When something is very light but too big for a 500g satchel?

[cheech]

Hi all,

I am planning on selling some clothing items soon that weigh less than 500 grams, but will not fit inside a 500 gram prepaid AP satchel.  The size of a 3kg satchel would be about perfect, but I don't want to pay that much to send something so light.

I'm guessing my only option is to buy some mailing bags and send them over the counter at the post office, which is not really convenient.  I'm also unsure as to how much that will cost to send.

If anyone has any insight or advice I would really appreciate it.  Thanks very much.

[joz*garage]

Its handy to get hold of a set of digital scales if you dont wanna make trips back and forth to the PO all the time and if you do your postage from home 

not cheap, depends on how much selling you do i 'spose and the choice of scales that mostly suits your items.

i was lucky to score a set for just $160 (new) max Capacity 30kg Division 1g !! comes in real handy for what i sell.

If you do standard postage & dont use C&S, you dont really have to rely on aust post packaging products.

You can wrap the item in any decent plastic bag seal it with decent tape - weigh it , stick on $6.60 worth of stamps if its less then 500g - pop it in the post box, easy. Done it heaps of times, no probs.

also you can get stickers for writing down the details of the buyers name and address.

my postie just gives them to me for free - half used booklets.

[joz*garage]

Digital kitchen scales are available on ebay if you search worldwide. Some are fairly cheap. They weigh up to at least 3 kilo's. They can be found at places like Big W also and I think they cost up to around $30.00.

the higher the division the cheaper which mightnt suit if you list range of stuff 

i wouldnt go any lower then 2g

[joz*garage]

the higher the division the cheaper which mightnt suit if you list range of stuff 

i wouldnt go any lower then 2g

lower=higher

[chezzy]

I love my digital scales, goes up to 25kg and you can choose grams/kilos/oz/lbs

Back to my question about using the larger 3kg satchels for sending an item weighing 500grams, can the satchels be turned inside out and just used as normal packaging?

That way the seller has the size packaging they need but pay the cheaper postage costs.

Or like a package I received yesterday - a small strong black garbage bag was used + neatly sealed with packaging tape. Works well for 'soft' items!

[curraone]

I have often recycled 3kg satchels that I receive by turning them inside out, they work well as you say

So there is no reason the OP can't do that, turn a bag inside out, and if it is under 500g it should be the small parcel price, with tracking, of $6.95.

Still means a trip to the Post Office though.

[chezzy]

Can't the seller use the C&S service for processing their own small parcels, pay for it online then pop in a street box? If it is their 'own' packaging (including inside out satchel) wouldn't it quality for the $6.95 rate? Am sure if the package is light and flexible/soft it can be 'squished' into a street box - saving a trip to PO and standing in queques?

[chezzy]

quality = qualify (need morning coffee)

[curraone]

you are right chezzy, they could do that, if it fits in the red box, we need to ask the OP

best to avoid the queques as much as possible

however, isn't it best to take it to the PO so it can be scanned in? 

[***super_nova***]

AP charges for parcels are worked out by both size and weight; the satchels have weight limit and the size limit is determined by the size of the satchel.  Trying to get around that may result in the recipient having to pay the difference plus fine. 

[curraone]

no applicable here surely, we are just using the satchel as packaging, and it is inside out, so you can't see it is a 3 kg satchel - the OP says her estimated weight is under 500g.

could use anything really, brown paper, or a new garbage bag cut out and taped.

so just the question, whether the OP wants it scanned in at lodgement, or can fit her parcel in the red box.