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Packing materials can be expensive! When I first sold items, I bought boxes and bubble wrap if I didn't have any from my buying on ebay. Since I wasn't charging anything for what I considered "the cost of doing business", I was not making any significant amount of money. Then I began the practice of what my husband and I laughingly called our dumpster diving. These are the ways I accumulated my stock of packaging materials:
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- We drove behind local strip malls and cherry picked good boxes. Husband didn't actually get down past the top boxes, but we did take any from the top and any sitting outside the back door of the business.
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If a worker was outside, we stopped to talk and found that more likely than not, we were invited inside to choose among boxes that had not made it out the back door.
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At our local Target, we were told any boxes on the floor being unpacked were ours for the taking. We were also directed to the back room where boxes were being flattened and invited to take whatever we wanted.
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Don't be shy! We also asked inside stores about the possibility of bubble wrap, peanuts, or styrofoam wrap. More than once, we filled the back of the van with these materials, particularly from furniture stores. It takes a lot of material to wrap furniture!
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Check those dumpsters behind the furniture stores. Our biggest haul came from behind a store where they had just thrown out an amazing amount of bubble wrap. It lasted us for months!
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Establish a relationship with a store that is kind to you. It doesn't hurt to buy a small item occasionally. This obviously doesn't work at most furniture stores.
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Cruise your neighborhood and others as convenient. Again, don't be shy. Pick up the good boxes from your neighbor's curb. They are often filled with peanuts or bubble wrap.
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Let your family and friends know what you need. They will save boxes and materials for you. You will be surprised how quickly your stash accumulates.
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Buy those big packs of white tissue at a dollar store. I wrap my items of appropriate size first in tissue, knowing it gives a good look and protects from any possible transfer if I have to use newspaper.
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For a pricey item, tuck in a new white elephant item that you wouldn't normally ebay . . . a tea towel, or something of that nature. Garage sales are great for picking up new items that you can use to pack this way and reward your buyer.
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Don't be shy at the post office, either! Even if you have ordered Priority Mail boxes, etc., ask for that roll of priority tape. Much better than running out and having to buy at the corner store!
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I hope this helps! We all need to make a few dollars when we can! Happy ebaying!
Guide created: 09/23/06 (updated 06/16/09)
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