How to package to reduce postage?

Today I posted my first sold item and had a fright at the post office counter. Because I had not packaged my item flat enough, I went as a small package rather than a large envelope - doubling the postage cost and making it far higher than I had asked for!

I sent it off anyway and put it down as a something to learn from.

I can try to send my knitted items as flat as possible, but it won’t look at nice to the buyer when it arrives.
Any suggestions what I should do? Send it as cheaply as possible or as nicely presented as possible?

Can you get PIP boxes to fit your items? I find these really handy, and the presentation is often better than a squishy package.

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@Knitsy123 I bought some pads like yours from elsewhere the other day and they did indeed arrive in a Pip box and therefore large letter. It keeps them flat.

I 99.9 % send small package as my glass needs the extra padding to protect it. I do not see any point making my glass very carefully only to risk it being broken in the post. I am often surprised to see people selling glass ‘like mine’ with large letter postage rates set and wonder what postal attrition rate will apply !

I only dare use Pip boxes when I post large letter (jewellery only) as if something moves in an envelope it can easily make the measurement a teeny bit bigger than the 2cm allowance (as happened here to @Knitsy123) ) and pop you over into the Small Package band.
NB: I think that RM 2cm limit is really ridiculous. My letterbox will fit 4cm through it and it is perfectly standard.

I do notice on here, especially newly set up shops, that postal charges are set to allow only large letter price and it is obvious that whatever is being sold it isn’t going to fit a max 2cm. Saw glass baubles like that at Christmas and wondered whether to warn the seller but didn’t want to seem pushy.

As a reminder to everyone here is the Royal Mail 2019 price list. The sizings are on the 2nd page.

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I have a postal template ruler which I bought from the Post Office so that I can check before I go and repackage if necessary. Sometimes only a little tweaking is needed for it to fit through as a large letter.

My hearts have to go as small parcel, it always looks such a lot of money to charge for such a small and light item, but on the plus side, I am able to offer free P&P on additional items. People still buy them, so the higher P&P doesn’t necessarily put customers off.

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Thank you for your replies. I think PIP boxes are the way forward. (I had to google what that was. Haha)

I always use pip boxes where possible. When I used to send my scarves in poly envelopes they often shifted inside the packaging and went small parcel. The cardboard pip boxes are more environmentally friendly than the poly bags too :slight_smile:

It sounds like boxes are a good option for you. I only have a few items that fit in a large letter, but luckily they’re not squishy items so they tend to stay in place.

Like @JOYSofGLASS, I also have some that could squeeze in a large letter, but I wouldn’t feel are protected enough (or in the case of magnets, could affect other things), so there I just up the postage and hope it doesn’t put people off. I’d rather post as a parcel and feel confident it’ll get there safely.

I always go for “look as nice as possible” for my packaging. I’m selling luxury handmade gifts, not second-hand tat on ebay. Not many of my items will squeeze into large letter. In eight years I’ve only had one customer complain that I was sending a chunky hat with a 10cm bobble as a small parcel.

If you are changing to boxes don’t forget to factor in the weight increase, especially if you sell internationally.

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As we’re talking PIP boxes… by coincidence (?) I sold a pair of earrings this morning, first for a few months, and had to use one of my boxes.
Can anyone recommend a supplier as mine, about 10cm square, are a bit rubbish. They are made of bendy cardboard so putting the tab into the slot to fasten it is tricky, no impossible. I always end up having to smother it in parcel tape which I prefer not to have to do as it wastes, my tape, doesn’t look as nice on the letterbox mat and the box can’t then be reused.
So if anyone uses this size and they don’t have a bendy tab on their’s where do you get them from, please ?
xx

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the only problem with pip boxes is that you have to add that into your cost and sometimes you might just as well increase the postage to your customers.
I have sold lots of knitwear and have quite often put the items in bags, and sat on them to take the air out…I have never (yet) had a complaint and if I send this way, I tell the customer first and make sure they know that once in contact with the air the item will fluff up and look beautiful again.
I also have one of those plastic slots to see the width of any parcel and go online to check how much it will cost.
People now don’t seem to mind paying the postal charges and as Iive a long way from the post office…and a steep hill walk to the bus stop, I often use My Hermes signed for…It costs £4.25 but I have had no complaints about the charge.

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I also purchased a size template on line for large letters. There is a big difference in price between a large letter and a small parcel. I also have some small items that are too thick for a large letter - shame they don’t have something in between x

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When I have sent hats, I used to stretch them on a piece of card to prevent them from bunching. And I would squash the letter hard whilst waiting in the post office queue to squeeze all the air out before I got to the counter. :joy:

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Joy I bulk buy them on eBay from a company called Meg4tec, they are pretty good, not the best I have had, but can’t complain for the money.

when i’m on the proper computer tomorrow i’ll find the link to my supplier - i’ve found cheaper - but these’re the best ones i’ve used because they fold really nicely instead of buckling, and i don’t need thaaaat much tape.

sizes are a bit of a minefield for me (i’m maths-challenged) but i buy an A6ish size and an A5ish size, and they work out about 20p / 30p per unit respectively.
which is a lot cheaper (for the customer) than the jump from LL to small parcel

Thank you. Just checked my spreadsheet and it doesn’t have a company name just a personal name so i can’t really see where I got mine (in march 2015). Don’t use many as I sell my jewellery at events more often than online but my stocks are now low and want to make sure I get better next time.

The trouble with squeezing all the air out and getting it through as a large letter (I used to do the same) is that although the receiving PO will only charge you LL if it appears you have underpaid as it goes through the system your customer will be charged an excess at the other end.

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I think the small parcel category is ridiculous. I can post 2 dolls and several outfits costing in total about £80 for £3 and it costs the same £3 to post one of my tiny sponge cakes costing £1.50. The post office ought to have a tiny parcels category.

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stampbourne! that’s the supplier i use

and these are the large letter boxes i use (in the larger size, with skillful sellotapng, i can post 2 of my notebooks, wrapped in tissue for large letter rate!! in a padded envelope they’re small parcel)

https://stampbourne.com/product-category/main-categories/postal-mailing-boxes/letter-sizes/

oh, and they come in packs of 25 so i usually bulk buy once a year

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I agree Martine. It costs me the same to send one pair of fabric hearts as it does to send about 10 pairs, it just seems nonsense.

How do you keep them dry?