SELLING A CANVAS PAINTING, CHEAPEST WAY TO SEND ADVICE?

It would help if you stated the size!

thanks for the reply Aunty Post 30 inches length 25" width and depth a touch over 2".

there's plenty of postal services. i tend to stick to Royal mail which is expensive?  what size and weight? my usual costs are between £10-20 postage. Yodel and myhermes were cheaper but can be flakey, leaving parcels by people's doors.

I use masses of bubblewrap from the poundshop or home bargains. (cash n carry would be optimal)buy thick sellotape there too. If you can get thin hardboard from BQ hardware store to protect sides from other objects. I sent one and it was chucked around and they destroyed the frame - i had to refund thirty quid for new frame. If you make the hardboard panels bigger it acts as protective corners. All in the packaging should cost maximum ten pounds. it depends on size of painting. I tend to keep an eye out for tv boxes being chucked out by neighbours, those big screen tv's are well packaged. I sometimes use those Styrofoam pipes they use for lagging.

Insurance - it's a risk assessment that you have to quantify - they can charge a bit for it?

loads of bubblewrap - you can use it in the future too, so it's handy to have.

I've used these a few times....
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http://www.ipostparcels.com/

Just work out the price, including insurance, and signed for, etc.

I can tell you that I had a comparison Royal Mail cost, on one item, that was more than double!

Just looked and, for your requirements, the way they work it out assumes something much more bulky!

It could be as big in every dimension, and would still be the same price (as long as it was within the max weight)!

Thanks for all the replies. Will weigh etc, when ready to send, will leave message on here as someone else may do similar.

... i have learnt by my cost, never send any pictures that are under glass, always remove first.

some sound advice from zorro.

Do not write "Do not bend" on a parcel.  Some postmen will see this as a challenge.

If its a watercolour it needs glass, if oil its not needed.

bubble wrap. use parcel tape/sellotape as a way to pull it all together
like a spider wraps a victim. it can make it shock proof.

the weight won't really matter it's the size that'll cost you

PARCEL2GO is best you'll get similar quotes from all the main couriers , but you'll need a Printer to print your own labels , and check where the local drop off points are before you choose one as they don't collect it from your door !

you also suffer on insurance from these couriers so wrap carefully , lots of bubble wrap & cardboard then cross your fingers for a week

you don't need a printer? you can save a file to desktop. put it in a dongle(usb) and take it to the library to print. cost you 20p a page.
print the label in library.

I've ordered a canvas print on ebay, I was expecting postage to be huge but it was fine. Well packaged, arrived ok.

Maybe look at who other good feedback companies on ebay selling such things and who they use? Maybe even buy a print you like to see how they package it.