posted on October 12, 2000 04:29:10 AM new
I just got a book that was wrapped with tissue, a pretty seal holding the tissue closed, AND a satin ribbon tied around the book with a thank-you card slipped under it. Unfortunately, tissue paper and ribbon are poor protection compared to cardboard
and bubblewrap .... and that's all that was inside the unpadded envelope to protect an antique book from the USPS machinery.
I would have been happier to see a recycled booze box and some bubblewrap!
posted on October 12, 2000 04:38:15 AM new
abacaxi, Was this a new seller by any chance? Maybe they do not know what type of packaging should be done and would benefit and appreciate a very kindly email on that subject. Sometimes, just because we know the right way, we assume everyone else does too. Not good to assume. I do hope your book was alright.
posted on October 12, 2000 05:11:00 AM new
Seller has FB of 300+, and sells fragile collectibles
I forgot to send her my usual packing rant, which details EXACTLY how to pack books and threatens their feedback if they don't ... I have grievously insulted a couple of sellers, but I'm getting fewer books damaged in transit.
posted on October 12, 2000 05:11:04 AM new
I'd bet it's a clueless new seller who thought she'd get rave reviews with this sort of window dressing. I would've had a heart attack myself if I'd received this sort of packaging.
Have you emailed her? It'll be interesting to see what she has to say.
posted on October 12, 2000 06:40:48 AM new
I am forever grateful that I once worked I in a camera store and learned how to professionally pack delicate equipment to survive UPS mishandlers.
When asked how to pack, I often tell people to pretend they are shipping an egg that will also melt if it gets wet.
posted on October 12, 2000 06:52:50 AM new
Keziak -
It's corner-bumped, but neither the description nor the picture indicates that it left the seller's place that way. The picture is cropped so the corners do not show, and the description says "This book is in wonderful condition, with no torn, missing, or colored on pages, and the binding is tight." ... no mention of corner damage. It's in average condition for a book of its age.
I would normally leave a negative, but I forgot to send my usual packing rant/instructions so I left a neutral.
posted on October 12, 2000 10:38:14 AM new
If the book had been wrapped like that but sent in a PADDED envelope, would that be okay?
I really want to know because that's how I usually send books (unless they're very old or very heavy, then I insist on priority mail and use the boxes). I wrap the book in two sheets of tissue paper, then one or two sheets of newspaper (which does double duty as padding and also helps in absorbing odors that may be on the book). I then put it in a bubble envelope and tape it securely closed.
posted on October 12, 2000 10:46:20 AM new
Given that description, the seller isn't familiar with bookselling terminology saying condition = "wonderful"? Give me Fine,
Near Fine, VG, whatever, but "wonderful"? So she probably doesn't know how to ship books either.
posted on October 12, 2000 10:56:22 AM new
I just got a book (not an expensive one) wrapped in newspaper and put in a brown envelope that was too large for it.
If the package got wet--the book would be ruined--it was slipping and sliding inside the envelope and there was no protection at all against bumping.
It is very unlikely the book arrived in the same condition it left---but for a $3.00 book do I get in a huff?? Yes
I don't care what somebody pays me for a book---it MUST arrive in the condition it left me---so I have to give it the same packing consideration that I would to a more expensive book.
posted on October 12, 2000 01:25:23 PM new
Do you think bubble wrap or a bubble pack envelope is good for shipping books? I've been doing this all along with no complaints. But now I'm wondering if someone wasn't happy and just never told me.
posted on October 12, 2000 01:56:46 PM new
Bill -
Does this look familiar? Might have been mine.
***********************
!!!!L@@K!!!! !!!!L@@K!!!! !!!L@@K!!!!
Please do not be insulted if none of this tirade applies to you or your
mailing practices, but there are some sellers with really bad packing habits
and I have no way of knowing what you consider "good packing" until I
see the book. Often it is too late.
I am tired of sellers shipping scarce books with less care than they would a McDonald's Happy Meal toy, then saying "Gee, I've mailed XXX books and no one has ever had a damaged book before" and expecting me to believe it. Think of the number of dented, gouged, and smashed parcels you recieve ...
don't think yours will have a magical shield defending them.
I am mostly buying books for a research project, and I plan to resell the books at the end of the project. If they are damaged in transit, it means I can't resell as easily or profitably.
I unpack books with the feedback page open, and there are three possible outcomes. As described, well packed = POSITIVE. Not as described OR damage in transit that was preventable by proper packing = NEGATIVE
As described but inadequately packed = NEUTRAL that specifically mentions surviving bad packing. Please protect my investment and your feedback rating.
!!!!L@@K!!!! BOOKS ARE NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE !!!!!L@@K!!!!
I became one of those pushy buyers that tells sellers how to pack my books after I received several that were VERY poorly packed. One went from "mint" to battered because the seller shipped it inside a priority envelope with no protection, and another from FINE to not-so-fine because it was not padded inside its box and pounded against the inside of a Priority box for 2500 miles.
A bubble envelope BY ITSELF is inadequate protection ... the corners of the book can still get smashed in transit. If you can feel the corners of the book, it's not protected. Needless to say, Manila, TYVEK, Priority envelopes, or a brown paper wrapper are lousy protection too.
I can properly pack a book for less than $.050 (average cost, all new materials) so there is no excuse for sending an fragile, elderly book out with inadequate protection.
1. Wrap book in plastic and tape shut for moisture protection.
Plastic bag from the supermarket is OK as long as it's clean and sealed SNUGLY around the pages.
2. Pad the book with several layers of bubblewrap or corrugated cardboard ... again snugly taping around the book to prevent the pages from being able to move and break away from the spine and covers.
Make sure the corners of the cover are protected against bumps that can smash them under. A strip cut from a supermarket box and folded around the book is adequate, if it is wider than the book and the book can't slip out.
3. Tape an "inside address" to the packet. If anything happens to the outer one, this can save the book from being lost
4. Put it into the box or envelope and put the outside address on it.
If you use a box, make sure the book can't rattle around in the box by stuffing foam peanuts, more bubblewrap, or even crumpled newspaper around it. Paper mashes down easily, so shake the box HARD before you seal it and if you hear the book moving around, add more paper.
http://www92.pair.com/soufla/packingtips.htm explains a cheap, sturdy packing method that eliminates the need for the box or envelope for most
books. It is worth looking into if you sell many books.
posted on October 12, 2000 02:14:59 PM new
This is great info for us "book selling novices". I've only sold a few books up to now, but in my quest for decluttering my home, I've been looking at the bookshelves.
posted on October 12, 2000 03:06:01 PM new
Abacaxi, WOW!! Here is another Thank You for posting that link. We just learned a wealth of information from it....It is well worth everyones time to take a look and read through it. Thanks much!!
posted on October 12, 2000 03:12:21 PM new
Capotasto -
The difference between a-flute and b-flute cardboard? A-flute makes a higher pitch noise than b-flute if you blow through the holes
It's the difference in the size of the corrugations ... either one works well.
**********
I got an email from the seller. It never occured to her that a book could be fragile, and I was the first to let her know that the method she used was risky.
posted on October 12, 2000 03:23:42 PM new
Great tips on packing books. Although I completely understand the frustration of receiving a damaged item, I can't help feeling bad for a seller who at least attempted such obvious care with their packaging. Please pass the tips along to this seller if you haven't already.
posted on October 12, 2000 03:35:25 PM new
I recently received a heavy box containing 7 of the 9 books that should have arrived on a 230.00 purchase, appears as though someone helped themselves to two of them on there way to me!! These were sent from NY to Calif book rate, the books were all from late 1800's & early 1900's. The person who packed them did a pathetic job (books is all they sell too!) The box was not packed well AT ALL the books flip flopped around breaking down the bindings even more!! Huge holes ended up on the box, allowing the world to view it's contents, and then to top it off they used grey duct tape ~ that did not hold well either!!! GRRRRRRRR Still wondering what some sellers use for brains when packing items that have a long way to go!!
[ edited by getkicksonrte66 on Oct 12, 2000 03:36 PM ]
posted on October 12, 2000 03:42:05 PM new
Is using a used pizza box with ants a proper way to pack books? It is my understanding that cheese is very similar to bubble wrap while the ants serve the same purpose as packing peanuts. Please advise.
posted on October 12, 2000 09:29:54 PM new
Thanks for the info. I sell a lot of books, mostly paperbacks, nothing valuable. I mail in well padded envelopes. I live in Southern California and never think about wet packages. We can always learn something new but you might want to tone down that message. I'm wondering if I would've been turned off if I received that. You can probably say the samething a little more friendly.
posted on October 12, 2000 10:51:45 PM new
Wrapped in tissue paper with a pretty seal and a satin ribbon with a thank you note tucked in....and you gave this seller a neutral !!!!
Ok so it was not up to your standards, but this seller sounds like she went out of her way to do a nice thing for her customer. Lighten up will you, some people try their best & you couldn't see that. Sounds like the book made it in fine shape. You were very unfair with your neutral.
As for your "rant after auction letter" it's too long, you should remove about 90 % of it. Just give the packing instructions & leave out all that other sarcasm. You are acting like a know it all and treating the seller like an idiot.
posted on October 12, 2000 11:38:43 PM new
If someone sent me an antique book wrapped in tissue paper and a satin ribbon---I would say they were a very nice idiot---but an idiot none the less.
Topdog12---you just jinxed yourself. You going end up with a slew of damaged packages coming and going---knock on wood and spit in the wind----you might be able to save yourself.
posted on October 13, 2000 02:04:41 AM new
I have to say .... if the seller went to the trouble of wrapping the book so nicely, she(?) probably didn't realize that the book needed additional protection.
It really sounds like her intentions were good, but she just didn't know how to package well. I also think a neutral was a bit heavy-handed. She may sell fragile items, but compared to glass or porcelain (etc.), a book probably didn't seem nearly as fragile to her, relatively speaking.
After all, if she was willing to take the time to make it "pretty", she probably would have taken the time to package it correctly, had she known.
Some people just aren't "naturals" when it comes to packaging. They need a bit of guidance. Immediately leaving a neutral/negative and/or ranting isn't constructive criticism, IMO.
Did you ask for a refund, either full or partial? I personally would've done that first, before filing an official feedback comment. She may have made a mistake, but she might have been willing to correct it if given the chance.
(edited 'cuz criticism has a C in the middle of it, not an S)
[ edited by thedewey on Oct 13, 2000 02:06 AM ]
posted on October 13, 2000 05:27:13 AM new
Hello,
I ususally just lurk these threads and learn from you fabulous masters **grin**.
But I too agree that a neutral was too harsh for this obviously thoughtful seller.
I emailed her to give her a "chin up" and encourage her to keep on keeping on...
YES! She IS a wonderful thoughtful seller and was in tears over this neutral. Her comment was that she had no idea and would have gladly refunded in full if she only had known about it.
As a seller I would hope that all my "unhappy bidders" would email me first BEFORE posting neutral or negative feedback.
AS I too want happy customers and am willing to learn from my mistakes.
A very wise man once said " do unto others what you would like done to you".
A very good rule to live by here on ebay.
Overall I love it here on ebay and all the great people I meet and thanks for this thread as it does give us great information on shipping books and it also allowed me to meet the WONDERFUL seller who shipped this book with much thought for her bidder (yes, she has learned how to ship books now)- but it was to high a price in my own humble opinion,
Blessings from the Wheatfields of Kansas,
Janet
[ edited by lanetzliving on Oct 13, 2000 05:28 AM ]
posted on October 13, 2000 05:41:09 AM new
topdog -
Pretty is as pretty does, and pretty does not protect a scarce book from anything. I tried polite "please pack them well" messages, and was getting nowhere. So I turned up the rant factor. The scorecard on the packing rant is: Two grievously offended that I would impugn their packing methods, and mostly sympathetic "we must have bought from the same idiots" messages. But I have never recieved a damged book from a seller eho got the rant. And that's the point - preventing damage.
I have even given negatives without asking for a refund ... I don't let sellers cover up serious errors with money. Major discrepancies between description and product (like the book that was DUCT-TAPED together with no mention in the description), or preventable shipping damage get an immediate negative.
Bill -
"I considered putting the stamp and address label onto the book itself without any wraping at all."
I do that if they grip about postage. Just tape the book shut and slap on an address sticker.
