DO YOU HAVE A BOX WITH THE 3 Ss FOR THAT AWKWARD ITEM : eBay Guides

First of all when deciding to sell an item that is of unusual shape or size or weight do make sure you have the right size , shape and strength box to pack it in before it sells!

And heres why!

I am never going to buy and re-sell a ship-shaped clock ever again! Even though it was literally given to me free in a charity yard sale, I know why now! they just did not want to have to pick it up and put it in a box to take home!  I would rather the buyer had offered me $20.00 to deliver it by car!

Ok I listed it on eBay well it was a nice clock, you know the ones I mean those wooden hulled ship things with pretty silver metal sails and decorations etc. Even though I listed it as not working it did sell and I am pleased to hear the buyer was very happy with it and had it working within a day of receiving it in the mail.

Although I have always got a good supply of boxes in my basement  I could not find a box with the required three 'Ss' 

IE: "Suitable Shape, Suitable Size and Suitable Strength"

That the clock would fit in. As I had no way of getting into town at that time I enlisted the help of my 19 year old Grandson 'Dan' who drove me round the local stores looking for just the right shape / size / strength box for the clock. But we had no luck all that was available were little thin boxes, "Come back on friday when we get our delivery" the shop assistants were saying, that's no good I thought I like to get my items packed and in the post A.S.A.P.

So I said to Dan "Theres nothing for it we will have to check out the re-cycle bins at the back of the stores"  but he baulked at the idea of climbing into the re-cycle bins "Oh Nanny I love you and I'll do anything for you, but Please, Please not that" he whimpered!

So we go back home empty handed (except for the Pizza I promised to buy him if he drove me around) back home in the basement I tried to adapt two different boxes by cutting them up and then fighting with several layers of sticky tape wrapping it around and up and over the boxes with the clock inside. That was not very successful because when I finally sealed the box and gave it a little shake the clock moved.

I could not wrap the clock in paper or bubble wrap it as the very sharp pointed tips of the metal sails etc kept poking through and stabbing my fingers one of which started to bleed profusely so I wrapped a hankie round my poor little finger (I'm allergic to band aids) and started again. This time I cut some boxes open laid the clock on the top of the cardboard and then folded the cardboard over the darn clock. Just let one of those nasty little sails try and get out of that I thought!

Well I got the clock mailed three days after the sale ended  and I sent the buyer the following email "I shall be mailing your clock tomorrow, I could not get into town today, I was fighting that flipping sail boat all afternoon. Please do be careful when you un-pack it!

The moral of this story is : Be prepared for a real hassle with awkward shaped items, think about it carefully before you decide to buy it, even if it is a bargain, and do think about the three 'Ss'! you will need to pack it.