What are my best options for packaging and shipment?

[NayusDante]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I have a feeling that the relevant search terms would be too broad.

Right now, I'm using the $4.95 small flat-rate USPS mailer boxes, and the small priority mail boxes that are one size bigger. These are nice when I'm selling something that actually went for a few bucks, but $5 shipping for every darn thing is kinda limiting. I've got a lot of stuff that I could sell for a dollar or two, so I'm looking into my options for shipping.

I really like being able to print postage from PayPal, since I don't know where the heck my local post office is. Short of going out and buying stamps, do I have a free channel to purchase cheaper shipping? Stamps.com and such have monthly fees, but is there something that just lets you pay for what you use?

Also, what's a good free or low-cost shipping container? The ones I've been getting are for Priority Mail only.

[darkslime]

To ship a game the best shipping container would be a bubble mailer. If you buy in bulk it is the cheapest, 250 #0 mailers (the size you need to mail games) is about 30 bucks shipped on eBay.

Shipping from payPal is also the best way since you save money on DC.

[Cornelius]

^ what he said. Also, the cheaper shipping method you are looking for is simply First-Class Mail. A lot of people tend to think that is only for letters, but most any package 13oz or under can be shipped First-Class. I think it is about $3 for a 13oz package.

[NayusDante]

Both of you are quick and helpful. Do PayPal/eBay have First Class as an option?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Yes they do.

[ryborg]

Seriously, how do you not know where your post office is?

[NayusDante]

Seriously, how do you not know where your post office is?

Yeah, it's weird. I know where ONE post office is, but it's like 20 minutes away. It's not convenient or economical to drive down there.

I bought 100 DVD-size bubble mailers on eBay today, so we'll see how this goes next week when I list some stuff.

[videogametrader]

If you are shipping 10-20 items per week I would suggest going to Endicia.com and downloading their Dazzle program and signing up for the service. It's not that expensive and you get discounts on the delivery confirmation. I use it and it works great.

[jb143]

I bought 100 DVD-size bubble mailers on eBay today, so we'll see how this goes next week when I list some stuff.

That's actually what I was going to suggest. Back when I was doing a lot of selling on eBay, I'd just buy a big box of bubble mailers off eBay for cheap. Also, for priority packaging, the post office will deliver them to your house for free. At least they used to anyways. I think they'll also pick them up from you on their route if it's pre-stamped.

Now when I need shipping supplies I just get them from work. All the boxes and packaging peanuts I could ever need for free because they just send off to recycling if no one takes it.

[NayusDante]

What I've been doing is using the Priority Mail boxes, since they're free. The problem is that $5 shipping on everything is excessive, and I want to sell some stuff where the entire transaction is under $4. I've still got a whole pack of PM flat rate boxes, but I'm saving those for more fragile stuff. They deliver them for free, but they profit on the postage.

[Kitsune Sniper]

If you are shipping 10-20 items per week I would suggest going to Endicia.com and downloading their Dazzle program and signing up for the service. It's not that expensive and you get discounts on the delivery confirmation. I use it and it works great.

You get free D/C online with Priority, and for about 20 cents on First Class with the USPS.