The kit for books, records and games
Buy a parcel scale first, then board-backed mailers or book wraps for books and bubble wrap for discs. Small boxes cover bundles.
Add a stack of card stiffeners for records and large hardbacks.
Pack heavy media rigid and weigh it to the gram, so it arrives intact and costs less to post.
What you need to sell books, games and vinyl
The kit our builder picks for a typical Books, games and vinyl seller. Change the answers to fit yours.
1 of 2Setup Builder
Storage
5-tier steel shelving, 180 cm
Holds tubs or boxes floor to ceiling in a small footprint.
Label printer
Phomemo thermal label printer
A compact thermal printer for your first few hundred labels.
Scales
40 kg digital parcel scale
Weighs anything from a card mailer to a boxed pair of boots.
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Packing so corners and sleeves survive
Pack each book in a board-backed wrap or a box with no room to slide.
Vinyl needs a box made for records, with the record taken out of the sleeve and placed beside it so it can’t split the seam. DVDs, CDs and games are lighter and fine in padded mailers if the case is wrapped.
Storing stock by location code
Give every shelf and box a code from your first listing and note it on each listing, so an order tells you which shelf to go to.
Store books upright and records vertically. Don’t stack them flat in tall piles: records warp, and the weight crushes spines.
Photos and listings
Shoot the cover, spine and back, plus any damage. For books, include the copyright page if edition matters, and for records, the label and the vinyl surface under good light.
Buyers search by edition, so fill in the ISBN or catalogue number on every listing.
Postage for heavy, flat items
Many paperbacks and slim cases sit near the line between Large Letter and small parcel. Check the current Royal Mail size guide and weigh each item rather than guessing.
Weigh a sample bundle of the same books before you quote postage on a lot.
Growing past the first 50 orders
Once you pass your first 50 orders, list in one session and pack in another.
At that point, add a thermal label printer and a postage tool that pulls orders from all your platforms. Keep stock codes on the label notes so picking is quick.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Posting a record inside its sleeve. The disc can split the seam, so pack it beside the sleeve in a record mailer.
- Sending books in a thin bag, where the corners dent in the sorting office.
- Tall flat piles of records warp them. Store them upright.
- Calling a book a first edition before you check the copyright page.
- Buyers ask about dust they can see in photos, so wipe each record before you shoot it.
Setups
Complete kits for one kind of seller, costed and laid out.
Postage per order
What most orders like these go by, at today’s published prices. Prices checked 6 October 2026.
Royal Mail Tracked 48 Small ParcelUsual£3.75
TrackedUp to 2 kgClothing and small boxed items up to 2 kg, with tracking for less than untracked 2nd Class.
- Royal Mail 2nd Class Small Parcel
£4.40
Not trackedUp to 2 kgFolded clothes, books and boxed small items up to 2 kg, posted from a postbox or Post Office.
InPost locker to locker, medium£2.59
TrackedUp to 15 kgShoe boxes, books and bags up to 19 cm deep, sent between lockers when the buyer picks a locker.
How to pack it
Thin envelopes for hardbacks. The corners push through and arrive dented.
- 1Wrap books and games in a layer of bubble wrap to protect the corners.
- 2Use a padded envelope for single items, a small box for bundles and box sets.
- 3Weigh it to the gram and choose the cheapest band it fits.
One roll covers a few hundred small parcels.
Light boxes for boxed toys and beauty sets.
Selling books, games and vinyl
Books, video games and records are flat and heavy. Weigh each one before you buy a label, because postage depends on weight.
Pack in boxes or padded envelopes with card stiffeners so corners don’t dent and sleeves don’t bend.
Questions
Should vinyl go in a box or an envelope?
Use a proper record mailer or a box with stiffeners on both sides. Take the record out of the sleeve and pack it beside it, so the sleeve doesn’t split in transit.
Is a parcel scale enough for books?
For single books, weigh to the gram so you know which side of a weight band you’re on. Bundles and box sets go on the larger parcel scale.
Is it worth selling cheap paperbacks?
A single cheap paperback rarely covers your time once postage is paid, so bundle them by author or genre and sell them as lots.
How do I find a book among hundreds?
Give each shelf a code, add it to the listing, and keep books upright in code order.
Do I need to clean records before selling?
Wipe the dust off every record and describe each mark and scuff in the listing. A clean record plays and photographs better.
Should I sell video games with or without the case?
Complete games with case and manual sell better. If something’s missing, say so in the title and the description.