posted on December 12, 2000 03:37:11 PM new
I am considering offering First Class shipping as an option in my clothing auctions. (Previously I had just offered Priority.)
I am wondering what products you use to ship clothing first class. Tyvek envelopes? Boxes? Do Tyvek envelopes hold up well for shipping clothing? Are they a turn-off to buyers who like nicer packaging?
Also, when you offer the option of either 1st class or Priority, how do you do your EOA's? I have always stated the "total due" - high bid + priority shipping. (really easy to figure out) Now that I may offer an option, do I have to weigh everything ahead of time to give an exact 1st class shipping quote in the auction? How do you handle this?
Just looking for any thoughts or input, really, on shipping clothing.
posted on December 12, 2000 03:45:02 PM new
I have been selling clothing for 3 years, and I only ship by Priority Mail. Usually first class is only a matter of 5¢ cheaper. Plus, if you ship by Priority Mail you get free packaging supplies from the post office (boxes, envelopes, tape, etc). I have shipped thousands of clothing items with Tyvek Envelopes (supplied by the PO) and have never once had a problem. They hold up just fine. But I only use them for smaller items. For everything else I use the Priority Boxes.
posted on December 12, 2000 03:45:21 PM new
I've had great success mailing men's dress shirts in the Shur-Tuf mailers sold by ULINE.com. I charge buyers $2.75 shipping and handling. Postage is usually around $2.45, and the mailers cost about 25 cents a piece. I aldo offer first-class shipping on ties--one tie sent first-class costs about 55 cents in postage and 20 cents for a mailer. When I offer first-class shipping, I never offer priority shipping, since the time difference in mailing is negligible.
Be sure to package the clothing first in a plastic bag neatly, before inserting into the Shur-Tuf mailers.
Most of the other clothing I sell would weight over 12 ounces packed so there's no way to send it first-class.
[ edited by Murph on Dec 12, 2000 03:46 PM ]
posted on December 12, 2000 03:49:10 PM new
When I was selling some clothing, I used only priority and gave the exact amount for shipping. I used the boxes. Many sellers on Ebay have stated that they use the Tyvek. Either way, be sure to put the item in a plastic bag first and tape shut to insure against water damage--especially this time of the year!
I have offered options on other items, though. I package the item and weigh it and state that it is the buyer's choice of $x.xx priority or $x.xx parcel. I also mention that you can save on shipping costs by winning my other auctions and shipping together.
I know that many sellers just have a flat rate that they charge to avoid having to weigh each one individually once they get a feel for the weight of items.
Also, sell in lots whenever possible. People prefer to get as many items as possible for the price of shipping it seems.
posted on December 12, 2000 05:31:09 PM new
I have received a few items in the Tyvek mailers. I don't mind them but I don't like it when my purchase is just thrown in with no plastic bag to protect it from moisture.
I sell clothing and other items, and EVERYTHING I sell gets sealed in a plastic bag. I also tape the buyer's and my mailing address to the plastic bag AND on the padded mailer, just in case the items becomes separated from the packaging.
I once received some pretty little dress shoes for my daughter. They were well-protected in a box full of packing peanuts, but they were just placed in there loose, with no bag... I found it amusing because I had to dig the mittle peanuts out of the toes of the shoes.
I often receive comments or feedback about my packaging, so I must be doing something right.
posted on December 12, 2000 05:42:19 PM new
When I sell small, lightweight lingerie or clothing items, I give the option of First Class for 2.00 in an envelope or 3.20 by Priority in a box. That's *exactly* how I word it in my TOS. That way, if they choose the cheaper method, they can't complain about the envelope. Works great. About 90 percent choose to save the 1.20 and get the envelope. I first put the item into a gallon size ziplock back, seal with tape, then wrap in a layer of bubble wrap, then put the item into a plain manila envelope (9 by 12 works great for most stuff). Then I seal the envelope very securely in lots of packaging tape. Sounds more complicated than it is. I actually find it just as fast and easy as Priority boxes and the customers seem happy to save a little money. Have not had a single complaint yet about the packing in over 250 transactions.
