how to pack a parcel????

scooter100_2

ive just started selling some trainers/football boots which are boxed.everything ive sold so far on ebay i have managed to fit into jiffy bags of various sizes but these boxes wont fit into even my largest jiffy bag.this might sound like a silly question but what do you wrap a shoebox in and what method of delivery would you use (ive only ever used normal mail).the largest special delivery bag will just about get the boxes in but then it will be £5.35 postage which will put some buyers off (and lessen my selling price).
thanks in advance

DaisyNelson

Wrap box in (recycled ) brown paper or cut up a couple of jiffy bags and make into one larger one. Footwear is always a heavier item and people expect the higher postage, but keep it fair.

hjb123

Yep I agree with the previous poster - brown parcel paper is great for wrapping big parcels with. You can also get rolls of bubble wrap which are good for padding out items.

Have you been to the post office? They do very big boxes but I guess if you are sending quite alot you wouldnt want to send alot - you would be best buyuing rolls of wrap!

zeke

hjb123 wrote:

Yep I agree with the previous poster - brown parcel paper is great for wrapping big parcels with. You can also get rolls of bubble wrap which are good for padding out items.

Have you been to the post office? They do very big boxes but I guess if you are sending quite alot you wouldnt want to send alot - you would be best buyuing rolls of wrap!

Cheaper than brown paper is rolls of wall lining paper (99p from Wilkinsons). Quite durable too.

Rubber_Duck_4

to make it even cheaper just tape up the box without wrapping it in anything and write the address on a A4 Sheet of white paper and tape that to the front of the box. It reduces packaging costs and postage costs as it reduces the weight.

I've done this before and I have had no problems at all. Might want to check if the buyer needs the box for anything first though.

finc

You can get free brown paper from Ikea at the packaging desk. Obviously you should buy something first and just make sure your purchase is well wrapped.

Alternatively I buy rubble bags when I can't fit into a mailing bag and use brown parcel tape to secure it. These are often stronger than the mailing bags anyway.

Other than that offer your buyer the option of having the boxes to reduce the weight. Not everyone keeps the box anyway and if the shoes are well wrapped in bubble wrap the box isn't essential.

scooter100_2

thanks for the above.
anyone know where i can get plastic bags like special delivery bags? as these would be ideal.

finc

You can get the Special Delivery bags for free from the P.O but strictly speaking they should only be used when sending by SD. Some people turn them inside out and use them that way.

Other than that there are loads of sellers of mailing bags on ebay.

shelly

finc wrote:

You can get the Special Delivery bags for free from the P.O but strictly speaking they should only be used when sending by SD. Some people turn them inside out and use them that way.

Other than that there are loads of sellers of mailing bags on ebay.

Totally agree with finc. We get the three sizes of SD bags and turn them inside out to send our e-bay items in. We have never had any problems with this. If the largest one is too small just cut down the seams and use two taped together. Only tip I'd give you is that when they attach the stamps make sure they use the printed ones....not the ones you lick as they fall off.


HTH

heppy23

Tescos are a good source of boxes for packing stuff in as they leave boxes under the checkouts to be taken away.

To answer the original question I would probably wrap the box up as described rather than covering it tape as the buyer might want to keep the box. On a pair of mint trainers there is probably some value in the box too!