How to Get Free Shipping Supplies for Your eBay or Small Business
Shipping supplies are expensive. Here are some great ideas for how to legitimately get free shipping supplies for your small business.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Order free Priority mail supplies from USPS.com. They offer several sizes of boxes and envelopes for both domestic and international shipping. The supplies may ONLY be used for Priority Mail - you may not turn them inside out to use for other mail classes.
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Check 24-hour retailers such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target. Visit late in the evening or in the early morning hours when the employees are stocking the shelves. You can have your pick of an array of free boxes. The employees are usually glad you will take them off their hands.
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Check with local furniture stores and ask how they dispose of the heavyweight paper wrapping or bubble wrap that new furniture is wrapped in. Many times, the materials are just put outside in the dumpster. (Ask before dumpster diving on private property!)
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Look on FreeCycle for people giving away packing materials. FreeCycle is a recycling group - environmentally conscious people help each other out locally by advertising things they are giving away. You can find packing materials and boxes offered by people who have just moved and want to get rid of the materials.
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Check Craigslist for free boxes and packing materials. Many companies post when and where to come pick up packing peanuts, boxes, and bubble wrap.
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Make friends with the local deli and liquor stores. Their boxes are small, study, and perfect for media mail items like books and CDs. You can also use these small, durable boxes for international mailing.
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Check the resources section below for more information about eBay selling and how to get free items.
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Tips & Warnings
Always ask before taking anything from a retail store.
Always ask before dumpster diving on private property.
Try to create relationships with retail stores and companies so that you can get free packing materials on a regular basis.
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Resources
Comments
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Jennifer C. Stevens
Feb 03, 2009
Great tips. I'm an eBay PowerSeller and get many of my packing supplies for free (especially peanuts & bubble wrap). If you live in a large city, like New York, you don't even need a car. While a car can make it easier I've brought quite a bit home on the train and bus and more than once have ridden home with a HUGE bag of packing peanuts balanced on the front handlebars of my bike!
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Moomettesgram
Aug 25, 2008
Very useful advice as I am an eBay Power Seller. This information is valuable to any small business owner.
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40skydiver
Aug 16, 2008
Great article. You have so many good ideas and experience. thanks!
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WendyRenee
May 19, 2008
great ideas!!
