Tips for selling/shipping effects pedals?

[JonathanPDX]

I'm cleaning house and trying to downsize my gig rig, experimenting with replacing my big bulky pedalboard with an HX Effects unit. So, as a result I have a lot of pedals that need new homes and there doesn't seem to be much of a local market for mid-to-high-end stompboxes.

So, can anyone walk me through the best way to package/ship pedals? Talk to me like an idiot, because I haven't shipped out any gear in at least a decade. I don't know if there are standard box sizes at the USPS, or if I should get a roll of bubble wrap from Amazon, or even what the normal rates are for your average pedal.

Thanks in advance, if I can figure out a system I might just post a big 'ol sale later this summer!

 

[Lobster11]

I'm cleaning house and trying to downsize my gig rig, experimenting with replacing my big bulky pedalboard with an HX Effects unit. So, as a result I have a lot of pedals that need new homes and there doesn't seem to be much of a local market for mid-to-high-end stompboxes.

So, can anyone walk me through the best way to package/ship pedals? Talk to me like an idiot, because I haven't shipped out any gear in at least a decade. I don't know if there are standard box sizes at the USPS, or if I should get a roll of bubble wrap from Amazon, or even what the normal rates are for your average pedal.

Thanks in advance, if I can figure out a system I might just post a big 'ol sale later this summer!

Subscribed. Have the same problem and same questions/concerns....

 

[76jazzbass]

USPS padded flat rate envelope. Make sure pedal doesn't rattle around in small box, use bubble wrap. Add layer of bubble wrap around outside box and tape, then stuff in padded envelope. Cheapest and safe, more so than someone putting a pedal in a bigger box and it bouncing around inside.
If local post office doesn't have them you can order these for free from USPS and they will deliver.

 

[40Hz]

It's easy to overthink domestic shipping. But there are two easy ways of doing it that work well.

Method 1: Save small boxes you receive when someone ships something to you and recycle them.

First remove as best you can any shipping labels that are already on the box. This is important because all shipping services make extensive use of scanners. So it's essential that no bar codes or address infromation from the original shipment can be accidentally scanned when you ship something. If you can't peel off enough of the label(s), then get a heavy-duty Sharpie pen and completely color the information over so the barcode can't be scanned. Or completely cover the original shipping label with your own. But either way make sure nothing is visible to a scanner but the address information you're shipping to.

Wrap your pedal in bubblewrap (you can recycle that too from stuff you receive) so it fits snugly inside the box and seal it with Scotch Packaging Tape. Once the box is sealed, give it a shake. You shouldn't feel anything sliding around inside the box. If you can feel it moving around, you need to add more packing material. Just don't go overboard. If there's too much packing material inside the box it increases the risk of the box popping open or bursting if it's jostled while in transit - which it will be. So use enough bubblewrap or other packing material to get a snug fit. But don't pack it so tightly that the box feels like it's pressurized. Too much is almost as bad as too little. So just use common sense.

Method 2: Use bubblewrap and a padded mailing envelope.

This is best used for more sturdily built pedals like those from BOSS or MXR IMO. With something like that you can just wrap the pedal securely in bubblewrap and then stuff it into a USPS flat-rate padded shipping bag. I don't like to ship pedals that way myself. But I have received pedals sent to me that way and so far (knock wood) they've all arrived none the worse for it.


For shipping I use USPS for pedals most times although I'll occasionally ship via Fedex. I've been happy with both for the most part. USPS is slightly cheaper. Fedex costs more but has better tracking so I'll use them when I'm shipping bigger ticket items.

Note: Do not ship anything with batteries installed. There are regulations about shipping batteries and devices with batteries installed. Rather than get yourself caught up in all that, it's much easier to just remove any batteries before you pack your pedal up. I doubt anybody buying a used pedal is expecting batteries to come with it anyway.​

 

[76jazzbass]

I always use box inside the padded envelope. If you are shipping across the country and the box fits inside, it's usually cheaper. You can save a couple bucks and all you have to do is put it inside a free envelope. Also you don't have to write directly on the box.

 

[cosmicevan]

Seems to me that the pedal market is pretty on fire since the pandemic started...so finding buyers will not be a problem unless you get greedy and try to squeeze max dollars. If you price your stuff competitively it will sell...if you price it slightly below market, it will sell instantly.

As for shipping, pedals are pretty sturdy. Put it in a box. You pay shipping based on size of the box and weight...so find a box that’s pretty close to. The size of what you are shipping. As folks said, better if it isn’t shaking around but like I said...most are pretty sturdy so not a big deal. If you wrap it in a paper bag that should be ample protection.

curious what your sale list looks like

 

[4Mal]

Tip number One. Pay up the $20 and become a supporting member. Then start placing ads in the GFS. If you are priced correctly, pedals will sell.

... and yeah, PDX Craigslist is a bit of a dystopian scam land these days. Too bad, it used to be good.

 

[JonathanPDX]

It's easy to overthink domestic shipping. But there are two easy ways of doing it that work well.

Method 1: Save small boxes you receive when someone ships something to you and recycle them.

Method 2: Use bubblewrap and a padded mailing envelope.
​

Thanks for the advice! Any advice on where to find appropriately-sized boxes? Just last spring I finally threw out all the old boxes I was saving just in case I had to ship small items!

As for shipping cost, is it reasonable to just tag $10/pedal to the cost for shipping and materials?

 

[Kendescending]

I wrap the pedal in cardboard that is cut to size (to protect the controls (if I don't have the original box)) and then put it in a USPS padded mailer. USPS loves these as they fit inside a standard sized mailbox or inside the screen door at a house and are easy for them to carry. They are then out of sight from the porch pirates. Start a USPS online account and you can print the labels at home and drop them off at any post office without having to wait in line. Make sure you insure the pedals.

 

[thebreakman]

DO NOT use a padded envelope. Use a box and using proper packing material. Nothing will make me madder than receiving a pedal in an envelope. DOnt care how well its wrapped in bubbles.

 

[brianrost]

I use the USPS 2-day Priority Flat Rate boxes for most stuff. The small is too small for pedals while medium is more than you need for a single pedal. That's why people are recommending the padded envelopes which cost the same as the small box, $8.55. If shipping more than one, medium will hold 2 or 3 pedals easily, even more if they are minis. Flat Rate makes calculating your price for the buyer easy...it's the same no matter where it's going or how heavy it is. However, using your own box can be cheaper in some cases, so it's worth using the online price calculator. You can get the boxes free at the post office or have your mailman deliver them.

To save time going to the post office after it's packed, go to the USPS website, prepay the postage, print out the labels and have USPS send an email to the buyer. If you live in a house, arrange for the box to be picked up the next day when your mailman comes by. This was super convenient last year at the height of the pandemic

As of today:

Padded envelope: $8.55
Small box $8.55 8-5/8" x 5-3/8" x 1-5/8" too small!!!
Medium box $15.50 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" or 11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"
Large box $21.90 23-11/16" x 11-3/4" x 3" or 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"

 

[Deleted member 132197]

DO NOT use a padded envelope. Use a box and using proper packing material. Nothing will make me madder than receiving a pedal in an envelope. DOnt care how well its wrapped in bubbles.

But did a pedal ever arrive broken after being shipped in a padded envelope?

I always keep the box of the last pedal I bought, so I have something around to ship a pedal if I sell one

 

[thebreakman]

But did a pedal ever arrive broken after being shipped in a padded envelope?

I always keep the box of the last pedal I bought, so I have something around to ship a pedal if I sell one

I have had issues and if I spend $200, don't send it in a freakin envelope. Unprofessional and bad business.

 

[jthisdell]

Pedals are some of the easiest things to ship. Find a smallish box, pad them a little and you are good to go. Usually costs me about $10.

 

[NortyFiner]

I have shipped dozens of pedals over the years. I save boxes of suitable size for pedals, or buy a standard size box from USPS. I put the pedal in its original box (yeah, I'm one of those "original box" guys), pad and pack it in the shipping box so it doesn't move around, then ship via USPS. Cheap, effective, and have never had a problem.

 

[thebreakman]

I have shipped dozens of pedals over the years. I save boxes of suitable size for pedals, or buy a standard size box from USPS. I put the pedal in its original box (yeah, I'm one of those "original box" guys), pad and pack it in the shipping box so it doesn't move around, then ship via USPS. Cheap, effective, and have never had a problem.

Yep, I save my boxes as well since I routinely buy and sell effects.

 

[Biggbass]

put it on a forum classified or on Ebay, then put it in a small box and ship it USPS priority.

 

[mmbongo]

1) Never buy a box. USPS Priority Mail boxes are free at the post office or order them online. You can even get padded envelopes for free. Put the pedal in the padded envelope, wrap it tight, put the whole thing in a free Priority Mail box.

2) Never just throw a pedal in an envelope and mail it. That's just awful. I know you may have the original box, but the original box will just get squashed if you throw it in an envelope and then the buyer will not have the box.

Free padded envelopes. Don't SHIP in these, pack the pedal in these then put in a box.
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Free boxes, perfect for most pedals.
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Pay and print the shipping label on the USPS website. Put it in your mailbox for pickup, or schedule a free pickup. You don't even have to leave the house.

 

[MTN.bass72]

I'm cleaning house and trying to downsize my gig rig, experimenting with replacing my big bulky pedalboard with an HX Effects unit. So, as a result I have a lot of pedals that need new homes and there doesn't seem to be much of a local market for mid-to-high-end stompboxes.

So, can anyone walk me through the best way to package/ship pedals? Talk to me like an idiot, because I haven't shipped out any gear in at least a decade. I don't know if there are standard box sizes at the USPS, or if I should get a roll of bubble wrap from Amazon, or even what the normal rates are for your average pedal.

Thanks in advance, if I can figure out a system I might just post a big 'ol sale later this summer!

As a mail carrier, I wouldn't suggest buying anything from scamazon...

Go to Home depot, or the like for bubble wrap.. you can even find it at Walmart...

Find, use any box that will fit the pedal/pedals...

PROPER PACKING IS KEY...

This is where way too many folks fail miserably... I've received merchandise, and was astonished that the item was still in one piece...

Your biggest concern needs to be making sure the sides, top and bottom of the box don't crush in... wrap the pedal in bubble wrap well... you don't have to use so much to take up the whole box, but enough to pad it well... you can then use "filler" to take up excess room in the box ( IE newspaper, paper bags from the grocery store... again, to keep the sides from crushing in...

USE GOOD TAPE... the USPS sells the absolute best... super strong... and I'm not saying that just because I work there... I've delivered THOUSANDS of packages in my 4 and a half years there... it boggles my mind as to what some folks think is as..."yeah, that's good enough for shipping" ...
Then grab a stack of the Priority shipping sticker labels... just ask, they'll give you some...

LEGIBLE AND PROPER ADDRESSING... is also key... again my mind is boggled at what folks consider ok...

If we can't read it, we can't deliver it, plain and simple...

When I ship, I even put a couple of strips of tape over the shipping label, just in case of wet situations... again, if we can't read it, we can't deliver it...

This is just an insider point of view, take it how you will... folks just never take into consideration, because they simply don't know how much we actually deal with on a daily basis, plus how many sets of hands are on just one package, let alone how many hundreds of much heavier packages are tossed on top of just your one package...
Hope this helps... here's the bubble wrap I use, I got it at Home Depot... it's perforated, so cutting it to size is super easy
... hope this helps

 

[4Mal]

As far as packing / shipping goes. USPS Priority flat rate Medium sized box will handle the vast majority of pedals, insure for full value at $20 or just under. 2 day deliver to much of the country from Portland.

Do not skimp on padding and yeah, use good tape.

and... Be ready to ship the day it sells. Nothing, but nothing annoys a buyer like waiting a few days 'cause you had to source a box unless that was disclosed up front. Conversely, getting a tracking number to a buyer the day he buys or the morning after is a great step towards getting positive feedback.