eBay Sale - Cheapest Way to Ship 2kg Book via Australia Post

Ls-am on 31/05/2018 - 16:53
Last edited 31/05/2018 - 20:11 by 2 other users

Hi Guys,

I have sold a textbook on eBay and I am now in the process of shipping it. What is the most cost effective way to ship it through the Australian Post? Should I buy the box from the Post Office or somewhere else (eg Officeworks) ?

ebay says it is better to print the label from them, is it? If I chose to use their label, can I just take it to the post and they will pack it, or how does it work?

When I try to buy the eBay offer it says "Australia Post Parcel Post Parcel". The book is about 2kg.

Mind me it is my first time selling online.

Thanks.

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Comments

  • PissLUR on 31/05/2018 - 17:02
    +2

    out of topic:
    take video when packing the item. serial number etc.

    • s-am on 31/05/2018 - 19:25

      yeah that's the plan. I have heard about all the scams on ebay.

      • whodidthat on 31/05/2018 - 20:10

        Got to watch those scammers & people who leave bad feedback!

  • thatonethere on 31/05/2018 - 17:03
    +1

    What I do is print the ebay label. Wrap my parcel and stick the label on it. You can just sling it in a post box but i like the surity of getting an Auspost person to scan it and give me the receipt.

    Auspost wont wrap it.

    If you dont have wrapping material just buy it as auspost although officeworks is probably cheaper (but all the driving around is wasting time). I tend to keep a collection of packaging from my internet orders to re use. So all i buy is packing tape and plain large satchels.

    • D C on 31/05/2018 - 17:25
      +7

      Auspost wont wrap it.

      Oh god, OP is one of those people who magically appear at the post office at Christmas time.

      "Oh, you mean I need to put the shirt in a box?"
      "Should I tape it up? But that'll make it hard to open…"
      "The address? Oh, I'm not sure…"
      "A stamp you say?"

      Gah.

      • s-am on 31/05/2018 - 19:23

        lol, yeah today I went to the post office to ask about the process. The lady there actually said I just need to bring the item and some money!

        • D C on 31/05/2018 - 20:00

          bring the item and some money!

          She was just going to get you to buy an express post satchel. The 3kg ones are about $14.

          Sending as a parcel might be a little bit cheaper, same as using a courier like the Officeworks MailMan. Maybe $12?

          Yeah, postage is expensive these days.

          As an aside, Auspost have a calculator: https://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/calculate-postage-delive…

          Edit: almost forgot there's a cheaper 'Metro' satchel, they're for local shipping for Sydney or Melbourne only. (Syd-Syd or Mel-Mel, not Syd-Mel.)

        • bobbified on 31/05/2018 - 20:40
          +1

          @D C:

          She was just going to get you to buy an express post satchel. The 3kg ones are about $14

          But OP's book is only 2kg. He should definitely be asking for a discount so that it's 2/3 of the price or add an extra kilo in there to get his postage money's worth!

        • D C on 31/05/2018 - 20:43
          +2

          @bobbified: Cut in half and get 2 x 1kg satchels. Job done.

          (Not intended to be advice. Might be more expensive. Buyer may not possess book repair skills. I am not a lawyer, but I've walked past their office. I have never played a doctor on TV. I like Vegemite.)

    • s-am on 31/05/2018 - 19:31

      officeworks is actually near the post office, I will chick them first.

      Thanks.

  • Quantumcat on 31/05/2018 - 17:33
    +1

    This is probably something you should have thought of before listing it - you don't want it to cost more than what you got for it to post it. Don't forget ebay are going to send you an invoice for fees later.

  • bdl on 31/05/2018 - 18:00

    see if sendle.com is cheaper - or if you don't have an account with them I think the first shipment is free? (You might have to check that)

    • s-am on 31/05/2018 - 19:45

      They are quoting the same price as ebay. It does not seem to be free for new users.

  • oscargamer on 31/05/2018 - 18:03
    +1

    OMG , this generation that can't do anything without crowdfunding, 12000 likes or the support of three different opinions from people they have never met………. i despair for the generation after this one

    • D C on 31/05/2018 - 19:07
      +4

      i despair for the generation after this one

      Might not be one. "My what goes where?"

  • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2018 - 18:54

    Officeworks Mailman would be cheaper for 2kg

    • D C on 31/05/2018 - 19:04
      +2

      They use Fastway Couriers…

      In the meantime we can start a book on OP's next thread.

      "Buyer never received parcel, now what?" or
      "Waaa, why are eBay fees so high? What a rip-off, how are you suppose to know?"
      "My new shoes are defective, they're too loose and have these funny string things hanging out, WTF?"

  • FeRGan on 31/05/2018 - 19:58
    +1

    You might have to get a 3kg prepaid satchel. That way there wont be any nasty surprises if you have to ship to somewhere far away.

  • JimmyF on 31/05/2018 - 21:01

    3kg prepaid bag?

    Box it up and post it direct,

    or one of the options above.

  • ibuy on 01/06/2018 - 01:11

    The cheapest way may not be the best way.

    1. It depends on the size of the book. If it can be boxed and put in a flat rate bag then you should select that option.

    2. When packing note that I have said box. Books are notorious for being damaged whereby if you put it in an envelope the corners will highly likely (definitely) arrive damaged. So the safest way if you don’t have the fancy packaging that amazon and booktopia use then you’ll need some bubblewrap to wrap the book and then place it into a box.

    3. By the time you’ve packed it the whole thing will be about 2.5kg so if you can fit it into a 3kg flat rate satchel that will be your best option. You can buy these at the post office and there is a tracking number attached.

    4. The other option is to use eBay postage which can be cheaper by a few dollars however if you don’t know what you are doing safer to take it to the post office and pay the extra few dollars. If you make a mistake with eBay postage the transaction can be cancelled and a new label created however eBay does not refund you. They provide a credit against future sales. The discounts are nothing big. You are billed at the end of the month by eBay so would need to leave enough in your account when eBay debits it for their fees.

    5. When packing as others have said - do a video of you packing it and keep the video in case of a scammer claiming there was a switch and they got something different.

    6. Once you have a tracking number you need to upload it to eBay. This ensures that if the package goes missing eBay can see it. Or if the buyer claims they never got it and the status says delivered then you have proof of delivery.

    7 When dropping the package at the post office and paying for postage you should also retain the receipt. Due to eBay and Paypal extended times to file a claim you need to keep the receipt for at least 3-4 months as the buyer can file a claim even once they have received it and held onto it for more than 30 days.

    Hope that helps.

  • Some Human on 01/06/2018 - 09:25

    3kg satchel is the best option if it’s going interstate (and fits), it will cost you about $13.80. If it’s just going within your state, it should only cost about $10.95 - $11.75 if you post it over the counter in regular packaging. Packaging wise, I would suggest if you’re not selling all the time you should just wrap some cardboard around the book instead of buying APs expensive packaging. Cardboard can be obtained from you local Bunnings, Aldi etc. And lots of tape so it stays together.

  • HeWhoKnows on 01/06/2018 - 16:36
    +1

    I would suggest using some COMMON SENSE and pushing a few more buttons on your computer to do some research.

    • Associatedsnipeymcsnipesnipe @ Australia Post on 06/06/2018 - 02:40

      Comes to ozbargain to ask…
      What is this google you speak of?

  • Amaurys on 01/06/2018 - 18:50

    Use Sendle.

    Same city? $8.95 (Fixed)
    National? $10.95 (Fixed)

    Sendle - Free Pickup + Free Signature on Delivery ($2.95 @ Australia Post) + More.

    As you're an eBay Seller, you can intergate your account with Sendle for Sendle Premium Prices.

    Keep in mind they also have a Price Guarantee.

    Just use bubble wrap for the book and place in a satchel - easy!

  • pjetson on 01/06/2018 - 19:45
    +2

    When I have something (like a book) to send, I just take it to the post office and ask them the cheapest way to send it. They tell me the options, and I choose.

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