Mailing a magazine

[petbanjopaterson]

Can anyone advise me on the most cost effective and safest way to mail a magazine via Australia Post?

I have a heap of collectable magazines that I don't have the room for anymore and want to sell them but I do not want them to

get damaged in transit. 

I don't have alot of money to spend on wrapping etc so I will be grateful for any ideas from others that have mailed mags.

Thanks in advance.

[harley_babes_hoard · Accepted solution]

i would just send it in a tough bag mailer and send them as a large letter $2.00 if they are under 20mm thick. If you buy the tough bags in bulk they may cost you little as 20-30 cents each.

[phorum_junkie*]

If they are too big to go as large letters then I would thtink the best way would be in cardboard tubes either purchased if you can find any cheap enough, not Aus Post, or make your own.

[chameleon54 · Accepted solution]

If they are truly rare and collectable they can be worth a lot of money. I have sold first issue magazines for $50-$100 although number one of some collectable titles may only be $30-$40 depending on condition and title. I seal them in plastic ( in case they end up on a wet doorstep or mail box ) and send them in an Australia post tough envelope with a heavy card backing sheet to protect from getting bent. Collectors hate to have them rolled up or bent in transit. The boards from ring binders cut to size are ideal as they are thin and very strong. These do weigh around 120 gramms so will push your postage weight up. Not a problem for a valuable magazine, but core flute plastic or heavy card may be better for cheaper magazines that weigh under 250 gramms packed.

These need to be hand sorted, but still get sent for the same price as a large letter. Sorry PJ but I would not roll them and send in a tube as they are difficult to get out without damaging them and will not sit flat once out of the tube. This is considered damaged by collectors. They MUST BE KEPT FLAT. For multiple quantaties over 500 gramms large letter rate, I would put them in a plastic bag and pack them between two heavy sheets of card slightly bigger than the magazines. Taped in a cross. You can then wrap all of this in bubble wrap if the buyer has spent a lot of money.

using these techniques I have never had any problems and get plenty of good feedback for packing. 

[chameleon54 · Accepted solution]

I meant to add for items over 500 gramms, a 3 kg. satchel is cheapest. Under 500 gramms and 20 mm thick, large letter is cheapest way. 250 gramms is a cheaper large letter than 500 gramms so check the weight before sealing the envelope.

For truly valuable magazines I sandwich both sides with heavy card to protect them in the mail.

[chameleon54]

Almost all magazines will fit large letter size as they where designed to be mailed out to subscription customers. There are a few rare magazines such as early large format fashion ie. Vanity fair and 1960,s Tracks ( I think it was ) surfing mags that dont fit. These can be packed between two heavy card sheets, taped on the edges to form a parcel and sent as a small parcel under 500 gramms most of the time.

[petbanjopaterson]

Valuable information, thankyou very much. Best regards

[petbanjopaterson]

I will down to the P.O to check these out, Thankyou so much.