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If you've ever received something broken in the mail, you know the importance of good packing. When selling on eBay, afford your buyers the same courtesy you'd want yourself. Pack well. Don't forget to save all the good packing material you get from your online orders; it will serve you in the future.

Here is a quick overview of common types of packing material, and what is most appropriate for certain kinds of items.

Bubble wrap/Styrofoam wrap: This is one of the best choices, if you can afford it. Save all the bubble wrap you get and re-use it. But please don't roll something up in single a 20 foot long sheet; that's just annoying. Layer it! How much wrapping paper would you use if this were a present? Use about that much bubble wrap for each layer. Bubble wrap is a great way to make sure books don't get their corners dinged, and it's nice for fragile items as well. However, for very delicate knick-knacks, don't leave it loose in the box. Include more solid packing to make sure it doesn't bang around; bubble wrap might not be enough to protect it from hairline fractures.

Styrofoam packing: Nothing's better than those big, solid pieces that fit snugly over the item. If you're lucky enough to have some that fit, these are fantastic. They hold the item firmly in place in the box. Make sure they fit properly, though! These are best for electronics and other things that shouldn't be shaken.

Air pillows: Amazon.com uses these religiously, and they're an excellent safeguard against box crushing and items knocking around. Save these and stuff them wherever you have an empty space in your box. They work for pretty much anything, and seem to hold up under pressure.

Styrofoam peanuts: These provide extra padding to fill up the box, but they're not enough on their own. Even paired with bubble wrap, peanuts aren't strong enough under pressure. If your box gets crushed in transit, the peanuts will do very little to prevent damage. Unlike solid Styrofoam, they don't provide any structural support for the box. If you're shipping anything heavy, peanuts are a particularly bad idea. Plus, nobody likes to have them scattered all over the carpet.

Newspaper: This is a better padding option than peanuts. Unlike peanuts, it's not messy and it won't get scattered all over the floor. It doesn't provide much more support, but if you pack it tightly, it makes a nice second padding. You generally don't want to place it directly against the item, as the ink will probably rub off.

Shredded newspaper: Just say no. It's useless, it's messy, and it doesn't mix well with electronics or anything it could get tangled up in. Crunch your newspaper by hand, or don't use it at all.

Once you've chosen your packing material, get a box. Liquor boxes are well known to be some of the strongest in the world, but the U.S.P.S. won't take them. If you are able to completely obliterate all markings, they will probably ship fine, but don't take this risk with eBay. Instead, get boxes from a grocery store or paper supply store. They can be just as strong and aren't illegal to ship.

Reinforce all the seams of the box with packing tape, just to be safe, and make sure that the address won't bleed in the rain. You never know what kind of weather your poor little box will have to endure.

You're all set! Send the item off to the buyer with your blessing, and soon it will have a new home.

Learn more about this author, Liz McD.
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