Question regarding combined shipping for large but light items

[#1]

First of all, I love that this feature is finally available. I added Calculated Shipping last week, and I'm slowly learning what I've done right-- as well as what I've done wrong and need to correct-- as I see orders come in using the new system. It works perfectly for my aprons (now that I've learned what I was doing wrong to get the packaging fee to be included so that I can purchase insurance for my First Class packages... ) The learning curve isn't too harsh---and I've found almost all the answers I needed in this forum.

One problem that I've seen many times (but haven't found the answer to yet) is this:

When you have an item that is fairly large, but also light weight-- the combined shipping is way off for orders of multiple items. For example, my purses must be shipped in a 12 x 12 x 8" box. Once they're all packaged (stuffed & wrapped with protective materials) the box ends up weighing about 1 lb. 6 oz. HOWEVER the purse itself only weighs 7 oz. From experience, I know that both items should ship for the Priority Mail 2 lb. rate. But using the Calculated Shipping formula (as I understand it) the weight used to figure postage would be 2 lb. 12 oz. (double the original weight)-- instead of the actual weight of 1 lb. 13 oz.

I haven't seen a direct answer to this issue in reading through all of the questions and answers in this forum. As I understand it, the only solution is a work-around-- by manipulating the weight for each purse package-- but I don't think that will work for me. No matter what, one purse with packaging/ box weighs slightly over a pound to ship. Two purses together with packaging/ box weighs less than two pounds to ship.

I've made note on each purse listing that I will refund any shipping overages, but rarely do customers read through all of that information. They will look at the pictures and see the "cost" of shipping to their location and will most likely decide that it is too expensive to purchase.

I know that tweaks and improvements are happening all of the time. I would love to see an added "weight with another item" input section. But overall I am thrilled with how well this is working for me so far!!!

[Former_Member]

Laurie, that is great. And I would not be turned off by a shipping price going up by a few dollars for an additional item. It's not like it is doubling in price.

Good luck to you and come back any time. You will always get lots of pointers and opinions here.

[CraftSupplyHouse]

Pat, I don't understand your math, but I think we just need to agree to disagree.

[vintageNCtreasures]

Hope this explains a little better

1 large dog diaper + mailer = 3 oz.
If we had "each additional item weight" and I put 2 oz for them.

Someone buys 2, 3 oz. + 2 oz only comes to 5 oz....when it's really almost 6 oz.

Someone buys 3, total weight only 7 oz.....when it's almost 9 oz.
3 oz. + 2 oz. + 2 oz = 7 oz.

I end up losing money on shipping because not enough weight is there by adding "each additional item weight".

Same thing would happen on a lot of items I sell in both shops especially lightweight items.

Yes, we can agree to disagree but I wanted to explain this a little better.

The more someone buy's the more money I'd lose.

[CraftSupplyHouse]

"Someone buys 2, 3 oz. + 2 oz only comes to 5 oz....when it's really almost 6 oz."

If this is the case, then your weights aren't accurate. If something truly weighs 3 oz. and something else truly weighs 2 oz. there's no reason for it to add up to 6.

If I have a 2 ounce box and a 3 ounce item and someone buys 2 of them, I would expect 2+3+3 = 8 oz to be my shipping weight.

[custompetandtack]

Craft my weights are 100% accurate.

I've been selling these for 10 years and I know what each size weighs and even what 2, 3 or 4 will weigh of any given size..

And the way I have it set up now, CS has been 100% accurate on 1 dog diaper or 8 or 10 dog diapers..

No having to worry about putting an "each additional item" weight because CS is doing exactly what it should with the weights I have entered.

What makes it come up to over 5 oz. is because I have to use a larger mailer for mail 2 in.

2 of these come up 5.1-5.3 oz.......then it's the 6 oz rate.