Whether you’ve sold your current Xbox to upgrade to the new Series S or Series X, or you’ve sold it because it no longer gets played — the next step is to pack it up and ship it to the new owner. We hope you sold on Swappa, but regardless of where you sold your Xbox console, Swappa is here to help you get through the shipping process.
How to package an Xbox for shipping
Two important things to consider when shipping an Xbox are the cost, and making sure you pack it well enough to avoid any damage. We recommend factoring in the cost of shipping and the shipping materials before you set the price for your Xbox. At a minimum, you will want to gather the following items:
- Sturdy box: Finding the right box isn’t hard, but you will want to make sure the box is big enough to fit the Xbox, any accessories, and the packing material. You should also make sure there isn’t any open space in the box. Open space means the Xbox could shift around during shipping, and that could potentially lead to damage.
- Bubble-wrap (or other packing material): We suggest bubble-wrap because it is relatively inexpensive, and it protects the item being shipped. Bubble-wrap also looks a bit more professional. Nobody wants to open a package and find that their newish game console has been shipping with dirty newspaper, old clothes, or foam peanuts that make a mess.
- Packing tape: This is another important, and also relatively inexpensive item. Packing tape is meant to securely close and seal boxes, and to keep them that way during shipping. If you do not have a roll, or do not want to buy a roll, check with your shipping provider as they may provide tape upon request.
When done properly, gathering the necessary shipping materials may increase the overall shipping cost. However, doing everything you can to ensure the Xbox arrives safely means not having to deal with an angry buyer — and not having to file any damage claims with your shipping provider.
How much does it cost to ship an Xbox?
With a few minutes time, you can easily determine the cost for a sturdy box, padding (bubble-wrap), and packing tape. These three items should be relatively inexpensive, and you may already have some of them sitting around from a previous sale. On the other hand, the price of shipping can add significant cost, which is why we suggest factoring in the cost of shipping and the shipping materials before you decide the selling price of the Xbox.
USPS
USPS is the shipping provider that is most often used by Swappa sellers. In fact, the first few months of 2020 showed that more than 87% of Swappa sellers were using USPS. This is due to price and convenience. USPS shipping allows you to use your own shipping box or depending on the overall size (of the console and any accessories), you may also be able to use a Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, which can be picked up for free from your local post office.
Perks of using a flat rate box include delivery times of about 1-3 business days, free package pickup at your home or office, and being able to ship up to 70 pounds without paying any extra. You can review the sizes of the flat rate boxes and the cost for shipping them on the USPS Priority Mail website. You can also tap the white button below to estimate shipping costs if you are using your own packaging.
UPS
Shipping with UPS is a good option to consider. For starters, there are plenty of retail UPS locations available around the country. Your local UPS Store will also offer different options for packing and shipping.
You can pack your Xbox on your own, using your own materials, and take it to a local UPS Store and have it shipped. You can also have the store take care of the packing. Of course, there will be an added cost for having them handle the packing. We recommend reaching out to your local UPS Store to get an estimate on packing costs. Otherwise, you can tap the white button below if you already have your Xbox packed and just need an estimate on the cost of shipping.
FedEx
FedEx is another good shipping provider to consider. Similar to UPS, you should be able to find a retail FedEx location close to where you live. FedEx has regular retail shipping locations, and you can also find FedEx OnSite locations in stores such as Walgreens and Dollar General Stores.
If you opt to ship using FedEx, you will be able to pack your Xbox using your own box and materials, or take all your items to a local FedEx location and have them handle the packing. There will be an added cost if you have FedEx do the packing, but on the plus side, you will be able to ship with confidence and worry a little less about things getting damaged in transit.
You can reach out to your local FedEx location to get an estimate on the cost of shipping materials and packing. You can also tap the white button below to get an estimate if you already have the Xbox packed and ready to ship.
Tracking and Insurance
Now that you’ve (hopefully) decided which shipping carrier to use — you need to consider the tracking and insurance. If you sold your Xbox on Swappa, these items are both required and will need to share the tracking within two business days of receiving your payment.
The tracking number means you, and your buyer, will each know the status of the shipment as it moves towards their location. Tracking information can also be used to confirm the item has been delivered.
While this next item is not required, some sellers also like to set a signature requirement, which means the shipping provider will not be able to just leave the box on a doorstep. Requiring a signature may add a small additional cost, however, that can also give some peace of mind knowing that the item was delivered to the intended recipient.
In most cases, you will ship an item, and it will arrive safely. But there are times when a package can get lost or damaged during shipping. When you sell an item, you are responsible for the condition of the product until it’s delivered to the buyer’s location. Having insurance that covers the full value of the items being shipped means you do not have to worry.
Print a shipping label with PayPal
On Swappa, we use PayPal due to the protections they offer for buyers and sellers. However, another convenience of using PayPal is the ability to quickly buy and print a shipping label. You can print the label from within your PayPal account (login to PayPal and bring up the payment transaction and you will get an option to buy and print the label). Of course, using this option means you will be using your own packing materials and that you will be using USPS for the shipping.
Sell your used Xbox on Swappa
If you’ve already sold your Xbox, we hope these shipping tips will help you get the package safely shipped. However, if you are still in the planning stages, we suggest that you sell your Xbox here in the Swappa marketplace. Swappa is safe, easy-to-use, and because there are no sellers fees — you will be able to get more cash, which can then be put towards the cost of your new Xbox.
