Reuse jiffy bags or buy plastic mailers?

rainbow_carnage

I'm selling a bunch of clothes and shoes on eBay. Trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to package them.

In general, I think that plastic mailing bags are best. They are light, and I've never had one rip. But I also have a cupboard full of used jiffy bags from all the stuff that I've bought.

Plastic bags are lighter, so will be cheaper to post. But I already have the padded jiffy bags, so they'll be free.

I've been trying to do the maths on this, but I'm still not sure.

Any suggestions from more experienced sellers would be most appreciated.

balmk

My suggestion would be to buy a couple of mailing bags.

When preparing to post items, you can then weigh them in each. If using a mailing bag keeps you under the next charge threshold, use the bag. If it makes no difference, use the jiffy.

Hope that helps

freddysmith

I reuse packaging that's been delivered to me if still in good condition.
I use a hairdryer and a blade to lift any postage labels/stamps.
Cut out or print a label to cover any existing print and making a neat job of it.
Works for me and never had a complaint, must have saved a few quid and declutters the place at the same time.

MyOnlyPost

I re-use packaging wherever possible and reasonable. Most people now are environmentally aware and understand the re-use philosophy.

As for cost, Royal mail charges are in increments of 250g, so if a Jiffy bag is the difference between 249g or 255g it will increase the price, but not if it's the difference between 251g & 499g. I also find that sometimes clothes will qualify to go as a large letter (which is cheaper than packets) in a plastic mailer as they're flatter.

rainbow_carnage

Do buyers really care what the parcel looks like? As long as it's well-packaged, I don't mind if the sender reused a padded envelope. I actually prefer that they do. It keeps costs down and is better for the environment.

But reading some of the other threads on this topic, it sounds like some people get upset when the package doesn't look pretty.

lovinituk

As long as you're not a business then just re-use your old jiffy bags. They will go as packets (rather than large letters) so the weight bands for postage go up in 250g increments after the first 100g. Using a jiffy bag instead of a mailing bag might not push you into the next weight band.

*edit* - just realised I repeated most of what MyOnlyPost said!! Sorry!

MyOnlyPost

rainbow_carnage wrote: »

Do buyers really care what the parcel looks like? As long as it's well-packaged, I don't mind if the sender reused a padded envelope. I actually prefer that they do. It keeps costs down and is better for the environment.

But reading some of the other threads on this topic, it sounds like some people get upset when the package doesn't look pretty.

Long story abridged. I recently quit my retail job (which included selling on eBay) to sell full time for my self. My wife has been selling privately for years. I said to her earlier today that when she helps out by wrapping my parcels I would like her to take more care, as customers expect more from a business seller.

mummysaver38

As both my partner and I are ebay junkies, we receive a lot of jiffy bags. I have just started selling some of our unwanted bits and pieces and am reusing packaging we have received. I put this in my listings and let people know that this enables me to charge only the pure postage cost. I use a small post office counter in a small shop on the way back from the school run so don't need to factor in any other costs. People on here who live in the back of beyond will probably argue that this is unfair on other sellers because they have to factor in the cost of buses, parking, shoe leather etc which inflates their costs but my argument is that if getting something sent is such a problem then perhaps they should be questioning if it is something worth their while doing. (Waiting for the backlash!):)

rainbow_carnage

mummysaver38 wrote: »

As both my partner and I are ebay junkies, we receive a lot of jiffy bags. I have just started selling some of our unwanted bits and pieces and am reusing packaging we have received. I put this in my listings and let people know that this enables me to charge only the pure postage cost. I use a small post office counter in a small shop on the way back from the school run so don't need to factor in any other costs. People on here who live in the back of beyond will probably argue that this is unfair on other sellers because they have to factor in the cost of buses, parking, shoe leather etc which inflates their costs but my argument is that if getting something sent is such a problem then perhaps they should be questioning if it is something worth their while doing. (Waiting for the backlash!):)

I try to keep my postage costs down by reusing packaging and offering 2nd class postage as an option. (From my experience, 1st class isn't any faster and costs more.) I also don't bother with recorded. In 12 years of eBaying (mostly as a buyer, occasionally as a seller) I've had a problem with maybe 1-2% of transactions. I'm not going to inflate the costs for everyone just because 1 out of 100 people is an idiot or a crook. And, to be honest, the kind of problems I've had wouldn't have been solved by a signature.

Having said this, I don't think there's anything wrong with charging slightly more than the actual postage cost. That extra 50p covers the cost of packaging tape and time spent standing in the queue.

Obviously_the_best

rainbow_carnage wrote: »

That extra 50p covers the cost of time spent standing in the queue.

so you're registered as self employed then?

rainbow_carnage

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

so you're registered as self employed then?

Actually, I am. But that's neither here nor there. If I were to charge the same rate as I charge as a freelancer, I would have to quadruple the postage costs.

If it makes you feel better, you can think of that 50p as a padded envelope charge. I may not have paid for the envelope directly, but its cost was included in the postage I paid for whatever item came in it. So, technically, I did pay for it, and I'm passing that cost onto the buyer.

There are lots of sellers who take the mickey when it comes to postage. But there's nothing wrong with a seller charging for both postage and packaging. Helpfully, eBay actually calls the charge "postage and packaging", not just "postage".