single issues of magazines

[keziak]

When researching I came across some sales by a guy who charged $4.44 shipping. When I asked him  how he did that he said he uses the large envelope. I asked my guy at the Post Office about it and he said that means first class which among other rules can't be stiff. So that throws the tactic of stiffening with cardboard out the window. Do any of you ship magazines that way?

[mam98031]

I ship magazines from time to time and I would never consider shipping them without some cardboard in the book.  That is just inviting damage to the magazine.  All my books and magazines are shipped with cardboard in them to help prevent bending them.  Plus a nice red sticker on the front and back of the package that says Handle With Care, Do Not Bend, Thank you!.

[na_833338]

I can't speak for anybody else, but I ship my magazines with Ground Advantage (USPS) and I include thick cardboard stiffeners and a bag.  Media Mail can't be used for magazines, so you don't have much of a choice, but Priority Mail is another option.  I know someone who only uses Priority for all their magazines.

I want to be sure that the item they bought arrives in the same condition that it was in the photos.  That's what I base my shipping price on because nice cardboard costs money and that adds to the price.  Usually $5.99 for thin mags, and $6.99 for thicker mags, but some prices can be more depending on weight and distance.

[chapeau-noir]

I've never stiffened anything with magazines - they're built to be flexible - I do use bubble mailers, though. 

[johnrj1226]

Receive  several magazines w/o  stiffing or  envelope  a few times every month or quarterly - all delivered by the USPS  - never  damaged.   Mags. like AARP,  local ads, etc  all with  a  ship to label  affixed - some times our  name, some just have the name "RESIDENT AT" our  street  address al no charge or never requested.   Most are deposited into  our out side trash receptacle  before going  into our home and into an inside trash receptacle.

[keraz-0]

I use ground advantage, bubble mailer, stiffen with cardboard front and back, and wrap with a plastic "Thankyou" bag.

[keziak]

I have a feeling of "what was just my luck" about shipping without stiffener and the magazine get damaged. 

Of course there is the q uestion of how many issues of magazines are worth enough to list singly and not in lots by year or whatever. Mr. $4.44's magazines sold for little money.

[bashort]

I believe that there is a huge difference between the the care needed in the original shipping of a new magazine and shipping  a 50 or 75 year old one that has significant value to someone, and has become more fragile over the decades. 

[1786davycrockett]

After receiving numerous letters and packages from USPS which have been chewed and mangled beyond use or readibility, I'm 100% in favor of using front & back cardboard stiffening for the magazines which I ship.

Many of the magazines which I sell are over 50 years old, and I'm fairly certain that my buyers would prefer receiving them in the condition in which I have listed them, rather than taking my chances on a NAD case by just stuffing them inside a plastic envelope, and patting them "Good luck" on the rump as I drop them off at the post office.

Additionally, each magazine is plastic bagged before the cardboard sandwich treatment; then further strengthened with a double wrap of newsprint.  I cut down sturdy grocery bags for my exterior packaging, with edges and corners protected by eBay packing tape.  And, on both front and back, black magic marker warns "Do Not Fold Or Bend!"

No complaints from buyers about mangled deliveries, and multiple compliments on conditions matching those in my listings.

Something I learned over 60 years ago:  Pack the items which you are selling, as if you were selling to yourself.

[luckythewinner]

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@keziak wrote:

When researching I came across some sales by a guy who charged $4.44 shipping. 

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The price that a seller charges for shipping may have absolutely no relationship with how much he actually pays for a label. 

I charge a flat rate of either $3.95 (4 ounces or less) or $4.95 (8 ounces or less) for packages shipped anywhere in the USA. I use stiffeners in my packages and ship them in an envelope, but I pay for Ground Advantage unless they qualify for Media Mail. 

Some of the labels cost around $4.50, and some of them cost me close to $6. It does not matter to me, because I have moved some of my shipping costs into the item price. 

[bashort]

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@1786davycrockett wrote:

After receiving numerous letters and packages from USPS which have been chewed and mangled beyond use or readibility, I'm 100% in favor of using front & back cardboard stiffening for the magazines which I ship.

Many of the magazines which I sell are over 50 years old, and I'm fairly certain that my buyers would prefer receiving them in the condition in which I have listed them, rather than taking my chances on a NAD case by just stuffing them inside a plastic envelope, and patting them "Good luck" on the rump as I drop them off at the post office.

Additionally, each magazine is plastic bagged before the cardboard sandwich treatment; then further strengthened with a double wrap of newsprint.  I cut down sturdy grocery bags for my exterior packaging, with edges and corners protected by eBay packing tape.  And, on both front and back, black magic marker warns "Do Not Fold Or Bend!"

No complaints from buyers about mangled deliveries, and multiple compliments on conditions matching those in my listings.

Something I learned over 60 years ago:  Pack the items which you are selling, as if you were selling to yourself.

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what is this "newsprint" that you speak of?

[kibble-net]

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what is this "newsprint" that you speak of?

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You can buy large rolls of it from Grainger or other companies that sell shipping supplies.  

You don't actually need used newspapers if that's what you were getting at. The stuff you buy to use for void fill doesn't have ink on it, so for that reason I prefer it too.

[bdmh-enterprises]

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@bashort wrote:

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what is this "newsprint" that you speak of?

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Well you see, way back in the olden days there were these things called books and news papers. Instead of watching a phone or computer for information people actually read these things (crazy right?). They did this by using a thing called a Kindle. I would guess Davy uses old Kindles to protect the magazines, they are pretty stiff.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I ship in a stayflat mailer. One month old, one year old, one hundred year old.

Whether that qualifies for Large Envelope/Flat is the PO's decision. I use Ground Advantage and charge appropriately.

If it isn't worth shipping by GA it isn't worth selling for me. I am patient and can wait for a properly motivated buyer.

There are many magazines which are best suited for use in the outhouse, since I can more readily sell Sears Catalogs.

[slippinjimmy]

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@keziak wrote:

When researching I came across some sales by a guy who charged $4.44 shipping. When I asked him  how he did that he said he uses the large envelope. I asked my guy at the Post Office about it and he said that means first class which among other rules can't be stiff. So that throws the tactic of stiffening with cardboard out the window. Do any of you ship magazines that way?

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I rarely sell magazines and when I do they are "collectible" items which are listed in the $15 - $30 range, I've always shipped First Class Package (now Ground Advantage).

That said I have been a subscriber for many magazines since the early 1960's. All those magazines were sent to me as "Flats", most of them with no packaging at all, the address label is right on the front cover. Some of them would come inside a plain envelope and in more "recent" years some will come in a poly bag but NONE of them have come with any sort of stiffener. I also receive annual reports from companies that I hold stock in, they come in a regular large envelope, 99% of them arrive In pristine condition, some arrive with a bit of a bend (not a fold) which is really a non issue.

If you are selling low value magazines there is really no reason to not use First Class Flats for shipping.