eBay

katpur_51 · ‎09-09-2022

Hi! I’m new to shipping items out. I understand that when the buyer pays for shipping, ebay deducts the shipping label charge from our available balance. My question is are we responsible for paying for packaging? I mailed out two orders today that I should have profited $20 total from but I had to pay almost $5 for the mailers I got from the post office, so after paying for the mailers and eBay’s fees I ended up making about $12. Am I doing something wrong?

Anonymous · ‎09-09-2022

@katpur_51 wrote:
My question is are we responsible for paying for packaging?

Yes, unless you use priority mail packaging which is generally free from the post office. Any safety packing material/filler is your responsibility.

1786davycrockett · ‎09-09-2022

Sellers are responsible for purchasing their own shipping supplies -- eBay does not reimburse us for purchasing ANY shipping supplies.

You need to include the cost of your shipping supplies into either your selling price, or into the amount that you actually charge for postage (aka "shipping & handling").

juicydrupes · ‎09-09-2022

If you are going to use those kinds of packing materials, its up to you to know in advance, and include those costs in your shipping charges.

1786davycrockett · ‎09-09-2022

"Yes, unless you use priority mail packaging which is generally free from the post office."

While the USPS Priority boxes and envelopes are free to pick up at the post office, they are not "free" to use as packaging stuffing. USPS charges for the use of Priority boxes and envelopes at the time of use, and these items are NEVER to be used for packaging stuffing -- use newspapers, packing peanuts, paper bags, etc, instead.

ebooksdiva · ‎09-09-2022

@katpur_51

Buying mailers from the post office can be pricey. You could go to usps.com and order the free priority shipping supplies to be shipped to you. Then I would purchase a large roll of bubble wrap from Walmart. It’s around $18 for a 12 in x 150 ft roll. They also carry reasonably priced mailers and boxes too.

itsjustasprain · ‎09-09-2022

@ebooksdiva wrote:
@katpur_51

Buying mailers from the post office can be pricey.

Prices on the non-Priority mailing supplies at the post office are simply ridiculous. I think they are mainly there to capitalize on people who for some reason need to find packaging at the last minute. I cannot think of anyplace else that charges so much for so little.

Just check out the shipping supplies at Walmart and similar places and you can get small quantities of decent materials at a fair price. If you want to buy in larger quantities there are plenty of sellers here who have good deals on what you need.

toysaver · ‎09-09-2022

Buying shipping supplies at the Post Office is like buying bread, eggs or milk at the gas station. Convenient yet more expensive than most other places. For boxes you can scrounge for free ones at the grocery store. I shop the day before the weekly sale turns over and they are busy filling the shelves. I have my pick of sizes.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎09-09-2022

@katpur_51 wrote: ... I had to pay almost $5 for the mailers I got from the post office.... Am I doing something wrong?

So far, all you've done "wrong" is to purchase your shipping supplies from the most expensive possible option. Post Office prices are deliberately not competitive.

Go to the shipping supplies section at usps.com and find the free Priority Mail packaging that suits the items that you plan to ship via Priority. For items that don't suit the available options, and for items that are going via other services (such as Media Mail or First Class), you will have to secure the packaging yourself. As other sellers have noted, there are many strategies for re-using packaging from a variety of sources rather than purchasing new.

If you don't have the packing materials available when you list an item, you could incur significant expenses by underestimating the package weight, as well as having to purchase packaging at premium prices. Experienced sellers pack up their items in advance, or at least know the approximate total weight of the item plus the box or envelope they will be using.

1786davycrockett · ‎09-09-2022

If you have a Barnes & Noble store near you, drop by in the early afternoon (NOT MORNING!), and ask the receiving department if you can have some bubble wrap, packing peanuts, plastic packaging material, etc. They'll be glad to provide you with as much as you can stuff into your car, as the receiving staff must find a way to recycle or dump piles of these materials on a daily basis.

And they won't charge you dime one, either!

toysaver · ‎09-09-2022

"If you have a Barnes & Noble store near you, drop by in the early afternoon (NOT MORNING!), and ask the receiving department if you can have some bubble wrap, packing peanuts, plastic packaging material, etc."

If they're closed you can just drive around back to the dumpster.

soh.maryl · ‎09-09-2022

When setting the prices on items listed for sale, any seller needs to take into consideration every single bit of the cost. That would include what he paid for the item, all involved packing materials and the FVF he will be charged by eBay when/if his item sells.

Who else would pay for packaging except the seller?