posted on April 30, 2004 02:40:15 PM new
I am finally selling things on eBay in a more serious capacity and I want to stock up on cardboard boxes and padding for shipping the items to the auction winners.
Where have you found to be the least expensive/best place to buy boxes, bubble wrap and other materials?
Also, which is better/least expensive for us sellers in general, UPS or Postal Service?
posted on April 30, 2004 03:00:38 PM new
I don't know how much you sell but you can get free boxes and bubble wrap from local furniture stores and peanuts can be found at computer stores... little gift shops are also another good source of boxes
posted on April 30, 2004 03:48:17 PM new
If you're sending via priority shipping, get free boxes from the P.O. You can also order batches of them, different sizes, on line.
Scrounge for other boxes! You've gotten some good advice here, so far. Find one or two sources that throw away styrofoam peanuts. I find more than I can use in our little town.
Bubble wrap (the larger bubbles) is harder for me to find on a regular basis, so I ordered a huge wheel of it 2 years ago and am still using it up! Smaller bubble wrap comes from gift shops, pharmacies, etc.
If you take the time to scrounge behind or outside gift shops, for example, you will find lots of supplies that you can re-use. Once you've found your sources, just make a regular tour and go back to them on a regular basis.
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posted on April 30, 2004 05:11:12 PM new
Or you can use that time, possibly far more profitably, looking for things to sell.
If I have an hour to spare, I can spend 55 minutes of it searching the Web for new and unexpected sources of jewelry and supplies. The other 5 minutes I spend placing my customary order with PaperMart for poly bags, shipping cartons, and bubble-out bags.
All from the comfort of my own sofa.
Your mileage may vary. Objects may be closer than they appear. All rights reserved and all wrongs righted. This telecast may not be rebroadcast without the express written consent of the National Association for Redundancy Association.
--
Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #36:
During the filming of "The Imposters" (1998), director Stanley Tucci bestowed the Golden Ham award on the actor who had gone farthest over the top in that week's filming.
posted on April 30, 2004 05:29:03 PM new
Thank you all for your very helpful advice.
I hadn't thought of those ideas, so I'm glad I asked.
Have a great weekend all.
~ReallyWonderfulStuff
posted on April 30, 2004 05:36:40 PM new
Hi everyone,
My eBay Rule #2: ALWAYS have the box in hand before listing the item. Only if I need a truly odd-size box do I need to look anyplace other than my eBay room. I've discovered by trial and error the sizes I need to keep on hand. Works for probably 85% of the things I sell.
When I do need some strange box, I check around the places I regularly patronize to find it. Smart & Final has nice, clean cartons in an amazing array of sizes. They don't cut off the flaps. I'm not going to run all over town for a box I look for one when I'm in there anyway. If all else fails there's always Staple's. This is done, without fail, BEFORE the whatever-it-is goes on eBay.
Bubblewrap, peanuts, and my stock boxes I buy from a local packaging supply. Bubble mailers came from Quill months ago when they had that special. I've only made a small dent in the two boxes I bought from them.
Works for me. I have lots better ways to spend my time than rummaging around looking for packing supplies.
There are a few things I buy regularly on-line, bird food, books, etc. The boxes are nice and clean and good sizes. Those I recycle.
posted on April 30, 2004 06:01:32 PM newBubble mailers came from Quill months ago when they had that special. I've only made a small dent in the two boxes I bought from them.
I wish. I'm almost out. Went through 25 cases, each mailer cut in half.
--
Answers to Questions Nobody Asked, #36:
During the filming of "The Imposters" (1998), director Stanley Tucci bestowed the Golden Ham award on the actor who had gone farthest over the top in that week's filming.
posted on April 30, 2004 06:09:50 PM new
For boxes & foam wrapping, I go to ULine. Prices are OK & they ship the same day. I get next day delivery from LA by UPS. I use a lot of Priority Mail Boxes & use shredded paper. After burning out 2 cheap shredders, I bought a $200.00 shredder & can shred to my hearts content. Newsprint is really Cheap!!
posted on April 30, 2004 06:14:25 PM new
I find newspaper is heavy and only adds to the weight for the buyer. Also it is messy and dirty. I buy styrofoam peanuts 20 cu ft for 20.00 and I charge the buyer maybe 1.00 so either way he pays, either for the weight of the paper or fresh peanuts. Much easier for me. also don't have to save paper and shred it, etc.
posted on April 30, 2004 06:22:43 PM new
I wasn't a Vendio guy when the Quill thing happened. If it comes up again, could you please post about it? Thanks so much.
posted on April 30, 2004 06:51:25 PM new
When cutting mailers in half I discovered it works much better if I staple the cut edge before I tape over it. A minor thing but nonetheless worthy of mention!
posted on April 30, 2004 08:39:03 PM new
Actually, it's parrothead88. I very highly recommend this guy. However, if you can stand to ship USPS, then USPS is the only place to go for boxes and tape. It's all free and delivered right to your home. However, you would still need parrothead88 for the bubble wrap and peanuts.
posted on April 30, 2004 09:03:33 PM new
FREE, true, but ONLY for PRIORITY, and me & Ralphie ship 80% FIRST CLASS or PARCEL POST, as the savings to da buyer is HUGE, & the transit time compared to P-MAIL is (SADLY) not a whole bunch different
posted on April 30, 2004 09:24:05 PM new
What's clear is that some of us scrounge for shipping supplies, some buy all of them, and some do half and half. The only "scrounging" I do right now is to visit my Radio Shack, next to the P.O., (where I have to visit every day), about once a month for air pillows and eyeball outside my favorite gift shop, which I pass on my way to the P.O., for boxes and peanuts. I do understand that some would rather just buy the supplies and save the time, but this doesn't really take that much more time for me, and I'm frugal--I want to wring every possible penny out of the sales of family junk and other things I find out and about.
I think we've all agreed to notify each other right away if Quill has another bubble envelope sale. What a deal that was!
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posted on April 30, 2004 09:36:06 PM new
I'm like you Roadsmith. I get my boxes ,peanuts and bubble wrap from 3 places I pass right by everyday.The little gift shop I could walk to it's so close ,the peanuts I can get by the great big 30 gal. trash bags full because the computer girl can't stand to pollute the world and throw them in the trash so she bags them up and gives them to all the local ebayers we recycle them for her.Bubble wrap I pass by going to take my daughter to school. I spent less than 30 mins every two to three weeks getting the stuff for free. One trip fills the car to the brim ...every once in a while I have to quickly take a trip for a odd size box. I feel I'm savin trees
posted on April 30, 2004 09:37:04 PM new
First Class and Priority Mail travel at the same speed because they are the same thing.
Ask your Postman, they are both First Class mail- but you only get the boxes free for 15 oz or more.
Packaging supplies - You will seldom beat a local supplier- if there is one where you live. We have 2. One is a "paper" supplier, but stocks boxes, tape etc, the other is listed under shipping supplies (yellow pages) and has everything.
If you pick up at their place, none of the online places can come close on price. If you're in a small town or rural, try the
"big town" closest to you. I buy big bubble
for 8 cents per square (250 ft roll) and tape for 1.54 a roll (case of 48). Last time i was there the registers were closed for the day so they GAVE me a roll of bubble
on the house.
posted on April 30, 2004 11:40:00 PM new
I found a new source for large bubble wrap.
It's a store that sell fireplace mantels.
The factory made mantels come assembled and are packaged in large cardboard boxes. At each end and both sides of the boxes they put large rolls of bubble wrap so the mantels finish don't get marred during shipment.
These rolls are about 6" thick and 4' wide. Of course the size depends on the size mantle being shipped.
I filled the bed a pickup truck in one trip. They were happy to get rid of it as it fills up their dumpster. The owner even helped me load it and related I should return often.
Happiness is a good martini, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman . . . or a bad woman, depending on how much happiness you can stand.
posted on May 1, 2004 05:44:36 AM new
"Or you can use that time, possibly far more profitably, looking for things to sell."
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me too, i dont scrounge for boxes,etc...i get mine when i go to the liquor store - which is usually more often, than not! some c/royal boxes are dble/walled; most all liquor boxes stronnnnnnnnnger than recycled paper boxes..and for small packages, check out the 16 oz. bud flats...can easily be cut to size to minimize weight...
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posted on May 1, 2004 10:18:27 AM new
Used Box stores are also good. I spend normally about .30 a box, which is normally a new box that has something printed on it. From what I understand most major cities have these places. I also have purchased bubble from them, at great prices. Bargains Galore has also been a good source for me.
I recently had a garage sale getting rid of some of my items that didn't sell on ebay. I had a couple of size of boxes I had purchased to many of, and sold them for a profit at my garage sale.
"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 May 1, 2004 08:56:05 PM new
I also use my paper shredder paper for fill. My postal carrier figured out I sold on Ebay by all the priority boxes she delivered to my door. Her husband lays ceramic tile and she brings me bags of peanuts as does a friend who sells Mary Kay along with her boxes. My daughter's swim coach sends all the boxes from the supplies he orders home with my daughter. The nice people at my local video store save me their boxes and packing materials including bubble wrap and I pick it up when I go in on Tuesdays to rent the new releases.
Most of these people have offered to drop them off even!
So, sometimes if you ask nicely or drop BIG hints that you always need boxes people will help you out. And, at least for me, I don't even have to leave my house!
