Question about Swapping

hmkenny · 08-12-2009, 01:23 PM

How do you package the products you swap or sell on the swaps forum? Do you box everything or does a well bubble wrapped item in a bubble wrap envelop work?

WurlyLox · 08-12-2009, 01:57 PM

Good questions! I've got a bunch of stuff to swap and keep procrastinating about it because the packing, payments, etc. seems too much to deal with.

I need to just stop and do it. I already have packing stuff and I'm already a PayPal member.

Any tips, anyone?

jillipoo · 08-12-2009, 02:42 PM

A lot depends on what boxes I might have sitting around the house from mail order packages that have arrived! Also, the product itself sometimes determines how I package it. Bottles that could be crushed easily go in a box, for instance. Big jars go in boxes, too. I generally only use bubble wrap if the item risks damage from getting knocked around.

I tape bottles and jars closed and pretty much always put them in a ziploc bag even before putting them in their shipping "container."

I've received some products in a swap where I was floored by how thorough the sender was with sealing and wrapping. I've received others where things were on the sloppy side. So, I think as long as you use common sense (i.e., ask yourself what could happen to a product in transit and try to package it to prevent that worst-case scenario), you should be fine.

hmkenny · 08-13-2009, 03:22 AM

Thanks, Jillipoo. Do you find swapping/selling worthwhile, with all the packaging and shipping costs?

jillipoo · 08-13-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmkenny

Thanks, Jillipoo. Do you find swapping/selling worthwhile, with all the packaging and shipping costs?

Yes, I do. The trick is to find a deal that's right. Some folks sell things at a very good price *and* either include shipping as part of that price or charge something very low. Others just simply charge too much. If you use eBay at all, the same principles apply: factor in how much you're getting, what the retail value would be if you bought it online or in a store, and what the total price would be after shipping. Then decide if you're getting a deal. Pass if you're not.

As for swapping, I like it! It's nice to know that two products find new homes and potential fans.

The part that's annoying to me is the packaging and the bringing to the post office. I wish fairies could do that part.

WurlyLox · 08-13-2009, 11:49 AM

Thanks, Jilli - all good tips. I need fairies, too - I have some returns I need to take to the PO and UPS store right now that I keep putting off!

jillipoo · 08-13-2009, 11:57 AM

Glad to know I'm not alone in that particular procrastination tendency!

DEL2C · 08-13-2009, 12:19 PM

The swap board is great! I print my labels from PayPal to avoid the hassle of going to the P.O. I keep bubble envelopes and boxes from previous swaps/mail order purchases to make it easier too.

jillipoo · 08-13-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

The swap board is great! I print my labels from PayPal to avoid the hassle of going to the P.O. I keep bubble envelopes and boxes from previous swaps/mail order purchases to make it easier too.

How does that work, Del? If it's under 13 ounces, you can just put it in a mailbox, right? But if over 13 ounces, you'd still have to go to the post office, right? And how do you know how much it weighs -- do you have a postal scale?

WurlyLox · 08-13-2009, 12:26 PM

I've never used PayPal except to buy stuff a couple of times - I'll have to check it all out.

msgiblet · 08-13-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

The swap board is great! I print my labels from PayPal to avoid the hassle of going to the P.O. I keep bubble envelopes and boxes from previous swaps/mail order purchases to make it easier too.

Same here. I HATE going to the Post Office and also print my labels from PayPal. My hours only allow me to go to the P.O. on Saturdays and the line is the line from he!! I just take the package to work and throw it in my outbox and it goes out with our regular office mail. I do have a small postal scale, which is nice. And even with all that, I still don't use the swap board as much as I could.

DEL2C · 08-13-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillipoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

The swap board is great! I print my labels from PayPal to avoid the hassle of going to the P.O. I keep bubble envelopes and boxes from previous swaps/mail order purchases to make it easier too.

How does that work, Del? If it's under 13 ounces, you can just put it in a mailbox, right? But if over 13 ounces, you'd still have to go to the post office, right? And how do you know how much it weighs -- do you have a postal scale?

Yeah I do have a scale. You can't do it without it and yes under 13oz goes first class mail just put it in any mailbox. I used to do a lot of selling on e-bay so it was worth it to me to have the scale.....

msg what are you waiting for honey? Set up your swap shop, I bet you have a great stash

msgiblet · 08-13-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillipoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

The swap board is great! I print my labels from PayPal to avoid the hassle of going to the P.O. I keep bubble envelopes and boxes from previous swaps/mail order purchases to make it easier too.

How does that work, Del? If it's under 13 ounces, you can just put it in a mailbox, right? But if over 13 ounces, you'd still have to go to the post office, right? And how do you know how much it weighs -- do you have a postal scale?

Yeah I do have a scale. You can't do it without it and yes under 13oz goes first class mail just put it in any mailbox. I used to do a lot of selling on e-bay so it was worth it to me to have the scale.....

msg what are you waiting for honey? Set up your swap shop, I bet you have a great stash

I'm waiting for that hair miracle that is going to just all of a sudden happen one morning and every single one of my products will work and give me perfect hair.

CurlyCara · 08-13-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

I'm waiting for that hair miracle that is going to just all of a sudden happen one morning and every single one of my products will work and give me perfect hair.

Oh wouldnt that be OHHHH so nice.

goobernut · 08-13-2009, 02:00 PM

If you have a scale at home, you can also print out your labels from the USPS website. You can request a package pick up online as well. You don't even have to leave the house to mail stuff anymore.

WurlyLox · 08-13-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEL2C

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillipoo

How does that work, Del? If it's under 13 ounces, you can just put it in a mailbox, right? But if over 13 ounces, you'd still have to go to the post office, right? And how do you know how much it weighs -- do you have a postal scale?

Yeah I do have a scale. You can't do it without it and yes under 13oz goes first class mail just put it in any mailbox. I used to do a lot of selling on e-bay so it was worth it to me to have the scale.....

msg what are you waiting for honey? Set up your swap shop, I bet you have a great stash

I'm waiting for that hair miracle that is going to just all of a sudden happen one morning and every single one of my products will work and give me perfect hair.

Me, too! I have more stuff than I can ever get around to, some not even tried yet, but I won't give anything up!

Jess the Mess · 08-13-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillipoo

The part that's annoying to me is the packaging and the bringing to the post office. I wish fairies could do that part.

Me too. Where are the fairies when you need them?

I have a TON of stuff to put on the swap board...maybe I'll do that now.

laurabeth33 · 08-14-2009, 09:02 AM

I just hate how expensive it is to ship these days. A samples--yeah that's cheap. But 1 small bottle can be >$5 to ship.

I do reuse bubble envelopes and boxes. And I *always* use a ziploc bag in addition to taping bottles shut.

Oh, a tip--if a package contains an aerosol product (hairspray, mousse, etc), it HAS to go ground, not air, shipping. I discovered this when someone sent a package to me with an item that exploded in air (non-pressurized) shipment.

jillipoo · 08-14-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laurabeth33

Oh, a tip--if a package contains an aerosol product (hairspray, mousse, etc), it HAS to go ground, not air, shipping. I discovered this when someone sent a package to me with an item that exploded in air (non-pressurized) shipment.

OMG! I've sent and received mousse and I'm pretty sure it went air mail both times since it went cross-country. Nothing exploded, so I guess I was lucky both times. That has got to be a pretty jarring experience, though, to receive something that obviously met a violent end in transit....

hmkenny · 08-17-2009, 05:07 AM

I sent a less than full litre of conditioner to someone and it cost $7 to ship! Hardly worth it at all.

But thank you for all the good tips.

I thought if you shipped at home from the USPS it had to go priority mail.