Packaging Beads/Jewelry for sale???

[Marjo]

Hi everyone, I'm starting to gear up to sell some of my work, on either etsy and/or artfire.

I am curious to know how you all package and mail your beads and jewelry when you sell them, so I can write my shipping policy.

Box and bubble wrap bag? Pouch, and padding and box?

I would appreciate your answers. If there is already a thread on this subject, I'd like to see that too, I couldn't find one.

Thanks, everyone!

[GinnyHampton]

I always ship everything in boxes . . . . so, my beads are wrapped in bubblewrap, they go into a little turquoise gift box, then shipped in a cardboard shipping box.

[Tabitha]

Sorry for stating the obvious- it depends how fragile your beads are. More fragile=more packaging.

[Mermaid Glass]

Mine go in bubble wrap, then into a unique little gift box with more padding, then into a bubble mailer. Maybe overkill but better safe than sorry. If someone goes to the trouble to find my beads and buy them, they deserve good packaging.

[FlamingFrog]

If you sell a set, do you bubble wrap each bead of the set individually?

[nickandryan]

Mine are in a clear pastic bag, w/ a business card, wrapped in tissue, into a small 6 x 9 bubble envelope, then into a 10x12 bubble envelope. Out of 580 sets shipped, I have had 1 report of a broken bead. So it seems to work for me.

I think it depends on what type/style of beads- I always worry about ones with more raised dots. Might have to think about a box in those instances, it may be the way to go.

ETA: I can put 2 large sets or 3 small sets wrapped in tissue- all go into the smaller bubble mailer, then into the larger one. If it's more than that, they go into small bubble mailers and then into a small box.
Good luck! Laura

[Laura B]

Bubble wrap, box, bubble wrap, envelope.

But I'm about to switch it to bubble wrap, box, bubble wrap, box. I just need to find a good supplier for that exterior shipping box.

[chrissij]

I buy these:

http://www.firemountaingems.com/deta...p?PN=H203245TL

and cut cotton batting in little circles for above and below the beads.

I have the turquoise boxes that I purchased in the garage sale here, but I've got SO MANY of these plastic containers already and almost an entire roll of batting left.

[Marjo]

Originally Posted by Laura B

Bubble wrap, box, bubble wrap, envelope.

But I'm about to switch it to bubble wrap, box, bubble wrap, box. I just need to find a good supplier for that exterior shipping box.

I was wondering how badly the gift boxes get damaged when they are wrapped in bubble wrap and then a padded envelope.

[Carolyn M]

I wrap my sets in tissue, a layer of bubble wrap, into a hard cardboard mailer, then into a bubble mailer. They still go through the mail slot so I can send them really cheaply, and I have never had any breakage.

It's nice that people use gift boxes, but frankly when I was buying beads I didn't care, I ended up throwing most of them away.

[betsymn]

I used to send everything bubblewrapped and then put in small mailing boxes, but now the post office insists on having something larger for international shipping, so for that I've switching to bubble envelopes, and I don't like it. I like the security of the boxes.

[Sheila D.]

I haven't had much experience shipping beads(I just sold my first set last week on Etsy) but jewelry I have.I have an assortment of boxes,pillow packs and coordinating organza bags. I use pretty tissue,and coordinating organza ribbon. Papermart.com and Lion ribbon is a great place for all that stuff.When my customer gets the package they are thrilled,whether it's for themselves or someone else!
www.stonedesignsbysheila.etsy.com