Packaging advice for computer hardware

[Thoth093]

I was planning to sell some items here fairly soon, and I wanted some advice. Can't figure out anywhere else to post this.

I've never really sold anyone any of my hardware before. I've always just either given it away or let it collect dust. But I'm thinking that since I actually have some decent things to put on offer, I might see what I could get for them.

I've got a couple of video cards, an external cd-rw drive, a usb network adapter, maybe some old games, etc.

I'd appreciate some advice on selling in terms of packaging, paying for postage, etc.

I notice a lot of people say X number of dollars, including shipping. This implies that people have already prepaid for, say, USPS priority postage BEFORE they sell the item, thus determining a final price from that. Is that correct?

What's the best way to pack hardware for safe transport? What's overkill?

Thanks for your help,

Brian

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Thoth093

I notice a lot of people say X number of dollars, including shipping. This implies that people have already prepaid for, say, USPS priority postage BEFORE they sell the item, thus determining a final price from that. Is that correct?

What's the best way to pack hardware for safe transport? What's overkill?

Thanks for your help,

Brian

no one prepays. You learn how much it will cost.

hardware packing is variable.

If I were to send a CF card I'd but it in the biggest box that can travel USPS at the lowest rate.

If I were to send a full PC, I'd have blown in foam then a second box around it.

Boxes are the kind you don't really find free though.

Å

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Video card: Anti-static baggie, taped shut, wrapped in large or small bubble, paper on the bottom of the box, then put the card in, then add more paper for dunnage. I would use at least a 12x8x4 box for the shipping. When taping the baggie shut, use masking tape, not the clear packing tape as it's a pain for the receiver to get off.

CDRW drive: wrap in large bubble and do the same for the video card. Make sure you use a lot of paper in the box and around the drive to keep it from bouncing around. Paper can lose it's form after some time so the probability of paper shifting is high..so go crazy with it.

Those steps above are the usual safe way to pack anything, computer related or not.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

When people say $100 shipped, that is all you have to pay. The seller then will just have to eat the cost of shipping out of that $100.

Though some people say $100 + $10 (or whatever) shipping on top.

When it comes to small items, I usually include shipping. Bigger items I still might include shipping, but heavier items (when it gets to $15 shipping), I usually split the cost w/ the buyer.

 

[C'DaleRider]

The video card, stuff like RAM, CDs, and other flatter light items.....almost doesn't matter the packing material. I usually use bubble wrap and peanuts.

Heavier items..........like CDRWs, hard drives, etc., I try to use a box that another similar item came in. Those foam inserts that surround CDRWs in their box are excellent. I jus tput that box inside another with peanuts surrounding that.

Full PCs, I tend to keep the box that the case came in, so I just repack it into the case box, if it's in good shape, and fill the rest of the box with peanuts.

The biggest key I've found is make sure whatever packing material you decide upon, be it crumpled newspaper, peanuts, bubble wrap, etc., is to make sure it's packed tight. After you've packed the box, and before you tape it shut, close it and shake it. If you can hear/feel movement, it's not tightly packed enough. If you can feel or hear it move from some shaking, it's going to shift A LOT during shipping and subject whatever is inside to a lot of jostling inside the box, potentially exposing the item to becoming damaged by just bouncing around inside and knocking off caps, etc.

For cost........if it's heavy but can fit into the Priority Mail flat rate box, your shipping cost is fixed at $7.70. Very light items, even sent Priority, won't cost much. First Class is a few cents cheaper, CDs sent Media Mail cost VERY little (can be slow but is a very cheap way to send a bunch of books, CDs, etc.), and parcel post is another inexpensive option.

Maybe you can work out a deal like we have......we have a PO around 5 miles from us that is small and usually not very busy. The Post Mistress there will weigh our prepacked boxes for us and write the postage cost on each where the stamp/postage label would go, so we know ahead of time what the actual shipping is for what we are selling. Of course, the trick to getting this done on a routine basis is not take too many in at a time, pick non-busy times (skip lunch-rush especially!!), and be nice.