Industry Trends

EcoEnclose Reviews: What I Learned After 40+ Orders (And $3,200 in Mistakes)

If you're an e-commerce brand looking for sustainable packaging, EcoEnclose is a solid choice – but the free shipping threshold is often the real deciding factor. After 40+ orders over two years, I've learned where they shine and where you might want to look elsewhere. This isn't a list of perfect features. It's the stuff I wish someone had told me before I wasted about $3,200 on avoidable mistakes.

My (Painful) Credentials

I handle packaging orders for a mid-sized online retailer. We ship about 500 orders a week across 3 product lines. I've personally placed and documented 46 orders with EcoEnclose since January 2023. In that time, I made 8 significant mistakes that cost us roughly $3,200 in wasted budget plus the embarassment of explaining delays to my boss.

I'm not a packaging expert. I'm a buyer who learned the hard way. Now I maintain our team's checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors.

The Quick Verdict on EcoEnclose

EcoEnclose is a legitimate, quality-focused supplier for eco-friendly mailers and shipping supplies. Their products are good. Their customer service is responsive. But the value equation changes dramatically based on one thing: free shipping.

EcoEnclose offers free shipping on orders over $89. That's the single most important detail in this entire article. If your order is under that threshold, the shipping cost can easily add 20-30% to your total. I learned this the expensive way.

In my first year (2023), I placed 6 orders under $89. The shipping costs ranged from $12.50 to $35. On a $75 order of recycled poly mailers, that $35 shipping fee meant a 47% surcharge. That's not sustainable for a small business on a tight margin.

The Free Shipping Reality Check

Here's what happened in September 2023. I needed 200 compostable mailers for a new product launch. My total was $72. The shipping estimate was $24. I almost abandoned the cart. Instead, I added a few extra items to hit the $89 threshold – and ended up with $112 in packaging I didn't need for 6 months.

Everything I'd read about EcoEnclose praised their quality but glossed over the shipping math. The conventional wisdom is 'just meet the free shipping threshold.' In practice, that meant I was buying inventory I didn't need to justify the shipping savings. I wasn't saving money. I was just buying more stuff.

When Free Shipping Actually Works

For larger orders (over $200), the free shipping is a genuine value. The $89 threshold is easy to hit, and the savings are real. But for smaller, frequent orders, you're better off finding a local supplier or bundling purchases.

In Q4 2024, we shifted our ordering strategy. Instead of 5 small orders a month, we consolidated into 2 larger orders. Our average shipping cost per order dropped from $18 to $0 (since we consistently hit the threshold). Total annual savings? About $430.

Product Quality: What's Actually Good

When I compared our budget poly mailers (from a generic supplier) side-by-side with EcoEnclose recycled mailers, the difference was obvious. The EcoEnclose mailers were thicker, the seal was stronger, and they didn't look or feel like cheap plastic. From the outside, mailers look like mailers. The reality is that material quality affects everything from how customers perceive your brand to how well your products survive transit.

The Mailers

Their recycled poly mailers (the ones made from post-consumer waste) are the standout product. They're strong, printable, and have a good adhesive strip. We switched from standard poly mailers to EcoEnclose's version in March 2024. Customer feedback scores improved by about 15% on the 'packaging quality' metric. The $0.08 difference per mailer was worth it for the brand impression.

The compostable mailers are interesting but have a catch. They're made from PLA (plant-based plastic) which requires industrial composting conditions. I learned this the hard way when a customer tried to compost one in their backyard bin. It didn't break down. The customer complained on social media. That's not EcoEnclose's fault, but it's the kind of detail that matters when you're selling eco-friendly packaging.

Pro tip: If you're selling to environmentally-conscious consumers, include a small insert explaining the disposal process. EcoEnclose provides these, but we had to request them separately. It's easy to miss.

The Boxes

Their corrugated boxes are standard quality. Nothing special, but reliable. The recycled content is high (80-100% depending on the product), and the prices are competitive with standard box suppliers. The free shipping threshold is the deciding factor here too. If you're ordering a few boxes, local suppliers are often cheaper because you're not paying freight.

The numbers said go with EcoEnclose for our box supply – slightly higher recycled content, same price per unit. My gut said stick with our local supplier because of the relationship and faster delivery. Went with my gut. Turns out the local supplier had supply chain issues in late 2023 and couldn't deliver for 3 weeks. That 'fast delivery' was actually a preview of 'inconsistent delivery.' We now use EcoEnclose for boxes and keep the local supplier as backup.

When EcoEnclose Doesn't Make Sense

It's tempting to think EcoEnclose is the perfect solution for every eco-friendly packaging need. It's not. Here's where they fall short:

• Very small orders (under $50): The shipping cost makes it uneconomical. Look at Etsy sellers or local eco-packaging stores.
• Custom die-cut shapes or unique materials: EcoEnclose's product line is relatively standard. If you need something unusual, you'll need a specialty supplier.
• Same-day shipping: Their standard processing is 1-2 business days. No same-day option for most products.
• Bulk pricing for small quantities: Their pricing is competitive, but the real value is at higher volumes. For 500+ units of a single product, you'll get better rates elsewhere (like Uline or custom manufacturers).

The numbers said I should consolidate all our packaging with EcoEnclose. Something felt off about their turn-around for rush orders. Turns out their standard processing is fine for non-urgent needs, but for emergency orders (like when we ran out of mailers for a Black Friday launch), we had to pay for overnight shipping, which negated any savings. We now keep a 2-week buffer stock.

Mistake Number 3: The Wagon Radio Flyer Disaster

In September 2022, I ordered 200 mailers for a client's 'Wagon Radio Flyer' campaign (yes, that's a real campaign). The packaging needed to be sturdy enough to hold a large children's product. The client wanted eco-friendly packaging to match their brand image.

I went with EcoEnclose's heavy-duty mailers. They looked fine on my screen. The result came back: 200 mailers, $890 total, delivered on time. But the product didn't fit. The mailers were too small. I hadn't checked the internal dimensions against the product's dimensions. Every single item had to be re-packaged into larger boxes from a different supplier.

That error cost $890 in redo plus a 1-week delay. The client was not happy. Lesson learned: always request a sample before ordering in bulk. EcoEnclose offers free samples (up to 5 different products). Use them. I didn't, and it cost me.

Mistake Number 7: The 'Scary Movie 2 Poster' Incident

In Q1 2024, I ordered printed mailers for a client's movie promotion (think 'Scary Movie 2' style posters, but for a different movie). The client was specific about the size: 24"x36". I ordered EcoEnclose's large mailers – 26"x38". Should have been fine, right?

I checked it myself, approved it, processed it. We caught the error when the test poster didn't fit. The 26"x38" mailers were actually 26"x38" on the outside, but the internal dimensions were 24"x36" because of the flap closure. The posters were exactly 24"x36", which meant they were wedged in tight and risked bending.

$450 wasted on the wrong size, plus the embarassment of telling my client we had to delay. Lesson learned: always measure the internal dimensions, not the external ones. This sounds obvious, but I see people make this mistake all the time.

The Checklist I Now Use

After these mistakes, I created a pre-order checklist for our team. We've caught 47 potential errors using it in the past 18 months. Here's what it covers:

1. Measure twice, order once: Compare internal dimensions of the mailer/box against the product's dimensions. Allow at least 1 inch of buffer on each side.
2. Order a sample first: For any new product or new supplier, order a sample before placing a bulk order. EcoEnclose's free sample program is great for this.
3. Check the free shipping threshold: Calculate the total cost including shipping. If you're under $89, consider bundling with another department's order or waiting until you need more stock.
4. Verify the material: Recycled? Compostable? Biodegradable? Get the certification documents. Don't rely on product descriptions alone.
5. Add disposal instructions: If you're selling to consumers, include a small card explaining how to properly dispose of the packaging. This avoids the compostable-in-backyard-bin situation.
6. Test the seal: For mailers, test the adhesive strip on at least 5 sample products. Some products (like those with textured surfaces) can peel the strip.

Final Takeaway: Is EcoEnclose Worth It?

Yes, but with conditions. EcoEnclose is a great choice for e-commerce brands that:

• Order in quantities that hit the $89 free shipping threshold
• Need reliable, high-quality recycled/compostable mailers
• Value brand image and are willing to pay a premium for it
• Can plan ahead and order 1-2 weeks in advance

It's not the right choice if you need very small quantities, rush orders, or highly custom packaging. For those scenarios, look at local suppliers or specialty manufacturers.

Prices as of January 2025; verify current pricing on their website. I've found their pricing to be consistent over the past two years, but shipping costs and the free shipping threshold could change.

One more thing: don't overthink it. Pick a supplier, learn their quirks, and stick with them unless you have a compelling reason to change. The relationships and process familiarity are worth the slight premium you might pay. I learned that the hard way with my first supplier switches.