AW Daily - Tips & Tactics - After the Auction: Packing Merchandise Part 2

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After the Auction: Packing Merchandise Part 2 continued ...

Shake and Break?
One USPS employee imparted this bit of wisdom: "If you can shake it, we can break it."

With that in mind, all items you ship should be given the shake and rattle test: Before sealing an outer box, hold the flaps closed and give the item a few shakes. Do you hear any movement inside? If so, you might want to add a bit more interior padding until it's whisper-quiet in there. Movement could be the opportunity for items to shift and become damaged during their journey to their new home.

Help Fight Wetness
Other postal and shipping employees tell of water hazards. Somehow, even if there's not a cloud in the sky, items can get wet during transit. Expect that most water damage is irreversible, so take a simple step to ward it off: Put the item in a plastic bag whenever possible. It typically doesn't have to be hermetically sealed, but a simple ziplock bag or a larger poly bag sealed with packing tape is usually enough to keep the wet weather out. Also, experienced handlers recommend that clear tape be used to seal the address label on the package's outside. If that gets wet and smeared, your package might end up in the Dead Mail vault for all eternity.

Don't Give 'Em A Wedgie
OK. If a little cushion is good, a lot should be dynamite, right? Not really. Too much interior packing can literally cause an explosion. Remember that boxes will get bumped, stacked, kicked, and tossed about on their sometimes perilous journeys. Use enough interior packaging to keep the item safe and secure, but if the box bulges like an overpacked suitcase, the item that's inside will probably get damaged the moment you seal it shut.

Well Done or Overdone?
So the philosophy here is to pack reasonably. Not only will too much packing lead to potential damage, but also an overzealous packer might leave buyers with something of a challenge as they try to wrest their treasure from an impenetrable tape-and-cardboard sarcophagus. Seal the item enough to ensure it won't accidentally open in transit, but don't feel you have to extinguish an entire supply of tape, staples, and whatever else to guarantee the item's safety. Many buyers tell of accidentally damaging an item themselves as they struggle to free it from its packaging. And don't forget, excessive packaging adds excessive weight--which results in added shipping costs.

Little Extras Make a Big Difference
If the item is particularly fragile or will fare best if unpacked by a certain method, put special unpacking instructions inside that can be found the moment the recipient opens the package. Also, be sure to include an extra shipping label inside the package; often labels will come loose or become unreadable during the journey or they might get wet. In some instances, packages are opened by the carrier in the hope that he or she will find an extra label to get the item on its way again.

Lastly, if you accidentally overcharged the buyer by a dollar or more for shipping costs, put a refund in an envelope and seal it up with the item. That sort of honest service speaks volumes to buyers and you'll feel better knowing you did the right thing.

Dennis Prince is the author of Online Auctions at eBay: Bid With Confidence, Sell With Success. He has been an active buyer and seller at various online auction sites since 1995. Send him email at dlprince@bigfoot.com.

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