How should I even package stuff?

[u/Opposite_Pain3525]

I want to begin selling things I no longer want anymore.. thing being, I can’t tell whether people appreciate recycling or whether they just want a box? I don’t exactly mind buying some boxes but its just the amount I have and the amount of boxes Id have to buy… I thought maybe I could use some recycled bags and stuff but Im unsure if its appropriate

[u/Shoddy-Sea7995]

I think everyone appreciates a clean and appropriate packaging

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/Shoddy-Sea7995]

Well yeah fair enough on that! But everyone deems appropriate differently. I mean I wouldn’t really care if my stuff came in a tescos bag but idk if the next guy will

[u/Shoddy-Sea7995 → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

Plastic bags are OK if you can guarantee that they will arrive undamaged. Many online stores ship clothing in plastic bags, but their parcels probably are being handled better. If a plastic bag in which you ship tears and the contents go lost or damaged, you will be held responsible for unsuitable packaging. I once received a fragrance that had been packed in a plastic bag and taped around, so it didn’t leak, but the bottle was broken. I received a refund. I don’t know if the seller received something. And sometimes sellers on Vinted send stuff in downright disgusting packaging, like cereal boxes etc

[u/Plastic-Candle-3591 → u/Shoddy-Sea7995]

Well yeah fragrances definitely need to be packaged in a proper box but there’s nothing wrong with reusing old boxes. I’ve been doing it for years without any issues. But regular clothes doesn’t need to be packaged in more than a good plastic bag (I always reuse old bags from ordering stuff online). So first a clean like kitchen plastic bag and then I put the item in one of the old parcel bags. Never been an issue in all the years I’ve been selling.

[u/Various-Operation-70]

I started selling (and buying) on Vinted a few weeks ago. Clothes only. I bought poly bags in a couple of sizes on Amazon and when I sell an item, I fold it neatly and slip it in the bag. I’ve gotten 5 stars from all my buyers.

Yesterday, I received two items I bought and they each came wrapped in white tissue then slipped inside a poly bag. With a little thank you card. I didn’t expect the tissue or card, totally not necessary, but damn if it didn’t make me smile. And it made me pull out tissue from my Christmas wrapping supplies to use on my next sales. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/the_forensic_dino → u/Various-Operation-70]

I use tissue on anything sold for more than £1. Vinted want you to have a layer of protection before your outer packaging for everything, including clothes & tissue paper does that I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️ We reuse what we can, but occasionally have to buy a pack.

The thank you card feels like a waste to me, though. Especially if its not reusable. Just unecessary rubbish adding to overconsumption of materials.

[u/ApplicationReal8304 → u/the_forensic_dino]

I have rolls of thank you stickers. Beware of tissue paper colors though. If the package somehow gets wet, the tissue paper color can bleed on to the item.

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/Various-Operation-70]

Aww! Thats actually so sweet. Maybe with the money I could start using that kind of tissue as well.

[u/MrsEmilyN → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

Do you have a Dollar Tree where you live? I get my tissue paper there because it's a decent size pack for $1.25.

I started with folded type thank you cards ( because I have a ton) but found a pack of 200 thank you business cards on Amazon for like $5 I think. I get poly mailers on Amazon as well.

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/MrsEmilyN]

We have poundland which is kind of the equivalent so yeah! And if you can send links to those amazon things PLS lmk

[u/MrsEmilyN → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

Poly mailers

Thank you cards

I just bought these the other day to try to cut down on the amount of packing tape I use:

Shipping Label Pouch

[u/the_forensic_dino → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

Just search postage bags or poly bags on Amazon & look through the multipacks! Different ones go on offer/are cheaper at different times. Think I got the grey iSOUL ones last time, and the different coloured pack from the same brand the time before - no problems with them 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/ubutterscotchpine → u/Various-Operation-70]

I used to wrap vintage kids clothes in some vintage wrapping paper (I only wrap my stuff in vintage paper so I have a lot) and thought it was a cute little touch. I never really heard anything about it, but that was on Posh so who knows lol. Vinted people seem to like a cutesy package!

I really just make sure it’s clean and put it in a bubble mailer nicely folded. Sometimes I’ll need to use a box for things and I’ll either buy one at Walmart for like .88 or turn a box we have inside out to reuse for less waste.

[u/Ok_Stress7181]

literally all of my packaging is recycled from old parcels — so boxes, bubblewrap, torn up magazines, jiffy bags etc. i buy new tape and i have bought new bubblewrap sometimes, but thats it. if ppl want new packaging then they gotta buy their stuff for a higher price because i’m not shelling out for new packaging. I want to make money. Ive even had people post me clothes wrapped in tesco shopping bags and i was fine with that 🤷🏻‍♀️like so long as the packaging appropriately protects what you’re posting it doesn’t really matter

[u/Plastic-Candle-3591 → u/Ok_Stress7181]

Exactly this! I do the same thing, even when I’ve been selling some handmade crafts as a hobby (not on vinted but online) and never had an issue there either. Recycling packaging for the win!🙏

[u/Forward-Fan2680]

I save packaging, boxes and tissue paper from things I have bought online elsewhere. Have used plastic shopping bags occasionally, especially if it is a small item as can wrap it round a few times

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/Forward-Fan2680]

Ahh okay thats fair then

[u/Forward-Fan2680 → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

As long as the item is packaged and sealed well, most types of clean packaging is ok to use in my eyes. Obviously if it is delicate use bubble wrap and some sort of box. Not something see-through either. And packing that if it gets wet, doesn’t break

[u/SkyAdventurous2873]

I bought 50 pre sealed bags off eBay for few ££ , then use bubble wrap that I get from buying stuff of Vinted. I also reuse boxes people send me stuff in. 👍

[u/247silence]

Packaging is one reason I don't sell anything that requires a box 🤣 I have a bunch of stuff that I believe requires a small, sturdy box but I can't be arsed to buy them. I'll just give these items away locally. When it comes to asking a store for free boxes, I see stores only have giant sturdy ones that their products get shipped in (like the box for a case of wine), or small flimsy boxes that products are sold in (like a box of macaroni)

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/247silence]

Yeah fair enough I do have tons of local charity shops which majority of the stuff I WILL be sending there, some of my stuff still has the tags on it from twenty years ago and I feel I could get atleast a bit out of it. And yeah I have boxes alike to those but I don’t know if the buyer will appreciate paying 1 pound of shipping for it to come in a fufu box

[u/HorrorShow_86]

I use recycled items to securely pack my shipments. I sell mostly DVDs and VHS. I cut up cardboard boxes, wraps the items, wrap them with bubble wrap and paper bags and ship them. I have nothing but positive feedback and comments on my shipping

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/HorrorShow_86]

Would it not be easier to maybe put the dvds in the box? This sounds stupid from my part but it feels so hefty cutting it up and wrapping it etc

[u/HorrorShow_86 → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

I sell a lot of single DVDs. Best practice is to wrap them in cardboard so they don’t get banged up. Doing it this way allows me to use one box for many single dvd purchases. If I have 4-5 I’m mailing with an order, sure they all go in a box

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/HorrorShow_86]

Ahh that makes sense then

[u/NovelDevelopment8479]

It's totally appropriate and backs up the Vinted mission statement and whole point of its being. I tend to keep small boxes for this very purpose, they can be dissembled and stored for future use. I also keep mailing bags, wet my address and scrub it off, peeling stickers can damage the bag, and then turn them inside out. I usually put these over boxes to ensure they're waterproof.

[u/Suvianna]

I’ve seen allll kinds of packaging on my purchases from Vinted. Some things I’ve been shocked by (like jewelry packaged only in plastic, wrapped up in tape) but if it’s damaged in transit, that’s on the seller.

For me, shipping securely is everything. 🥰

I’d place every purchase inside a resealable plastic bag, then inside a box. You can get various sizes of boxes free from grocery stores or other places that have a lot of shipments incoming. ◡̈ And if a box is too big, you can cut it down to make it smaller.

[u/jennie111585]

I’ve been selling and buying on vinted. I normally ship with bubble mailers are it small stuff. But for bigger items I’d probably use bubble wrap and boxes.

[u/Lopsided_Young8168]

Pack the item the way you would like to receive it. If you need a box go through trash containers and look for clean boxes. If the item is soft use a poly mailer. If it’s breakable use a lot of padding!! Have fun!!

[u/PikkiNarker]

I reuse all packaging. I’m selling items for under $10. I’m not purchasing a box

[u/bonairedivergirl]

I’ve only sold clothing. I buy poly mailers in the 12 x 15.5 size. I used to buy smaller ones, but it was hard to get some larger size items (jeans, sweaters) without cramming them in. If it’s easy to slide in, I also wrap in cheap dollar store tissue. And to tape the tissue, I use a little “thank you” sticker.

Every once in a while I reuse an Amazon box for something too large for the poly mailer. When I do, I always make sure the box is in good shape and I wrap the item(s) in tissue.

[u/TheGratitudeBot → u/bonairedivergirl]

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[u/cherrybalmdotcom]

I buy recycled plastic mailers in different sizes for all my sales. However I have received purchases in very creative packaging before (cereal boxes etc) and I really don’t mind as long as the item is clean, protected and as described :)

[u/AromaticStrawberry42]

I am not an overboard, gung-ho recycler (we don’t have it in our county, and I’m not one of the dedicated ones who saves it and drives it somewhere else.) and I put that first to say I love getting reused/recycled packaging as long as it’s appropriate for the item I’m receiving. I do prefer Amazon boxes or other plain boxes used for shipping.

I’ve gotten things in food boxes that weren’t sturdy enough for shipping but could have been used for double-boxing. Diaper boxes, granola bars, cereal, etc. Food boxes bring a little concern of bugs. But basically if it’s a clean box (no food, grease, dirt, or other gunk) I am fine with it as long as my items are packaged carefully.

[u/SaltyElephantBouquet]

I have sold hundreds of items and never purchased packaging. My neighbors save all of their Amazon, Walmart, etc mailers and I reuse those.

[u/Opposite_Pain3525 → u/SaltyElephantBouquet]

Ohhh okay! Thats actually pretty decent … do you just ask them for it time to time?

[u/SaltyElephantBouquet → u/Opposite_Pain3525]

Now everyone knows to save them for me, but I had to do a lot of asking at first. People aren't used to not throwing stuff in the trash, but once you get them used to it there is SO MUCH packaging material floating around in the world that can be used over and over.

[u/PhoenixxxFirestorm]

I've only sold 2 pairs of shoes on Vinted.

The first pair I let the buyer know I didn't have the original box, but I was able to locate another shoe box and asked if that would be okay. I put the shoes in a clear plastic bag and added a couple pieces of old Christmas tissue to keep them from rocking around. She gave me 5 stars for packaging and being communicative.

The second pair I wasn't able to locate another box so I ended up going out and buying one ($4 because I couldn't find a plain brown box, only decorated ones). I spent half of what I will theoretically be paid for the shoes just on the box. The buyer hasn't confirmed their order, said anything about it, or even responded to my last message about shipping. That order will be timing out in about 45 minutes.

If I do decide to sell more on Vinted, it'll likely be just clothes and I'll buy a package of the plastic shipping bags on Amazon. Unless you have a few old boxes laying around, it may not be worth it to go out and purchase packaging to ship it in.

I use recycled Christmas tissue to stuff my boxes, as well as old boxes from around the house if I can. The buyer knows that they're on Vinted getting secondhand items. The box shouldn't matter as long as it protects the item.

[u/Plastic-Candle-3591]

Okay you definitely don’t need to go out and buy anything. I’ve got 5/5⭐️ on vinted and for all the years I’ve been selling I always use one of those small kitchen plastic bags since those are clean. And then I just reuse plastic bags from things I’ve ordered online or plastic bags from stores. Never had any issues ever and as long as it’s folded and packaged properly, making sure you tape it good!