Packing Supplies
It doesn't take long to learn that many Ebay sellers price things low and make it up on the shipping charges. I am no longer willing to bid on auctions, even if it is a good deal, when I see the seller has an inflated shipping charge. What really annoys me, but actually creates an opportunity, is often the seller is dumb about how they handle shipping and packing.
For example, I like to buy Mainzer Cat postcards . These old postcards will fit into a standard size envelope but are likely to be damaged if shipped that way. I have gotten my puchases in the most amazing variety of packages. Packaging has included CD mailers, bubble envelopes, envelopes with cardboard stiffeners, and even priority mail boxes. Shipping charges seem to average about $1.75. A few of my postcards were shipped inside of stiff plastic sleeves and I like that the best because the cards could not be creased and there was also some degree of water protection.
However, CD mailers & padded envelopes are expensive, especially in small quantities. I am sure some of the sellers were eating part of the shipping cost on every sale.
When it came time to sell a few of my postcards I did a little packing supplies research. Those plastic sleeves that work so well can be bought in lots of 50 or 100 for about twenty cents each. Envelopes that exactly match the sleeves are about a nickle each in lots of 500. In the end I had a shipping package that would hold up to three cards with perfect safety which would ship with a single first class stamp. Becasue I took the time to research my shipping supplies needs I could advertise a shipping charge that was lower than most, that got compliments in my feedback about the quality of my packaging, on which I made an extra fifty cents on each order. In retail that's the kind of thing that makes a significant difference.
Ebay is a great place to buy your shipping and packing supplies. It is also a great place to learn about what is available if you are new to the business. If you look through the auctions and study the listing descriptions you can learn a lot about the shipping and packing products that are available. Once you figure out the best and cheapest packing material you can use you can shop locally and see if a vendor on your community can give you a better price.
All that may seem like a lot of work, and it probably isn't worth it if you are only selling an item or two. If you do any sort of volume though it is one more place where you can save some money.
To get you started, below is a list of packing supplies auctions currently active on Ebay. Clicking any of those links will take you directly to that auction on Ebay. Thanks for visiting and may your profits improve!