I've only had to contact customer service on one or two different occasions concerning issues with a trade in which the item had been damaged in transit or from Amazon. Granted I've traded in quite a few items, but it annoyed me to no end when they sent my item(s) back with a huge slit from a box opener/utility knife and then stated that these items were "damaged" so they had no option but to deny my trade-in.

As a result, I am a bit hesitant in dealing with Amazon's trade in service and contemplate whether it's worth it or not before making any decisions to trade in items to Amazon.

At the moment I have some textbooks locked in for trade, but I just don't know if it is worth the possible hassle that I've experienced in the past.

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Anyone know a cheap way to get boxes? Cost me 3.50 to buy a freaking box to trade in a game I got 20.25 for opposed to 16.80 at Best Buy. Really not even worth the hassle for $0.50.

Originally Posted by brauma Anyone know a cheap way to get boxes? Cost me 3.50 to buy a freaking box to trade in a game I got 20.25 for opposed to 16.80 at Best Buy. Really not even worth the hassle for $0.50.

If you're trading in a single game you can just use a padded envelope. I know this won't help but ever since I got Amazon Prime I've been somewhat overwhelmed with boxes/padded envelopes.

Originally Posted by brauma Anyone know a cheap way to get boxes? Cost me 3.50 to buy a freaking box to trade in a game I got 20.25 for opposed to 16.80 at Best Buy. Really not even worth the hassle for $0.50.

dumpster dive at a liquor store

Originally Posted by brauma Anyone know a cheap way to get boxes? Cost me 3.50 to buy a freaking box to trade in a game I got 20.25 for opposed to 16.80 at Best Buy. Really not even worth the hassle for $0.50.

Use the flat rate boxes from the post office. Just assemble them inside out. They will have the USPS markings on them but that's fine.

Originally Posted by klimb22 Use the flat rate boxes from the post office. Just assemble them inside out. They will have the USPS markings on them but that's fine.

This does not work. At least not for most people. In fact, I was at the PO the other day and they wouldn't ship a package from a woman that was wrapped in brown paper because they could tell it was a flat rate box size. She said it was a previously used box, but they said even that wasn't allowed.

Originally Posted by evanwink This does not work. At least not for most people. In fact, I was at the PO the other day and they wouldn't ship a package from a woman that was wrapped in brown paper because they could tell it was a flat rate box size. She said it was a previously used box, but they said even that wasn't allowed.

Amazon uses UPS so they don't care if it's a USPS flat box. Buy cheap boxes at Walmart.

Originally Posted by brauma Anyone know a cheap way to get boxes? Cost me 3.50 to buy a freaking box to trade in a game I got 20.25 for opposed to 16.80 at Best Buy. Really not even worth the hassle for $0.50.

Go to a dollar store and ask them to save you some boxes. Candy boxes are heavy duty and amazon pays the shipping, so weight isn't a problem.

Originally Posted by scblueeyedguy Amazon uses UPS so they don't care if it's a USPS flat box. Buy cheap boxes at Walmart.

Good point, I wasn't thinking about it being UPS, so I guess that would work. Still theft, though.

Wal-Mart has really cheap boxes...the ones I used for selling movies and games cost like 50 cents.

Max Payne 3 trades in for $36.00 on PS3, the highest I've seen. I cancelled my not-yet-sent-in $33.75 trade-in and placed another one at this higher value.

Sams Club has tons of free boxes, and since they are going to Nor-Am who cares if your games are shipped in Candy/Fruit/Whatever boxes.

Originally Posted by brauma Anyone know a cheap way to get boxes? Cost me 3.50 to buy a freaking box to trade in a game I got 20.25 for opposed to 16.80 at Best Buy. Really not even worth the hassle for $0.50.

Originally Posted by Sway If you're trading in a single game you can just use a padded envelope. I know this won't help but ever since I got Amazon Prime I've been somewhat overwhelmed with boxes/padded envelopes.

You can get quite a few bubble mailers on ebay for pretty cheap (where it comes out to ~30 cents each) which is useful if you are planning on trading in and/or selling on ebay a lot.

They are not too bad just buying them either -- I pick them up at walgreens when they are on sale for like 50 cents, but I'm sure WM has them cheaper.

There is some risk of damage, I've heard about 1/100 get crushed or something, but it's usually the cheap xbox or red GH PS3 cases that get smashed and I've had more like 1/200 get crushed.

Originally Posted by evanwink Good point, I wasn't thinking about it being UPS, so I guess that would work. Still theft, though.

How is it theft? The boxes are free for consumers. They are a business expense for USPS. Just like mailing labels, etc.

Bubble mailers in the office section of grocery stores are about $.42 a piece in packs of 3, so about $1.33 total.

Originally Posted by klimb22 How is it theft? The boxes are free for consumers. They are a business expense for USPS. Just like mailing labels, etc.

Because they're labeled and printed to recoup that cost from using the flat rate shipping option. Using them for other types is very much theft.

Originally Posted by klimb22 How is it theft? The boxes are free for consumers. They are a business expense for USPS. Just like mailing labels, etc.

dammit. let's not start this stupid discussion again. you're not supposed to use them except for priority or express. end of story.

Originally Posted by klimb22 How is it theft? The boxes are free for consumers. They are a business expense for USPS. Just like mailing labels, etc.

You're NOT a usps costumer if you're using the usps boxes with UPS/Fedex mailings.
Please don't abuse the system.

Originally Posted by confoosious dammit. let's not start this stupid discussion again. you're not supposed to use them except for priority or express. end of story.

Never heard this argument before, but I agree (not to talk about it, that is).

Originally Posted by Vigilante Max Payne 3 trades in for $36.00 on PS3, the highest I've seen. I cancelled my not-yet-sent-in $33.75 trade-in and placed another one at this higher value.

Good catch. Just did the same. Thanks for the post...