Shipping Supplies
How to use the most effective methods for shipping items sold on eBay
I wanted to share with you how I manage my shipping expenses through choosing the correct method of shipment to choosing the most effective shipping supplies. Keep in mind this is how I currently do it, but there may be more efficient methods. Please let me know if there is something I could be doing better. Currently the items I buy and resell on eBay are bought in bulk from Liquidation.com
I currently buy all my shipping supplies from amazon. I buy packing tape and padded mailers in bulk from amazon. I save all boxes that I get when I order items for myself. I also save a lot of money on tape and inkjet ink using my Dymo 450 thermal ink printer. You can purchase the same items I use on my shipping page at http://www.liquidationOH.com/shipping.
Process: I always weigh my own items and print my own labels from eBay. If an item surpasses 16 ounces, then I will mostly likely ship it priority. If I have to ship it priority then I will weigh the item, and price out both the flat rate mailers/boxes and compare to regular priority. I’ve saved a few bucks here and there but those add up when you’re shipping out 75 items a month
First Class rate: You can use this option when your item weighs 16 ounces or less.
Padded bubble mailers – I buy my padded mailers in bulk from amazon. They come in packs of 100 and measure 14.5 x 9.5 inches. I find that the majority of my products are able to fit in these mailers. These average about $0.23 per mailer. These are invaluable not only in price but also saving me time.
Packing tape – I buy my tape in bulk from amazon as well and the come in packs of 6 (shown on my other page). These last me a long time and are very durable. Now that I use my label printer, I don’t nearly buy as much packing tape to attach my mailing labels to my mailers.
12 x 10 x 8 boxes – I buy these boxes in groups of 25 from amazon. These are great as they almost never exceed the measure requirements for pushing mail into the next bracket due to oversize requirements.
Priority Mailing Boxes – I ALWAYS keep the medium square and rectangle boxes on hand. Any time I price out a box that is over 1 pound in the priority mailing class, I make sure it falls below $11. If it happens to cost over $11, then I will probably mail it in a flat rate box. These are definitely key to keep in your shipping supply arsenal.
Grocery Paper Bags – This is a great tip that I continue to use. If you get any paper bags from the grocery store then save them. They are great to cut and wrap your boxes up if those items won’t fit in a box and are sturdy enough to be mailed solo. If the box is going to be wrapped with this paper, its good to use to protect against scuffing.
Bubble Wrap/Packing Paper – I always save the packing paper from the liquidation.com auctions. This paper is great for protecting your own items from shipping out. I also save all the bubble wrap from shipments that I receive from amazon.
What do you use to cut down on your shipping expenses??
-Chris
LiquidationOH@gmail.com