Best & cheapest way to post CDs

A friend of mine is re-jigging her ebay account with a new name and picture so she can sell some of her vast collection of CDs.

I've never sent a CD as far as I can recall, and as I only ever use prepaid satchels for my items, I don't know what the options are for postage.

A small padded bag I should think, but is that safe / padded enough?

A CD specific box? Once you wrap the CD in bubble wrap though, it wouldn't fit in the box I'd think. Or do you not need bubble wrap in that case?

Either way, you'd be paying for the bag or box, plus postage? And can you then get tracking as well? Is that another payment?

After all this, would it in fact be cheaper to just use a 500g satchel and fill the huge gap with bubble wrap? lol
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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

My preferred method - bubble wrap on the inside of hard plastic cases, thin foam wrap around the outside, placed in to one of the smaller tough bags (flexible but thick card envelopes, no bubble wrap lining). The bubble wrap on the inside helps prevent damage from outside pressure pushing in, so can help prevent cracks in the case, or the little teeth spring thingies from snapping, and the thin foam around the outside of the case is a good shock absorber that keeps the packages under 2cm so they can be posted as a large letter for $2.

 

If there are any other types of cases, like bi / tri-fold digipaks etc, try placing a bit of a cotton ball on the inside to help support the plastic springs rather than bubble wrap, which might actually damage them by pushing them inwards since closing the gatefold will create pressure (most of the plastic cases can at least be replaced easily, but there's no replacing or repairing damage to cases like these). Foam wrap on the outside, still. 

 

If there are some more valuable and / or collectible titles, I'd send them fully bubble-wrapped and as a boxed parcel. 

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

When I have bought CDs they have come in a padded envelope, which is the cheapest way.   Cheap postage $2 and no tracking

 

The next level would be the prepaid card envelopes with tracking offered by Australia Post.    If you are prepared to buy 50 today they would average out at $5.16 each.   The thicker card offers more protection.

 

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

Edit above to pay for the padded envelope say 60c - so cost to seller would be $2.60.

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

Definitely NOT just a small padded bag.  I received a CD through Amazon AU recently that was sent in a padded bag.  The CD arrived loose in the plastic case, and the case itself was broken.

 

I reckon bubble wrap inside the CD case to keep the CD in place and cardboard outside the CD case as protection against breakages.  Then the CD can go in a padded bag or box designed for posting CDs.

 

However, if the CD comes in its own strong foldout cardboard packaging with a slipcover then you might not need extra protection.

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

Thank you so much for these helpful responses!

If you routinely post CDs without tracking, how often do you think you'd get lost parcels or "lost" (ahem) parcel disputes? 😀
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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

I use  cardboard on the outside as well. Even better if you can get off cuts of plasitc or laminate, once around the outside makes it almost impossible to break without trying.

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

Scraps of corrugated cardboard provide protection as well, especially if you vary how the cardboard is used ie: left to right corregation card on one side of the CD box and top to bottom corregations on the other side.  Definitely keeps the packaging strong.

 

 

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs

westcj
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You cannot give away CDs on Ebay at the moment, so with Auction items you are better off offering free postage within Australia to encourage people to put in a bid. Postage is only around $2.00, so it is worth the risk.

 

Anyone listing postage prices of $8.95 per  single  CD, is turning away 95% of their market - but apparently this is the postage price Ebay recommends!  Even if you sent a CD via registered mail, it will not cost you $8.95.

 

If you are charging postage, make it clear in your listing that you will combine postage for multiple purchases, buyers are more likely to multi-bid on items 

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Best & cheapest way to post CDs


@westcj wrote:

You cannot give away CDs on Ebay at the moment, so with Auction items you are better off offering free postage within Australia to encourage people to put in a bid. Postage is only around $2.00, so it is worth the risk.

 

Anyone listing postage prices of $8.95 per  single  CD, is turning away 95% of their market - but apparently this is the postage price Ebay recommends!  Even if you sent a CD via registered mail, it will not cost you $8.95.

 

If you are charging postage, make it clear in your listing that you will combine postage for multiple purchases, buyers are more likely to multi-bid on items 


Was that the case last year?

 

If so, why didn't comment then? If not, why is it relevant now?

 

As with all things online, I suspect it actually comes down to what you are actually selling, title-wise.

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