Best Deal on Ebay packing materials

[jdk5672]

Help! I've been busy reading the budget boards and decided to take the plunge and start selling on ebay. I have sold some books on both ebay and half.com this weekend, but the packing materials for media mail are eating my profits rapidly. I need the best deal I can get on both letter size and 6.5 inch padded envelopes. I know some of you experienced e-bayers have been down this road before. Could someone pretty please point me in the right direction. In the past I've sold items and used priority mail as my only shipping option which was nice because the box was provided. But on books, media mail seems to be the preferred option. (Can't blame the buyers, it's much more reasonable).

Thanks for your help!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

There are flat rate mailers that are $3.95 that you can get for free from the post office. (It is then sent priority mail, but the buyer pays shipping, so I don't mind) I STRONGLY recommend sending things ALWAYS with delivery confirmation. I've had a few buyers claim to not have received the item, and if you don't have a USPS Delivery Confirmation number paypal will let them file a chargeback and it will either freeze your paypal account or just take the money out for the item. This is the only thing you need to verify they've received it. Also, DC is free if you print your own label here:

http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.htm

I send everything priority - I cram what I can into those flat rate mailers OR send it in the priority boxes.

By the time you pay for a bubble mailer, then media mail (which takes a zillion years) it's still not much less than the flat rate mailers.

Another time/money saver when shipping hardbound books is to wrap it in an inside-out grocery bag and address it right on that. Cheap

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One company I have used for supplies in www.uline.com They have several locations around the country and sell just about every size box and mailer, as well as all kinds of packing material. Their prices are wonderful. For example, they sell a 20 cubic foot bag of styrofoam peanuts for $23 while Office Depot charges $47.00 for a seven cu ft bag.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One company I have used for supplies is www.uline.com They have several locations around the country and sell just about every size box and mailer, as well as all kinds of packing material. Their prices are wonderful. For example, they sell a 20 cubic foot bag of styrofoam peanuts for $23 while Office Depot charges $47.00 for a seven cu ft bag. Generally they will ship via UPS unless the items are too big.

 

[cocowum]

I work at the PO and most people use the Priority mail packaging and just black out where it says "Priority mail" and write "media mail" or "parcel post" in magic marker. People also use the tyvek envelopes and turn them inside out and tape them shut. The packaging is free. Most of the ebayers just take the packaging they need and prepare the boxes at home and then bring them in. Most clerks won't say anything about it.

 

[DMRick]

I work at the PO and most people use the Priority mail packaging and just black out where it says "Priority mail" and write "media mail" or "parcel post" in magic marker. People also use the tyvek envelopes and turn them inside out and tape them shut. The packaging is free. Most of the ebayers just take the packaging they need and prepare the boxes at home and then bring them in. Most clerks won't say anything about it.

You are joking, right LOL? This is always a real hot issue on the eBay boards. I know our PO would not only not let you get away with this (after all they say on them they are for Priority only... This packaging is the property of the US Postal Service and is provided solely for use in sending Priority Mail. Misuse may be a violation of Federal law.), but they will charge someone the difference if it gets through (between media or Priority). I personally, would never shop again with a seller who misuses the boxes that way, and the feedback would actually say they misused Priority mail boxes. I get them in bulk, and I had to agree to not use them for anything other than priority mail.
Buy your shipping materials, and build the cost in what you charge for S/H.

For shipping books, I know many people buy rolled corregated cardboard, and cut off what they need. Put the book in a plastic bag and staple around the edges.

 

[Colinsmom]

I agree with www.uline.com - great prices on boxes, especially if you live near a warehouse (we do) and can pick them up. I haven't gotten other mailing supplies from them but should check that out.

You can get tyvek envelopes at Office Max for about $20 for 50 of them, so 40 cents each. Recently an Office Max opened near our office and sent out $10 coupons, so I got several boxes of these envelopes for about $10 for 50 - great price!

 

[CajunDixie]

I work at the PO and most people use the Priority mail packaging and just black out where it says "Priority mail" and write "media mail" or "parcel post" in magic marker. People also use the tyvek envelopes and turn them inside out and tape them shut. The packaging is free. Most of the ebayers just take the packaging they need and prepare the boxes at home and then bring them in. Most clerks won't say anything about it.

And if you use any PO other than where the poster above works you'll be charged Priority Mail prices. The packaging is free ONLY if you're shipping it Priority Mail!
For free shipping boxes and packing material try local gift shops. Many times they'll have small boxes that are great for books.

 

[imsayin]

I have bought bubble envelopes off Ebay for a good price. Just add a bit in your shipping costs to pay for them.

The new priority boxes have priority written on both sides. I think the postmaster is not happy with the misuse, so I wouldn't go that route.

 

[cocowum]

You are joking, right LOL? This is always a real hot issue on the eBay boards. I know our PO would not only not let you get away with this (after all they say on them they are for Priority only... This packaging is the property of the US Postal Service and is provided solely for use in sending Priority Mail. Misuse may be a violation of Federal law.), but they will charge someone the difference if it gets through (between media or Priority). I personally, would never shop again with a seller who misuses the boxes that way, and the feedback would actually say they misused Priority mail boxes. I get them in bulk, and I had to agree to not use them for anything other than priority mail.
Buy your shipping materials, and build the cost in what you charge for S/H.

For shipping books, I know many people buy rolled corregated cardboard, and cut off what they need. Put the book in a plastic bag and staple around the edges.

No I wasn't joking. I don't use Ebay often (3 times) so I wasn't aware of the debate.I guess It really just depends on the postmaster. Our PM has no problem with it. we get people doing it everyday. I have also delivered mail and have never seen someone charged for priority mail, when using media mail, in a priority mail box as long as priority mail was completely blacked out. I'm sorry If I touched on a hot topic. I was speaking as a postal worker not an ebayer.

 

[etwinchester]

I know my Post Office is STRONGLY against it as well. She told me about ordering Priority Mail boxes online for free, but she said that they have to strickly be used for Priority Mail. You are not allowed to cross things off or turn them inside-out. That is misuse and you could be charged additional fees or they could refuse mailing.

I don't mind anyway, I get the boxes for free and charge the buyers the flat rate priority shipping. I don't lose any money from it and neither does the buyer...win, win situation.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Several years ago I had used a PM Box to send some stuff to Japan, so I covered it with brown kraft paper and sealed it very well. The Clerk at the PO said it looked suspiciously like the size of a PM box, but he would let me get away with it "this time", but if something like that happened again he would ask me to at least unseal one end to verify that it was not a Priority Mail box.

 

[robinb]

I sell books on Amazon.com and we try to get the lowest price for envelopes. I usually end up with 10-15 cents per envelope. We order them in bulk, 250 envelopes per box. I like www.bubblefast.com and www.viking.com. Shipping is free for orders of $25 or more on Viking and I can usually dig up a coupon.

If you don't want to buy that many envelopes, try eBay. You'll get an OK deal. Also, Walgreens often has sales on envelopes for about 40 cents each. In the meantime, another option would be to buy a supply of bubble wrap, wrap the book in bubble and then finish the outside with brown kraft paper (aka grocery bags). It ain't pretty, but it serves the same purpose as the bubble envelopes.

The vast majority of your mass market paperbacks will fit in a #0 envelope. Trade size paperbacks and hardcovers will need #1 and up. I have #0, #1, #2, #4 and #5 envelopes on hand, but I have been at it for almost 2 years. It pays for my Disney trips.

 

[crazymomof4]

Several years ago I had used a PM Box to send some stuff to Japan, so I covered it with brown kraft paper and sealed it very well. The Clerk at the PO said it looked suspiciously like the size of a PM box, but he would let me get away with it "this time", but if something like that happened again he would ask me to at least unseal one end to verify that it was not a Priority Mail box.

Oh Boy, I hope I don't run into this problem tomorrow! I recieved an item in a Priority Mail box. I noticed that it would be the perfect size to ship a VHS video that I sold this week. I plan on re-using the box, just covering it with brown paper. At least I've been forwarned now that I may be asked to unwrap the item. It has the postage paid sticker on it so it will be evident that I'm not breaking the law.
Last week I was in line at the PO and the guy behind me was complaining in a raised voice to the man behind him that he was charged the difference when he used P. M. boxes to send items parcel post. Can you imagine complaining, for everyone to hear, about getting caught breaking the law!!!!

 

[DMRick]

I was speaking as a postal worker not an ebayer.
**
I strongly suggest you take a look at the rule book. If you like, I can look it up on line and post it for you. Your postmaster can get fired for saying it's alright.
As far as reusing it..in the same rule book, it states it can only be re-used for priority mail also. If your PM accepts it, and it comes to my post office, I would have to pay the difference between the media and Priority, or they will return it. The debate isn't if it's ok to use it..the debate is usually about people who go out of their way to cover it up and try to cheat. Somewhere along the line someone pays. Either in postal rates to pay for boxes being using for non Priority itemms, or the person who gets the item and has to pay the difference. I happen to live near one of the largerst post office/distribution centers in the Northeast, and they would never allow one to slip through on purpose. Our little post office that I go to 99% of the time also strongly enforces this. Is your post office a regular post office, or one inside another business?

Lots of place to get less expensive postal supplies, and again the buyer should be covering those costs.

 

[Grants Mom]

I to have sold stuff on ebay. As a matter of fact I have sold a few books. I went to my local Sams club and bought my package stuff. I have also just used brown wrapping paper and taped it up really really good. I have bought many things that have been shipped like that. Up your shipping cost if you need to also. You can put on the details of your auctions that shipping includes the price of the packaging so no one will say anything. I have done it before.

 

[va32h]

I sell on ebay all the time, and I can vouch for the heated discussion on misuse of Priority supplies!

Furthermore, postal employes are allowed to open packages marked Media Mail to make sure that they are actual Media Mail eligible items - some post offices have asked me to bring the box in unsealed, so they can inspect it on the spot!

But that's off topic. I ship pretty much everything Priority - using my free envelopes and boxes. If you buy your Priority postage online, you can get free delivery confirmation too - and have your packages picked up right from your home. This has reduced my shipping costs to essentially nothing.

If I am selling something very light, like a pattern, I will offer first class mail. I get my envelopes in bulk, from Costco.

 

[4fordisney]

When you have your packages picked up at home how do you figure postage? I have a scale and I think it is pretty accurate, but if it is off from the post office the receiver has to pay the difference. Has that ever happened to you?

 

[va32h]

I've never had anything arrive postage due...I have a postal scale at home, and I have rounded up if a package is right on the bubble.

With the flat rate envelopes and boxes, the weight doesn't matter. It's as much as you can fit in the packaging. With variable weight Priority Mail, the rates go up per pound - a package that is 1 lb, 2 oz is the same rate as one that is 1lb 14 oz. So unless my scale is way off, there won't be a problem.

 

[4fordisney]

Oh, you know I kinda knew that but had forgotten about the 15 ounce variable. Thanks for reminding me. I guess I was worrying for nothing. I might try that route. I hate going to the post office and standing in line, and with gas prices it will save money to have them pick it up.