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I am fairly new to ebay, and am at the point where I am selling lots of things in my house, but being inexperienced, I will sometimes list things without thinking through how I am going to ship them. This morning I sold a framed panoramic picture that is long (40 inches) and short (14 inches tall). Where can I get an appropriate box for this and not break the bank? It has glass so I need to be careful with it.
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Yikes, that’s a tough item to start with.
Some shipping nerds may have better answers for you. Are you willing to pack it yourself? Just the size and glass are huge issues.I suggest taking it somewhere to have it packed. I assume you didnt charge a handling fee so you may lose some money. But lesson learned.
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It happens to all of us when we first start. When we sell large and delicate items, we always put a handling fee to help pay for packing time, packing supplies, or having it professional packed.
Often you must make your own box on these weird shaped items. And since it has glass, it must be double boxed. Here’s how we do it:
https://www.scavengerlife.com/2014/01/ebay-scavengers-video-how-to-pack-2.htmlI encourage you to revisit your current listings and reprice the shipping.
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Thanks so much. Yeah, I had the china professionally packed. It was a large sale so I didn’t mind paying 60 to have it professionally packed for both of those purchases. I sold some wineglasses, that I was able to handle myself. I do have a 15 lb mirror for sale that I definitely repriced once I got into all this. I think I’m going to reprice the other artwork I have though after this.
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Jay is correct, you may end up making your own box. Bubble wrap the picture, then card board over front and back, Then plastic wrap. Then put it in a box (you may have to connect more than one box together for an item that big.
Foam rubber or the stuffing/cotton from old pillows is nice stuff inside first box. I like to layer. Then take that box and place it in a larger box and again use packing materials. I break up old styrofoam or use newspaper at this point.
I use an old pairing knife and metal yardstick to cut and score boxes.
It takes time and is a project. After you’ve done a few it becomes routine. You’ll end up using a lot of tape too.
I don’t bother with handling fees, they complicate my shipping policies. I make sure the purchase price is high enough to compensate for the shipping hassles and time.
Taking to a professional is not a bad idea , but I don’t mind packing, as long as I have the time.
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I just want to offer that learning to do this selling thing is a process. Getting the big costly lessons out of the way up front can be a good thing. In addition, by asking questions, you will learn a heck of a lot and be ready for anything down the line. Just think, if you can handle these big pieces which take so much time, consideration, effort, energy, and sometimes money, what can’t you handle as a seller? Try not to consider it a loss but instead a financial and energy investment in yourself.
On another note, because you are new, you may want to put the handling fee in your total price so as not to detract buyers due to extra costs.
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I think I am going to just bite the bullet and go have it packed tomorrow and consider this a lesson learned. I will let you guys know how much it costs. I have a feeling I am going to end up on the negative with this one.
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One other helpful thing to use for most artwork are pool noodles (I usually pick them up super cheap at the end of the summer season, but they can be found year-round) & wrap them around the lip of the frame. Helps with additional cushioning. I also make a big “X” with clean room tape ( it leaves no mark – my hubs brings it from his construction work, am not sure where to purchase) so that if the glass does wind up breaking in transit, it is less likely to shatter – it helps stabilize, too.
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dang, that’s pricey! but yeah, big items need a handling charge, even if you are packing them yourself. i’m still learning this lesson, trust me, i forget too.
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