Shipping supplies

It seems to me that Amazon's 3.99 for shipping books covers the media mail rate for most books, but the shipping supplies are just not going to be covered in that amount.  The USPS rate plus a decent box to ship a large hardcover book (think a Tom Clancy novel) plus the packing material (unless you use old newspapers) is going to run $1-2 more than the $3.99 you are allotted.

Does anyone know of a good source for shipping supplies to keep those costs under control?

I don't how many books you ship.I buy a 200ft roll of butcher paper and bubble wrap from staples.Wrap the book in bubble wrap then the butcher paper.Never had a problem.Smaller books I wrap in bubble wrap then put in a manilla envelope.Buy the tape at any dollar store.

I don't how many books you ship.I buy a 200ft roll of butcher paper and bubble wrap from staples.Wrap the book in bubble wrap then the butcher paper.Never had a problem.Smaller books I wrap in bubble wrap then put in a manilla envelope.Buy the tape at any dollar store.

Thats the best way to do it, at least cost effective anyway.

I wasn't thinking about books when I read your title.  When I use to ebay the NASCAR coke bottles I would ship them in the USPS priority mail boxes.  For $4.95 the customer would get their item in 2-3 days and I didn't have to pay for supplies.  The post office would deliver the boxes, tape, and labels to my door.

I also re-use alot of the boxes, nuts, and such from my office.