Next, he tried a center. The air smelled of industrial tape and heavy-duty dreams. He found a double-walled "Small" box that felt like it could survive a trip to Mars, but it was just an inch too short. The clerk nodded sympathetically. "Try the UPS Store down the street; they do custom sizes."

: U-Haul locations offer specialized double-walled boxes for heavy or fragile items. Where to Get Boxes for Free

: USPS , FedEx Office , and The UPS Store sell a wide variety of standard and specialty boxes in-store.

: Staples and Office Depot provide heavy-duty shipping mailers and bulk box packs.

: Check local Nextdoor , Facebook Groups , or Freecycle for neighbors giving away boxes after a move.

: Many supermarkets and neighborhood shops will give away boxes from their stock deliveries if you ask a manager nicely.

His quest began at the local . He found the "Moving" aisle, but the boxes there were thin—designed for pillows, not heirlooms. "Too flimsy," he muttered, dodging a runaway shopping cart.

At the , Arthur met a "Certified Packing Expert" who looked at the clock like it was a royal crown. "We can box this," the expert said, "but if you want to do it yourself, I have a 16x16x16 right here."