Essential Packaging Supplies for Your eBay Business
by Rebecca Button on January 9th, 2008
When planning an eBay business, it is important to give some consideration to the type of packaging materials you will require. If you select and purchase packaging materials in advance, you will be able to send sold items quickly and efficiently, as soon as your business is up and running.
Address Labels
A plentiful supply of blank address labels is absolutely necessary, so that you can quickly and easily print out your customers’ names and addresses and affix them to the packages. You can also print your own return address details on blank address labels and apply them to the back of each parcel you send.
Choose good quality address labels that will not jam in your printer. The labels themselves should be of a suitable size for the packages and parcels that you send. For example, if you send lots of small packages, relatively small address labels, which are available on sheets of 12, 14 or 16 labels, will be sufficient. If, however, your goods are sent in large parcels, you will require larger labels that will stand out when affixed to a parcel. These labels are supplied on sheets of four, six or eight labels.
Packaging Tape
Packaging tape is an essential item if you will be sending fairly heavy items in boxes and parcels. Packaging tape adheres well to paper and cardboard and provides a much stronger bond than scotch tape. You can feel assured that a package secured with packaging tape will arrive safely at its destination, even if you are sending it across the world.
It is also a good idea to purchase a packaging tape dispenser, so that you can apply and cut packaging tape more easily.
Scotch tape
You can be sure that you will use rolls and rolls of scotch tape for your eBay business, so buy in bulk and save money. A heavy duty tape dispenser, that will keep you constantly and easily supplied with tape, is a very inexpensive but worthwhile investment.
Scissors
At least one pair of good quality, hard wearing scissors is essential, as you are likely to be cutting paper, bubble wrap, tape and other materials on a daily basis.
Cardboard Boxes
If the items you sell are large, heavy or bulky, you will need a good supply of cardboard boxes. Measure the items first, add a little extra to each of the dimensions to allow for interior packaging, and then order a few individual boxes of about this size so that you can see which box most easily fits the item you are selling.
Some cardboard box manufacturers will provide you with samples, either free of charge or for just a small charge to cover postage and packing, in the hope that you will place a larger order at a later date.
Cardboard boxes usually arrive flat-packed and this means that you will have to assemble each box yourself. Ensure that it is quick and easy to do so, otherwise you will be spending more time than you can afford on the assembly of boxes.
Cardboard Mailing Packs and Tubes
If you are selling books, CDs, DVDs or similar items, there are a variety of cardboard mailing packs on the market that enable you to package these items quickly and easily in protective cardboard. If you sell posters, prints or another paper-based item that can be rolled up, cardboard mailing tubes are also available.
Ensure that you choose mailing packs or tubes that are of a suitable size to contain the items you will send. The mailing packs will be provided flat packed, and you simply insert an item, fold the cardboard around it as instructed and seal the pack with the strong self-adhesive tape provided on one side of the pack.
Polythene Mailing Bags
The main advantage of polythene mailing bags is that they are lightweight, and therefore inexpensive to send. If you are selling clothing or other lightweight goods, polythene mailing bags are a good option. If you are selling heavier items, such as books, polythene mailing bags may not be strong enough.
Polythene mailing bags come in different thicknesses, usually between 60 microns and 75 microns. Experiment with a few different types of polythene mailing bag, and ask your customers how satisfied they were with the condition in which the goods arrived before deciding on which type to use.
Padded Envelopes
Padded envelopes (sometimes known as "jiffy bags") are very useful for mailing many types of different items, including CDs, DVDs, books, cosmetics, toiletries, and so on. The integrated layer of bubble wrapping gives the item extra protection during its journey.
Padded envelopes come in many different sizes from the very small to the extra large. If you sell a range of different goods, purchase a box of padded envelopes in a variety of sizes, so that you will always be able to find an envelope of a suitable size. If you sell just CDs or DVDs, for example, you will only need to purchase padded envelopes of one size to fit each item that you sell.
Mailing Scales
Although not essential when starting your eBay business, mailing scales designed to weigh letters and parcels are useful. You can, for example, weigh your packaged item and find out how much it will cost to send before listing it on eBay. That way, you will be able to set an accurate postage and packing charge and avoid the expensive mistakes which can happen when you are starting out and you underestimate how much it will cost to mail an item.
When choosing a set of scales, ensure that it will be suitable for weighing all of the items you sell, as some scales only weigh items up to a certain limit. Other scales may only be accurate up to the nearest pound.
Bubble Wrap
For eBay sellers of large or fragile items, a jumbo-sized roll of bubble wrap is an essential item. You can wrap each item in bubble wrap for extra protection before packaging it. That way, you can be more assured that items will arrive safely at their destination.
Polystyrene Chips
For larger items that are sent in boxes, polystyrene chips are useful to protect and cushion the item against knocks and bangs in transit.
Once you have made a list of the packaging materials you require, shop around for the best deal available on the quantities that you wish to purchase. Packaging supplies can be bought from office supply companies such as Office Depot or Staples; mail order firms such as Viking Direct; wholesalers; manufacturers; or on eBay itself. Sellers of packaging supplies on eBay often offer quantities suitable for other eBay sellers at favorable prices, but this may not necessarily be the best deal for you, especially if you are ordering large quantities.
It is a good idea to take delivery of your packaging supplies before the orders start flooding in. That way, you will be able to meet demand and send items within a day or two of ordering. If you delay sending ordered items because you do not have the necessary packaging materials, your feedback rating on eBay will suffer, as people do not like waiting a long time to receive goods they have paid for. Another danger is that, if you do not have the required supplies of packaging materials, you will buy small quantities locally just to meet demand. This will unnecessarily increase your costs and adversely affect your profit margin.
Therefore, during the planning stage of your eBay business, decide on the type and quantity of packaging materials you will require for the initial stage of your business. Shop around for the best deal and purchase the supplies before starting to sell on eBay. You do not need to buy large quantities of packaging supplies at first but you should ensure that you purchase sufficient quantities to cover the expected initial demand.