Ebay shipping supplies

[grlpwrd]

I am glad to see so many chime in about the use of USPS Priority Mail boxes. I am going on my 10th year of selling on ebay and rules have really changed over time, haven't they? Be sure to check the USPS website for details.

Oh, and don't forget, too, that you can arrange for pickup of your USPS parcels (Express Mail, Priority Mail, and International services) from your home: http://www.usps.com/pickup Of course, you need to have the parcel ready for shipment, including postage.

 

[Mono~rail]

Hey, grlpwrd, weren't the free rolls of priority mail tape the best? When I wold order one roll, they would bring me 10. About every 6 months I would receive a bag full. I took a bunch of it to my local post office and handed it back in. Even with giving some back, I had a Wal-Mart sack full. I'm down to my last roll now though. Unless I'm missing it, I can't find it offered with the shipping supplies at USPS.com.

 

[american_gramma]

Nope, the tape isn't offered on the USPS website anymore. I didn't even know it was a choice awhile back.

As for the American Girl scenes & settings, our local postal clerks were split in their decisions about media mail or not. I bet I was there more than a half hour talking with them about it & they finally got out a HUGE book of regulations. The description for media mail included "words" & since the scenes doesn't have words it didn't qualify for media mail. Guess it depends on the clerk you get. Moot point for us at this time though because we don't have any extra to sell. Even if I did I don't have a plain box for it & would use priority boxes so the scenes would have to go priority.

 

[snomofinn]

Definetly get your priority boxes through the usps.com. Tape and bubble wrap at Sams club.

 

[PurpleDog]

I just received 3 different sizes of Priority Mail boxes [the 25 packs] earlier this week. I opened one and shipped a book today ... and there was nothing on the inside of the box except brown.

I sorta assumed that the clerk who suggested that I use the Priority Mail boxes "inside out" was implying that it was legal. Lucky for me I've sold all of the books I did not want on eBay. Geez, the LAST thing I want is trouble from the USPS. I rely on them way to much for my business.

Thanks for the heads up grlpwrd !! I appreciate it.

 

[lovehoney]

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.

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for passing the idea along.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for passing the idea along.

Its actually illegal to do that.. read through the other threads.

 

[tnmom25]

There is an ebay seller that sells shipping supplies ~ bubblefest ~ I've never used them, only because I always forget!! But, I've heard they have the best deals.

What tape do you use? I've bought all kinds and I hate them all, even the name brands. I just ruins my day when I'm trying to get some pkgs sent off and the (&**%*(& tape keeps breaking and the end keeps getting lost!! I saw a commercial type dispenser and tape at Target the other day, but was hesitant to buy it.

 

[bord1niowa]

I ship a lot of books and use media mail, as well as other items but if you're not using priority mail for everything, try your walmart after about 11pm. You can go into each department and get any size you need any day of the week. It's free! All businesses get their stock in boxes so why not recycle?

 

[kellia]

Wow, I never knew you couldn't re-use priority mail boxes! What a recycling waste! I never used new ones, but ones I had received I sometimes covered in brown paper.

For boxes, I love Priority Mail, but some items it just costs too much. For them, I use brown bubble envelopes and tape from Sam's Club or I get boxes from Walmart, Target, Sam's and anywhere else I can. Go early in the morning and they will probably have them, or just ask when they do their stocking and would have them for you.

Instead of popcorn- use ziplock bags to protect items. I use Aldi gallon bags and blow them up, they work great. Tape them together to make a ring around the object if it is really fragile.

I had a bunch of small stuffed toys I sold... I shipped them in Grahm Cracker and cereal boxes wrapped in brown paper! That way they were light enough to qualify for First Class so they were cheap to mail! Dh thought I was weird, but I hate spending money on boxes!

 

[DMRick]

I sorta assumed that the clerk who suggested that I use the Priority Mail boxes "inside out" was implying that it was legal. Lucky for me I've sold all of the books I did not want on eBay. Geez, the LAST thing I want is trouble from the USPS. I rely on them way to much for my business.

The biggest problem (if you even get it past your PO worker..you wouldn't at mine. They can smell an inside-out Priority box when someone first lays it on their counter), is, if caught, when it's delivered, it comes postage due. Some buyers have complained on the eBay boards that they have been stuck paying for Priority mail, when a seller shipped in an inside out Priority box, but paid for media mail.

 

[Scrappy Tink]

thats funny our post office said that is against policy and if they found it inside out they would charge the priority price on it