posted on September 12, 2003 02:15:50 PM new
drcomm - you may want to try a GNC or other nutrition stores if you have one in your neighborhood. All those vitamins come in boxes with peanuts. We haven't tried them yet, but that's what I've heard.
posted on September 13, 2003 01:36:31 PM new
I have mailed over 1500 packages and never paid a penny for boxes or peanuts. Of course, my daughter is often embarrassed by the way I scrounge for packing materials everywhere I go.
posted on September 13, 2003 01:51:53 PM new
Stealth mode on Endica will stop 95% of these send the difference back emails. I spend $5.00 a month for this feature and it is worth it.
"For I know the plans I have for you." says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
posted on September 13, 2003 07:56:49 PM new
I like the idea of sending her a new invoice requesting her to pay more saying you didn't charge enough to begin with LOL
I also thought that unless you had a business or priemere account at paypal that you were not charged for accepting payment until you reached a certain amount so the 35 cent increments would not work????OR have they changed that now. I haven't kept up I guess I just pay and pay and pay those fees and try not to cry too much. The fees to sell on ebay and paypal eat up a lot of any profits you might hope for let along packing materials.
I just recieved an order today I got from guy on ebay ( actually ordered off ebay) and paid $6.00 shipping. I have shipped for last 4 years and know what I ordered was not going to cost over a dollar but wanted the item so I paid that shipping with no arguement. It cost $.83 cents to mail. I figure if you want something and shipping is spelled out then you either bid or not and if you bid then you agree to shipping terms that sellers want.
I try to be close on my shipping so as to encourage bidders but also charge anywhere from 50 cents to 1.50 markup for handeling depending on the item and how it is to ship etc. I still get some people asking if it can go for less shipping.. I am definately going to check into the online printing of hidden postage just so I won't have to feel like I have to explain myself to those who can't understand that huge box with all the peanuts and bubble wrap only cost me what the USPS stamp on it says. Yeah right!
I wish those peanuts grew on trees .
posted on September 14, 2003 07:26:05 AM new
Beauty Supply stores are another great source for peanuts, or salons that stock a decent amount of prouct. I think all of the suppliers have nothing but 14 x 14 x14 boxes so so they always end up with more peanuts than product. If you have arge items - my favorite packing is balloons. You can use a few partially inflated balloons to take up al lot space, they add no weight and have a lot of give and you can get a 2 month supply for a buck at your local discount store (especially after halloween when they are desperate to get rid of the excess black and orange ones).
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Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
posted on September 14, 2003 09:05:05 AM new
Wow Fenix...that is a cool idea with the ballons! I am going to try it!! (Do people think it tacky, tho?) When I first started to buy on ebay, i got some factory 2nds towels, and the women sent them wrapped in those paper thin supermarket bags with a post-it as a label. lol. At first, I was like "what the heck...?" But then I realized she was saving me and herself packing weight by not boxing them, etc.
Then I did a doozy with a breakable when I ran out of stuff, and used egg cartons!! lol. They were clean tho. I just prayed it would do the job! The buyer actually left fb that said "I packed well." Guess she thought it was innovative!
posted on September 14, 2003 09:20:21 AM new
Nero - never had a complaint and in fact have had more than a few people comment on the originality iof the concept. I got the idea from the air filled plastic pillows at the local UPS station.
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Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
posted on September 14, 2003 11:04:57 AM new
I would have calculated the cost of materials, time, gas and said "she" actually owed you but give her the refund anyway to make her feel petty. (sarcasm I know but those people just bug don't they?"
I get all my supplies from USPS for free. I use newspaper for stuffing when I can and will buy peanuts (from ebay for cheaper than the stores). If I use newspaper I'll put nice tissue on the top to make it look nicer. If I need a regular brown box I usually can find them at some department store who's tossing them out.
posted on September 14, 2003 11:47:28 AM new
Happy,
I cant seem to find 'packing' materials on ebay cheaper than the store with shipping cost included? I've looked cause sure would be easier than running round trying to get stuff. Can you post a link I can look at?
Thanks!
Alot of sellers do refund just to show the buyer how petty they are. I think that says alot, and if they make a habit of it other sellers will know if its in the fb.
I got bubble wrap at comparable if not cheaper prices there - rather than the time it takes to get to the store, etc. We just purchased 150-feet of 1-foot bubble wrap for the same price I can get it with a discount at OfficeMax - and, it's delivered right to my back door.
Let me know what you think.
Wayne
Trying to Make a Difference - One Satisfied Customer at a Time....
posted on September 14, 2003 01:08:10 PM new
To me there are two ways to look at shipping and handling fees. I live in Florida which puts shipping very far from Washington, California etc, and priority shipping can get very high. All my auctions are shipped at exact cost.
It is my belief that people know what they are willing to pay for an item. Add handling to the cost and it will come off the final bid price. If I am willing to pay $X for an item and handling is $5.00 then I am willing to pay $X-$5 for the item. In other words it all comes out in the wash. I think the person above is just cheap and was just trying to get a refund at seller's expense.
These days too many people are selling junk on ebay. The minimum bid required is too high to support an auction and s/h/i gives these people an added profit margin. I run auctions and generally get multiple bids on 90% plus of them. This adequatly takes care of the handling part. I have always been able to get boxes, bubble wrap and styrofoam at no cost. I honestly don't think lack of a handling charge has ever cost me a dime.
Also, when I get obnoxious or sarcastic emails I ask the sender what I did wrong and what they want or expect in return. The beauty of dealing through email is it always gives me time to cool down before I reply.
posted on September 14, 2003 06:31:00 PM new
Completely empty plastic Pepsi bottles are great too. The big ones,2 liters,,,And those empty plastic Vodka bottles, 1.75 liters, keeps everything NICE and tight too,,,
Great feed backs! How he packs so well is beyond my imagination.
Hey! I get my stuff over the counter,,,Over the counter? right off the rack. I do LOTS of shipping!
posted on September 14, 2003 07:00:42 PM new
Replay... LOL on the helium! Just blow them up enough to pad the object, as long at you can tie a decent knot you should not have a deflation problem and popping comes from over inflation. (I did a short stint as a "balloon artist" in a former life for kicks.. you know, weddings, rallys, all that junk - I learned much more than any rational person would really ever want to know about them)
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Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
A little late coming but do want to add my 2 cents worth on packing things.
I sent a girls jacket out recently. It wasn't breakable but I didn't want it sloshing around in the box. So I used a couple of gallon-size Ziplok bags. Stuck a straw in one side, blew the bag up, held it tight, took out the straw and finished sealing the bag. It worked just fine! Like pillows.
As far as the egg cartons, I use them (the big 2 1/2 dozen size) if I need to cushion something heavy. Bottom, sides, top, wherever necessary. Better than peanuts and quicker than wadding up blank newsprint. I get the newsprint free from my local newspaper.
Oh, I buy my bubblewrap in 750 ft rolls at a packaging supply place. It costs around $40. A roll lasts me probably a year or so.
