A tip I learned from my Postal clerk for magazines, and even art work, that’s over a pound, is to use a Priority Mailing Box. You can use a 1092, 1095, or 1097 to ship the item flat. Don’t open the box just leave it flat and slide the magazine inside and tape around both ends real well. One of the first sales I made last year was a Saturday Evening Post that is quite large and weighs over a pound. I put the magazine in plastic and slid it into a plain padded envelope then slid inside the box and centered it before taping both ends with a lot of tape. It turned out very sturdy and I’ve used it a few other times. Again, this was an idea from the Post Office clerk. Hope this can help, too. Great info!
@@curatorofthelost No issues have been reported thus far. By putting the magazine inside a padded envelope first, that should help protect and cushion it during the mailing process. If the Post Office should mishandle the item, there’s not a lot you can do whether it’s in a regular box or not as they can mess those up as well. I trust our clerk as she recommended this way to me. You could probably do the same thing with an eBay box if you have a smaller item you want to send that can go First Class. I’ve haven’t tried that yet due to the weights of my magazines so far. Worth a try! Thanks for the reply.
I've sold and shipped books and magazines before, but I just sold a vintage magazine through the GSP international. I packed it securely, but I've heard that once it gets to the hub, ebay removes my packaging and sends it in theirs, which isn't always very secure.
Thank you so much! Very informative vid! I always use my 90210 Rule. I know, (from the TV show), that's California. So I'll use 90210 as my worst case scenario for shipping. LOL
These have always been a problem to me due to size. It has kept me from getting into them before. I think the size is roughly 11x14". Amazon has some 11.24 x 14.25 x 2" boxes that would work great- cost is about $2 each though. If you go that route, just pass it along in your shipping cost and say you will mail flat in a box. Weight can give you some alternatives. If you are shipping a single issue- see if you could ship under 16oz if you just use 2 pieces of cardboard. If so, I would just look at flat cardboard stock that was 1-2" bigger and sandwich the Life mag between 2 pieces, taping the edge. It has to be sturdy though or the PO will bend it. If weight goes over 1lb, you will have to go Priority Mail. In that case I would look at the Priority Mail "shirt boxes" and just use them. I think there are some that are bigger than 11x14 and about 2.5-3" thick. You could mail as a box with packing, or use the sandwich trick and just tape the ends. Hope that helps!
I just leave them (assuming it is a label). I just note it in the listing. If labels, you could try to remove them, but for the work and potential damage, I don't bother. I think buyers would prefer not to have them, but also seem to accept it ok.
I inherited literally 1000s of magazines. 90% car mags. As far back as the 70s and I have more packing supplies then my local post office. So free shipping would be the way to go right? I'm gonna try and sell by the year. Like hot rod 2015 in just 1 listing would be cool I think?
I would not go free shipping. But if you do make sure you check your costs good. Be sure to check your weights and see what will fit in flat rate or regional rates boxes.
No- at least not in the continental US. I think the regional A is limited to 20 lbs. Great value on it once you get to 2lbs or are shipping several zones.
My magazine sales have gone crazy lately. I mostly sell cross stitch magazines and they are pretty much flying out the door right now. :) Here in Canada if a package of magazines is under 500 grams and under 2 cm high it can go lettermail. Anything over that has to go as a package. Rates vary by final destination and yes it can be expensive. Depending on the magazine I can usually ship 1-2 magazines together lettermail.
Nice on lettermail! Mags are selling good for me right now as well- amazingly, I just sold and shipped 50 or so to Europe- someone did not mind the shipping cost there!
are most of your buyers from the US ? This will be the case for me and I'm wondering if you do a flat rate based on what is mentioned in this video, or does your shipping price vary ? Thanks !
@zzzz000 most of my buyers are in the US. However- if you do the eBay Global Ship, your shipping usually goes to a US clearing house (mine is in Kentucky). The extra overseas is handled by eBay with the buyer. So the flat rate still works since I just ship to Kentucky (for example) and eBay global shipping takes it from there.
Thanks for this excellent info. Here's a question - I'm cleaning out my storage unit, I have a few automotive specialty mags I've subscribed to for years. In one case I have 70+ issues (weighing 40.0 lb.), in another around 50 issues, in a third case around 200 issues (almost all of the mag's history). Is it better to sell these as one big lot each, or to break them into years? If it's as a lot, how do you ship 70-200 magazines?
Research them on eBay and see if they will sell by complete year. That is probably what I try first. If you do bigger lots I would think of shipping first and see how many would fit into flat rate priority boxes or at least check shipping cost for bigger lots. You don’t want shipping to crush you.
I noticed those regional rate box A's have been discontinued?? :( the medium box fits perfect length- and width-wise but is way too tall at 6" (even for a magazine thats 700-800 pages!)
I will be honest. I have sent many vintage magazines via Media Mail. It's the ADVERTISING that keeps it from qualifying for Media Mail. I figure that any ads in a vintage magazine aren't valid today, so that's my rationale. It's a historical item as opposed to a modern magazine. But, I know I'm taking a risk if the USPS ever decides to open a magazine package I send. Has that EVER happened to a seller??
I don't disagree with your rationale, but I doubt it would make a difference on age IF the post office did open it. To my knowledge, I've never had a media mail package opened- although I have had a couple of post workers be very surly and questioning of my content. For me, a bigger thing is that I would hate for my current PO guys to open it (assuming they had to for some reason) and have to flag it for extra postage- they are so awesome to me, it would crush me to put them in that position or for them to have to question what I'm shipping.
I've been dinged twice by the post office for using media mail to send 30-year-old magazines. I stood in the lobby and argued with a clerk using that same reasoning, that the magazine was ancient and the ads no longer valid. They didn't care. And I'm convinced that they've flagged my name somehow and are watching for me to try it again!
We had an incoming shipment of 1990s brand catalogs sent to us and the sender used Media Mail. It got opened and disqualified by USPS. Even though we consider them reference material because the items in these collectibles catalogs are no longer sold, they don't differentiate. We had to pay the difference for Priority at the PO before we could take them home.
I went to mail an 1894 issue of Scientific American a few years back. Was denied for media. Showed the clerk the few ads in it were only for defunct companies; didn't matter to them. Tried also to send 2 collectible stamps (value $180.) Wanted to insure but, nope! They won't insure "Paper" and told me I had to send registered mail at well over $20! By the way, they do have a deal with the American Philatelic Society to ship valuable stamps (Paper) thru the mail insured but the average citizen cannot. Used to love the USPS but with their lack of efficiency and competition they're doing all they can to prolong their existence by using every pretense to grab our money.
The USPS and eBay conspire to totally rip off sellers. I have a gaming guide to sell. It LOOKS like a magazine but it has no ads. So it is a softcover book! Yet eBay does not offer Media Mail for this item -- only First Class. That is totally bogus. Screw that!
It is confusing- letters are definitely 13 oz. I thought packages were too. However I was getting first class rate on eBay and pirate ship up to 15.9999 oz. Googling it I saw both quoted (on a usps site too)- but have empirical evidence of being able to go to 15.9999 ounces.
I'll be the first to admit I did not know Magazines could not be shipped Media mail!! Great information as always!!
Great video. First time newspaper/magazine eBay seller. Thank you.
Awesome! Thank you.
This is great information. Thx for sharing.
A tip I learned from my Postal clerk for magazines, and even art work, that’s over a pound, is to use a Priority Mailing Box. You can use a 1092, 1095, or 1097 to ship the item flat. Don’t open the box just leave it flat and slide the magazine inside and tape around both ends real well. One of the first sales I made last year was a Saturday Evening Post that is quite large and weighs over a pound. I put the magazine in plastic and slid it into a plain padded envelope then slid inside the box and centered it before taping both ends with a lot of tape. It turned out very sturdy and I’ve used it a few other times. Again, this was an idea from the Post Office clerk. Hope this can help, too. Great info!
Great idea for using those boxes flat. Your experience has been that it is sturdy enough and doesn't get bent? Thanks for sharing!
@@curatorofthelost No issues have been reported thus far. By putting the magazine inside a padded envelope first, that should help protect and cushion it during the mailing process. If the Post Office should mishandle the item, there’s not a lot you can do whether it’s in a regular box or not as they can mess those up as well. I trust our clerk as she recommended this way to me. You could probably do the same thing with an eBay box if you have a smaller item you want to send that can go First Class. I’ve haven’t tried that yet due to the weights of my magazines so far. Worth a try! Thanks for the reply.
Great info. Thanks!
Great tips, thank you. Can you leave a link for where you get those thin boxes for magazines
I've sold and shipped books and magazines before, but I just sold a vintage magazine through the GSP international. I packed it securely, but I've heard that once it gets to the hub, ebay removes my packaging and sends it in theirs, which isn't always very secure.
Thank you so much! Very informative vid! I always use my 90210 Rule. I know, (from the TV show), that's California. So I'll use 90210 as my worst case scenario for shipping. LOL
great info thank you!
Is a flat rate box a good option? Or is that dependent on the zones as well?
Flat rates are zone independent. They can be good options for very heavy items that fit.
What type of mailers would you use to ship the big vintage Life Mags?
These have always been a problem to me due to size. It has kept me from getting into them before. I think the size is roughly 11x14". Amazon has some 11.24 x 14.25 x 2" boxes that would work great- cost is about $2 each though. If you go that route, just pass it along in your shipping cost and say you will mail flat in a box.
Weight can give you some alternatives. If you are shipping a single issue- see if you could ship under 16oz if you just use 2 pieces of cardboard. If so, I would just look at flat cardboard stock that was 1-2" bigger and sandwich the Life mag between 2 pieces, taping the edge. It has to be sturdy though or the PO will bend it.
If weight goes over 1lb, you will have to go Priority Mail. In that case I would look at the Priority Mail "shirt boxes" and just use them. I think there are some that are bigger than 11x14 and about 2.5-3" thick. You could mail as a box with packing, or use the sandwich trick and just tape the ends.
Hope that helps!
@@curatorofthelost Thanks! That helps a lot
What do you do about magazines that have people's name and address on them?
I just leave them (assuming it is a label). I just note it in the listing. If labels, you could try to remove them, but for the work and potential damage, I don't bother. I think buyers would prefer not to have them, but also seem to accept it ok.
I inherited literally 1000s of magazines. 90% car mags. As far back as the 70s and I have more packing supplies then my local post office. So free shipping would be the way to go right? I'm gonna try and sell by the year. Like hot rod 2015 in just 1 listing would be cool I think?
I would not go free shipping. But if you do make sure you check your costs good. Be sure to check your weights and see what will fit in flat rate or regional rates boxes.
This is a very helpful video. Thanks! Is the priority regional A box limited to where you can send it?
No- at least not in the continental US. I think the regional A is limited to 20 lbs. Great value on it once you get to 2lbs or are shipping several zones.
Thanks always informative!
Is it hard to bypass Etsy’s choices if you use a service like Pirate Ship?
Not sure about Etsy. On eBay I import directly from Pirateship and it uploads the shipping details automatically.
My magazine sales have gone crazy lately. I mostly sell cross stitch magazines and they are pretty much flying out the door right now. :)
Here in Canada if a package of magazines is under 500 grams and under 2 cm high it can go lettermail. Anything over that has to go as a package. Rates vary by final destination and yes it can be expensive. Depending on the magazine I can usually ship 1-2 magazines together lettermail.
Nice on lettermail! Mags are selling good for me right now as well- amazingly, I just sold and shipped 50 or so to Europe- someone did not mind the shipping cost there!
are most of your buyers from the US ? This will be the case for me and I'm wondering if you do a flat rate based on what is mentioned in this video, or does your shipping price vary ? Thanks !
@zzzz000 most of my buyers are in the US. However- if you do the eBay Global Ship, your shipping usually goes to a US clearing house (mine is in Kentucky). The extra overseas is handled by eBay with the buyer. So the flat rate still works since I just ship to Kentucky (for example) and eBay global shipping takes it from there.
Thanks for this excellent info. Here's a question - I'm cleaning out my storage unit, I have a few automotive specialty mags I've subscribed to for years. In one case I have 70+ issues (weighing 40.0 lb.), in another around 50 issues, in a third case around 200 issues (almost all of the mag's history). Is it better to sell these as one big lot each, or to break them into years? If it's as a lot, how do you ship 70-200 magazines?
Research them on eBay and see if they will sell by complete year. That is probably what I try first. If you do bigger lots I would think of shipping first and see how many would fit into flat rate priority boxes or at least check shipping cost for bigger lots. You don’t want shipping to crush you.
Great tips on how to save money on shipping!
I noticed those regional rate box A's have been discontinued?? :( the medium box fits perfect length- and width-wise but is way too tall at 6" (even for a magazine thats 700-800 pages!)
Unfortunately yes. They were great boxes and rates- especially for magazines. Discontinued about a year ago.
good info! thank you
I will be honest. I have sent many vintage magazines via Media Mail. It's the ADVERTISING that keeps it from qualifying for Media Mail. I figure that any ads in a vintage magazine aren't valid today, so that's my rationale. It's a historical item as opposed to a modern magazine. But, I know I'm taking a risk if the USPS ever decides to open a magazine package I send. Has that EVER happened to a seller??
I don't disagree with your rationale, but I doubt it would make a difference on age IF the post office did open it. To my knowledge, I've never had a media mail package opened- although I have had a couple of post workers be very surly and questioning of my content. For me, a bigger thing is that I would hate for my current PO guys to open it (assuming they had to for some reason) and have to flag it for extra postage- they are so awesome to me, it would crush me to put them in that position or for them to have to question what I'm shipping.
I've been dinged twice by the post office for using media mail to send 30-year-old magazines. I stood in the lobby and argued with a clerk using that same reasoning, that the magazine was ancient and the ads no longer valid. They didn't care. And I'm convinced that they've flagged my name somehow and are watching for me to try it again!
We had an incoming shipment of 1990s brand catalogs sent to us and the sender used Media Mail. It got opened and disqualified by USPS. Even though we consider them reference material because the items in these collectibles catalogs are no longer sold, they don't differentiate. We had to pay the difference for Priority at the PO before we could take them home.
I went to mail an 1894 issue of Scientific American a few years back. Was denied for media. Showed the clerk the few ads in it were only for defunct companies; didn't matter to them. Tried also to send 2 collectible stamps (value $180.) Wanted to insure but, nope! They won't insure "Paper" and told me I had to send registered mail at well over $20! By the way, they do have a deal with the American Philatelic Society to ship valuable stamps (Paper) thru the mail insured but the average citizen cannot. Used to love the USPS but with their lack of efficiency and competition they're doing all they can to prolong their existence by using every pretense to grab our money.
United States Postal Service should allow magazines Media Mail
The USPS and eBay conspire to totally rip off sellers. I have a gaming guide to sell. It LOOKS like a magazine but it has no ads. So it is a softcover book! Yet eBay does not offer Media Mail for this item -- only First Class. That is totally bogus. Screw that!
When that happens to me I go to Pirate Ship. Import and pick media mail. No issues. Try it!
@@curatorofthelostgreat advice thanks
I could be missing something, but I think First Class packages only go up to 13 ounces.
It is confusing- letters are definitely 13 oz. I thought packages were too. However I was getting first class rate on eBay and pirate ship up to 15.9999 oz. Googling it I saw both quoted (on a usps site too)- but have empirical evidence of being able to go to 15.9999 ounces.
@@curatorofthelost I never knew! Great info to have!
@@curatorofthelost I think it's part of a deal ebay has with post office that anything under 16 oz is first class if you print their shipping labels.
The best advice is ship them media mail anyway. 99.9% it won't be checked and if it does, you'll just pay the remainder cost.