Tips for selling/shipping effects pedals?

[Katoosie]

Bubble wrap/foam the whole thing.
If you are selling in a box, get a box that the pedal box nicely fit into and secure it, tape it properly to make sure there is no damage when shipping.

Self explanatory. I sold a powerplant and a pedal last week and it all went well with even less preparations than that.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

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.

Don't buy from me then, but since you have zero feedback I don't think that's an issue. I've shipped probably a hundred in flat rate padded envelopes and bubble wrap. Zero issues. I'll sometimes add a cardboard sleeve depending on the knobs.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Set up an account on USPS, you can get free flat-rate padded envelopes from them to use to ship the pedals. I wrap the pedal in bubble wrap, sometimes put a cardboard sleeve around the bubble-wrapped pedal, put that in the flat rate padded envelope, print the label at home, attach and off it goes. Many times I can get a pedal shipped within an hour. I've had zero complaints and zero issues. This is probably the least expensive overall way of shipping pedals. You can double box and do whatever you want, but since everyone wants free shipping on their purchase on TB, this is how I do it.

 

[thebreakman]

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

Don't buy from me then, but since you have zero feedback I don't think that's an issue. I've shipped probably a hundred in flat rate padded envelopes and bubble wrap. Zero issues. I'll sometimes add a cardboard sleeve depending on the knobs.

Dont worry, I wont

 

[Kendescending]

Don't buy from me then, but since you have zero feedback I don't think that's an issue. I've shipped probably a hundred in flat rate padded envelopes and bubble wrap. Zero issues. I'll sometimes add a cardboard sleeve depending on the knobs.

Same here. I've sent hundreds (probably more than a thousand) using padded envelopes (very well packed) when I worked at a music store in the past. Never had a broken pedal or a complaint from a customer. I've had customers request padded envelopes as they don't get left on the porch and stolen. They easily fit in a mailbox or inside the storm door of a house.

 

[Moon Fetus]

I am constantly buying/selling/trading for fun, whether it be music or pedals, so I save EVERYTHING I receive. Boxes, bubble wrap, etc.

If you don't have a stockpile, I second the free Priority Mail boxes. I was told by the USPS clerk that anything over 13oz has to be shipped Priority, and most pedals in a box will land you over 13oz so using Priority boxes won't force you to spend any more money than you already would be.

Like other people have said, shipping in a heavy duty envelope in a box will do the job. I personally don't really like receiving pedals in an envelope, and I don't ship in an envelope except as a very last resort. It's akin to receiving a pedal with velcro on the bottom.. Not a grievous crime, but I'd really rather you didn't.

Also, wipe off the dust/dog hair if you don't already. Nothing aggravates me more than receiving a pedal that someone couldn't even bother to wipe off before they tossed it in the mail.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Here's a tip - if you're selling a pedal with the original box and advertising it as such, don't then wreck that box by covering it with tape and address labels.

You'd think that was obvious, but apparently not on fleabay...

 

[singlemalt]

Clean it, photograph, and pack it up. Then place the ad in TB classifieds. Take Paypal.

If I’m done with a pedal, it’s ready to go out before I place the ad. I look at the comps in the classifieds and price it just below the going rate. Shipping is included in the price. No international, it’s just too much trouble.

Payment arrives, ship.

Keep it simple.

 

[Killing Floor]

Free to sell on TB if you are a supporting member.

Look up original list price.
Add 50% if it is discontinued.
If it requires a waiting list for delivery add 50%.
If it's current and easily available at GC only add 25%
Say it is "Mint".
Say the Velcro is "Professionally Applied".
If you have the wrapping materials add another 25%.

Just kidding, pro tip - nothing you already own is mint and there are no professional pedal Velcro installers.
But totally serious about the rest. People are willing to pay up to double list for used pedals that are currently available new. If you want to move it fast (which is usually my mode) list it for a fair price.

 

[HolmeBass]

I save the boxes the pedals come in, so I start with those. I do not usually need much packing material to make the pedal stable within its original box.

Then I put that box inside another box w/ bubble wrap to make sure the internal box doesn’t shift any. This might be more expensive than the padded envelope, but not by much. USPS also has flat-rate shipping boxes, although unless the pedal is really big and heavy those don’t save you money.

I am interested to hear what people suggest to charge for shipping in the US. I always added $5 but it was usually a little bit more - but it’s been a while since I shipped a pedal, or anything else. $10 might be a reasonable charge now.

 

[BassFalcon]

Pack it in a sturdy box as tightly as possible. If there is no movement the shock from falling will pass through the pedal. If there is movement then the pedal will absorb that shock upon impacting the side of the packaging. That’s how things break. Sturdy box, pack it in tight.

 

[cosmicevan]

Has anyone ever received a broken pedal that was a result of how it was packed? I see a bunch of posts here that sound very picky about packaging and I can't think of any products I own that are more sturdy than my guitar pedals. Sure some have some weird knobs or sliders that are fragile, but beyond that, I feel like you can grab a pedal and throw it as far as you can and it will land and be fine (in fact, I feel like I saw wampler do this yesterday with a Rat pedal).

 

[skycruiser]

Use shipping with tracking. Standard USPS can take weeks (if it ever shows up) and it really sucks to have no idea where your package is or if it was mis-delivered.

 

[Ostie]

Order a new pedal. Re-use the shipping box. Problem solved!

 

[Spupilup]

If you’re using USPS and thinking about Flat Rate, go to the USPS site and order 10 Flat Rate Region A1 boxes:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

They’ll save you at least a few dollars over the cost of a Medium Flat Rate and will likely fit most pedals. You typically can’t get these boxes at most post office locations. That’s why I recommend you open up an account with USPS and order the boxes. ALWAYS buy your labels on line and print them out. NEVER buy your labels over the counter at a post office. It will cost you a lot more doing it that way.

Also, for smaller pedals, get the Priority #4 box. It’s roughly 7”x7”x6” and will fit most pedals. The cardboard weighs about 5 oz. so smaller pedals could ship at under one pound which would be a better, cheaper deal than the Region 1A I mentioned above.

I ship thousands of small, rare auto parts a year using USPS. For anything over 16 ounces (one pound) these are my most common methods for shipping here in the US.

 

[FenderB]

Wrap it in protective material, if you have the original box put it in that, put it in a proper size box, tape it shut, then either print your own label or take it somewhere and have them print it. Then depending on what carrier you use follow their guidelines for shipping. Easy-peasy.

 

[Jazzkuma]

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!

1. Pedal in original box

2. Fill with newspaper or bubble wrap (or anything that will fill up space to prevent the pedal from bouncing around.

3. put that pedal box in a USPS flat rate box. (Go to usps and they will have them on display. Just walk up to it, search for the smallest size that will fit your pedal and leave with it, its free. Take a few of them home with you).

4. Now fill that second box with filler again so it doesnt bounce around.

5. Now write your address and the address of the buyer on the box.

6. then tape it all up

7. Take it to USPS and drop it off/pay for your shipment

8. celebrate

*Skip steps 1 & 2 if you dont have original box.*

 

[SLPimp]

Drop in box. Label. Give to post man. The end.

 

[JonathanPDX]

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
View attachment 4328889... hope this helps

Thank you for the advice, that's very helpful!

I recall that in the past putting tape over the address caused issues because they couldn't be stamped or marked by USPS, is that not an issue now?

Also, can I tape a printed shipping address onto the box or should I pick up a sheet of address label stickers for shipping?

 

[TheDayMan]

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.

This. Generous bubble wrap and flat rate envelopes for the win.