I love shipping.
This kind…
(We actually don’t need to be told, we discover them almost right away. 😉 )
(Canon can be such a killjoy…)
(*sniffs* Oh, and OTP = one true pairing, the couple you’ve matchmade that you will forever believe in. XD )
And I also love the post office kind (basically what normal people think “shipping” is) too. Christmas present time is upon us, and after reading an amazing Goodreads blog post about gifting books to friends, I’m excited about getting to send things in the mail soon. 😉 *rubs hands together*
Since I used to sell secondhand books on Amazon and now sell my own books, I’ve shipped out quite a few packages. 😀 And I’ve also received quite a few packages because of my book buying “problem” (that we won’t talk about)…
Here are my tips and tricks…
- Padded mailers are my favorite, though manilla envelopes can work in as well, and I often buy them in a package of six from Walmart or in singles at another store. I also like to save mailers sent to me (especially those LOVELY cardboard mailers from Amazon) for a pinch. If they’re still in good condition and if I can remove all my personal information from them, that is. 😀 (I have two on my bedroom floor right now that I need to decide what to do with. 😉 )
- I’m a little bit hyper about books getting bent so if the book is thin I put cardboard in behind it, and I always wrap it tightly in saran wrap to hold the pages together which helps with my other concern…
- Waterproofing! I got a shipment of books once where the color of the cover bled onto the page block because it got slightly wet. *cringes* I feel like saran wrap helps protect against this, and one time I even sent a book with saran wrap AND a Ziploc bag because it was going overseas. #nervousMama
- I also really like packages to be fun. I mean getting a book is reallllly fun, right?! But sometimes I like to include a note or an interesting bookmark or even a silly message on the package just to jolly things up a little more. It’s one of my favorite parts of the process. ❤
Do you have any tips to share? And are you like me and just looooove mail?? 😀
Once Upon An Ordinary 
YES, AND YAY FOR PRIME SHIPPING.
(also can people like not wrap the envelope around the book so tightly because then I’LL CUT THE BOOK and how awful will that be)
LikeLiked by 1 person
AHHH, two-day shipping is the best! 😀 😀
O.o. I know, right?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhhhh, I’ve always wondered what OTP stands for! I always thought it was something like Oh The Pain… even though I knew that it was talking about ships…
And I love wrapping up stuff too!! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought the same thing! Oh The Pain is pretty accurate in its own way though… 😉
High five!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, getting mail is really fun! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 😀 Do you like to track your packages or just forget about them (as much as possible) and be surprised when they show up?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It depends on what’s coming in the package! XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saran wrap? hmm…never thought of that one! I totally get the whole bending books issue *cringes* — I am a bit OCD about that! (okay, okay, very much so! :D) I won’t even loan books from my library to those who are known book-benders *glares menacingly*. I lent a book to a friend once who, unbeknownst to me, reads books by bending the front cover behind the back cover……the poor book! But saran wrap to ship them in…….now THAT is an idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, sorry! It can be hard to balance loaning and keeping books nice. I have a couple I need to replace because they got so dirty I don’t want to re-read them. 😉
Glad you like it! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing these tips! I hadn’t thought about saran wrap to waterproof, that sounds like a good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! 😉
LikeLike
I love getting mail too!! The other day I got a surprise envelope from one of my friends with some gorgeous hand lettered bookmarks in it, and it was sooo wonderful. 🙂 She inspired me to try to do something like it for my other friends, so I’m currently working on that. 🙂 And as for shipping books, media mail all the way (using USPS)!!! You can pay so much less that way than doing the other options. 🙂 I also like wrapping packages in a brown paper bag, then using a Sharpie to put the address on and adding cute little notes. It’s fun to send things to people. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, that is wonderful! ❤ YES!!! Media mail is revolutionary. 😉 Aw, that's so great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
AHHHH SHIPS! Ha ha, I LOVED this post, Kate! Yeah, I love mail too. ESPECIALLY WHEN BOOKS COME IN THE MAIL. I like to buy really fun poly mailers with prints on them, and wrap the book in tissue paper. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
What are your top ships/OTPS? Thanks, glad you enjoyed! Oh, that’s a wonderful idea! I just recently discovered my post office has adorable Christmas-y ones. 😀
LikeLike
WALTER AND UNA FROM RILLA OF INGLESIDE. oh, and Emma and Mr. Knightley, and Gemma and Josiah from Martin Hospitality. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, yes! Emma and Mr. Knightley are the best, and I love Gemma and Josiah. I haven’t read Rilla of Ingleside, but that’s awesome too. 😉
LikeLike
What, seriously? Have you read any of the Anne of Green Gables series?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not yet. 😉 Unusual, I know. 😉
LikeLike
Wow. 😮 You should!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this post! And you know what’s crazy, for years I’ve been seeing my internet friends talk about OTP, and until now I never knew what they were talking about! LOL
Your ideas about sending book mail are gold. Thank you! I’ll definitely be saving this post and using the ideas later. I loved the package you sent me, and how you were so sweet and made me laugh with your notes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! HA, ha! Same. I very recently figured it out myself. 😉
Aw, you’re welcome! Glad to spread some joy! 😉 Awwwww, that’s great to hear. ❤
LikeLike