Oddball Shipping and Packaging
Hey everyone, looking for advice on two questions.
#1: I have two nice vintage, possibly antique rotary push mowers that I am debating on posting for sale. Thoughts of shipping are holding me back. What shipping service should I look into and how would I actually package it to ship? Build a crate? Plastic wrap the hell out of it?
#2 Packaging can be a reflection of your business, correct? Correct! I like to recycle and make custom packaging. As I don't have a huge number of sales, I don't mind the time it takes. Some may look a little "jankey", but I would never ship something that didn't protect and secure the things inside. The packages I make are not marked up or torn/taped in a hundred places. This does allow my to keep my shipping cost a tad lower.
My question, the recycled custom shipping containers I make, could they possibly deter people from buying again? I mean, as long as the contents of said package arrive secure and unaffected by anything, it shouldn't matter too much, right? Quick example, I used an old Milwaukee box that a saw came in, cutting and reshaping into a smaller box. I did put the brown side outward (colored logo side of cardboard was inside) and the new box was a precise rectangle because of the shape of the contents. It was secure and I received no complaints.
More concerned with my first question regarding the pushmowers, but if you have time let me know your thoughts on the second. I greatly appreciate any advice offered! Take care!!
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoI wouldn't even list something like that here.
I'd list it on FB, CL or another local venue, weed out the scammers and do in-person pickup for greenbacks.
simba6
·2 years agoGiven the size and weight it would be very expensive to ship. I suggest listing as pick up only. If the buyer were to file a not as described case, you would lose the shipping. Not worth the risk.
toysaver
·2 years agoIMO they are TBTS Too Big To Ship. Put them at the end of your driveway with the price on a cardboard sign.
kalyoth
·2 years agoAny time you consign to a 3rd party, risk enters the equation. Once you begin using the words antique, greater risk enters. Since collectible is subjective to a buyer, condition would play heavily. Do not offer to ship. The buyer should pickup after inspecting condition.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoWhere's the "consign to a 3rd party" part of this?
kalyoth
·2 years agoAny time you transport, the carrier is a third party whom consign the shipment with, for delivery to a destination.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoAs others have said, the financial risk on freight shipping is high so the value of the item needs to be worth that risk.
For these old push mowers my suggestion is sticking to local pickup only.
lakefor94
·2 years agoShipping heavy items is very risky from a financial perspective.
If for any reason the buyer files a Item Not As Described type return case, you will lose the shipping cost in the refund process. And you have to pay return shipping if you want the junk back before refunding.
Best to sell locally for cash, donate or take to the recycle center.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoThere are some things that, if listed on eBay, are better listed as local pickup only. Those old push mowers, as you know, are heavy. Maybe there are actually dedicated collectors of such items who would buy them without actually inspecting them, can't say for sure. But then what's your plan when the buyer opens an item not as described case and you have to spot him the return shipping cost and refund in total when you receive the item back? And would the buyer be able to reconstruct that shipping box as well as you did originally?