Posting your parcel, step by step
The person sending the item packs it, posts it and pays the postage. It takes about ten minutes. Small items cost from about €7.
Who pays for postage?
Swaps
You each post your own item and pay your own postage. You each have a few days to post once the swap is agreed, so it stays fair.
Buy now
The buyer pays the postage shown at checkout, on top of the price. The seller posts the parcel and gets paid once the buyer confirms it arrived.
Free items
Collecting is cheapest. If it has to be posted, agree in the chat first. Normally the person receiving it covers the postage.
Five steps
- 1📦
Pack it
Use a sturdy box or a padded bag. Wrap anything breakable, and fill the gaps so nothing rattles.
- 2⚖️
Weigh and measure
Kitchen scales are fine. Round up. You need the weight and the longest side.
- 3🏷️
Pick a service and get the label
Book with a carrier, or print our free label from the swap page and take it to the post office.
- 4🏪
Drop it off
Hand it in and keep the receipt. It is your proof of posting.
- 5✅
Add the tracking number
Paste it into the swap page and tap “I’ve posted it”. The other person gets a notification.
What it costs
| Parcel | Typical postage |
|---|---|
| Small packet (up to 500g) | €7 · registered €10 |
| Small parcel (up to 2kg) | €9 · registered €13 |
| Medium parcel (up to 5kg) | €11 · registered €15 |
| Large parcel (up to 10kg) | €13 · registered €17 |
| Extra large parcel (up to 20kg) | €16 · registered €20 |
These are typical An Post standard rates and the amounts Buy now uses. Carriers change their prices, so check the final price when you book.
Where to send it from
An Post
Any post office, or book online. Packets and parcels, standard or registered.
Parcels from about €9
DPD Pickup
Drop at a Pickup shop near you. Usually the cheapest for small parcels.
Small parcels from about €8.76 via Parcel2Go
Parcel2Go
Compares An Post, DPD and others in one place and prints the label for you.
Compare before you book
Packlink
Another comparison site. Handy if a parcel is heavy or going outside Ireland.
Compare before you book
Booking, tracking and contact details are on each carrier’s own site. We don’t take a cut of your postage.
Packing tips
Clothes and toys
Fold flat and seal in a plastic bag, then a padded envelope or a box. Keeps everything dry.
Books
Wrap in paper or card and use a box that fits, so corners don’t get bent.
Fragile things
Wrap each piece, leave a few centimetres of padding all round, and write “Fragile” on the box.
Gadgets
Take out batteries, wrap the screen, and photograph the item before it goes.
If something goes wrong
Running late
Check the tracking number first, then message the other person from the swap page. Most delays sort themselves out in a few days.
Lost
Tell us from the swap page with your proof of posting. We’ll check it and, where it was our member’s mistake, help put it right.
Damaged or not as described
Take photos straight away, keep the packaging and open a dispute from the swap page. Our team will look at it.
