Shipping ease is one of the greatest assets of the digital world today. We can buy something and have it arrive at our doorstep. But it can also be one of the greatest hassles of your day if you are the one doing the shipping.
I was lucky when I started out in the book business. I was left a little over 500 envelopes the perfect size to ship books in. Shipping was done at the post office. However, the longer I had to stand in line, the more I hated it. I always needed to be somewhere else, the post office employees were never the most polite of people I had met and the expenses seemed too much.
First...FIRST
PACKAGING
So, packaging is one of the largest hurdles to cross. If the package is irregular shaped, floppy or just thicker at one end, the package has a chance of getting caught. The package will need to be securely packaged and be as secure as possible to ensure it gets to the customer.
Personally, we use flat polyethylene mailers in a variety of sizes. We order in bulk, which is the best way to get them. Sure, you can go to Wal-Mart or another store and pay $3-$5 for a single large mailer or a 3-pack, but that is way WAY too expensive.
In comparing the cost of mailers, for a 3-pack of bubble mailers, for an average of $5, you can buy anywhere from 25-100 poly mailers. that is much cheaper and you will always have some on hand.
WHERE TO BUY THEM
We co-op, so we will buy upwards to 600 bags at a time in a co-op. However, we have had to buy independant before. Here are some places to look.
http://www.amazon.com/VALUEMAILERS
http://www.mailersusa.com/
http://www.staples.com/
The next big thing is SHIPPING!
This is the one that gets everyone. Waiting in line and paying way too much. My local post office, besides being crowded, is staffed with some very rude people, in my honest opinion.
I try to mail from home whenever possible. It takes as little as a phone or a computer and a printer. With that, you can avoid the lines, the rude people and save yourself money in printing your own labels. You do not have to have special labels as long as you can find a roll of clear packing tape. The added benefit is being able to ship something in the middle of the night when it is most convenient.
First option is USPS itself. It doesn't save you that much money, but it is more convenient and it will save you the gas. And you can ship in the middle of the night still.
USPS Shipping
The best option for independent sales is PayPal. PayPal has a shipping portal that is quick, convenient and much cheaper that the actual USPS.
https://www.paypal.com/
With either option, you much create an account of some sort. But for the cost saving, I have chosen PayPal.
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