Cheapest Packaging hunt

Gem+Dave+Kaci

Thought a thread like this might be useful so we can all share where we've found the cheapest packaging materials.

As for me...
> I currently use bubble wrap from 'Stationary Box' (£2.49 a roll (not sure how long the roll is) but it's currently on 3 for 2 making it about £1.60 a roll))

> I use brown parcel paper from Ikea (bet that surprised you!) which costs.... 70p for 10 metres!! Bargain of the year!!! It's slightly thinner than normal parcel paper but it does the job!

> I use brown bubble wrap envelopes from the pound shop (they're proper jiffy envelopes and they cost £1 for 5 A4 size!)

> And I use the freebie plastic bags that you can pick up from most post office branches for any special delivery items (I usually still bubble wrap the item so they can't get damaged).

What kinds of packaging to you use?? Hopefully this will help some of you as a few people I know that sell on eBay were still buying their stationary from the Post Office!!!!

scottieh55

I buy jiffy bags from people actually on Ebay for most of my items. They are slightly cheaper than the ones from Staples.

I can't understand anyone who would waste money by going to the Post Office and paying up to 5 times as much.

OllieLong

Also don't forget to recycle all packaging that you recieve!

Contains_Mild_Peril

I've never bought bubble wrap in my life! Used bubble wrap can usually be scrounged from shops for free, if you don't have any from items you've bought. I also recycle Jiffy bags, though Poundland is good for new ones. They do packs of 8 of the size for DVDs etc, or I think 4 bigger (about A4) ones, though Gem+Dave+Kaci's pound shop seems to be slightly better, with 5 in a pack.
I got some cheap parcel paper from Somerfield a while ago - 24p a pack, which I think included 2 sheets, + sticky labels and sticky tape. I don't think they've got it at that price now though. Any leftover wallpaper/lining paper can also be used. Lining paper is preferable, since it tends to be lighter and folds more easily.
For clothes, I normally use plastic tamper-evident self-adhesive bags bought from eBay. I got 100 medium-sized for £6.99 inc p&p a while ago. For larger items of clothes that won't fit in one of those, I use 2 inside-out strongish carrier bags, one inside the other, secured with parcel tape. Plastic packaging is normally lighter than parcel paper, which helps keep postage costs down.

lapat

brown paper rolls from staples £3.49 50 mtrs i think
standard envelopes for my free postage stuff i just double them up £1.39 from my local post office for 50
jiffys of ebay in box's of 100 usually around £15 tend to shop around
i did used to use guilberts online with a company i used to work for paid cash and got 60% off but i left so that stopped
dont use bubble wrap never warranted anything breakable

apprentice_tycoon

sealed, empty, plastic pop bottles make very light void fill for big spaces. They're free unlike polystyrene peanuts and won't add weight like crumpled newspaper.

Gem+Dave+Kaci

-*bump*-

Has anyone got any more tips??

robin123_2

If you are looking for free bubble wrap go to your local Tesco's fruit departmnt. The pre packaged bananas and apples come with a layer of bubble wrap over the top of them and beneath them in the boxes. Ask and they will give it to you because it is normally just thrown out.

fleur

Brown paper from WH Smith, jiffy bags from Wilko's and if I've sold any clothes, I keep the bags that the catalogues use and just turn them inside out. I sold some Christmas decorations and Whiskas boxes where just the perfect(should that be purrfect) size.

Moneyfornothing_2

Packing Tape - £1 (pound shop) 2 rolls.
Clear Tape - £1 (pound shop) 5 rolls.
Bubble wrap - Free (supermarket)
Jiffy Bags - price varies depending on size (Viking - when they are on offer!)

nightswimmer

Best/cheapest place I've found for hard backed envelopes is Viking Direct. Lots of their other packaging materials is cheap too, especially if you take advantage of their specials (3 for the price of 2, etc.) and free shipping offers.

Not strictly packaging, but the cheapest place I've found for self address labels is Able Labels (£4.95 per 1000 labels).