New eBay Seller and MSEr

footballgirl07

Hi, new to MSE and a new eBay seller, just wanted a little advice before I start.

Im just selling old books that we dont need anymore.

What I want to ask is, if you brought a used book off of eBay, would you be happy if the packaging is; bubblewrap around the book and then covered in Kraft paper(the thick brown parcel paper)?

Thanks

Charlie.

katy-lou

Sounds good to me

footballgirl07

Thanks.

Just wondered if because there just used books that wont sell for alot, do I need to do them for recorded delivery or just first and 2nd class? Dont want to get caught out.

Thanks.

soolin

Be careful you don't add to much to the weight, brown paper can be surprisngly heavy in quantity and may push the books into the next weight band. Also to test your packaging, drop it a few times down the stairs, if the packaging survives then it is good enough.

There are tips here for new sellers

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1623183&highlight=tips+new+sellers

Minxy_Bella

When I used to sell books on ebay, I used bubblewrap and then put the item into one of those blue/grey plastic, lightweight, self-sealing bags (that I bought on ebay!!) which meant that the outer packaging didn't add much weight.

My buyers always commented on how well packaged the books were, so Lord knows how some people send them!

HTH

soolin

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

When I used to sell books on ebay, I used bubblewrap and then put the item into one of those blue/grey plastic, lightweight, self-sealing bags (that I bought on ebay!!) which meant that the outer packaging didn't add much weight.

My buyers always commented on how well packaged the books were, so Lord knows how some people send them!

HTH

I've had one nearly new hardback arrive in the thinnest brown paper you ever saw, tied up with string. Most of the paper had gone and the post office had to stick the address label bit to a plastic bag just to deliver it to me safely.

I either use cheap jiffy bags or like you bubble wrap and plastic mailers.

Jokaty82

You can choose how you post, although for a book, I wouldnt say recorded delivery is necessary. 1st or 2nd is fine, but adjust your postage fees accordingly.

Not sure how much money you will make on used books, but worth ago, sometimes people have mentioned amazon on here.

soolin

Postage on books is capped at £2.75 on ebay, so if you do decide to use recorded that rather means that you are leaving yourself only £2 to cover the rest of the postage.

As an idea on costs a standard paperback like the Da Vinci code (that doesn't sell BTW as there are millions of them!) costs £1.85 to send 2nd class.

andybk

I use those plastic self seal bags , light and quite tough with a bit of bubble around the book saves a lot of work , quite cheap from ebay

chja

I sold a number of books on Amazon on behalf of someone and generally just used brown wrapping paper without any other wrap (they were not old / valuable).

I would have thought bubblewrap with wrapping paper would be certainly adequate. Suggest using 2nd class post, with Special Delivery on any items worth more than £39.

If your books are worth anything, you might consider Amazon as a better alternative (your postage costs are set by them, so you need to get your list price right). Playtrade (play.com) is also a decent alternative. Neither of these charge you unless the item sells.

soolin

Also, the £2.75 cap on postage is a cap, not a target! Suddenly half the books and magazines regardless of weight are being listed with £2.75 postage which is nonsense and just clutters up the pages with thousands of unsold items. I was doing a search of completed items in the book and magazine section, I was surprised to see so many standard magazines being listed with £2.75 postage when the same issue I have here weighs 170g packed and goes as a large letter for 90p 1st class.

I don't think it is fee gouging, I actually think some sellers don't understand what the £2.75 cap means.