What's your preferred shipping method?

[Circe]

I am a grown woman with multiple degrees, and yet, the post office foils me every time. Yesterday, I tried buying postage online, wound up affixing it to the wrong box, and then had to go through the line three times to make sure that I had the right packaging, signature confirmation, sufficient insurance, etc.

There's got to be an easier way.

Anybody got an idiot-proof system for shipping? Tips on the best options available via PayPal's automated shipping link to USPS?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

No, I haven't figured it all out, either. The best I've come up with is taking the item pre-wrapped to the post office and weighing it there and saying it'll be shipped to FL (which is about as far away from me as can be calculated) and seeing what it comes in at and using that as the amount for an auction. When I was selling many things on eBay, I went to the Post Office and grabbed a big stack of all the relevant forms so I could fill them out at home.

Overall, though, I've found often I end up underestimating and paying part of the shipping. I was selling on Amazon for a while and quit because of they calculate the postage and it ALWAYS came out wrong. Amazon credits the same amount if I'm shipping to Oregon or if I'm shipping to NY and it seemed like all the buyers lived across the country.

ETA - sorry, I just vented....ahhhh! Postage = nightmare

 

[TC1987]

ebay, PayPal, and the USPS should never ever have been allowed in bed together. They are an Unholy Trinity of incestuous pickpockets. Parcel Post = Standard Post now, but you can't buy Standard Post via PayPal or the USPS online, yet. Who knows when. So schlepp those big boxes to the Post Office, y'all. Delivery confirmation is now included. (Don't say the USPS never gave you anything...) A First Class package can't be too big, nor can it weigh more than 13 oz. -- It has to be "just right." What is so hard about that? And ebay and PayPal and USPS have cooked up some new product called "Parcel Select" which you can include in the calculated shipping option for your ebay item, and the customer can select it, but this new service doesn't actually exist yet and will not exist before March. So if you allow it as an option, you'll probably lose even more money on shipping because all of the shipping options that you actually can buy, will cost more than imaginary vaporware Parcel Select rate. If you want insurance, and want the buyer to pay that cost, then figure out the cost and put it in as "handling fee." If buyers complain, say it's for expenses like box, padding,tape, and transportation to get it to whatever customer counter. Don't say "insurance."

In the midst of all this turmoil and postal rate/class struggle, once PayPal gave me a lower rate for Priority Mail than for Parcel Post, back when they still had Parcel Post, just before the Jan 27 changes. So I took that option and got a deal. :eek Twice since Jan 27, Priority Mail has cost exactly the same as Standard Post at the Post Office counter.

If you read that and thought "What a pita to figure out," you are right, it is a pita.

 

[purplesparklies]

Wish I could help. I absolutely detest having to go to the post office. I would much rather pay extra at our local independently owned UPS store. So much easier. So much more friendly. No lines. Love it! I only use the post office to ship boxes to my sister who is deployed overseas. Military packages must be shipped vis USPS. :-/

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I now only ship via fedex, express mail, or priority flat rate...everything else seems insanely complicated and I HATE it no matter what shipping method I chose. In NYC, I ship nothing and only use courier service...

 

[Loves Vintage]

And ebay and PayPal and USPS have cooked up some new product called "Parcel Select" which you can include in the calculated shipping option for your ebay item, and the customer can select it, but this new service doesn't actually exist yet and will not exist before March. So if you allow it as an option, you'll probably lose even more money on shipping because all of the shipping options that you actually can buy, will cost more than imaginary vaporware Parcel Select rate.

TC1987 - I've been selling quite a bit of non-jewelry items on ebay. I read about this Parcel Select business as well. I *thought* I read that you could ship via Parcel Select, but you have to go to the Post Office to do so. Do you know? I was actually going to bring a package in this morning to ask, but relented, and just shipped Priorty Mail anyway. Easier than making the stop into the PO.

Circe - I too used to have major issues with figuring out all of these shipping options. I think it's the type of thing that the more you do it, the easier it is. Here are my thoughts! I have two, actually.

1. Priority Flat Rate Padded Envelope - https://store.usps.com/store/browse...roductId=P_EP14PE&categoryId=subcatMSS_E_Free These envelopes, no matter what you put in them or how much they weigh, so long as they fit, will ship anywhere in the US for a flat rate. The rate seems to change every now and again. It used to be $5.10, but with the recent postage increases, I believe it is now $5.90. These envelopes ARE NOT typically available at your post office, though they *might* have some behind the counter, if you ask. They are not stocked with all of the other priority mail supplies. You can, however, order them on-line through the above link. It will take good while before they reach you, however. Plan for 10-14 days, but once you have them, you can just pack your items, print your lable, and drop in your maibox or at the post office. As a sidenote, I think you are not supposed to put priority mail envelopes in the blue PO boxes, but I was doing that before I realized, and they took it anyway.

You should be able to purchase insurance via paypal, and delivery confirmation is included.

2. First Class Mail and the Polymailer - If your item weighs 13 oz or less, you can ship via first class mail, which will always be less expensive than your other choices. You could put your item in a small box, and then in a polymailer like one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/35-SHIPPING...4?pt=BI_Mailers_Envelopes&hash=item4abad37b5a Of course, you could use whatever packaging you wish, but the polymailers don't weigh very much, and their self-sealing ends are just too easy!

I hope this helps! It sounds like you may have been trying to use some flat rate priority mail boxes from the post office? It can be very confusing, but I have really found it to be much simpler to print labels from home. The best shipping scenario is when I don't have to visit the PO at all!!

 

[TC1987]

No, I'm not shipping jewelry. It's mostly other stuff like auto parts and saddles and dishes and collectibles, etc. that needs larger boxes.

Parcel Select is a commercial customer thing that can't be purchased at the counter. It will be offered by ebay/PayPal but not until March. I guess all sellers would be under ebay's umbrella. I asked about Parcel Select locally and was told No.
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/usps_introduces_parcel_select_regional_ground_service/ < Link to when that service debuted.

 

[perry]

I can't help with the USPS; but to actually answer your question....

My preferred shipping method is Personal Delivery by a "stunning" looking person who has a positive attitude and can engage in an intelligent conversation.

Not cheap; but, satisfying.

Perry

 

[Dee*Jay]

I can't help with the USPS; but to actually answer your question....

My preferred shipping method is Personal Delivery by a "stunning" looking person who has a positive attitude and can engage in an intelligent conversation.

Not cheap; but, satisfying.

Perry

I would gladly stand in line and pay good money for that! What form do I use?!?

 

[lindacat]

I have no issues with either USPS or UPS - HOWEVER, FedEx is a nightmare!!! Depending on what the shipper requires (half the time it is a standard set up ahead of time that they are not even aware of!!), they require a signature from ME only, and I cannot change the shipping address once it is shipped. So what happens? Even though I tell them I am not at home during the day, they have to drive all the way to my house and attempt delivery for 3 days anyway!! Only after their 3 futile attempts at delivery can I try to pick it up at the FedEx center, which is a 50" drive for me each way! I have SO many issues with that company - don't they "get" that people are not at home during the day and have to work? I have never seen a more customer -UNfriendly company in my life! Anymore, if a company cannot guarantee to me that they will be using UPS or USPS, I will not order from them. Amazon is notorious for not knowing how items are going to be shipped - so several times I have just ordered things elsewhere.

 

[April20]

What do you need to ship? I've sent about 3,000 packages via USPS in the last 14 months.... I can probably help navigate a bit if I have an idea of the package size.

Here's a quick cheaters guide:

USPS 1st Class Flat / Large Envelope: This is when you have an oversize envelope. Not a standard size. It cannot be more than 3/4" thick. Basically, if you have a bunch of papers to send and stick it in a big manila envelope, this is how you mail it.

USPS 1st Class Package: This is an envelope that is more than 3/4" thick and LESS than 13 oz. There are some maximums on your overall dimensions, but basically any bubble mailer falls into this category. If you purchase your USPS 1st Class Package label thru Paypal, you will pay the commercial rate. Right now, that $1.69 for 3oz and less. It's about a 30 cent savings over the post office retail price. They also automatically print the delivery confirmation number on the label.

If your bubble mailer is 13 oz and up, you probably want to send Priority Mail. I believe you can also send Parcel Post (aka Standard Post as I think they call it now), but the cost for Priority is pennies more and gets there much, much more quickly.

If you're trying to send a box, you have a few options and this is where it gets confusing.

You can use your own packaging and send via Priority or Parcel Post (or standard or whatever it's called now) Via USPS, you can use their box and send either flat rate (small, medium, large). They also have regional rate boxes. You'd have to look the regions up online. Once again, if you can buy the postage via Paypal, you get the commercial rate which is savings.

If you're sending international, rates basically doubled as of January 27. IE, a 1 oz bubble mailer to Canada used to be $3.00. Now it's $6.16 (if you pay the commercial rate).

ETA: if you need to insure your package, DO NOT insure thru USPS. If the package is marked "delivered" in their system and never makes it to the destination, they don't have to honor your claim. Insure any packages thru a 3rd party insurer like ShipSaver. Much easier to deal with and provides you with better coverage.

 

[kenny]

My preferred shipping method is to stand in line at the post office and send a package the cheapest and slowest way possible.

 

[TC1987]

FedEx has a hold for pickup option. But the shipper has to specify that. So, tell the seller that you want it hold. I had GOG do that for my diamonds, and I went to UPS and picked them up.