[behindthemask]

The big tip I can offer is reuse what you can. If you do a trade and the arker gives you a good box and bubbled wrapped the items. reuse the bubble wrap and box to cut down on your own shipping costs. Use white computer paper to cover up any stickers or mailing info and works fine.

Packaging: I personally like seperating the figure from their accessories, incase the items get dinged or moved around in shipping, less damage will happen. So I normally use zip lock bags for the accessories and 1 for the figure, then try to use bubble wrap. You can buy large bulk packs at places like Staples, office depot, a cheap way around buying small packages of it. Or if you want a cheaper way still, use garbage bags and a paper shredder to fill the box full of protective stuffing.

Important
get the shipping info well in advance of doing the trade, that way you can take pictures show them to the arker, box the items, label the box, weigh and measure the box using ups.com or canadapost.com you can calculate shipping costs and prevent yourself from under/over quoting people. Nothing worse then saying shipping is $5 and turns out to be $15 and there goes all your profits.

I also have a pdf file full of fellow arkers mailing info so that if I do future trades I already have their info with me.

If you are paranoid about not getting an item, offer to pay extra for a tracking # that way you can find out where it is at all times. Use paypal for payment that way incase you pay and someone doesn't ship, you can contact paypal and get your $$ back, money orders, checks not so easily done.

Feedback, leave feedback as soon as you recieve the item in question it helps us all find out who the good and bad people are to do business with.

Tape use clear tape, thick as is in 2'' wide, u can snag a good size roll for $3, make sure to cover all seams, edges and cover mailing labels with it, to ensure nothing happens when item is shipped.

Use appropriate sized boxes and bubble mailers to avoid extra shipping costs.

If you are unsure about someone and if they will ship your items or not. Ask if they can ship first. Unless cash is envolved then you have to send $$ first before items shipped, that's just how it works.