Shipping Large Items

[Former_Member]

Looking for advice as to how to keep shipping cost low when shipping larger items.
I shipped out a large item back in July and today I shipped out the same item and paid almost double in shipping. The item itself does not weigh very much.
Any advice would be great!

[fishcouple]

A member suggested that I use Parcel in stead of Priority Mail, and the cost was drastically lower especially for the large packages.

Hope this helps!

[CaliforniaCrownJewel]

Yes, Parcel Post is the least expensive way to ship for anything over 1 lb. and under 70 lbs. Supposedly it takes between 2 - 9 days, but I've found it's closer to 3 days. I'm not sure, but think it's just for anything shipped within the US.

[OneFairfaxRoad]

I usually ship larger items (vintage bread boards, vintage lifesavers) via FedEx Ground, which is usually cheaper than USPS and faster. You can set up an account with FedEx that provides discounts on shipping. Good luck!

[SageNThymeDesigns]

When I have to ship really bulky but light weight items I've found that Fed Ex ground is much cheaper than USPS Priority Mail if you have any dimension over 20". It's the only time I ever use Fed Ex. With a Fed Ex account number I think the more you use it the better the shipping discounts. At one point I think Etsy had a 'deal' with Fed Ex for slightly reduced shipping rates, so I'd dig through the Forums for more info on that option.

If you have the time Parcel Post would be a cheap option, but they can't guarantee a delivery window less than 9 days since they just put it on a truck. Parcel post for Hawaii and Alaska would take weeks as it's delivered by barge or driven through Canada. When I've shipped things to the East Coast via Parcel Post it's taken well over a week (I'm based in Colorado), so Fed Ex is way faster for the most part.