how do i pack parcels to send through the post?

[sunshineandshowers21]

i’ve sold loads of clothes on facebook/ebay but i have no idea how to package them?! do i use the postage bags, and if so what size? or just wrap in brown paper? honestly the stress of packing and sending is more hassle than the few quid i’ve made 😫

Whst do you mean what size? The size that fits what you are packing

It’s really not something to get worked up about. Surely you’ll have had packages arrive with things you’ve ordered in before. That will give you a rough idea of what a package looks like.

Yes, use mailer bags. Size depends on the size of the item. Buy a bulk pack on amazon of a large size. Don't use brown paper as it's not waterproof

seriously, why comment if you’re not going to help? 🙄 and no, i don’t because i only ever order from amazon who vastly overuse packaging. i’ve never posted parcels before so don’t want them going over the size limits for a small parcel which is what i’ve charged postage for.

@Goawayquickly thank you!

Well you will need to use a bit of common sense. You can pack them as small as they’ll go. Sometimes I use the plastic from carrier bags if it’s only eBay.

Single items or bundles? Have a look on Royal Mail to see what parcel sizes and weights and value are in each price bracket. Did you put a particular price in the listing for p&p? I’ve had parcels arrive in wrapping paper or taped up carrier bags as well as the normal parcel bags and boxes you can get.

@sunshineandshowers21

seriously, why comment if you’re not going to help? 🙄 and no, i don’t because i only ever order from amazon who vastly overuse packaging. i’ve never posted parcels before so don’t want them going over the size limits for a small parcel which is what i’ve charged postage for.

Are you packaging one item in each or have you sold multiple things to the same person? If only one item you will only need smallish mailer bags (as a PP said get a big pack off Amazon) but surely you're better able to judge the size than anyone on here since we don't know what you're sending!

@Brogues most people have ordered 3/4 t-shirts that i’m sending together. i put the price as £3.20 for second class postage which i think is a weight limit of 2kg. i just wasn’t sure if they also had to be under a certain length. i’ll double check now. i’m having a terrible episode of anxiety so the thought of having to go the post office is making me majorly overthink things unfortunately!

I keep back packaging like mailing sacks, jiffy bags, and Amazon boxes from online orders to reuse for ebay sales, because it's good to reuse things and it's free, which is important when you're not making much money out of the endeavour.

Last thing I sold I used Packlink to send it as it was sorted direct through ebay, it was cheapest and all I had to do to send it was to put it in one of the pick up/drop off stations at the supermarket.

For a number of items (too much for the plastic mailer bags sold in post offices)
I use rubble sacks - sometimes called DIY sacks.

Very thick plastic sacks sold in rolls in supermarkets. Perfect size and strength.

I use Duct (Duck?) tape to tape them up.

See pic.

www.postoffice.co.uk/price-finder

Has the sizes for various parcels. You can buy boxes in most post offices or just wrap the items in a bag for life and make sure it's well taped.

@sunshineandshowers21 3/4 Ts should fit in a small parcel size just fine just be sure to not make it too fat or long so that it bumps it into medium parcel size (where Hermes is a better option).

Resue bags for life from the supermarket. Turn them inside out tape it down and stick a label for the address.

Re. ‘Rubble sacks’ Much cheaper than mailer bags too - 10 for £3-3.50 All supermarkets have them.

If they’re too big, fold them over.
They are nothing like black bin bags btw. Much smaller and really strong.

thank you for the advice everyone, it’s really appreciated. i know it’s a silly thing to get worked up over but having anxiety makes me overthink things and make things ten times harder than they need to be unfortunately!

@sunshineandshowers21

thank you for the advice everyone, it’s really appreciated. i know it’s a silly thing to get worked up over but having anxiety makes me overthink things and make things ten times harder than they need to be unfortunately!

I’m the same. Especially if I haven’t done something before/don’t know the etiquette...

Some good ideas here.

I feel you on the anxiety! It'll be fine, just measure them so you know you're within size. And if it helps, you can print the label off at home then just drop it off at the post office.

Your local post office will sell packaging materials, although places like WIlko may have similar packing stuff but a lot cheaper. Using kitchen scales to weight your finished parcel will give you an indication of whether it's going to be under the 2kg limit. And yes there are size dimensions needed for a 2nd class small parcel but they are fairly generous, here is the link you need: personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/89

You can use old plastic packaging but as you say you don't have many, I would get some 'rubble' bags' s as they are ideal for packaging

I buy and sell a lot online.

Reusing carrier bags, or an unused cheap bin liner are fine. Then just write the address on a piece of paper and tape it on the front (securely).

Reuse / recycle / repurpose where you can. Better for your pocket and the environment.

You need to be careful with dimensions of the parcel when sending Royal Mail e.g. if it’s too bulky in one direction it can mean you have to go up a parcel size and that costs ++

I bought some a4 sized mailing bags from Amazon (£3 ish for 50) and some blank 'documents enclosed' sticky pockets for the for the address labels - either written or printed - for a similar price.

Takes seconds to parcel up now. Much easier than hunting for packaging/tape/ etc

I keep all packaging and use it when necessary. You can get printed labels with your address on from eg eBay.

You can also buy postage online so you can just drop parcels off at the post office, or use a comparison courier website to get prices for Hermes, etc. Then you print off labels at home and take the parcel to a local shop.

For goodness sake, I know nobody who doesn't know how to pack a parcel. Where have you been all these years? It's a very basic skill which I would have thought we all learn early.

[quote sunshineandshowers21]@Brogues most people have ordered 3/4 t-shirts that i’m sending together. i put the price as £3.20 for second class postage which i think is a weight limit of 2kg. i just wasn’t sure if they also had to be under a certain length. i’ll double check now. i’m having a terrible episode of anxiety so the thought of having to go the post office is making me majorly overthink things unfortunately![/quote]
Did you know Royal Mail will collect the parcels from your house for 70p per parcel? Might help if you’re concerned about going to the post office.