Shipping Questions

[Former_Member]

Recently I made my first sale and learned a lot about shipping charges. Does anyone use the flat rate boxes through the USPS? How do you like them? I'm leaning toward using those so I know what shipping will be instead of guessing and then having to eat the difference out of my profit.

Do buyers get offended or think badly of a seller if they use something like a shoe box wrapped in brown paper or package the item wrapped in newspaper? I would like to reuse the tons of boxes that we get at my work (mostly from Office Depot), but if that would prevent a buyer from comming back or make them think I'm a cheepskate I don't want that. I just want to prevent the boxes from being thrown in the trash.

Thanks for the advice.

[Former_Member]

It completely depends on what you're shipping and how heavy it is. If you have a small heavy item, then the flat rate boxes are the way to go. the Usps website has a really useful feature to figure out shipping. http://postcalc.usps.com/ When you get to the point where it shows the different shipping options and price, they show the most expensive first. If you expand the menu at the bottom you'll usually see the cheapest. I use a kitchen scale to weigh my packages and haven't had any issues.

As long as the boxes are in good shape I don't see a problem with reusing them. Everything I have is less than 13oz so I'm able to ship first class in a poly mailer bag for pretty cheap. Uline sells boxes and bags for a good price and you can find them on ebay in smaller quantities. that's where I got mine.

[Former_Member]

I only use the flat rate boxes with heavy items - usually that's the only time it pays off. Otherwise, I reuse boxes (which nobody has frowned upon) and mail the items out parcel post w/ insurance and tracking/signature confirmation. You might want to invest in a digital scale. You can find them cheap off of amazon & reuse the amazon box when afterward! :)

[Former_Member]

Yes, I do use the USPS flat rate boxes but only when they are the best value for the money.

I can't justify charging a customer $5.00 flat rate shipping to ship a very lightweight item.

If you have a simple scale you can easily determine the weight of every package and hence determine the correct shipping charges.

There is nothing wrong with recycling clean boxes but I would refrain from using newsprint as a packing material. Not only is it dirty but its also heavy!

[Former_Member]

My items are heavy - log and concrete items - so I only use the USPS. If you set up an account online with the USPS, the shipping is cheaper and free tracking. I either charge $6, $11 or $15.

[Former_Member]

I have a lot of large items [mirrors, wall shelves, large frames, etc] so unfortunately I cannot utilize the flat rate boxes, however, I do always wonder how customers view receiving an item in a used box. Honestly, I would be slightly turned of from it as a customer. But I like the fact that a box is being recycled. I know, makes no sense.
I can tell you that finding shipping boxes has been my biggest hurdle thus far. I sell refinished vintage, so I never know what I'm going to find. My items are all different sizes. So it's not like I can buy 25 boxes and they will fit everything. I have nightmares about shipping boxes. ;)

[GoTo]

For small items like your jewelry, you can send them for less via First Class--even after paying for the bubble mailers & jewelry boxes to protect your goods.

We only use the flat rate boxes when they are a better deal, and for anything but the small flat rate box & envelopes, that means items over 2 lbs.

Invest $20 in a scale (cheap online on amazon or ebay, or in-person at places like walmart) and it'll pay for itself when you print postage online and save on the postage rates and delivery confirmation.

Help for setting accurate rates once you know the weight of your items in the packaging they'll be shipped in:


~~Shipping Basics~~
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/10577585

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

It looks like most of your items are jewelry, which is very lightweight and would only cost you $1.64 to ship through Paypal using a smaller bubble envelope. You could get away with charging the buyer $3.00 for shipping to cover the cost of actual postage and the envelope. If you get yourself a small scale you don't have to guess on shipping charges. I got mine on Ebay but Walmart sells them too.

[Former_Member]

Like pretty much everyone else has said, flat rate is only worth it if the item is heavy enough to warrant.

Small items / light items - really anything under 12 ounces is best shipped USPS First Class Parcel. It's been the best value for my dollar, every single time. $1.95 for almost anything within the continental US.

[GoTo]

BeachPlumCottage--if you purchase your labels online through Paypal or Etsy, that $1.95 comes down to $1.64 and includes delivery confirmation.

[Former_Member]

I use flat rate when I have a multiple of items. I don't use those bubble mailers as I really don't have the need. I got the poly bags because of weather. Also go to the dollar store to get tissue. I get my tissue there for all of my packages.

[Former_Member]

GoTo: Don't you have to print them at home though? I don't have a printer / ink.

Even a cheap-o printer is about $50 and the toner cartridge is INSANELY expensive for such a tiny little thing. True, the price break works if you have a working printer at home / factor the cost of toner into your business, but I don't :(

[vw53]

I have a sale to Australia. I put 7.00 for shipping. So far what I found is 38.00 for shipping. Help!!!
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Vicky

[Former_Member]

Vicky, you don't say what it is you've sold - anything under 4 lbs can be shipped First Class International - 4 lbs being a bit over $30.00. If you're using the International Calculator at USPS.com, they always list the Global Express and Priority prices first, with the First Class prices kind of hidden in a drop down menu.

If your item is over 4 lbs, then yes, it's going to be expensive to ship to Australia.

[vw53]

My item should be about 10 oz
Does Australia need a customs form?
I have never sold outside the US before.
Thanks,
Vicky

[GoTo]

vw53-the link I posted on page 1 has help for your shipping questions.

[vw53]

Thank you, I was just reading there.

[vw53]

Still having trouble. The site only gives me two options express and priority. The item only cost 18.00 so I don't want to pay more for the shipping than the item itself. It si crazy!

[GoTo]

vw53--Paypal and USPS only offer labels for Priority & faster services for international orders, but the blog post also tells you how to print out First Class International labels, you'll need stamps to cover the postage.

[GoTo]

BeachPlumCottage says
GoTo: Don't you have to print them at home though? I don't have a printer / ink....


~~~Sorry--missed your post earlier. You do have to print them at home, but the savings really do add up and it saves tons of time & energy shipping from home--it's a worthy investment.

If you don't have a printer, you can often get one for free from friends/family who get a new computer that comes with a printer or when they upgrade their old one. Often folks will give away their old one when they get a new computer bundle, or if their old one is a good printer they'll give away the cheap-o free one that came with their new computer.

If none of your friends/family have an extra, you can try groups like Freecycle ( http://www.freecycle.org ) or search Yahoo groups for Freeshare and find folks in your local area that are getting rid of things they don't need. (The idea is to recycle used but usable goods rather than having them end up in a landfill.) You can even post requests for items you need.

As far as ink, most printers will use refilled ink cartridges just fine & that's much less expensive--you can get them refilled at local stores (like Walgreens) or you can get inkjet refill kits online real cheap and use them to refill a working cartridge yourself two or three times for around $10. That'll keep you in labels for months.