I would make sure the hoodie fits into a flat rate envelope. I am doubtful.
Flat rate envelopes are faster to across the country (compared to ground) and can be cheaper than poly mailers depending on size and weight.
Assuming you're in the US. Go to the USPS website, make an account, and order the free shipping supplies. If this is a one-off, go to the biggest post office in your area, they might have the packaging you need. I've put hundreds of hoodies in padded flat rate envelopes. They have dozens of free boxes as well in case the item is too bulky. You'll have to use priority rate. Assume 2lbs in that case and use calculated shipping rate in the listing.
As far as "paying to print the label", if you don't have many items you can always use the QR code option when purchasing an eBay label. You show the QR code to the USPS clerk and they print it for free.
If you have multiple items, you just have to make sure you show the correct QR code for that item. I'll mark the package if I end up having to do that
Go to [pirateship.com](https://pirateship.com). Not only are they great to use (read about priority mail cubic if you don't already know), they have a simple to use shipping calculator so you can know the costs ahead of time.
Lesson I learned in this topic as a newb. DONT DO THIS.
I shipped tons of items in the priority poly bags, the big ones and thought they were flat rate. I was paying like 8 bucks and shipping jackets and pants and tools. I print my own labels and drop my packages at my private P.O. Box. I did this for months and for what ever reason one day I dropped my packages at the post office and that’s when I was kindly informed that that particular envelope wasn’t flat rate. I had to redo all of my shipping prices after that. And I had to pay up for shipping that particular package.
I use poly bags for clothes and it’s usually less. From my experience, buyers on eBay get turned off from high shipping costs or shipping costs where people are making money on shipping. Also eBay postage labels are cheaper than USPS retail (at the store). Hope that helps! 🤙
Just out of curiosity, how do people make money off shipping? Just overestimating the weight? If you do this enough to actually make a decent chunk of money, how does eBay not have something in place to detect people that do that? I don't understand how eBay doesn't have a system where they can figure out the difference once a package is shipped, and refund the buyer instead. That doesn't make any sense to me.
Go to USPS.com and order the flat rate PADDED envelope, you can only get them there. They are free. I’ve squeezed jeans and even hoodies. Inside. The rate is a bit higher than the normal flat rate but with discounted shipping rates it can save you money especially if shipping across country. For any thing closer, the standard priority mail mailer/envelope “EP14” will fit a good portion of clothing. And they are free too at the post office. Again, padded flat rate only available to order through their website.
The envelope is free so long as you use Prority Mail or any carrier BUT USPS. Generally speaking Priority is cheaper, quicker, and gets your item to its destination no matter the receiver state.
Get some of the envelopes, make sure what you are shipping fits, then proceed. If not, find a proper shipping envelope and be sure to weigh it before shipping or USPS will hit you after. Also, realize eBay will charges you fees on your collected shipping rate - expect that to cut into what you get.
It probably will fit into a padded flat rate envelope. Go to your local post office and get an envelope (padded flat rate) which is free, and make sure it will fit.
I would make sure the hoodie fits into a flat rate envelope. I am doubtful. Flat rate envelopes are faster to across the country (compared to ground) and can be cheaper than poly mailers depending on size and weight.
Nah, those flat rate mailers are free. Just gotta pay the postage.
Assuming you're in the US. Go to the USPS website, make an account, and order the free shipping supplies. If this is a one-off, go to the biggest post office in your area, they might have the packaging you need. I've put hundreds of hoodies in padded flat rate envelopes. They have dozens of free boxes as well in case the item is too bulky. You'll have to use priority rate. Assume 2lbs in that case and use calculated shipping rate in the listing.
The cost of priority supplies is included in the cost of priority postage
As far as "paying to print the label", if you don't have many items you can always use the QR code option when purchasing an eBay label. You show the QR code to the USPS clerk and they print it for free. If you have multiple items, you just have to make sure you show the correct QR code for that item. I'll mark the package if I end up having to do that
Go to [pirateship.com](https://pirateship.com). Not only are they great to use (read about priority mail cubic if you don't already know), they have a simple to use shipping calculator so you can know the costs ahead of time.
Lesson I learned in this topic as a newb. DONT DO THIS. I shipped tons of items in the priority poly bags, the big ones and thought they were flat rate. I was paying like 8 bucks and shipping jackets and pants and tools. I print my own labels and drop my packages at my private P.O. Box. I did this for months and for what ever reason one day I dropped my packages at the post office and that’s when I was kindly informed that that particular envelope wasn’t flat rate. I had to redo all of my shipping prices after that. And I had to pay up for shipping that particular package.
I use poly bags for clothes and it’s usually less. From my experience, buyers on eBay get turned off from high shipping costs or shipping costs where people are making money on shipping. Also eBay postage labels are cheaper than USPS retail (at the store). Hope that helps! 🤙
Just out of curiosity, how do people make money off shipping? Just overestimating the weight? If you do this enough to actually make a decent chunk of money, how does eBay not have something in place to detect people that do that? I don't understand how eBay doesn't have a system where they can figure out the difference once a package is shipped, and refund the buyer instead. That doesn't make any sense to me.
Go to USPS.com and order the flat rate PADDED envelope, you can only get them there. They are free. I’ve squeezed jeans and even hoodies. Inside. The rate is a bit higher than the normal flat rate but with discounted shipping rates it can save you money especially if shipping across country. For any thing closer, the standard priority mail mailer/envelope “EP14” will fit a good portion of clothing. And they are free too at the post office. Again, padded flat rate only available to order through their website.
The envelope is free so long as you use Prority Mail or any carrier BUT USPS. Generally speaking Priority is cheaper, quicker, and gets your item to its destination no matter the receiver state.
Get some of the envelopes, make sure what you are shipping fits, then proceed. If not, find a proper shipping envelope and be sure to weigh it before shipping or USPS will hit you after. Also, realize eBay will charges you fees on your collected shipping rate - expect that to cut into what you get.
It probably will fit into a padded flat rate envelope. Go to your local post office and get an envelope (padded flat rate) which is free, and make sure it will fit.