topic Re: How to get satchel to post item in in Selling

How to get satchel to post item in

heko-6371 — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 05:03:33 GMT

I'm new to selling on eBay and want to sell my first item. Let's say if I were to list an item for the seller to pay $8.95 for postage, is that just for the label or for the satchel as well? How do I acquire the satchel to ship the item in? Does it get sent to me or do I pick it up from an auspost store when I post it? Thanks in advance and please be as specific as possible as I am really confused.

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

davewil1964 — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 05:38:19 GMT

It is entirely up to you.

You can purchase prepaid satchels from Australia Post.

You can purchase eBay satchels from Australia Post. They are $1.25 for a 5 pack; postage is on top. Depending on where the item is going eBay labels will cost you either $8.65 or $8.95.

You can go to the PO and purchase a satchel and postage for $9.20.

You can sign up to Australia Post MyBusiness. You will need to purchase satchels from AP (same price as eBay satchels). Depending on your volume, discounts can apply. From next week 8 parcels in 8 weeks will attract a discount. I doubt it will be much.

You can use your own packaging, as long as the packed weight is less than 500g, and pay $8.95.

I suggest you do some serious research before you start selling. For example, you will be paying eBay 97c in fees on $8.95 postage

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 05:45:04 GMT

@heko-6371 wrote:
I'm new to selling on eBay and want to sell my first item. Let's say if I were to list an item for the seller to pay $8.95 for postage, is that just for the label or for the satchel as well? How do I acquire the satchel to ship the item in? Does it get sent to me or do I pick it up from an auspost store when I post it? Thanks in advance and please be as specific as possible as I am really confused.

I don't use Ebay satchels and labels so I might leave someone else to offer advice there. I think you just buy the Ebay satchels on here, they get posted to you, you then print a label when ready and get it scanned in over the counter at the PO.

I just buy flat rate satchels from Australia Post, all of them can take anything up to 5 kg, sml $9.20/medium 12.45/large $15.70/extra large $18.95. You can post those anywhere in Australia and the open weight limit up to 5 kg, even for the sml satchel, I find useful for non bulky heavy items. They also have tracked flat rate envelopes now sml $2.95/medium $4.95/lge $5.95. The 2 larger sizes up to 2 cm thick, the small 5 mm I think. I would advise always sending with tracking and always get them lodged over the counter and ask for a lodgement receipt. That is your proof of postage which you need. I also ask them to add the postcode for each when lodging.

Hopd this helps. Oh I forgot to mention the prices if using your own packaging (in a box or whatever) $8.95 for under 500g, then it goes up in increments, usually $12.20 or around $15 if larger and heavier.

Here is the link for calculating postage

https://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/calculate-postage-delivery-times/#/

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 05:48:45 GMT

Good luck with your selling. Any more questions as you find your feet, ask away. There are some very experienced members on the boards who can help guide you

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

gumleaf_goodies — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:21:15 GMT

Do you know the sizes of the tracked flat rate envelopes you mention? I cannot find this info on the AP website. (A link would be great too).

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:40:55 GMT

Yes. Here it is

https://auspost.com.au/sending/send-within-australia/compare-letter-services/letter-tracking

If you scroll down to pricing, it gives the sizes and maximum thickness etc

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:48:52 GMT

I also forgot to mention when using my own packaging, I just hand print the address on plain white paper, cut to size and tape it all over on the package to prevent tearing or smudging if it gets wet. I never print anything myself. Computer ink can be expensive and I find it unnecessary for my humble sales 😁

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

gumleaf_goodies — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:55:46 GMT

@11dustyattic wrote:
Yes. Here it is
https://auspost.com.au/sending/send-within-australia/compare-letter-services/letter-tracking

If you scroll down to pricing, it gives the sizes and maximum thickness etc

The link resulted in this:

So still none the wiser. Another try?

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

gumleaf_goodies — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:56:08 GMT

I do the same.

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 11:41:56 GMT

Sorry I'll try again

https://auspost.com.au/sending/send-within-australia/compare-letter-services/letter-tracking

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 11:42:34 GMT

That last link works

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

tazzieterror — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 12:17:31 GMT

@heko-6371 wrote:
I'm new to selling on eBay and want to sell my first item. Let's say if I were to list an item for the seller to pay $8.95 for postage, is that just for the label or for the satchel as well? How do I acquire the satchel to ship the item in? Does it get sent to me or do I pick it up from an auspost store when I post it? Thanks in advance and please be as specific as possible as I am really confused.

I use eBay branded satchels, purchased from the Australia Post eBay store, and just had 100 small sized ones arrive at a cost of $15, so 15c each. The price is higher if you buy in smaller quantities, and being new to selling you probably don't wanna stock up in bulk quite yet.

But I like this style of satchel as it has a clear pocket built in for displaying the postage label, which I generate through eBay and print out on a regular inkjet printer and then just slip into the pocket.

The postage cost actually varies slightly depending on the destination area (local/metro/regional) and you can see a breakdown of the prices charged through eBay here.

For you though, it'ls probably easiest to just buy a satchel from the post office when you go in to post your item. If you think you might want to sell a few items, maybe you'll buy a spare or two to take home with you, so you can pack items there and spend a minimum amount of time at the post office.

When you send an item sold through eBay, it's important you post it only to the address that eBay/PayPal give you in the sale notification. Sometimes a buyer has an old address in eBay and forgets to change it when they place an order and will message after paying to say "hey, can you send to this other address please." Sending to an address other than the one provided to you by eBay/PayPal means you lost some seller protection, which a malicious buyer can take advantage of. If you ever receive such a request, come back onto here for advice!

Also, when you're posting your satchel, lodge it at the counter inside the post office (with a staff member) rather than dropping it into a post box outside. You want to do this so you are given a lodgement receipt, which again might be needed later if an issue crops up with the delivery. It's your proof to eBay that you've sent it to the suburb you're supposed to. Finally, take a photo of the addressed parcel before you lodge it, showing the tracking number and address on the label.

If your sold item is worth more than $100, consider whether you need to purchase additional insurance in case the parcel is lost. It's $2.50 for each additional $100 of cover beyond the first $100 worth, which is included in the postal charge/prepaid satchel cost.

Because both eBay and PayPal charge feed on the total cost of the item + postage, you need to account for this when working out your sell price. Say you want to get $100 for your item, and will allow a nice neat $10 for the satchel cost and postage (if you're using a small satchel), you'll want to receive $110 from the buyer. But PayPal charge 2.6% + 30 cents, eBay 10.9% (depending on the category this can be different) so for you to get $110 your buyer needs to pay $125.15 before eBay and PayPal take their cut.

To give yourself some wriggle room, you might just add an easy 15% onto whatever total + postage you need to receive, which would be $126.50

Hopefully that's enough to get you started!

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

davewil1964 — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 12:56:19 GMT

If you think you might want to sell a few items, maybe you'll buy a spare or two to take home with you

No longer possible. Boxes yes, but you can't buy individual pre-post satchels any more.

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:00:13 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
If you think you might want to sell a few items, maybe you'll buy a spare or two to take home with you

No longer possible. Boxes yes, but you can't buy individual pre-post satchels any more.

I thought tazzie meant AP prepaid satchels

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

davewil1964 — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:05:44 GMT

I hope not. Prepaid satchels from AP are the most expensive option available unless you buy at least 100.

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

tazzieterror — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:16:30 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
I hope not. Prepaid satchels from AP are the most expensive option available unless you buy at least 100.

I did indeed mean a pre-paid AP satchel, and while they are technically more expensive than other options, for someone just testing the eBay waters it's probably not all that big of a concern...especially if they follow my advice to mark up a little extra to help cover it.

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:19:30 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
I hope not. Prepaid satchels from AP are the most expensive option available unless you buy at least 100.

I don't find them very expensive, particularly given they can all be used up to 5 kg. For low volume sellers, it's a whole lot easier.

Can you do a few comparisons for me though because I always thought the difference wasn't that much. For example, if I want to post 3 kg of diecast cars, which can fit into a sml AP satchel @ $9.20 anywhere in Australia, what would the cost be to send in an Ebay satchel?

I'm asking because my knowledge is lacking re Ebay postage

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:22:02 GMT

Actually 3 kg of diecast cars probably wouldn't fit into s sml satchel but regardless, any item with a higher weight that fits

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

davewil1964 — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:38:15 GMT

Horses for courses, I suppose.

I charge $8.95 for small satchel postage. Given eBay hit me with 84c in FVF on that, I'm certainly not interested in paying more than I have to. Certainly not $9.20, when I can get it significantly cheaper using MyPost, or buying from eBay sellers when the price is right.

As far as your question goes - $8.95 + satchel cost to rural; $8.65 + satchel cost to city/major metro.

Re: How to get satchel to post item in

11dustyattic — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:49:08 GMT

So that's only about 10c cheaper for rural, 40c cheaper for city. I guess for high volume, every cent counts. I just think for new sellers or low volume sellers, it's easier. But yes horses for courses.

Is there a weight limit on the Ebay satchels?