Shipping Glass Items: Advice?

[apush]

Hi All,
Hit one estate sale today. Picked up a good deal of designer jeans I hope to sell on the bay. I almost purchased a cool coffee mug, but decided not to as I was not sure how to ship it. How do you ship these type of items? A coffee mug, I would think, would require a square type small box with bubble wrap. Guess I am trying to learn to think things thru before I purchase. I am already learning the hard way when it comes to estimating shipping costs. Thanks for any input and advice.

apush

 

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[redfish76]

I think the way you mentioned would be fine. I would go to usps. Com to calculate postage.

 

[Keppy]

I do it the way you said and i always put bubble wrap inside of the cup or glass also...........How i get my cost to post on most items is.... I pack the item take it to the post office and i live on the east coast and ask how much postage to ship it to the west coast... And that is how much i charge........ For then when you go usps on the web to calculate postage the price they give you most times is not correct..... You will lost money or have a shipping cost so high no one will bid on your item...........

 

[clovis97]

We ship all fragile items in double boxes. We use stryo peanuts and bubble wrap as needed.

We always try to pack so it would be okay if you tossed it onto the sidewalk from the top of our house.

Sometimes, I pass on listing fragile items because it is sometimes not worth the hassle, especially if it is a low profit item.

 

[redfish76]

I do it the way you said and i always put bubble wrap inside of the cup or glass also...........How i get my cost to post on most items is.... I pack the item take it to the post office and i live on the east coast and ask how much postage to ship it to the west coast... And that is how much i charge........ For then when you go usps on the web to calculate postage the price they give you most times is not correct..... You will lost money or have a shipping cost so high no one will bid on your item...........

I also will take my packed item to the post office and get a quote from Florida to Seattle if I'm not sure of the cost or a odd shaped box.

 

[Minrelica]

USPS website is 100% correct with pricing if you know the size, weight, destination and level of service. There should be no need to bring the package to the post office twice.

 

[Paleopilot]

We ship all fragile items in double boxes. We use stryo peanuts and bubble wrap as needed.

We always try to pack so it would be okay if you tossed it onto the sidewalk from the top of our house.

Sometimes, I pass on listing fragile items because it is sometimes not worth the hassle, especially if it is a low profit item.

Interesting thread, the "fragile" thing brings me to mind of the time I was shipping a large vintage ham radio, it weighed over the USPS 70 pound limit so I went with UPS, they have a 150 pound limit. I got it all double boxed, individually bubble wrapped the glass tubes and did a secure job on the package. I asked the branch manager about the "fragile" markings, and his reply stunned me, "you don't ever wanna mark anything fragile", he said, "they'll just throw it harder!" What? That's what he said...The package arrived OK, but I won't use UPS again!

 

[calisdad]

I like the double box idea. And yes, the USPS website works fine. I've never had a problem with a package at the post office when I've already got their sticker on it.

I use insurance. Pack well and use insurance. The buyer has to prove to the post office by showing the packaging that they mishandled. Far less grief for you. I had Ebay rule in my favor one time when a buyer said an item was broken but didn't bother to contact the post office.

 

[cheese]

I don't understand the need to estimate shipping. Why? When you list the item, at the end just before your return policy is shipping details. Just click calculated cost, then select package and enter your dimensions of the package and the weight, then select USPS parcel post first, Priority mail second, and the actual shipping cost will show to your buyers. This way, if your next door neighbor wants the item, he will not have to pay the same price as the guy across the country. It gives the shipping price to each person, according to where their shipping address on file with ebay is. So simple. When it sells, the info is all on file and all you do is click "print shipping label" and then you don't have to go to the post office for anything. Let the mailman pick up your package from your house.

 

[diggummup]

I don't understand the need to estimate shipping. Why? When you list the item, at the end just before your return policy is shipping details. Just click calculated cost, then select package and enter your dimensions of the package and the weight, then select USPS parcel post first, Priority mail second, and the actual shipping cost will show to your buyers. This way, if your next door neighbor wants the item, he will not have to pay the same price as the guy across the country. It gives the shipping price to each person, according to where their shipping address on file with ebay is. So simple. When it sells, the info is all on file and all you do is click "print shipping label" and then you don't have to go to the post office for anything. Let the mailman pick up your package from your house.

I agree that you don't have to go to the PO to mail them but... If you use the ebay calculated cost method, you will lose money. The calculated method does not take into effect the 9% extra that ebay takes from your shipping charges, nor does it take into account the materials it cost to pack the item/s. I used to use the calculated method but stopped doing so after the new fees were put into place. I haven't had a complaint yet. I put this at the bottom of every one of my listings...

SHIPPING
I always use extra care and plenty of bubble wrap to ensure safe arrival of your item/s. We have always kept our shipping costs as low as possible. However, given that now eBay charges us a commission on the shipping cost, packing material costs have risen significantly, and both USPS and UPS fees have gone up, you may see a small increase in the shipping/insurance/tracking cost for your purchase compared to years past. We will continue to strive to keep these costs down.



As for packing fragile items, it's not as hard as it may seem. About 80% of the items I sell are glass or ceramic. The key is plenty of bubble wrap and a tight wrap with tape. Make sure you use a box that is as close to the size of the item you are shipping and pack the box tight so there is no movement inside of it once taped. Packing peanuts are the best for surrounding the object inside the box, but I also recycle, using those cheap plastic bags that you get from the grocery/drug stores, I almost never use peanuts (unless I get them for free). I "dumpster dive" for my boxes and some of my packing materials. About the only thing I pay for is tape and the bubble wrap, if I didn't sell so many breakables, I could scrounge up enough bubble wrap for free too. Out of a couple thousand plus, I had one package that arrived broken where it was actually my fault (sort of), it was a heavy solid crystal pedestal vase that I should have double boxed because of the weight of the object.

 

[jerseyben]

I would recommend using a method that many sellers have had success with... Calculate the shipping (+ fees) into the price of the item and list it with Free Shipping and a pre-calculated minumum bid.

 

[diggummup]

I would recommend using a method that many sellers have had success with... Calculate the shipping (+ fees) into the price of the item and list it with Free Shipping and a pre-calculated minumum bid.

Depending on the item, 1st class/13oz. or less I will sometimes offer free shipping.

 

[apush]

Thanks all! Still trying to learn the ropes! This is a great site that really offers help and advice.
apush

 

[mjlalt]

Keep an eye out for free packing supplies on craigslist. I found a nice lady gives me huge bags on shipping materials for free. She gets lots from her work and they normally would just throw it all away.
Combine that with the FREE USPS priority boxes and I pay little for shipping supplies

 

[cyberdan]

...... For then when you go usps on the web to calculate postage the price they give you most times is not correct..........

I weigh my item (eg 2 lb 6 oz) round it up to the next lb (3 lb) and add a pound (4 lb) now when listing I add $1.00 (or 1.50) as a handling charge. ebay is pretty good at charging correctly because 95% of the time I make $1 on shipping. but then feebay takes it away as final value on shipping charge.

The way I see it if a potential customer does not like the shipping charge, don't bid and don't blame me for the high cost of shipping. blame the post office and feebay.

 

[cyberdan]

We ship all fragile items in double boxes. We use stryo peanuts and bubble wrap as needed.

I once had a vendor pack smaller boxes with those little Tootsie rolls. Things they sold were never breakable.

 

[cyberdan]

We always try to pack so it would be okay if you tossed it onto the sidewalk from the top of our house.

Do you test every shipment beforehand?

 

[diggummup]

We ship all fragile items in double boxes. We use stryo peanuts and bubble wrap as needed.

We always try to pack so it would be okay if you tossed it onto the sidewalk from the top of our house.

Sometimes, I pass on listing fragile items because it is sometimes not worth the hassle, especially if it is a low profit item.

I always say you could drop kick one of my packages and it wouldn't break. I haven't actually tried myself though. I hear you about passing on listing certain things because of time/effort versus profit margin.

 

[gods country girl]

i use lots of bubble wrap and shredded paper for cushioning. , i heard from the buyer of one of my items,that the box looked liked it had been kicked down the street , but due to the amount of packaging i used the items( fine china cream and sugar set) inside were fine.I will charge a small handling fee if an item requires alot of bubble wrap, i add that to the listing so the buyer knows.

 

[Produce Guy]

Bubble wrap would be my 1st. choice,2nd. would be fresh popped popcorn,cheap and works real well.