One thing about selling online is that you’re going to need a steady supply of shipping supplies. You can go all new, but that can add up so it’s best to do a mix of new and recycled materials. The easiest way to save money is by reusing cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other fillers such as paper from orders delivered to you.
You can also ask family and friends to save their cardboard boxes and packing material for you. It’s a great way for them to support you in your business without feeling the need to purchase something.
Make sure recycled boxes are clean and sturdy before using them, and be sure to remove any labels or stickers. You can also use recycled boxes to make new ones by cutting them down to size. There are tools available that make resizing cardboard a snap.
Buying Supplies in Bulk
Buying shipping supplies in bulk often leads to discounts from vendors. Check with local shipping companies to see if they offer lower bulk rates.
You can find great deals online for bulk supplies. Amazon and Walmart Online are a couple of reliable places to get bulk shipping supplies at very reasonable prices. For example, you can go into any Walmart and purchase a single 6x6x6 size box for around 70 cents each. However, if you go to their website, you can get a bundle of 30 6x6x6 boxes for around $12. If you purchased 30 individual boxes in-store, they would cost you roughly $21! That’s quite a bit of savings. Keep in mind that Walmart will charge you extra for shipping if your order isn’t at least $35. So be sure to order enough to take advantage of that free shipping and save even more.
Free USPS Supplies
For use in the United States, the postal service offers a variety of free Priority Mail shipping supplies, including various sized boxes and envelopes. You can order these supplies online and have them delivered to your door, or pick them up as needed at your local post office.
If you’re shipping your items via Priority Mail, this is a great way to save on supplies as they are readily available and provided for you. Keep in mind that the cost of that “free” box is factored into the cost of Priority Mail postage, which makes Priority Mail more expensive than First Class.
Some marketplaces like Poshmark default to Priority Mail labels for all shipping. You can either use your own packaging, or save money using the free USPS materials for those labels.
Other Sources
- Local Stores. You can usually get free cardboard from local supermarkets or stores that get a lot of deliveries. Talk to them and ask if you can take a bundle or two off their hands.
- Dumpster Diving. In a similar method as above, many shops have cardboard in a dumpster or by the road waiting to be picked up. Additionally, they may already be bundled up and ready to go.
- Recycling Day. If you live in an area that separates recycling from regular trash, you can score some great cardboard and packing materials by simply driving around and collecting them before the truck gets there. Be sure to be respectful and don’t leave people’s recycle bins in worse condition than you found them.
- Goodwill Clearance. Some of the Goodwill Clearance Centers (the “Bins”) that charge by the pound for goods will allow you to take packing materials from inside the bins at no charge. If they do charge, it should cost you very little.
Where do you get your shipping supplies? Feel free to drop a comment below and share with the community!
