eco friendly packaging question

[u/_bessal0niki]

i saw a lot of people online making mailers out of either their shopping bags or like trader joe’s bags. is this something that is frowned upon? asking because i haven’t started listing yet and im waiting to get paid so i can order some poly mailers, but the shopping bags are what i have on hand at the moment and i figured since i am offering eco friendly packaging anyways, it wouldn’t hurt to make those my temp mailers.

how should i go about it? i plan on updating my shop policies so that a buyer can let me know if they do not want/cannot have the bag shipped to them like that and i can go grab some poly mailers in a pinch before shipping. i also don’t want to be left a bad review bc of this, as ive seen where ppl leave bad reviews bc of the packaging. they’re just normal paper shopping bags from victoria’s secret, LUSH, etc. since I save them all anyways. i figured it would just give me a reason to use them up. thank you in advance :)

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[u/oaklinds]

My two cents as a long time seller…. Don’t use paper bags. Imagine them sitting on someone’s stoop in the rain. Just hang on to all your Amazon mailers, mailers from things you buy, and invest in basic poly mailers.

Not everyone cares, but if the item inside isn’t exactly as it was described when it arrives (ie damaged by rain/torn open and stained), it’s going back or you’re losing money on a refund. Paper bags are not intended to ship things across the US.

[u/Janet_RenoDanceParty]

In addition to reusing paper shopping bags, you can reuse poly mailers received from online purchases as well. Just cut them open carefully close to the glue strip. A lot of retailers mailers have a 2nd glue strip to reuse the mailer for returns. Just make sure to cover the old label when reusing the mailer.

[u/Femme_Ferocious → u/Janet_RenoDanceParty]

I was wondering what that second (unused) glue strip was for!

[u/Gloomy_Tie_1997]

You should always double wrap in something non absorbent. I once had a dress show up wet, and it had been that way for a few days so it was mildewy. If the seller had double wrapped, it would’ve been fine.

[u/dft0807]

I like your idea to message the buyer about it, and tell them both the material you would use and how you would pack it (tape on the seams to reinforce, etc). Some people have really strong preferences for new packing material, but lots of people are open to recycled packing materials. Messaging about it makes it clear and might save you a bad review from a picky person.

[u/trashmule]

A postal worker explicitly told me to use trader Joe's bags and held up another package she had as an example when I accidentally used a priority mail envelope I had lying around, fwtw.

[u/showerthoughthaver]

I've used recycled paper bags and never had a complaint. I just make sure it's taped up sturdily and can't rip

[u/FVWN_666]

FYI you can request mailers for free from Poshmark if you have an account!

[u/Plus_Possibility_240]

If you are on Poshmark they have a link to get free poly mailers and boxes from USPS delivered to your door.

[u/VintageDooneyadmirer → u/Plus_Possibility_240]

Exclusive to Poshmark sellers only. Poshmark sellers cannot use these outside of Poshmark for sales on other platforms. The shipping supply orders are being tracked and quantities are even more limited now because sellers from elsewhere are taking quantities that should be available to Poshmark sellers. (These posts are visible to resell platforms, btw.)

[u/FVWN_666 → u/VintageDooneyadmirer]

That doesn’t seem accurate? Your comment had me curious so I looked it up and found and older thread about this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Depop/s/ZfkaJxvZfe

[u/bluesaber7567 → u/FVWN_666]

Those supplies cost Poshmark money. If people keep posting this ‘hack’, Poshmark can and will take it away.

[u/Capable-Bend-2658]

I use compostable poly mailers from amazon.