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It's amazing to see the variety of creative low-cost packaging used to ship books bought on the Internet. Books sail across the country, and sometimes the world, merely wrapped in numerous layers of old newspaper with some bonus ink smeared across the jacket; or come wrapped in a multitude of paper bags with every surface inch sealed over with tape. And books sometimes arrive in manila envelopes with nary a thought to the dings the volume would likely amass along its way.
One of the biggest responsibilities sellers have when conducting Internet sales is making sure the book arrives at its new home in the condition described online. A good rule of thumb is - protect the book. This means packaging the book so that it gains only minimal wear throughout a long and arduous journey. Unfortunately, paper bags, newspapers, and the like might not fit that bill.
In the case of hardcover books, bubble wrap is always the best bet because it provides a thick layer of cushioning from both manhandling and the weather. Plus, you can add an extra buffer by rolling the ends and taping them securely along the top and bottom edge of the book (or else the spine and fore-edge). Slipping a protected book into a padded envelope will help insure a safe delivery.
Some may question the wisdom of spending money on materials when so much of it can be found for free. It's hard to realize that you'll always be at a disadvantage if you're scrounging for packaging materials unless you take to heart the old adage that "time is money." Over the course of a year, trekking around looking for materials is costly. Isn't it better to spend that time finding fresh stock and listing new items for sale?
By having an array of packing materials on hand, shipping becomes more efficient. If you add up the minutes spent trying to find the right size box, mailer, sleeve and making sure there are peanuts and tape, etc., you'll find the freebies aren't really so free after all. And if you're afraid of the initial cost, shop around. There are many companies that provide good, inexpensive mailing supplies, so much so that each company often strives to undercut or at least meet their competitor's prices.
Having supplies shipped directly to you is also a time-saver. And having a standardized form of doing business helps you streamline your processes in a more professional vein. Your receipts, when saved, will allow you to make an accurate deduction at tax-time.
But there's the added benefit of putting your best foot forward. When a customer receives a package that looks like it was thrown together, the anticipation of opening the book can suddenly be replaced with dread,...could so unprofessional a package be hiding a book "inexpertly" described? That first impression your customer receives can never be replaced, so it ought to speak volumes about the manner in which you approach your livelihood or hobby. After all, chances are your name appears on the enclosed invoice.
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