Ebay shipping supplies

[Makdyn]

I am wondering were do you get your shipping supplies. I shipped my first item yesterday and I had to buy a box and bubble wrap at the post office. I am going to sell more items but really dont want to buy the supplies at the post office.

 

[LisaNJ25]

You can get boxes for free right off of the post offices website. If you are going to sell a lot of items that require bubble wrap check out a large roll at an office supply store and even check ebay to compare prices,

 

[Mono~rail]

The price for shipping supplies at the post office is outrageous!

Like Lisa said, you can get priority mail boxes free from USPS.com, and the boxes are delivered to your door. They used to give away free rolls of priority mail tape too, but they've stopped that (I can't find it offered on the website).

I buy tape and bubble wrap from Wal-Mart. I haven't found better prices in my area. I also use the padded mailers from Wal-Mart - sizes 0, 2, and 5. I sell alot of books and classic Nintendo games so I use media and first class mail quite often.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

If you are sending items by Priority Mail, you can obtain free boxes at the post office or at the post office web site:
http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/sto...toreId=10001&catalogId=10152&categoryId=13354

I sell mostly books, so I send most of my books by Media Mail. Therefore I have to buy bubble envelopes and boxes. My favorite supplier is http://www.PackagingPrice.com
Even with the cost of shipping, I can get bulk supplies much cheaper than at the local office supply store.

Have fun selling on Ebay!

 

[briannesmom]

For 99% of what I sell I use the free Priority Mail boxes or Tyvex bags from the post office. You can order them online and they ship right to your house for free. Whenever I order something online I save the box and packing materials for future use. I use these larger boxes to ship bigger items or large lots of clothes. My Mom also saves her large boxes and packing materials for me. I print all of my shipping labels online through PayPal to get the free delivery confirmation. I buy the labels from Office Depot. They often run buy 2 get 1 free specials on them so I stock up. I have purchased bubble wrap on ebay, if you shop around it is much cheaper than the post office or office supply store.

Amy

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Priority Mail boxes just right from the post office.

The boxes that I ship toys and things from I get from Uline. I was shipping alot last year before Christmas so DH and I made a trip out to their Chicago area wharehouse and picked up enough to last for a very long time -- so we didn't have to pay shipping.

If you go out to Wal Mart in the morning when they are restocking, they will often let you have the boxes they are breaking down for free. Some of them work ok for shipping, you kind of have to search for the ones that don't have too much printing or whatever on them.

 

[PurpleDog]

www.uline.com

Ooops .. I did not realize Toby'sFriend had already posted the name. They are great. I can usually order before 5pm and get the stuff next day.

 

[Ears]

Try your local GM dealership for packing bubbles. I work for one, and have the receiving guys keep all the extras they don't use for me. I get a garbage bag full of bubble wrap and the air bladder bags a month. That plus some packing peanuts I get from another guy keep me full.

USPS has great flat-rate boxes or the other priority packaging stuff for free. You can walk in and get a small amount for free right at the counter, then order what you need online. They also will supply all the necessary shipping labels (delivery confirm, customs, etc) and priority address labels for free too. I made my own address ones with my store name and logo on MS Word (left the to: section for handwriting in), then printed them off so I can tape them on. I didn't want to buy special adhesive labels.

I also got a roll of the cheapo sticky address labels from the companies advertising in the sunday papers and local mailers. for $4 its worth it on large envelope shipments.

***Check your sunday ads for Walgreens. They often have a coupon for USPS brand bubble envelopes 3/$1.00 maximum 6. I always buy the 9-1/2x12 which usually run over $2 each. You can get the coupon at the front door, and don't even have to tear it out-they just scan it. Best deal I can find on them.

 

[AnninIowa]

I do all US shipping using the FREE USPS Priority Boxes; if they don't have them out at our Post Office, you can order them online. For international shipments, I have to buy boxes; either Wal-Mart or I order from Overstock.com. I buy bubble wrap and mailing tape at Sam's Club. You just have to look for specials and stock up when you find a good deal!

 

[comicguy]

Like the PP stated I buy tape and bubble wrap from Sam's Club(best price in my area) Boxes I buy through uline.com. They have extermely fast shipping uusually arrives in 24-48 hours. I sell lots of comic books so I need sturdy boxes and they surely have them.

 

[samanthacatangel]

I belong to freecycle (a Yahoo group) and posted that I needed shipping supplies. I found a Fuller Brush sales person who gives me tons of clean packing peanuts that her shipments come in, and another woman who saves her small packing boxes for me (she loves QVC).

I sell books, and ship mainly Media Mail, but do have a supply of the free Priority Mail when a customer would prefer it shipped in that manner.

I also have a friend who works in retail, and his product comes wrapped in bubble wrap envelopes in all different sizes. He saves them for me and saves me a bundle.

I buy packing tape at Costco, and a few months ago bought some with a $10 off coupon, so not too much $$.

So, be resourceful and ask around. Lots of ways to get quality packing material without spending a bundle. And I feel good that I am recycling!

Good luck!
Samantha

 

[Big Dipper]

I have purchased foam peanuts and some boxes that were larger than the free ebay/usps ones at The Container Store. They have pretty good prices. Much better than office supply stores and a better selection too.

 

[Banana magic]

I do the same as most here, get free boxes online from USPS, save boxes and bubble wrap I get things in. I also bought packing peanuts from seller on Ebay, am going to get some bubble wrap from him when I need it again too. Its much less expensive than what I had found at Walmart.

 

[Makdyn]

thanks everyone. I order boxes from usps.com. I dont think I will need bubble wrap for the rest of my items. (clothes) I sold a pair of sneakers that I did not have the box so I bubble wrap them. If I list something that I think need bubble wrap I will just get some at target.

 

[PurpleDog]

I actually use USPS Priority boxes for most shipments; if I'm sending something like a book that needs to go Media Mail, I simple turn the box "inside out". This gives me a plain brown box. One of the local USPS clerks was the one that suggested the idea to me.

 

[grlpwrd]

I actually use USPS Priority boxes for most shipments; if I'm sending something like a book that needs to go Media Mail, I simple turn the box "inside out". This gives me a plain brown box. One of the local USPS clerks was the one that suggested the idea to me.

I am not going to flame you, but that is a violation of USPS policy. I don't know what to say about the USPS clerk who suggested that idea. I know that when I order them online, I have to agree to not misuse them, like in the manner you describe. I think some of the newer boxes have logos on the inside of the Priority Mail boxes now.

I know that my Media Mail packages have been examined by the post office en route to me. I have had notices that they checked and if it was marked Media Mail and it didn't include what is allowed then the sender or I would be in big trouble.

Please be careful. The USPS is cracking down.

I have advertised on Craigslist for boxes or I just respond to posts giving away free one's.

 

[missj1975]

My boyfriend ships books through media mail. Every once in awhile, the clerk will open the box to make sure it is actually a book or something that qualifies for media mail. I was shocked when he told me this but I guess people misuse the postage class and boxes so the clerks are cracking down.

 

[american_gramma]

We also order priority boxes from the USPS website. I love that they're delivered to us free of charge! We hesitate to use the flat rate boxes unless the weight of the item will make it worth it. To charge someone $8+ for an item that could go for much less annoys us because we don't like to overcharge people.

Friends save bubble wrap & packing peanuts for us too so we get by very well as far as shipping goes. Someone wanted an item shipped parcel post; so we got creative & used the box the Koolaid Jammers drink pouches come in. We turned it inside out & taped it up. Worked very nicely too & protected the item quite well.

Speaking of media mail & books, does anyone here remember the Scenes & Settings books from Pleasant Company/American Girl? There were 5 of them as I recall, 1 for each of the first 5 historical dolls. Anyway, we had one we wanted to sell so I took it to the post office to get shipping quotes. Because there's no "story" & it's just cardboard "pictures" I was told it couldn't go media mail. To top it off then when I had it boxed in 4 USPS shirt boxes it was a half inch too big & needed extra postage. I believe they called it a "balloon" charge. Too bad the clerk didn't tell me that when I got my quotes before I listed the scenes. Thank goodness I priced my shipping costs what other people were charging & even with the extra costs I had enough money without paying extra myself. Some of the auctions on ebay for those scenes say they'll be shipped media; because media mail can be & sometimes is opened to check I sometimes wonder who'll get a surprise when the scenes is delivered...

Have fun selling on ebay. I've "met" some wonderful people there & we're having fun cleaning out the house & using the funds for WDW trips.

 

[Mono~rail]

Last year, I also sold one of the American Girl scene books, and I took it to the post office to ask if it could qualify as media mail. All 3 clerks that were working the windows said it DID qualify for media mail. ETA: I was confused about it because some sellers were shipping priority, some were shipping parcel post, and some were shipping media mail. When I saw it, I didn't think it would qualify so that is why I took it in and asked. They all 3 said it did qualify. BUT, you know what? I never did receive feedback on it, and the buyer never would return my messages when I asked if everything was OK. I'm thinking the guys who told me it was OK were wrong.

This is just to add to what grlpwrd said -- even a previously used priority mail box can not be turned inside out and used again for shipping in a lower class. The box CAN be used again to send a priority item. Priority mail boxes are for priority mail *only* -- NO exceptions. Yes, it is correct that the newer boxes have USPS priority mail printed on the inside now.

Yes, sometimes media mail is opened to check that it is a media mail approved item. My dh buys lots of books on eBay, and we can see that some of the envelopes have been opened and re-taped.

I dropped a media mail package off one day in another town, and the mail clerk lady grilled me. She even asked me if I had written a note on the inside cover of the book to avoid a first class stamp. Finally, I told her to just open the package and inspect the book. She declined and started asking me more ridiculous questions. I told her again to just open it and see for herself because that was the only way to prove I was answering honestly.

I see where they are coming from though. I bought my twins a peek-a-block elephant last year, and it was sent media mail rate in a priority mail box turned inside out. The seller charged priority mail rate though.

 

[DisneyFanatik]

I actually use USPS Priority boxes for most shipments; if I'm sending something like a book that needs to go Media Mail, I simple turn the box "inside out". This gives me a plain brown box. One of the local USPS clerks was the one that suggested the idea to me.

I used to do that too, but now the priority mail boxes have "PRIORITY MAIL" written on the inside of the box. Unless you have old boxes you can't do that anymore.

As far as shipping supplies, in addition to the free priority boxes, I save EVERY box that I get stuff shipped to me in. I have all shapes and sizes in my attic. The Dollar Tree near me sells bubble wrap and padded envelopes.