account though that has never been able to come up with enough used cartons to match the number they require and as they get the occasional health department inspections I use new cartons with them for reasons of prudence. Unless you'll be buying a few thousand at a time chances are you'll find your best deals at places like eggcartons.com or eggboxes.com. There are a few others to be found as well. Whoever has the best price on the carton type you want and MOST IMPORTANTLY who is offering the best deals on shipping at the time you want to order. Always factor in the shipping costs when you figure your per carton price because it can really change things.

My last two orders I think came from eggboxes.com, the ones before that eggcartons.com. Whoever had the best combined carton/shipping price at the time.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

The best price I found was a sale at tractor supply at 24 cents each..since I don't sell thousands....when I do I will sell the eggs, cartons are extra. It's absurdly expensive and people ought to know what they cost....cut out the middle man.

 

[growyourbrew]

Initially, what I did was charge customers more for the cartons ($0.50 each) if they didn't bring their own. As time went on, I got more cartons than I gave out. It seems (here anyway,) people are very happy that they are able to recycle their cartons. I don't charge for cartons anymore, I have TONS. Bear in mind though, that some states may require that you use new (not recycled) cartons. Double check with your state before reusing cartons!