Minimizing Shipping Costs
Hi Terry,
I use eBay as a part time income, and I have been wondering how to minimize my shipping costs. What is the cheapest way to ship? Is there a strategy to the packing that can help me save on the packaging costs? Thanks!
David Jaeger
Here’s a few suggestions. . .
First, buy your packaging materials at a packing supply house. Everything is cheaper there. If you buy Styrofoam peanuts at an office supply store or mail counter, you will pay about two dollars for a cubic foot. At Discount Packaging Supply, I pay about fifty cents a cubic foot. Tape and everything else is also cheaper. Check your phone book under packaging supplies for a dealer near you. If there isn’t one near you, there are wholesalers who will mail items to you. Uline is one I’ve used in the past.
Second, while packing and postage is a cost, you can pass most if not all of the cost on to your buyers. Get a scale and start figuring out what it will cost to ship items before you list. I have my scale set at 20 ounces. I figure the box and padding will weigh about a pound, and I know I’ll be spending 50 cents for delivery confirmation. This allows me to charge buyers a shipping amount that is high enough to cover my costs.
There is a shipping calculator at:
www.news.iwantcollectibles.com/ebay-shipping-calculator.shtml
Third, look for free shipping materials. Most of the boxes I use come from a recycling dumpster behind a nearby Subway Restaurant. The Subway employees cut the boxes down so they are flat. I just pull out the sizes I want whenever I need some. Some of my friends know I sell on eBay and put aside boxes from their purchases for me. I also use the free Priority Mail boxes.
Fourth, pack effectively, but securely. I frequently get boxes that are over done. The biggest culprit is using boxes that are two big. Rather than filling the box with peanuts or wadded up paper, cut the box down to it is smaller. This will reduce the weight, and the amount of supplies you use.
Terry
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