Comments on: How To Ship a Used Book http://ggr.com/how-to-ship-a-used-book.html if Scott Bonds had a home on the interwebs, this would be it Mon, 17 May 2010 08:12:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: chelsea http://ggr.com/how-to-ship-a-used-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-54 chelsea Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:29:29 +0000 http://ggr.com/?p=138#comment-54 I've had good luck with plastic bubble mailers b/c then a rainstorm doesn't matter. I also double bubble them: I buy thin strips of microfoam sheets and wrap it around the book -- it means that the sharp edges of the book won't go through the mailer and keeps it from shifting around in the package and creating wear that wasn't on the book when I put it in. If it's a paper back, I cut up random cardboard boxes I have around to provide a free backing to keep it from being bent in the mail. What I'm doing next is to buy a variety of sizes b/c a) it's cheaper and b) a snugger fit means the book is less likely to come out or become damaged through shipping. You can also print out the postage sticker on your computer with a (free) program from the PO and then schedule a pick up so you don't even have to run to the post office daily. If you do this, you can also buy delivery confirmation for 19 cents, which means you always know the package was delivered; it's worth the peace of mind, particularly when so few people leave feedback. Most of this information I got/adapted from this helpful blog I found when I started out: http://weberbooks.com/selling/2006/02/qa-where-is-best-place-to-buy-book.html. I used their recommendation of Associated Bags for my last purchase of mailers and was pleased with what I got & the prices. I’ve had good luck with plastic bubble mailers b/c then a rainstorm doesn’t matter. I also double bubble them: I buy thin strips of microfoam sheets and wrap it around the book — it means that the sharp edges of the book won’t go through the mailer and keeps it from shifting around in the package and creating wear that wasn’t on the book when I put it in. If it’s a paper back, I cut up random cardboard boxes I have around to provide a free backing to keep it from being bent in the mail. What I’m doing next is to buy a variety of sizes b/c a) it’s cheaper and b) a snugger fit means the book is less likely to come out or become damaged through shipping.

You can also print out the postage sticker on your computer with a (free) program from the PO and then schedule a pick up so you don’t even have to run to the post office daily. If you do this, you can also buy delivery confirmation for 19 cents, which means you always know the package was delivered; it’s worth the peace of mind, particularly when so few people leave feedback.

Most of this information I got/adapted from this helpful blog I found when I started out: http://weberbooks.com/selling/2006/02/qa-where-is-best-place-to-buy-book.html. I used their recommendation of Associated Bags for my last purchase of mailers and was pleased with what I got & the prices.

]]> By: Scott Bonds http://ggr.com/how-to-ship-a-used-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-35 Scott Bonds Wed, 27 May 2009 17:28:47 +0000 http://ggr.com/?p=138#comment-35 Perhaps its worth noting that an overarching goal of this blog is to offer my favorite "recipes" for accomplishing the tasks I write about, usually after a long period of personal trial and error. I strike a particular balance between convenience and cost that will not be shared by everyone, but my hope is that folks who are looking for a well tested solution that's succinct and easy to follow will find their way here. And feedback and discussion is greatly appreciated—I think it's the best way to identify and highlight the alternatives that people care about...much better than trying to include an exhaustive history of all the trial and error that I went through, which would neither cover all the topics people care about, nor include the valuable experiences of others, nor be a particularly enjoyable read. ;) Perhaps its worth noting that an overarching goal of this blog is to offer my favorite “recipes” for accomplishing the tasks I write about, usually after a long period of personal trial and error. I strike a particular balance between convenience and cost that will not be shared by everyone, but my hope is that folks who are looking for a well tested solution that’s succinct and easy to follow will find their way here. And feedback and discussion is greatly appreciated—I think it’s the best way to identify and highlight the alternatives that people care about…much better than trying to include an exhaustive history of all the trial and error that I went through, which would neither cover all the topics people care about, nor include the valuable experiences of others, nor be a particularly enjoyable read. ;)

]]> By: Scott Bonds http://ggr.com/how-to-ship-a-used-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-33 Scott Bonds Wed, 27 May 2009 15:10:01 +0000 http://ggr.com/?p=138#comment-33 So far I've had good luck shipping books this way, but you make a good point that it may not always be enough protection depending on the abuse it endures during shipment. I do not sell the mailers—the link in the article leads to the mailers I use when I ship a used book. I chose them because they are sold at a good price relative to where I've seen them elsewhere and because they are available through Amazon which is my favorite online store. Amazon doesn't always have the best possible price, but the convenience of a generally good price, a wide selection, used items listed next to new, good customer service, a robust rating system, and already having all my info on file so I don't have to type it in again, generally wins the day. So far I’ve had good luck shipping books this way, but you make a good point that it may not always be enough protection depending on the abuse it endures during shipment. I do not sell the mailers—the link in the article leads to the mailers I use when I ship a used book. I chose them because they are sold at a good price relative to where I’ve seen them elsewhere and because they are available through Amazon which is my favorite online store. Amazon doesn’t always have the best possible price, but the convenience of a generally good price, a wide selection, used items listed next to new, good customer service, a robust rating system, and already having all my info on file so I don’t have to type it in again, generally wins the day.

]]> By: Smarty Pants http://ggr.com/how-to-ship-a-used-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-32 Smarty Pants Wed, 27 May 2009 11:01:55 +0000 http://ggr.com/?p=138#comment-32 Your method of packaging may offer protection for the most light weight book -- but NOT for the hardback shown here. Best to make a cardboard sandwich, placing the book between two pieces of rigid cardboard before slipping it in a bubble mailer. Even better is to "box" the book. Any corrugated material is superior to bubble mailers for protecting books from postal abuses like gouges, rips, bumps, etc. A book thrown clear across a room into a postal bin (I've seen it done) will have a much better chance of survival than a book protected by merely a bubble mailer. Do you sell the mailers that the link goes to? Your method of packaging may offer protection for the most light weight book — but NOT for the hardback shown here. Best to make a cardboard sandwich, placing the book between two pieces of rigid cardboard before slipping it in a bubble mailer. Even better is to “box” the book. Any corrugated material is superior to bubble mailers for protecting books from postal abuses like gouges, rips, bumps, etc. A book thrown clear across a room into a postal bin (I’ve seen it done) will have a much better chance of survival than a book protected by merely a bubble mailer. Do you sell the mailers that the link goes to?

]]> By: game, game. repeat. » How To Create Flickr-Style Mouseover Notes On a Picture http://ggr.com/how-to-ship-a-used-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-31 game, game. repeat. » How To Create Flickr-Style Mouseover Notes On a Picture Wed, 27 May 2009 00:03:04 +0000 http://ggr.com/?p=138#comment-31 [...] you were reading the post about how to ship your used books, you may have found yourself strangely compelled to hover your mouse over the cool, image hotspot [...] [...] you were reading the post about how to ship your used books, you may have found yourself strangely compelled to hover your mouse over the cool, image hotspot [...]

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