What is the cheapest most efficient way to ship items.

[MountainGoth]

I just got back from the Post Office and I'm in a bit of sticker shock.

Most of my items are small and lightweight so they don't cost much to ship.

Today I had to mail an extra extra large hat, and I about fainted when the clerk at the post office told me how much the shipping was.

I'll admit I have been lazy in investigating other means of shipping. I have just been guessing with shipping charges using how much it has cost me for similar items in the past.

Guess it's time to get serious about it.

I'm wondering if there is a blog or something. Shipping for dummies.

I've always used the Post Office cause it was easy and convenient, but now I'm think maybe I should be using FedEx or UPS.

Any advise would be helpful.

Thanks,

Suzanne

[FalconandFinch]

I like the flat rate priority options. At least for domestic mail, if you know the item fits in the box, you know exactly how much shipping will cost.

[Untwistedsister]

you can go to www.USPS.com and figure out the shipping cost depending on the shipping options you choose. Try different ones. If you go through paypal to print your shipping label and pay there, you get a discount too.

[Untwistedsister]

PS - I found out that First Class mail in a padded envelope is the least expensive and still offers delivery confirmation for me.

[Former_Member]

I doubt if you will find any one cheaper than the USPS.

[Former_Member]

For really, really large items it's usually cheaper to use UPS or FedEx.

Otherwise, Parcel Post from USPS.

Flat Rate shipping is only a good deal if the item you're shipping is heavy.

Check out the calculator at www.usps.com.

[Former_Member]

MountainGoth,
I have worked for both UPS and FedEx. I have since been very familiar with USPS shipping rates. Here's my advice for you. Yes, any small items will be the cheapest with the USPS, however, if you are shipping anything bigger than a mail bubbler, then you need to go with any of the "parcel" companies. Between UPS and FeddEx, the differences are usually:
FedEx is moving ground shipments faster than UPS, and is significantly cheaper.
Here are the rates I compared last Thursday when shipping a 11x8.5x6 in. I insure all of my shipments, this is with insurance included, all rates are rounded up.
-USPS- $30
-UPS- $27
-FedEx Ground- $14

Let me know if I can be of any more help!

[Former_Member]

Thank you everyone for posting because I had the same questions. Trying to keep shipping reasonable to encourage sales. Thank you for asking, Suzanne, and thanks to everyone else for answering!

[MountainGoth]

Yes, thanks so much!

Sounds like keep with USPS for the small stuff, but if it's large time to go visit my friends at FedEx. No wonder Amazon uses them, it is quite a price difference.

[IslandPicnic]

Here's a USPS tip that I just implemented today myself - Print out your labels through PayPal. You get cheaper Delivery Confirmation ($0.19 vs $0.80 at the Post Office). Plus you pay online so you can just easily drop your stuff off at the P.O.

And I thought I read somewhere that if it's below a certain weight or size, you can actually just stick it in your mailbox to be picked up, but I don't know the details on that. Anyone know?

[Former_Member]

I use USPS flat rate priority all of the time, I ship jewelry, so not big items. It is 5.00 online, with tracking....it is actually cheaper to do it online, they waive the tracking fee of .70, they would charge that at the post office. Plus, I get mail carrier pickup, no charge, right in the mailbox, done and saves soooo much time to do more work :) You can do the mail carrier pickup right online when you are done printing your labels. so easy ....good luck

[Former_Member]

In answer to OrganiLuxe - I believe to leave something in your mailbox to be picked up, it needs to be smaller than 13oz. At least, that 's what the blue drop-off boxes say.

I'm not crazy about USPS, but they do seem to be the cheapest. Plus if your item isn't heavy, it's almost the same price to ship Priority as it is Parcel. And you can have Priority boxes shipped to your house for free and your items are picked up for free as well. Very convenient.

[BirdinHandVTG]

I leave a little note in my mailbox "Please pick up packages at door" and my mailman gets them on a daily basis. It's so easy just to print the labels at home and set them outside my door. And, yes, the free boxes as mentioned above.

[ScrapsofLuv]

For my USPS flat rate items: Small box and medium box, I schedule a pickup online and put it in or near my mailbox and the mail carrier takes it when my mail is delivered. Couldn't be easier. You also get confirmation emails, which I like, just in case there is ever mailing issue dispute.

[Former_Member]

Just popping in to throw in that you can actually request a pickup from USPS if it's priority mail and above which makes it pretty convenient: https://tools.usps.com/go/ScheduleAPickupAction!input.action

Also, you can request pickup through fed ex. You can even leave them instructions as to where to find the package (i.e. behind the chair on the porch) and you can request this service when filling out the label online. I used to do this all the time.

Hope this info can help someone!

[LaurasLastDitch]

I've just written a post about shipping. I'm quite frugal and have shipped around 12,000 items since I started selling online over eight years ago, so here's my take (it's a note on my Facebook page, since I do not have a blog) on saving money on shipping:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=10150278180017887&id=183416251560

[Former_Member]

Two cost saving tips. Print USPS label from online. It gives cheaper shipping rates and some cheaper options as well. And when you set up the pick up you save gas and frustration of sitting in a USPS line. Second tip is if you have a Paypal credit card, pay with your card to get cash back. Don't go directly thru paypal, you won't get the cash back. You have to go the shipping site and use you paypal card.

Also use your paypal card to pay your etsy bill and get some cash back each month too.

[PAPERFIBERS]

This is all great information, thank you so much for sharing!

[Former_Member]

Wow! I need to look into printing my labels with paypal. You all are full of great information. Does everyone always do delivery confirmation?

[LaurasLastDitch]

Greengarland, if you print with Paypal online, delivery confirmation is either free or $.18, depending on shipping method, so I always use it, unless I'm shipping something like a small appliance owner's manual that I can just put in an envelope with stamps and send with the lower letter rate. At that price, the extra assurance it gives buyers that you've truly sent their item is worth it.

[Former_Member]

For me paypal usps is cheapest. Buy sticker labels off ebay and print your own postage. You dont have to leave home and smaller items 1-3 ounces are only $1.75 to ship