Nice to see different methods to ship an item. I have adjusted a few times over the years. Sometimes out of necessity, I find a different and better way to safely package an item. Due to the mostly fragile, odd shaped items I ship, a box with plenty of fill is necessary. One thing I have never used is bubble wrap. I tried packing peanuts early on. They worked but what a mess they can make. Today I mostly use crinkled brown paper from home improvement stores. I also use pool noodles cut into various sizes for certain applications. I never experienced any issues with FedEx but now UPS is the cheapest option 98% of the time. My best advice for saving money on shipping is to charge the buyer a hefty amount to more than cover carrier and supply costs.
It's a lot easier (and safer) to cut cardboard boxes into strips and then wrap the keyboard box top-to-bottom and side-so-side before slipping it into a poly bag. No bubble wrap needed.
Boxes: I dumpster dive cardboard recycling bins(no trash) …and then bleach down my boxes to flats, measure, ((largest number, middle, number, smallest measurements)…..label upper corner of box,,,then “file my boxes in numerical order based on the measurements. I can find perfect box in seconds
I was in my church clothes Sunday afternoon rummaging through a cardboard recycling dumpster. A couple was walking past for exercise doing laps in the parking lot. I said to them, "I always wear my best clothes to dumpster dive!"🤓
I resize more than half of my boxes. I have a couple of similar patterns that I use over and over. My tools are a yard stick, pencil, utility knife, scissors and tape. After I measure out the pattern I need, I score straight lines, fold up and tape in place. Paper fill and the item go in, then tape up the box for shipping. I like the boxes from Lowes. I can make 2 custom boxes out of the larger ones. I use so many boxes I just don't have the time to go looking for clean, dry cardboard. My finished product doesn't look like a "Franken" box. They look professionally made from the outside and only take minutes to fabricate. Doing it this way gives me the exact box dimensions I need and usually saves a few dollars on shipping.
I have a box cutter with a perforation wheel on the other end. With this I can size it down, or easier lengthen the box. I had some model train cars that I needed the box two inches longer, and two inches skinner. On the narrower end, I measured two inches in, and cut the flap only. Did that for the top and bottom. Then use the tool to perforate between the two lines as if you kept cutting straight. Just helps you to bend the box in the right spot. On the other end do the same thing on the oppsite side. If you cut one end on the right side of the flap, the other flap you cut the left side of the flap. El chepo or emergancy box cutter replacememt, You could even use a cheap steak knife with ridges on it to perforate. If you really wanted to also use it to saw the box instead of using a box cutter.
I saw one of these tools in action at a shipping center. It blew my mind, but would probably only save me a minute over my utility knife and tailors tape measure.
@@justfacts1308 I know it would not look as nice, but you could fold the shirt with the sleeves and buttons on the inside. That way the shirt itself is helping to protect the buttons. I know the downfall is the person seeing the back of the collar instead of the front of the shirt when they first look at it.
Oh man get yourself one of those quiet tape guns, yer killin me..lol Also, I have found that boxes save on tape and time packing, worth it if you have enough similar sized items at least. Great vid..
Hey John, thanks for this video. I know this will help me a lot with my choices for shipping. I will definitely be ordering some bigger Poly Mailers . Great video Sir
Maybe amazon or sometimes you can get good deals locally on Marketplace. I will sometimes buy the large rolls at Home depot if I have to deal with large boxes.
I bought packing paper from uline. It was cheaper even with the shipping than buying from prime with free shipping. Plus, they sent it in a super big box. Extra cardboard for me 😁 I'm always wrapping cardboard around books, and paper items I sell.
@@suzannea6540 Sheets 24x30 from Uhaul for 9.99. is 10 'lbs worth of paper, probably the only way to figure out which is cheaper is lbs of paper per price, I don't like to cut my own paper from a roll, sheets are a tad faster for me
I wasted a lot of supply money on cheap white poly bags that often tear at the fold. I now have higher quality thicker bags and only use the cheap ones as inside water protection.
The ebay tape is cheaper for me than the Clear rolls i buy because of the store coupon. It also covers up the unsightly folds on the side of the package due to the excess polybag being folded over.
@@FlippinAintEasy I’m just getting into selling on eBay and I have a regular account. Do you have a business account? If so, what made you go with, or upgrade to, the business account? Appreciate your response. Thanks!
great vid f.a.e. I've been using your poly method as much as possible. Rate raises conflicting with ebay is just annoying but I'm working around it, raising prices and listing more, not worry so much about being the lowest price on thin margin items. Gut the other day was so full of ---- he has no idea how well I optimize my shipping. I had a hunch he was talking out his ---. Never had a complaint %100 feedback still.
Had to laugh at the $39.99 reference. That is a creative way of making your own 'bubble mailer'. I think the eBay tape and poly bags are overpriced. I use crinkled paper to fill any box and make sure that nothing rattles in the box before I ship it. I also save my used tape rolls to help protect small breakable items, that way I don't have to double box. I would have bubble wrapped that keyboard and then placed it in the box, again, so there is no rattle when you shake the box. Whenever I buy anything for resale, I always decide if the hassle of shipping will be worth it. I'll never buy a cookie jar again !!!
Ebay supplies are overpriced, unless you have a basic store or higher. Then Ebay gives you a cupon starting at $25 with a badic store. I think that is the only reason anyone buys Ebay supplies. They are limited in sizes for boxes and polymailers though.
the only way to ship valuable breakables is a box within a box, I don't do to many breakables anymore, tired of dealing with UPS insurance, takes to much time to pack and to much time to file insurance claims
Can you do a video on how to ship Hot Wheels cars For the cheapest price! I just paid USPS $8 dollars to ship ONE hot wheels car to a guy that only lived 2.5 hrs away from me! WTF? I lost money on this sale. Please HELP!
I’m not too good with this stuff but I would recommend you do the envelope option if your item is under a pound , I’m not to sure what the envelope options called but it should be on there
@@Scoops61 I asked the USPS office person "is $8 the cheapest way to ship a single hotwheels car? the USPS office person: "YEP" . ....So idk? I used the $2 manila bubble envelope. then it cost $5 to ship it plus taxes and fees.. $8 bucks.
@@ohmzen9695 damn I’m definitely going to do more research into it cause that’s ridiculous, currently I haven’t had to worry about that to much because I’ve been sticking to larger items like sports and Pokemon card lots cameras and camera gear and so much more, I’ll let you know if I find something out
After working as a packer in a factory setting, I absolutely hate the things. More often than not we had to kerp adjusting the machine because the air bubbles kept loosing air. Even when it was working correctly, air bags still went flat. All you had to do was touch them, and they went flat. When I see them in packaging that has been sent to me. I notice there is more room than there should be, and see the air bags which might have been full when packed, were partially deflated. I will not use them.
Thanks for the breakdown. I have board games and bubble wrap and a poly bag will do the trick. Trying to find a box is a nightmare, thanks for the tip. Where do you get yours, from Amazon or Walmart or??
Consider what a pain it must be to open that though. I’d be pissed if I was your customer and you sent me that tape trap. Sure you saved .39 on a box but the headache 🤕
So far Wal-Mart is the cheapest for bubble for me. $19.56 for 200 feet. Good stuff too. Finding cheap but decent tape is still a search in progress. So far $1.25 for 2"x55 yards is the best. Also pretty decent tape. Boxes I get tons for free, and pick up when people are giving away for free on Marketplace. Only ones I buy are Wal-Mart 6x6x6 for .63 cent each. And air pillows from some guy on ebay. I think 500 for $25? I custom fit a lot of my boxes for a nice snug fit. I also print labels on paper and tape them on. I don't think I can get my shipping expenses any cheaper.
Those prices are astronomical! Sam’s Club has 240ft rolls of Scotch which is good compared to Walmart Duck Brand Junk $15.67. Or Amazon has Bubble Boy which is lower quality like Walmart 175ft rolls x4 (700ft) for $32-$38 shipped.
@@TheTommyBernhardPodcast Thank you. Any tips on tape? Stuff I'm using now is shit. It only likes to stick to itself. Lol It was cheap so K gave it a try. I bought 9 rolls.
@@antwhite684 I use ebay tape and Uline 3 inch tape for bigger boxes. Tape is designed to stick to tape, not boxes. The tensil strength is how strong tape is when correctly applied..which tape to tape..some stick to boxes better than others but most tape is not very good nowadays it seems.
Check out the links in the description. Jiaropack from polybags and bubble mailers. American Bubble Boy for your bubble wrap. I use Uline for boxes but they can get pricey sometimes.
I don’t carry all these boxes which saves me room. I carry a few ebay branded boxes when i must use a box but just don’t have the space for anymore than that.
Anyone know where to get cheap or free packaging and to customize the size you need? I would use USPS but the shoe box that I have with Shoe size 10 in it, barely doesn't fit with the packaging USPS has. This made me have to take the shoes out and sell it New, without box just so it could fit. 🤔🤷♂🤣
@@mr-vet I'm not sure if you understood my comment. I was simply trying to use a regular shoe box (that you find in the shoe store) into the USPS box but that didn't fit if that helps made the comment clearer.
If I sell new shoes in the original box, I always have a roll of brown paper to wrap around it that you can pick up at Walmart or any craft shop. If you're trying to protect the box then bubble wrap it first.
Nice to see different methods to ship an item.
I have adjusted a few times over the years.
Sometimes out of necessity, I find a different and better way to safely package an item.
Due to the mostly fragile, odd shaped items I ship, a box with plenty of fill is necessary.
One thing I have never used is bubble wrap.
I tried packing peanuts early on. They worked but what a mess they can make. Today I mostly use crinkled brown paper from home improvement stores. I also use pool noodles cut into various sizes for certain applications.
I never experienced any issues with FedEx but now UPS is the cheapest option 98% of the time.
My best advice for saving money on shipping is to charge the buyer a hefty amount to more than cover carrier and supply costs.
It's a lot easier (and safer) to cut cardboard boxes into strips and then wrap the keyboard box top-to-bottom and side-so-side before slipping it into a poly bag. No bubble wrap needed.
I get my boxes from neighbours and mastered box resizing. Also priority boxes are free. I use a lot of 12x12x8 and 7x7x6 Priority
I needed this video John! Being a newbie ain't easy either 😆 Thank you
Boxes: I dumpster dive cardboard recycling bins(no trash) …and then bleach down my boxes to flats, measure, ((largest number, middle, number, smallest measurements)…..label upper corner of box,,,then “file my boxes in numerical order based on the measurements.
I can find perfect box in seconds
I don’t “bleach them..ltypo….I BREAK THEM DOWN😂
Lol Deni I thought that was some new lingo. 😂 I dive for boxes too.
I was in my church clothes Sunday afternoon rummaging through a cardboard recycling dumpster. A couple was walking past for exercise doing laps in the parking lot. I said to them, "I always wear my best clothes to dumpster dive!"🤓
@@deni2622 Here I was googling "how to bleach cardboard" before I saw this comment 😆 😆
If you reuse boxes get a box resizer. They are great for large boxes to make them smaller.
I have one I picked up online but I am not a fan. I just use my box cutter when I have to frankenbox.
I resize more than half of my boxes. I have a couple of similar patterns that I use over and over.
My tools are a yard stick, pencil, utility knife, scissors and tape.
After I measure out the pattern I need, I score straight lines, fold up and tape in place. Paper fill and the item go in, then tape up the box for shipping.
I like the boxes from Lowes. I can make 2 custom boxes out of the larger ones. I use so many boxes I just don't have the time to go looking for clean, dry cardboard.
My finished product doesn't look like a "Franken" box. They look professionally made from the outside and only take minutes to fabricate.
Doing it this way gives me the exact box dimensions I need and usually saves a few dollars on shipping.
I have a box cutter with a perforation wheel on the other end. With this I can size it down, or easier lengthen the box.
I had some model train cars that I needed the box two inches longer, and two inches skinner.
On the narrower end, I measured two inches in, and cut the flap only. Did that for the top and bottom. Then use the tool to perforate between the two lines as if you kept cutting straight. Just helps you to bend the box in the right spot.
On the other end do the same thing on the oppsite side. If you cut one end on the right side of the flap, the other flap you cut the left side of the flap.
El chepo or emergancy box cutter replacememt, You could even use a cheap steak knife with ridges on it to perforate. If you really wanted to also use it to saw the box instead of using a box cutter.
I saw one of these tools in action at a shipping center. It blew my mind, but would probably only save me a minute over my utility knife and tailors tape measure.
My big savings is I get my bubble wrap from my job where we just throw it out from the package we receive
Wow! I must be living in another world, I never realized they made poly bags that big🤣
Please explain how a 5 lb box will destroy a button on a shirt? I get you are hell bent against my methods. So just continue doing what you are doing.
@@justfacts1308 I know it would not look as nice, but you could fold the shirt with the sleeves and buttons on the inside. That way the shirt itself is helping to protect the buttons. I know the downfall is the person seeing the back of the collar instead of the front of the shirt when they first look at it.
Oh man get yourself one of those quiet tape guns, yer killin me..lol Also, I have found that boxes save on tape and time packing, worth it if you have enough similar sized items at least. Great vid..
When I have to pull something from a box to check it, I snap a photo first to help me with knowing how it should go back in.
Hey John, thanks for this video. I know this will help me a lot with my choices for shipping. I will definitely be ordering some bigger Poly Mailers . Great video Sir
GREAT Video! It will help me out a LOT! Thank you!
Also sometimes Pirate Ship is cheaper than eBay shipping.
Excellent, I use polybags as well, something I don't hear anyone discuss is where to get packaging paper cheap.
Maybe amazon or sometimes you can get good deals locally on Marketplace. I will sometimes buy the large rolls at Home depot if I have to deal with large boxes.
@@FlippinAintEasy I just got 200 fairly thins Sheets 24x30 from Uhaul for 9.99. Seems like a good deal 10 'lbs
I bought packing paper from uline. It was cheaper even with the shipping than buying from prime with free shipping. Plus, they sent it in a super big box. Extra cardboard for me 😁
I'm always wrapping cardboard around books, and paper items I sell.
@@suzannea6540 Sheets 24x30 from Uhaul for 9.99. is 10 'lbs worth of paper, probably the only way to figure out which is cheaper is lbs of paper per price, I don't like to cut my own paper from a roll, sheets are a tad faster for me
Thanks so much I really like it when resellers show essential things like this ,Most just show how much $$$$ they make
I wasted a lot of supply money on cheap white poly bags that often tear at the fold. I now have higher quality thicker bags and only use the cheap ones as inside water protection.
Always great ideas! Thank-you !
Great tips! Remind me why you used the eBay tape on the edges of that first package instead of just clear tape. Thx.
The ebay tape is cheaper for me than the Clear rolls i buy because of the store coupon. It also covers up the unsightly folds on the side of the package due to the excess polybag being folded over.
@@FlippinAintEasy I’m just getting into selling on eBay and I have a regular account. Do you have a business account? If so, what made you go with, or upgrade to, the business account? Appreciate your response. Thanks!
FedEx burned me plenty with their surcharges, and I'll never use them again either.
great vid f.a.e. I've been using your poly method as much as possible. Rate raises conflicting with ebay is just annoying but I'm working around it, raising prices and listing more, not worry so much about being the lowest price on thin margin items.
Gut the other day was so full of ---- he has no idea how well I optimize my shipping. I had a hunch he was talking out his ---. Never had a complaint %100 feedback still.
Very helpful tips!
Had to laugh at the $39.99 reference. That is a creative way of making your own 'bubble mailer'.
I think the eBay tape and poly bags are overpriced. I use crinkled paper to fill any box and make sure that nothing rattles in the box before I ship it. I also save my used tape rolls to help protect small breakable items, that way I don't have to double box. I would have bubble wrapped that keyboard and then placed it in the box, again, so there is no rattle when you shake the box.
Whenever I buy anything for resale, I always decide if the hassle of shipping will be worth it. I'll never buy a cookie jar again !!!
Ebay supplies are overpriced, unless you have a basic store or higher. Then Ebay gives you a cupon starting at $25 with a badic store. I think that is the only reason anyone buys Ebay supplies. They are limited in sizes for boxes and polymailers though.
the only way to ship valuable breakables is a box within a box, I don't do to many breakables anymore, tired of dealing with UPS insurance, takes to much time to pack and to much time to file insurance claims
Can you do a video on how to ship Hot Wheels cars For the cheapest price! I just paid USPS $8 dollars to ship ONE hot wheels car to a guy that only lived 2.5 hrs away from me! WTF? I lost money on this sale. Please HELP!
I’m not too good with this stuff but I would recommend you do the envelope option if your item is under a pound , I’m not to sure what the envelope options called but it should be on there
@@Scoops61 I asked the USPS office person "is $8 the cheapest way to ship a single hotwheels car? the USPS office person: "YEP" . ....So idk? I used the $2 manila bubble envelope. then it cost $5 to ship it plus taxes and fees.. $8 bucks.
@@ohmzen9695 damn I’m definitely going to do more research into it cause that’s ridiculous, currently I haven’t had to worry about that to much because I’ve been sticking to larger items like sports and Pokemon card lots cameras and camera gear and so much more, I’ll let you know if I find something out
There is your problem. Never buy your postage at the Post Office @@ohmzen9695
That ski jacket might be small enough to fit in a USPS Tyvek bag (15" x 11.625") which would qualify for .20 cubic.
Something to look into next time. Thanks.
Thanks for the video. Solid advice. I subscribed. I recently started doing TH-cam content. Hopefully get things rolling.
To u should also utilize air pillows. Helps save on shipping weight
I actually had one of the machines to make the air pillows, the rolls get very expensive and I scrapped that idea.
I buy a roll off ebay. Very cheap I get a lot. Great peice. .
After working as a packer in a factory setting, I absolutely hate the things. More often than not we had to kerp adjusting the machine because the air bubbles kept loosing air. Even when it was working correctly, air bags still went flat. All you had to do was touch them, and they went flat.
When I see them in packaging that has been sent to me. I notice there is more room than there should be, and see the air bags which might have been full when packed, were partially deflated.
I will not use them.
where do you get your poly-bags from?
I havent used fedex in a while....hope i didnt get screwed in the past
I'm done with Fedup also. Too many damaged packages.
Thanks for the breakdown. I have board games and bubble wrap and a poly bag will do the trick. Trying to find a box is a nightmare, thanks for the tip. Where do you get yours, from Amazon or Walmart or??
Amazon is a good place to start.
I know how to pack it, I need to know about shipping labels, how to get them ,pricing, etc ,
Consider what a pain it must be to open that though. I’d be pissed if I was your customer and you sent me that tape trap. Sure you saved .39 on a box but the headache 🤕
Never had a complaint from anyone yet.
So far Wal-Mart is the cheapest for bubble for me. $19.56 for 200 feet. Good stuff too. Finding cheap but decent tape is still a search in progress. So far $1.25 for 2"x55 yards is the best. Also pretty decent tape. Boxes I get tons for free, and pick up when people are giving away for free on Marketplace. Only ones I buy are Wal-Mart 6x6x6 for .63 cent each. And air pillows from some guy on ebay. I think 500 for $25? I custom fit a lot of my boxes for a nice snug fit. I also print labels on paper and tape them on. I don't think I can get my shipping expenses any cheaper.
Those prices are astronomical! Sam’s Club has 240ft rolls of Scotch which is good compared to Walmart Duck Brand Junk $15.67. Or Amazon has Bubble Boy which is lower quality like Walmart 175ft rolls x4 (700ft) for $32-$38 shipped.
@@TheTommyBernhardPodcast Thank you. Any tips on tape? Stuff I'm using now is shit. It only likes to stick to itself. Lol It was cheap so K gave it a try. I bought 9 rolls.
@@antwhite684 I use ebay tape and Uline 3 inch tape for bigger boxes. Tape is designed to stick to tape, not boxes. The tensil strength is how strong tape is when correctly applied..which tape to tape..some stick to boxes better than others but most tape is not very good nowadays it seems.
Idk I've always succeeded by making money, saving money is only really important when I'm not making enough
Hey man what’s the cheapest site to get good supplies and what supplies all resellers should have ?
Check out the links in the description. Jiaropack from polybags and bubble mailers. American Bubble Boy for your bubble wrap. I use Uline for boxes but they can get pricey sometimes.
You get all your money back from write offs on tax form section C, eBay fees,packaging materials,shipping, business expenses^
Why not just frankenbox it with 2 USPS Priority boxes instead of wasting 20 yards of tape around the plastic?
I don’t carry all these boxes which saves me room. I carry a few ebay branded boxes when i must use a box but just don’t have the space for anymore than that.
Where do you get the eBay tape?
search for it on ebay. You can get it there. Shop around for the best deal.
How do you ship tiny objects so they won't get lost
Anyone know where to get cheap or free packaging and to customize the size you need? I would use USPS but the shoe box that I have with Shoe size 10 in it, barely doesn't fit with the packaging USPS has. This made me have to take the shoes out and sell it New, without box just so it could fit. 🤔🤷♂🤣
USPS Large Shipping box…not to be confused with the Large Flat Rate box….
@@mr-vet I'm not sure if you understood my comment. I was simply trying to use a regular shoe box (that you find in the shoe store) into the USPS box but that didn't fit if that helps made the comment clearer.
If I sell new shoes in the original box, I always have a roll of brown paper to wrap around it that you can pick up at Walmart or any craft shop. If you're trying to protect the box then bubble wrap it first.
It's really hard to hear you over the really loud screeching bird😂
@@LivingEpistles444 well he’s dead now so…
@@FlippinAintEasy oof/rip
Aren’t you spending a lot with all that tape lol
Not after the coupon is applied.
RIP headphones users
Sorry, my volume control game needs to get better.