I know this is a scrap metal forum and all, but I know we have lots of I have 4 or 5 boxes of books to sell, and don't have boxes that are the right size. Some of the books are about the size of a video game case, but I wasn't sure if it would be safe in the mail like that. Thanks!
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Last time I sent something like that through a UPS store I was told not to because their sorting machines can catch and tear the package open. Never had an issue sending through the USPS.
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I'd think so- you may be able to go with Media Mail for a lower rate, too. I would put a piece of was paper around the books (Or something similar) to keep the cover from rubbing against the box. There wouldn't be much rubbing, but just to be on the safe side....
More than Scrap Value Shipment Tips: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...tml#post242349
Thanks for the tip about the paper, never would have thought of it. Be worth the $0.001 to add that piece of paper in if it saves one book! Canada Post doesn't have media mail, at least not that I have been able to find.Originally Posted by matador
I'll have to try one out with Canada Post and see how it goes. And maybe UPS just wants you to buy their boxes lol
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When I sold on ebay, if I had an odd shaped item I almost always made my own box and never had a problem.
My fortune cookie said:
You discover treasures where others see nothing unusual.
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I do this all day at work. The bad thing is if you get good at doing it, everybody wants you to make their box. In the field we call this "Franken-box" or "Frankensteined".
"It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage." Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark
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Oh, Canada eh.....
Sorry about not noticing your location. I think that anything that will stop the sliding will work. Wax paper is probably the cheapest. I'd wrap the book, and then box it. I would use more tape than they did in the video, though.
Well I tried it with a book I pulled out of the top of the pile lol. I listed my first listing so who knows how its gonna go, any tips?
Stormcock Meets Trouble K M Peyton SLT DMG 1 Page Missing 191 Pages Total | eBay
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I'd rotate the first photo. eBay should have a tool to do that. Other than that, maybe some more exterior pictures, but it looks good to me. People who go there will know what the book is, so you won't need a "flowery prose" description
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I'd rotate both images and possibly try and get a clearer shot of the second image(it's a bit blurry). That book looks familiar to me for some reason... 60s on the year?
By all means, rotate both photos. If you click on the image to enlarge it Windows Picture and Fax viewer is what will most likely open it. At the bottom of the window there's two green icons, rotate left and rotate right. You may get a warning about losing the quality of the photo. Don't worry about it just click yes/OK and go on it'll be fine. When taking a photo involving small print such as photo 2, use the macro setting on your camera. Clears everything right up.
If you're using the phone app for ebay, there is a rotate image option when you're uploading. I haven't used the computer based listing in a while, but it may be there too.
Media mail is nice because it is cheaper, but beware, don't put anything except BLANK paper or they will charge the recipient regular postage which will come back to you.
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eBay's computer uploader has the rotate option (At least for both Linux and Windows). I don't own a Mac, so I can't say whether or not the Mac version has it. It should just be HTML5, CSS, and Javascript, so it should work on a Mac too, but I can't say for certain.
Blank paper? It's been a long time since I've sold books, but that has to be interesting....
I rotated both the images, and when I'm home from school I'll take some more pics of it.
its 1970/1971 from what I found online. Mine is missing that page
Matador....yes, just paper without anything written on it even newspaper used for packing. USPS has started checking more of the media mail packages (it says they are subject to being opened for verification of rules compliance) and are considering anything added to the books even a written thank you note as advertisement and disallowing the media mail rates. I've actually only had one that this happened to, but since it was a 30 pound box of books it made me more careful to keep it strictly books inside.
I also sell vintage magazines which are now not considered media since they contain ads even if they are 50 years old. I got those turned down at the post office before I closed the box. It might have made it through without being spot checked if I had it sealed before bringing it in, but it's not worth the gamble (21 lbs that time). I'm using FedEx on all my heavier packages now but it's a 50 mile round trip (or a pick up fee) so I have to get several packages to send at once to justify the trip cost.
USPS flat rate envelopes are good for mailing books also if the buyer doesn't mind that shipping cost.
Last edited by Pnutfarmer; 05-20-2015 at 08:11 AM.
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It's the same story here with FedEx. Too far, and UPS isn't cheap at all.
If the paper has to be blank, then either wax paper or butcher paper should be fine, but since Canada Post doesn't offer Media Mail, it's a moot point anyways.
I think what will kill me is shipping costs on selling my books
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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I've found selling books on ebay to be a generally losing proposition. Unless something is actually rare or somehow super-high demand for an out-of-print more commonly available ones, I've made a few bucks to actually losing money even with media rate. My last effort were about 5 books all over a 100 years old and by some medium well known authors (or at least I'd heard of them) but none of their A-class works. Bascially ended up giving them away through ebay. Rather buy a older brand name kitchen appliance or attachments and sell them or part them out...
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I don't do books or clothing, either. If you can't sell it for $20, it just doesn't seem worth the effort to pack, ship, inspect, photograph, write descriptions,....
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It's hard to sell anything physical nowadays with most things like books, records, cds, etc.. going digital. Why buy a book when you can go get a ebook version of the same book?
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