If you are new to selling. Meaning that you have NEVER shipped packages before!! Here are some things I HAVE LEARNED by experiance of first time selling.

1) Items like electronics or fragiles! need to be WELL packaged, even if you feel the item seems to be "tough" IF you dont have packing materials. YOU CAN USE newspaper, lots of them. Crupple them into balls (to create cusion) or just buy bubble wrap. You can also pick up near the trash at your local furniture store etc. You can get boxes at your local stores or fast food dumpters. Then tape up box REALLY GOOD. Use ONLY clear packing tape. Post office will NOT except duct tape or masking tape!! Be sure you write address BEFORE you put tape over it. Don't write address ON the tape. It can smear off, then TROUBLE!

2) Descibe your item in DETAIL! Even MINOR detail! example of this are : 1) has a small rip on corner of bag But not too noticeable. 2) has a small chip on the corner of glass table. 3) missing one piece out of 100 piece lego set 4) On Rare occasions the rewind button on VCR has to be pushed more than once to work! If you forget a little thing like that, YOU BE SUPPRISED how buyer react. Some buyers are VERY PICKY!!

3) You should ALWAYS use tracking number AND ALWAYS SAVE YOUR RECEIPT that post office give you when you ship items. You WILL need to show proof here and there!! Its happened to me!! That way you will be covered in case buyer complains about mail being late (MOST COMMON COMPLANT) and once in a great while, NOT receiving mail.

OH one other thing, as of 12-07, shipping cost is HIGHER now as it use to be. Just think. The gas prices! SO DO CHARGE MORE to customer than you GUESS it will cost. AND explain the reason on your listing to customers! Prevent yourself from losing money from undercharging! Happened to me many times.

From my experience, This is the typical cost I always get at Post Office. Also this is a good guide here too. Expect this....

a quick estimate of USA postage are,

mail a video game cartridge = $1.75 First Class Mail. To U.K = $6

mail a pair of pants (Levis Jeans) = up to $15 Parcel Post Mail depending on distance. To U.K = $35

mail an Xbox 360 system with 10 games = up to $30 Parcel Post depending on distance. To U.K. = $75

mail a desktop computer with a flat panel monitor = up to $65 depending on distance. To U.K. = $150 to $200

A Quick tip:

First Class Mail = less then 13 ounces

Parcel Post Mail = slower service more than 13 ounces UP to 70 lbs. Remember, NOT OVER

Priority = faster service and higher cost. more than 13 ounces to 70 lbs, NOT OVER

Media Mail is for video tapes, books, LP records, CDs and other media

Another quick tip:

If mail is less than 13 ounces, ALWAYs use First Class, its quickest.

Media mail usually does NOT cost more than around $30, that packing all the way to 70 lbs of books, LP records etc etc, going from California to New York!

Also remember that Post office charges a NON machinable fee for oversized packages.

Packages can be VERY large, as long as it packed well. I have mail a DJ coffin one time before, NO problem.

IF you need to ship OVER 70lbs, you can go to a UPS store (the brown UPS trucks) they take up to 150 lbs. I always got an average cost of $1 per pound.

OR you can ship the items in 2 separete packages (unless its ONE item)

International shipping is VERY expensive. PLUS certain countries accept only certain sizes or kinds of mail ONLY! plus you shall wrap as a GIFT! Yes you red this right! Otherwise, they will charge the customer an import tax or something like that!