Dear all,

Reaching out to get your expert insights. I am looking at selling a number of boxed sets, some of them quite long boxes (i.e. Quest for the Dungeon Master, Dungeon!, Dragon Strike), what is the best option to selling these? (i.e. USPS, UPS, FedEx), and typically in what types of boxes do you ship them in? I want to give the ebay buyers a good estimation of cost, but also want to package these items appropriately so they reach their destination in the same condition.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance.

Kind Regards,
Jorge

As BenJoshua has stated especially with filling out the box with bubble wrap or similar to keep it as rigid as possible. Especially important if you have Dice or Minis in the Box Set since they can easily do damage to the other contents. Wrap them babies up in some bubble wrap or the like - you might even want to take them out of the game box and put them in the shipping box outside of the game box.

Making a Frankenbox can be worthwhile and there are videos on Youtube on how to do that. Keep in mind that you want the shipping container to be bigger than the game box by 2-3 inches on each side in case the shipping container gets bashed in.

I agree that Priority Mail from USPS will most likely be your best bet, but you're not out anything to check all of the major shippers using their online shipping calculators to be certain. When you use Priority, usually you will pay significantly less by NOT using their Flat Rates.

A couple of things that I would add.

If the Booklets don't fit snugly in the box, I would bag and board them (like comic books). Magazine size works well for D&D Rule Books and Modules. it's very important that nothing inside the shipping container can move around and get momentum when dropped or kicked around by the Carrier.

I like to get some plastic around anything that is paper or cardboard to protect it from humidity. So put a cheap or free CLEAN plastic bag around the Game Box, even a clean Grocery bag is better than nothing.

A great example of shipping something similar to a board game is how Dvd Players, VCRs, or other electronics are packaged in their original boxes. The item is in plastic and then they use those foam or cardboard corner pieces to hold the item in the absolute center of its box. I've made those out of thick cardboard before and then you aren't dealing with a bunch of peanuts or bubble wrap that could transfer a hard compression on the shipping container to the contents inside. Peanuts, wadded up paper, etc are also notorious for settling while in transit. It'll seem like it was packed tight when it left you but after traveling a 1000 miles, the game box has shifted and is kind of riding loose inside.

Hope these comments help, good luck

Thanks everyone for your insights, it is extremely helpful.

Kind Regards,
Jorge

carrejo wrote in Shipping of boxed sets:Dear all,

Reaching out to get your expert insights. I am looking at selling a number of boxed sets, some of them quite long boxes (i.e. Quest for the Dungeon Master, Dungeon!, Dragon Strike), what is the best option to selling these? (i.e. USPS, UPS, FedEx), and typically in what types of boxes do you ship them in? I want to give the ebay buyers a good estimation of cost, but also want to package these items appropriately so they reach their destination in the same condition.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance.

Kind Regards,
Jorge

I use USPS because they have a pretty good arrangement with eBay and PayPal, and of course the local  post office is located a lot closer to me than the local UPS or (don't do) FedEx. In addition to what the others have said---going-box-in-a-box if you can. heavy duty yet sensible bubble wrap---I also recommend (for your Basic D&D sized set) putting a double-layer of bubble wrap between the inside of the the game box and the game box top, but not so much it impairs proper closure of the box. Placing dice or other small possibly damage-causing items in simple sealable sandwich bags makes a big difference (if you have schoolkids, get a jumbo size pack of sandwich bags so kids' lunches and your items are fully covered.)   Whenever you can, use Priority Mail (whether regular, Flat Rate Box or Regional Rate Box depending on which is most cost effective). Avoid Media Mail as much as possible for sets, because you're going to wind up scrambling around for a suitable box, adding even more packaging to reinforce the item, and simply not having the peace of mind you will have with Priority Mail which comes with insurance coverage ($50 normally, $100 through eBay). I don't sell many of the larger boxes, but the same principles regarding loose objects and Media Mail vulnerability apply. No matter what, make sure your item is well-secured and  well-taped (get your tape at discount outlets whenever possible, because you will go through a lot and no-name tape is almost as good as the far more expensive Scotch or 3M). Use pre-printed shipping labels whenever possible to ensure delivery accuracy. Most of all, make sure you have tracking on them! Covering your butt is half the battle, especially if you are not yet acquainted with new customers.

---Pauly

For rectangular board game type items, I go to the post office and grab 2 of the free priority mail medium-sized boxes (about 13.5x12x3).  NOT THE FLATE RATE ONES!  I then use them to make an adjustable long, board game sized container.  Place game into one box (game is too long to entirely fit), then place the second box over the end of the game that is sticking out and bring the openings of the two shipping boxes together until combined they are the right length for your game.  Being that the shipping boxes are the same size, they don't overlap perfectly, and sometimes one of the shipping box's edges splits a little as they overlap, but I package tape the seam where they meet and any other seams anyway.  Of course, I make sure the shipping boxes have adequate packing materials around the game before I slide them together and pad the inside of the game, too, as others said.  It works really well, because it is difficult to find boxes that are the right dimension for board games.  Plus they are free!  Games that are wider won't work, but the typical monopoly sized games usually fit.  I don't tape it shut until it's sold, but I get it together, weigh it, add an ounce or two for tape and shipping label, and use the buyer's address to let them know what the cost would be for priority at that weight to that location.  If I don't know the address because I don't know who will buy it, I just say 'shipping is priority at cost depending on destination; let me know your address if you win/purchase'.