For those of you who package books....

[flp]

how do you package them? I have always wrapped them in bubble wrap and added cardboard to stiffen the package.  But I watched a video of a young woman who only puts them into a padded, waterproof, envelope.  

For those of you who do that, have the books arrived safely?  I'm always worried about the corners getting dinged up.  Thanks.  

[wastingtime101]

Put in a plastic bag to keep clean and dry. Cut up a box to make a cardboard wrap/sleeve that's slightly longer than the book to ensure corners are protected. Put the whole thing in a bubble mailer.

Or use a plastic bag, then place item in a book mailer - I usually have a few of those hanging around, but I don't always have the size needed.

I've received countless books in a bubble mailer with no protection. I'd say they are fine half the time and damaged half the time.

[mike_jayroe]

Since I eat a lot of bread, I take the bread wrapper and clean it out and will wrap small books up in the bag.  Larger bags I wrap them up in the two grocery store bags taking one from the spine side of the books, and the second one from the open side of the book, ( --->   and  <----) and then tie the ends together as I place the bag over the books. 

If you still get newspapers delivered, those bags also work.

[gator08041971]

I recently sold nearly 200 novels. A lot were trilogy based, but there were some with 6 books as a collection

Here is how I handled them:

Books were bundled together up to 3 at a time.  Shrink wrapped tight, being very careful to not bend any corners, or overlap books, that sort of thing.

Once the order's books were wrapped, I then would give them a once wrap with either shipping paper or bubble wrap, whatever I had handy.  I recycle a lot of shipping materials.

The other thing is to keep the package the books are going into big enough to allow a bit of room all the way around. I don't like having books directly against a box side, to prevent any impact damage to the book covers.

Now, if I'm shipping something like a magazine, or say a D&D book, those I will shrink wrap, sometimes I even use a large ziplock, then wrap that in stiff cardboard, then a layer of foam or bubble wrap, or even right into a bubble mailer.

Everyone that has bought books from me have been extremely happy with my book packaging.  You can read my feedback to see for yourself.  The novels were recent, the D&D stuff was about a year ago.

[baangell]

I buy and sell books online, and I package them the same way you do, in a bubble mailer with bubble wrap and cardboard to protect from damage. Most of the books I get come in a simple poly or kraft mailers and half the time they get damage. In every single case I return those damaged books, get a full refund and block said seller so I never have to deal with that again.

[gloryglorygifts]

Protect them with cardboard on both sides, making sure that it is longer than the books and securing them with tape and then putting them in a bubble envelope. We really only ship one at a time, rarely 2. Haven't had a problem yet.

[toysaver]

I seal them in a plastic bag and then fold a big piece of cardboard 2-3 times around the book.  You have to fold it on the grain.   The label is taped on to seal the folds.  Try it, it's easy as pie.  As a bonus it's easy for the PO to peek inside one of the ends and make sure it is a book.  

[luckythewinner]

For those of you who package books....how do you package them?

1) book sealed in 2mil plastic bag, taped shut

2) book sandwiched between two cardboard or rigid foam stiffeners, slightly larger than book

3) firmly tape the book and stiffeners with packing tape to keep them in place

4) place the whole thing in a catalog envelope or padded envelope

5) use packing tape to seal flaps of envelope

I've mailed thousands and thousands with no complaints or damage. 

[1786davycrockett]

@flp 

Over 60 years ago, I began ordering used books from Buccaneer Books in Florida, and the manner in which they prepared books for shipment made a big impression on my teenage brain.  Here's what they did back in the 1960s, and what I still do today:

Each book is wrapped in its own individual plastic bag -- either a book bag, or the plastic bags in which our daily newspapers are delivered.

Two pieces of cardboard are then cut to fit on each side of the wrapped book, and taped together. I'll wrap multiple books between the same pieces of cardboard, so long as they all fit.

The resulting cardboard block is then wrapped between double layers of newsprint.

Finally, the resulting package is wrapped inside thick grocery bag paper, and taped securely with 2-inch tape.

Check my eBay feedback -- thousands of satisfied buyers -- I've even received positive comments from USPS!

Too many books which I have received in the mail have been shipped loosely, with very little protection for rough USPS handling -- if the received books don't match the original eBay description (due to poor packaging by the seller), I'll contact the seller for a return and refund.

Sellers who fail to protect ANY products properly from rough shipment in the delivery process need to be reminded that the original eBay condition description must match the condition in which the item is finally received by the buyer.

[lux.ra_14]

Wrap in unprinted newsprint or light Kraft paper for appearance and also protection from tape. (Too many sellers put a naked book in a "cardboard sandwich" and then lard on the tape.)

Bubble wrap. Don't skimp, since small bubbles actually afford only minimal protection.

Sealed plastic bag for water-resistance.

Sturdy box with plenty of room on all sides. Void fill so the book doesn't move around.

No packing on a curve! Treat a $10 book the same as a $100 book. They're both subject to postal damage and buyer unhappiness.

The rest of my NO list: No flimsy envelopes. No boxes or bags that previously held food products. No recycled packing materials that aren't clean and unmarked. No handwritten address labels. No cheap tape. No cutting corners and hoping for the best.

[deserdog]

I have sold lots of book and magazine. For small, thin books or magazines I place them in a plastic bag, a new one, and fold the bag over and tape shut. I fold one end of the tape over and mark with a black X so it is easy for the buyer o remove the tape. Then I cut 2 pieces of cardboard a 1/2"larger then the book of magazine and sandwich the book between them Then tape, again using the black X. Then I place in the correct size of shipping envelope. I also write in big black letters, front and back of the envelope, DO NOT BEND! I had a buyer once tell me to write that on the package because the carrier would even bend thin boxes and shove then in the mail box.

For larger books, I do the same thing with the bag and the cardboard. Then I make a box  for the book. Say if the cardboard sleeveing the book is 11.5 X 9, and is 1" thick, I will make a box that is 12.5 X10 X 1.5. The I place the sleeved book inside the box and center and fill void with clan blank newsprint.

[choicebids4u]

Same way I ship mine. 👍