Featured Selling Guidance as a Jewelry Dealer

That is someone who bought off you, but for that one person there could be twenty who didn't bid because of the high shipping cost. If I see shipping over the set cost from a country, I simply don't bid.

So do many sellers who don't charge extra.
I always double-boxed items against damage, with bubble wrap in between the boxes. And I sold most of the jewellery in a jewellery box, not a velvet pouch, but I never charged extra for all that. Chunky pieces that didn't fit in a box went in a pouch. I included a professionally printed thank you card (terrible handwriting), which also costs (a little), but never charged for that either. The box and card were shipped in a bigger box with bubble wrap as a buffer.
It was my choice to ship everything as carefully as possible and to thank the buyer, because to me that is what a considerate seller does. I never asked extra money for being a considerate seller.

But in the end the advice we give is just that, advice. It is up to you to do what you think is best.

 

I ship all my jewelry in a gold foil jewelry box with padding with each piece wrapped in tissue paper. The box is then wrapped in bubble wrapped and shipped in a padded poly envelope. Unless it is going overseas which requires some extra packaging. If it is a bulk purchase, each piece is wrapped in tissue paper and a put into an individual bubble wrap bag and mailed in an appropriate size cardboard box. I have never had anything arrive damaged.

 

Oh of course yes I wouldn't charge for those sorts of things, but materials are materials. Perhaps when you sell more in bulk then you're able to not think too much about the cost of the extra wrap etc. For me since this was a small off shoot thing I wanted to make sure my costs were covered, plus time etc. I may try a different approach in 2025 as I want to take ebay more seriously in terms of volume.

 

Overhere you can get bigger boxes for free at supermarkets and liquor stores. Smaller ones I save from things I've bought online. Same with bubble wrap.

The jewellery boxes and pouches I got for bargain prices. Hunting for bargains, just like I do for antiques and jewellery. For instance, I got ca 40 heart-shaped ring boxes for engagement rings for a few euros because mine was the only bid.

 

I used to use American plastic Easter Eggs for smaller items, stuffed with tissue and taped shut. Bubble over that if going overseas, and a padded mailer. I used to get them free, later discounted, for having my overpriced Store. Since the postal service couldn't sit anything flat on my package it was safer. Never had an egg break in transit. Bigger items got boxes, often obtained free or really cheap at jumble or boot sales. Non-jewelry items were sent in cardboard boxes also often bought from eBoo directly on the cheap. It kept costs down.

 

I bought some boxes from ebay because I was shipping heavy hardcover cookbooks that required sturdy materials. I also bought packing peanuts, bubble wrap on ebay. And I bought plain mailers on ebay for books that were thinner and vintage craft kits and linens. The kraft paper I bought at a local storage facility. It all adds up.

At this time of year, I find empty boxes in the hall from my neighbors who get deliveries from Amazon and can take them if they look like they would do the job. I also grabbed some from the grocery store and blacked out the writing and such to make sure it was not showing.

Add in the cost of ink for the printer, printer paper etc, it can be pricey. That is why I usually added a small handling cost.

 

I am unaccustomed to 24 year olds using the word "fenaigling"

I am impressed !!...

 

Finagling? (but I'd bet they can't spell it! )

 

I've been able to find or reuse boxes, but my pouches are off amazon and they're not very cheap. I think I've bought bubble wrap as well, which also isn't cheap here. I didn't think about getting them off ebay, I will see if I can source some cheaper!

You'd be right, but then again I can't spell most things

Funnily enough, my miniature painting got a bid at starting price yesterday, so that's one less thing I have to worry about. I'll most likely take my listings off once its finished and concentrate on getting some stock in for my january relaunch.

 

Try to look for a cheaper pouches, just like you do for your jewellery etc. There are bargain finds out there for everything.

Yay!

 

I started selling on ebay in 97 and have never once paid for any shipping materials lol. I reuse what comes to the house, or what I've gotten from jobs. I had to set a limit so i didn't horde too much! I keep a book shelf with boxes flattened and sorted by relative size, bubble mailers, rolls or folded bits of bubble wrap, a huge bag of paper, and a couple bags of air pillows and packing peanuts. I would never send jewelry in a jewelry bag... That's extra money out of your pocket for not much protection. I would switch to jewelry boxes once you're out of bags. I have a gigantic pile from all the jewelry I've bought, but the cardboard type are relatively cheap to buy in bulk.

 

Ditto. I only use pouches for chunky ethnic jewellery that won't fit in jewellery boxes, but I stil bubblewrap and double box them.

Absolutely. And a jewellery box makes for such a nice presentation, much more 'complete' than a pouch. I always imagine a smile on the face when the buyer opens the box.

 

No smiles from me...just a feral stripping of layers like I'm Gollum.

 

That works for me too, as long as you say "preciousss".

 

I've seen really good things here about American Bubble Boy, if you go through a LOT of it in the USA. I never paid for mine either; I used to get paper and those air pocket thingies at my church office and scrounged bubble everywhere.

 

Once a quarter I get a $25 coupon from Ebay to use for purchasing shipping materials from them. I am not sure why it is available or what the criteria is for this but it comes in handy. My last purchase was for 100 6 x 9 inch white poly bubble mailers that I only paid $13.00 for. I do supplement my bubble wrap and boxes with home delivered personal purchases. I get my tissue paper from the Dollar Store. Anything works to keep costs down.