Acceptable to reuse packing envelopes and boxes?

[dithommo]

To my learned eBay-ers..............

As a non professional - recreational seller how acceptable is it to re-use padded envelopes/boxes etc?

I have recieved itmes over the years that have obviously used preloved packaging and I have had no problem with it.

Indeed the majority of people re-using packaging have put in extra effort to ensure itmes are well packaged.

I have recieved some larger items so well wrapped in some old used cardboard (just cut up boxes from other items bought) that they have resembled a work of oragami.

I have done the same with wrapping some unusual shaped items but I am now considering reusing some of the plethora of used padded bags/envelopes piling up in my packing box of bits and pieces.

Personally I do not see a problem and obviously it is important to cover old addresses/lables etc.

Also to make sure no nasty little creatures have nested themselves inside.

How many other non-professional sellers do this? 

I would not be impressed if professional sellers or those charging full price postage and packing charges did this but as I more often than not include "Free Shipping" I see this as a small and acceptable win.

Just looking for others input/opinion (I will still do this but just looking for others opinions in a friendly discussion).

Cheers

Thommo

[cherry*135]

I use a lot of recycled packaging.. boxes, tissue paper, packing peanuts, cardboard and packing peanuts I have received myself as a buyer. I recycle bubble wrap, cut any bits off ruined by tape or bubbles flattened.

I buy new bubble wrap mailer bags though. A used one usually shows a bit of wear by the time it arrives. I wouldn't mind if a seller sent me items in used mailer bags, as long as they did the job.

If sellers use recycled packaging and don't charge buyers for it, itwould be miserly of buyers to complain about it.. it saved them money.

[i-love-my-sheep]

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@2011.narelle wrote:

I'm a practical woman so i don't personally mind if an item arrives in odd packaging as long as it arrives safely & undamaged.I throw the package away & to me it's the item that I'm interested in,not disposable packing.

I did order some seeds from a Sydney seller a while ago & he had a lot of funny fb comments about him wrapping the chilli seeds in toilet paper They were in toilet paper but i found it funny but the seeds were nice & dry & it was free post i think.Anyhoo,he did a good job & i was happy.

I have read quite a few  fb for sellers about packaging,including bad comms for recycled packaging.I guess some may think that it was cheap or free & thought they may have overpaid for postage.Some people like their packaging to look gift wrapped i guess.Maybe add something in the listing about recycled packaging being used for environmental reasons but actual postage costs are as charged perhaps.

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Most of the mineral specimens I buy from China are wrapped in toilet paper, before being wrapped in that plastic foamy stuff. I've never had a crack or a break in any of them. One thing they really know how to do is pack delicate stuff. One I got today had so many tiny little crystals, some finer than a human hair and not one was broken. That particular piece, while not that large, was wrapped in what seemed like a whole roll.

They have really good boxes too so I save all them to reuse. Most of their labelling is taped on, so easy to remove. Only one that's hard to get off is the post office label with the postage stamp and date on it.

Even though I reuse most boxes and most packaging (I don't reuse the toilet paper and I dispose of any really grubby bubble wrap), I always make sure that the contents are packed securely and the box is sealed professionally. I do take extra time to make sure the outside of the box looks presentable.

[i-once-was-bump]

Over the years there have been a few discussions here about recycling and most have always been happy with it.

However some sellers have used cardboard boxes that used to contain frozen food such as fish fingers and that is an absolute no-no.

Some have objected to cereal boxes which is funny because the cereal is in a plastic bag inside the box but they are happy for shoe boxes to be reused and shoe boxes could have any sort of germs in them from storing dirty shoes.

If you have any doubts you could always put it in your listing that you "use recycled packaging where ever possible", that will make it difficult for buyers to complain.

[lyndal1838]

I am a prolific buyer and have no problems with recycled bubblewrap and boxes but do prefer new bubble envelopes and ordinary envelopes.  I have had AP satchels turned inside out and reused...OK if they are in good overall condition but I was not impressed with the one that had a tear in the middle, just taped over.

UK sellers come up with some very inventive packaging...I have had some small china/pottery pieces packed in spotlessly clean plastic margarine containers, larger items in biscuit tins and pretty chocolate boxes.

The only problem I have ever had was when a US seller sent a plate in a used pizza box....Customs/Quarantine did give me a rap over the knuckles for that one and it was not really my fault.

[saarzi]

I think it depends on what you are selling, the dynamic you are selling to, and how you want you business to be viewed.

Firstly, buyers dont know you are a recreational / hobby seller and almost certainly dont care.

When buyers buy something, they arent just getting an item. They are getting the entire experience of buying - the item itself, communications, ease of buying, fast postage, AND packaging.

Repeat customers are GOLD for any business! The 'work' has been done on them already AND they are the ones who will recommend you to others. These are the ones you want to impress! The old sales motto "under promise and over deliver" hasnt been the mantra of businesses for centuries for nothing.

So yes, reuse packaging if its approoriate for what you sell and the people you sell to.

I dont because I sell clothes. Id be disappointed if I got my gorgeous new top in grotty reused envelope that had who knows hands all over it. In terms of the seller it doesnt show any pride or care. A bit like getting an xmas present from a lover in used paper lol

If it was a car part in reused packaging I couldnt care less.

[springyzone]

Personally it doesn't worry me when it happens, especially if it means postage charges can be kept down, but like you, I probably would not be quite as impressed if I had paid a fair bit extra in supply costs for bags etc

As someone says though, it may depend to some extent on what a person is selling. Most items, fine, but there may be some hand crafted items that have cost a premium and the seller might like to have them looking their best. That could include a box and tissue paper etc.

Horses for courses, i guess.

[the_pooze]

All I ever use is recycled material and never had a complaint.  Make my own small boxes out of much larger boxes & etc. and recycle every piece of bubble wrap, polystyrene and even old Christmas paper.  Just needs to be clean and pong free.  Does the job, saves everyone money and good for the planet.

Anyone who wants brand spanking new shop fresh packaging is an unbearable snob and a Cad!  

[springyzone]

well, maybe. I don't know as I am not buying the elite stuff.

But I have noticed (at markets and little boutique shops) that when the sellers are wrapping for some of their customers, some of them don't just pop the item in a bag, they may put it in a box or fluff it up with tissue paper and so on.

Now don't go thinking I am the buyer in all this, okay.

But there is one market where they sell mobiles. Little mobiles for babies, made out of material and get this. They sell for $170!!

My friend watched in awe as someone bought it and had it wrapped up and it certainly got the special treatment.

I suppose the perception for buyers there was they were buying a quality hand made item. It was treated as precious by the seller. My friend and I were watching this as a selling exercise.

I would not be surprised if some ebay sellers of higher end items also take a lot of care in how they present things and wrap their things as it is about perception.

As I said, it is horses for courses.

[chameleon54]

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@springyzone wrote:

well, maybe. I don't know as I am not buying the elite stuff.

I would not be surprised if some ebay sellers of higher end items also take a lot of care in how they present things and wrap their things as it is about perception.

As I said, it is horses for courses.

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Springyzone - I,ll be able to let you know on this one soon.

We have just purchased a very rare, fine item of porcelain as a going away present for a friend. We searched high and low for the right item. It had to be classy and something exotic which reflected where we live, something the friend will treasure and use forever. After much searching we finally found the item we where looking for in one of ebays very expensive, high class ( read expensive ) online antique shops. The item is a porcelain reclining nude. It has our town name classily stamped on the nudes thighs in ornate cursive writing. Each breast ( complete with suptle pink nipple ) is a salt or pepper shaker. As I say, its all class. I would expect something this good should be very well wrapped.

[zanadoo_56]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

I am a prolific buyer and have no problems with recycled bubblewrap and boxes but do prefer new bubble envelopes and ordinary envelopes.  I have had AP satchels turned inside out and reused...OK if they are in good overall condition but I was not impressed with the one that had a tear in the middle, just taped over.

UK sellers come up with some very inventive packaging...I have had some small china/pottery pieces packed in spotlessly clean plastic margarine containers, larger items in biscuit tins and pretty chocolate boxes.

The only problem I have ever had was when a US seller sent a plate in a used pizza box....Customs/Quarantine did give me a rap over the knuckles for that one and it was not really my fault.

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I had the same issues with Customs/Quaratine when a US seller packed my purchase in an old fruit box.  Grrrrr.  I thought the nasty letter from Quarantine (or whoever) was pathetic as the choice of packaging wasn't my fault, furthermore someone (presumably AP as they have to open the parcels) used a box cutter and damaged my purchase, and added to that Customs/Quarantine sent me 'helpful brocures' that were so old the goverment links for further info no longer existed. (I checked them out as I wanted to send the info to the US seller).  BIG difference between what is seen on Border Security and what really happens.

A UK seller I bought something from sent my purchase in an old Chanel box.  I like to recycle packaging when sending parcels....but that's one I'm keeping for myself.