I’m am lost for words ! Omg ! My husband would leave me if I had that many lololol you are such a trooper . I love that you are sharing your journey. You are like the eBay teacher for all of us. Keep up the hard work hun. Your a gem xo
I use the small large letter tracked mailers for small books (and DVDs etc) - wrap them in foam padding for protection and save about $1 each. (No complaints yet - touch wood!)
That’s a great way to protect them. Ive sent books in the past with cardboard wrapped around them also but this is much faster for me in the padded mailers. I’ve sent hundreds of books like this though and never had anyone tell me the book hasn’t arrived safely which is reassuring
Great video Mel. I buy the padded envelopes which dont have the Aust Post logo on them and the small size is only about 30c per envelope (through Packagingsdirect on Ebay). Never had any problems with them.
Thats a great price Merridy. Just to make sure your aware though you are ONLY allowed to use Australia Post branded satchels and mailers if you are choosing the Australia Post Flat Rate Postage option on eBay or MyPost. If you use unbranded satchels you MUST choose "my own packaging" and for every single order you must enter the weight, length, width and height. I personally don't have time to weigh every single book I send so I choose to pay the extra for the branded satchels.
Hi Mel, new subscriber here. I've just watched 3 of your videos and learned (learnt?) a heck of a lot. I'm a US man, currently COVID-stuck overseas, and anxious to get back to my home country where my wife and I plan to start our own reselling business on eBay. I had tunnel vision and was thinking selling books was basically only something done on Amazon. Once I saw what you were doing, I 'woke up" and checked out what eBay really does books. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Thanks, Mel. That was very informative. I've trusted eBay guessed prices and they've been wrong every time. The staff are always too busy to answer questions, so this was very helpful. Thanks, mate 🙏
Thanks Michael. I’ve spoken in depth with my post office about finding the cheapest way to send books and unfortunately there isn’t any other cheaper way. The padded satchels are a little more expensive but so much easier and faster. I use them for everything now - books, shoes, toys etc
I have a wonderful Australia Post manager who I have been working with for over 15 years while I was shipping with previous businesses. She always helps me find the best and cheapest shipping options. Unfortunately, we can't post books for any cheaper and the high shipping does eat into book profits. Since moving to the padded mailers though I haven't looked back. They save me so much time and I use them now for everything I ship except for clothing. I buy each size in lots of 500 at a time to try and save some money :)
@@backfromburnout That's awesome, Mel. I can definitely see the benefit in doing it that way. I've ordered some mid size ones only 50 though. 500 must be a huge pile, but it's what you have to do to save some money. This is the part I didn't think would require much learning, but it certainly does. I may need to sweet talk my local post lady when it's quiet, Tim Tam's in hand. All the best, Mel. Thanks again 🙏
Just one more question. The large mailers cost $15.95 to send on eBay? So sending a bulk order costs that much even though you cut a lot of space of the mailer off by folding it over?
I use the satchels and print my own labels...with the padded mailers can you still use your own labels ? And just stick them on ? And is it the same price as the satchels? Great video as usual
I'm new here and love the content!!! 😁 Video request and apologies if you've already done this, I'd love to hear about bad ebay experiences and how you dealt with them (customers, ebay itself, aus post issues etc.)
Thanks so much Cindy, I appreciate the feedback. Books are a great bread and butter item to sell but do take into account the high shipping (as most book sellers offer "free postage"). 95% of books in the charity shops won't make you money to resell so just make sure your checking your eBay app for the completed sales to make sure you can make some profits after all the costs involved :) Happy hunting!
Hey Mel 💖 I found a lady selling books in my little town for 20c each and I had the time to stand and comp them while I sorted through them and I found some rippa bargains 🤑 now watching this again so I know what mailing options I have to be all over ready to mail to customers 💌
@@backfromburnout since watching your videos I used to think $3 or more for a book was cheap, now I am going nope too expensive!!! hehehe just a heads up too I went to Bunnings to get the cello wrap thingy you use for bundling and they have quarantined them (I joked and said to the man did they get covid- he did laugh) he said they have some issues with it. I would love to see a flowchart of your processes be very helpful
Hi Mel, your videos are so helpful. Thank you so much for the info. Just wondering if you put any additional padding on books that go into the padded mailer? I've never posted books before and I'm nervous that edges will get damaged. Many thanks
Hi Mel, I subscribed to your channel recently. Great videos! I am from Perth, WA. If you ship, lets say, 10x Stephen King Books to a buyer, do you send all of them in a Carton box to save on postage? Cheers- Narender.
Excellent video, just got a few questions though. On average how much does the postage/label itself cost to send to a metro area for the small padded mailer? Is it the same $8.65 ad the satchel? When using a label does it automatically include tracking or is there a seperate add on needed to be purchased? Thanks,
Yes it’s the same cost for a postage label on a padded mailer as it is for a satchel. I get a higher discount as I’m on Band 5 with Australia Post My Business. The padded mailer costs a little more then a plain satchel though. I buy the padded mailers in bulk with Australia post to get a discount though.
@@user-fn1qi8rn3q yes the $8.65 includes tracking. I just learned about the letter ones with tracking for around $6 too so will start using them for thinner items.
Just wondering if you are using a large tracked mailer there or is that a small? I would also love to see how you pack a bundle of books into the large mailers. Thanks!
Hey Mel, With the Padded Mailers, do the same rates apply as the flat rate satchels? So if I paid for a small satchel via my AusPost My Business account can I use that label on a small padded mailer? Ta. 🤗
Yes that is correct! Same label small, med, large. My post office lady assured me that was fine and that’s what I do. The padded mailers themselves just cost a little more which is why I buy them in bulk.
Wouldn't it be cheaper & easier to use prepaid satchels from Australia Post? You have to buy the satchels/envelopes and then pay for the postage. Depending on where your buyer is the postage cost can hurt you.
I send in bulk so get discounts sending with Australia Post. It costs me $7.16 to post a small parcel. The padded envelope is more expensive then the 15c plain satchel but with the cheaper satchel I have to then buy bubble wrap and wrap each item individually which is time consuming. Because of the quantity I sell it’s important to have fast shipping options.
@@backfromburnout just wondering how you worked out the $7.16. I am trying to work out now I am on a different band how to work out what I will be charged. Do you also take into account the cost of the satchel in this price? thank you from Melbourne
I'm confused cause if the envelope gets wet books wasted, I posted book in sealed clear back and a padded envelope when it got to London book was damaged, it looked like it had been put in bucket of water 🙈
I don’t send them internationally and so far I’ve never had a book damaged in a envelope. But you could buy some clear plastic slips if you felt you needed one.
Also, all our regular mail is sent in paper envelopes and I never get any wet mail. Fingers crossed no wet envelopes, hopefully that was just a one off bad experience you had x
I bought a lot of books that had Proof copies, I checked on ebay they actually have a category for it and others are selling it, have you come across these much? I got it from someone who worked at a book store and they got them for free. Some have the back cut off would they be ok to sell as the rest of the book is in great shape, seems a waste not to be able to sell it. Thank you (sorry for all the questions) ps I think your laugh is amazing. It would be so much fun to go op shopping with you. I chat to everyone to when I shop, found out the Girl with the Dragon tattoo is apparently a great read and Rosies project is a LOL book. 2 tips from fellow op shoppers. Do you have actually read much of the books you find? I find it tempting to keep them but I am a bookworm who needs to declutter badly my own collection. Any rules for keeping books would be great.
I sold my first book on EBay last week. Thanks for the info Mel. Do you offer free shipping on Books and include the shipping price in the item price. Or do you work out which shipping method you are using for each book and charge for shipping?
Back from Burnout thank you for your expert advice. I currently have all my books listed with Free Shipping. Just found it ironic that the book that sold didn't have free shipping.
Occasionally if I have an expensive book I will charge shipping and sometimes with trilogy's etc. There isn't a right or wrong way :) The important thing is the book sold and thats awesome!
@@backfromburnout Thank you for your amazing video, do you have a video on how you price the item and calculating the postage. I see the prices people charge and not sure how they sell for a profit with the price of postage being quite expensive. I would like to thank you for this video as I have sold items on ebay forever and use the satchels but didn't know about the padded mailer. I went to the post office to get some and yesterday got a barcode & lady said she would input my details so I can go up to Band 3 (was on bottom band) for next 3 months Woo hoo. I am slowly going through all your videos but they are awesome
Hi Mel. Great video and thanks for this information. I noticed that you didn't use bubble wrap for the tracked envelope option. Will this packaging provide sufficient protection to maintain the condition of the book? i.e. not damage it?
I haven’t had any issues (but also don’t send very often in them anymore) but now if possible I do try and put the book into a plastic sleeve or freezer bag incase it was to get west in transit.
@@backfromburnout Thanks for the tip. I didn't think about the wet weather being a potential factor that may cause damage to the book. I think I'll stick with the padded packaging option.
$4:95 Minimum. The above equals zero profit. My question is. What do you get back at tax time? Like a percentage of shipping costs, tapes, glues, inks, printers, computer/s, internet, office living expenses as it's from home, stationery, fuel my list can go on and on. But I've never booked an appointment to see a tax person because of the cost's. Again its always the cost's for me. I know I can do it, it's just the not knowing and not having anyone to take to it a out. So any info on this I'd appreciate a lot.
I don't have any at home to look at but I use the sizes small, medium and large. You will be able to find them on the Australia Post website under padded mailers and I'm sure the sizes will be there. Thanks so much!
Yes they do, they go as a parcel (Sml, Med, Lg) so they are the same as a satchel. They just cost a little more to buy than a basic satchel but they save so much time they are worth it to me.
