Need packing suggestions for Ebay sales (large)

[yoopermom]

Tonight I have auctions closing for two saddles that I'm selling. I checked what other people were charging for shipping, and listed them as $50 each for shipping. I looked all over for free boxes, but the ones I came up with weren't sturdy enough IMHO, so I stopped at pack n ship and bought two nice sturdy ones.

Any hints/suggestions on packing and shipping them, though? I was just going to use newspaper (lots, obviously).

With each being fairly heavy, am I better off doing UPS?

Anything I've forgotten?

TIA!

Terri

 

[akcire]

Tonight I have auctions closing for two saddles that I'm selling. I checked what other people were charging for shipping, and listed them as $50 each for shipping. I looked all over for free boxes, but the ones I came up with weren't sturdy enough IMHO, so I stopped at pack n ship and bought two nice sturdy ones.

Any hints/suggestions on packing and shipping them, though? I was just going to use newspaper (lots, obviously).

With each being fairly heavy, am I better off doing UPS?

Anything I've forgotten?

TIA!

Terri

I would not use newspaper, it will add a ton of weight. Also it could be messy if the box was in the rain.

I would wrap the entire saddle in somesort of protective paper, such as tissue paper. Then I would probably enclose the saddle in a garbage bag.

If you have the ability to get styrofoam for cheap or free, or air packs (I save everything when I order something online--so I have tons of this kind of material). If not I would consider filling in the empty spacces with either balloons or empty plastic pop bottles. I would definitely tape one of the empty pop bottles into each corner of the box to give the box an enhanced structural support. Basically you are looking to fill the box so the saddle does not bounce around inside the box-but you want to make the filling as light as possible.

I am sure others will have more ideas, I try and keep my packing materials on the cheap side, or free.

I would definitely look into getting an account with UPS and compare the shipping costs. The post office will surcharge based on the overall dimension of the box.

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you SO much, I wouldn't have thought about the newspaper getting wet!

I'll have to scavenge up some packing materials....

Terri

 

[Kies99]

Ship via FedEx Ground if you can. I sell on Ebay and find for larger/heavier items that FedEx Ground is by far the cheapest out there.

If you tape the box well, the chances of the paper getting wet are slim, but I agree that paper does add a lot of weight. I do also agree with the wrapping them in plastic bags before putting in box.

I've also taken plastic bag and blown the up myself, tied a knot and taped over it and they've held. Do-it-yourself airbags.

 

[yoopermom]

Blowing up my own plastic bags and taping them, I think I can do that .

Only the Pack n Ship does Fed Ex, there's no "regular" fed ex nearby except the drop boxes. I assume they charge some kind of "handling" fee?

Terri

 

[Fire14]

Blowing up my own plastic bags and taping them, I think I can do that .

Only the Pack n Ship does Fed Ex, there's no "regular" fed ex nearby except the drop boxes. I assume they charge some kind of "handling" fee?

Terri

I've never done fed ex from pack and ship but have done UPS If I packed it myself I just paid shipping costs. Some other places you may have that ship fedex or ups are office supply stores. I know my office max does fedex and my staples does ups. In my case it was actually cheaper as it was on regualr route.

 

[horseshowmom]

Are you near a Staples? I sold a western show saddle (heavy) a few years ago and carried it to them to pack. I think they charged something like $5, and it was well worth it (think they used the inflatable bags, but it might have been foam peanuts). Then I shipped it UPS through them. My shipping was under $30 (been several years though).

I had an office chair box that I carried with me, but you could call ahead of time, and they might have a box for you.

 

[laurafergie]

You can pay for FexEx or UPS online and just drop off. Drop off location finders are on their websites. There won't be a handling fee or add on to shipping charges. I would bubble wrap the saddle and fill the box with air pillows. Do not use newspaper, it will collasp and adds a lot weight.

 

[ariel71]

Plus, recheck all of ebay's shipping rules very carefully. People run into disasters with buyer disputes for the smallest things, and it's hard to get ebay to side with the seller. Do everything you can to protect yourself and absolutely get enough insurance to cover the value.

 

[lucyem]

I have shipped many saddles over the years as a retailer.

As someone else mentioned wrap in a garbage bag at least. Make sure the top is at the top of the box and tied securely. Had a UPS driver leave my saddle in a puddle once and the cardboard sucked up the water and it got into the bag the saddle was in.

Secondly make sure the saddle sits properly in the box, on the pommel if an english saddle, around horn if western. But make sure to use some thick foam under it.

Use some more foam anywhere the saddle touches the box. Rubbing can leave marks in the leather.

Remove any stirrups and wrap and place on bottom of the box inside the saddle. Will also rub if left on the saddle.

You generally do not need much in the box itself except the above because a sturdy box with sturdy tape will hold up.

The cheapest way to ship IME is to have my own account at UPS. Free to open. Then pack and prepay shipping online. Then I just drop off at Staples or another UPS drop off site. It is the difference of approx $50 paid if I ask Stapples to ship it or $25 for me to ship exact same saddle and just drop it off at Staples.