Advice on Shipping Options as a New “Professional” Seller

[joatuc_72]

Listen…….this burns my britches haha. I’ve recently started to really get serious about selling and I have about 8 average packages a day. What I have learned is that USPS is making me crazy. This could just be me, and please feel free to tell me that. 

Problems: 

1. I immediately print the label and take to the post office the same or next day. It’s taking over 7+ days in the USA to deliver. Every package is delayed. 
2. The prices are high. Yeah yeah. 

3. The people in the office act so rude it’s almost like they also work for the DMV. I’m not difficult. The packages are ready. Don’t be annoyed that I have a lot of them. 

So what are all you experts doing? Do you have accounts with other carriers (ie UPS) and you just update their shipping to use someone else at your cost? Is that something I can change in eBay without making my prices look too high? Help a girl out. 

[mr_lincoln · Accepted solution]

Hi @joatuc_72 

-Stop using Free Shipping

-Use the Calculated shipping setting and be accurate on your package weight for the item when you create the listing.  Get a scale if you don't have one.  Select  USPS and then print your labels through eBay.  Tracking is automatically updated to the sold item.  The Calculated setting lets Buyers see what they will have to pay YOU to ship to THEM.  Their paid shipping will be part of the order and when you print labels through eBay your discounted price is deducted from your account.

-If you don't have a printer select the QR code on the eBay label flow and let the Post Office print the labels for you via the QR code you take there on your mobile device.

-You get a discount when you print your labels through eBay for services other than USPS Media Mail.

-If you are paying for labels at the Post office you are not getting a discount AND you need to manually type in the tracking number on the transaction for your protection if a Buyer claims they did not receive their item.

-When you go to the Post Office with packages with pre-printed labels it takes little time for the clerk to scan them in. 

-While you have sold a lot getting started you only have 78 items for sale right now ... 

[buyselljack2016]

A "scan sheet" may make the disgruntled employes a bit less annoyed as they would only have to do one scan.

[caldreamer]

Don't use FedEx or UPS they are notorious for adding on huge "upcharges" after you print the label.   You get a bill demanding additional $50-$100.

USPS Ground Advantage is very slow takes about 7-10 days (cheapest price).   I always ship Priority Mail and customers don't mind paying for fast delivery.  

The problem with "slow delivery" is if customer opens "did not receive item" case against you (EBAY demands you provide tracking# proving the item was DELIVERED).   Otherwise, EBAY will force you to refund (purchase price + shipping).    If the package gets delivered "after you refunded the customer" (EBAY does NOT have a way for you to get paid....customer gets item for free).

EBAY holds Sellers responsible (including if package gets damaged during shipment).  EBAY always rules in favor of the customer.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

As @buyselljack2016 suggests, a scan sheet may help. But sometimes you are going to the wrong PO. There are poorly run POs with undisciplined, nasty employees who do a lousy job getting the mail upon its way.

There are POs, I will not use.

As for delays, sometimes sellers cause delay by how they pack and the quality of the labels they print.

[lakefor94]

@joatuc_72 

If you have expensive items or shipments you care about, use UPS Ground or UPS Ground Saver. 

USPS is a crapshoot these days at many distribution centers.

Using UPS, if you can accurately measure a shipment and have an accurate scale and can read it, you won't see any upcharges as another poster referred to. Just keep your boxes as squares or rectangles.  No Frankenstein shaped shipments.

No rocket science to it, though shipping does have a learning curve, if you can read a tape measure and a scale, you are good to go.

Come back to the Shipping forum here with any questions in the future.

[albertabrightalberta]

For the items you sell, USPS ground advantage offers the best prices.

[joatuc_72]

Thank you everyone! It sounds like I am already doing it the correct way (except for the few items I have flat rate selected, which I don’t know how I did that). I purchase the label on eBay, print it and attach myself and take it to the PO. I think I just need to drive a little further to a different PO. I did not know about the scan sheet, so I will do that. Thank you all so much! 

[mr_lincoln]

@joatuc_72 

You are more than welcome.

[conservitvs]

@joatuc_72 

If you are not already aware, USPS offers daily carrier pickups. No need to go to the PO. If you schedule them with your daily mail delivery, there is no charge for the service. 

My carrier picks up daily and scans everything right on the porch. We usually chat a bit as well.

And at Christmas, a gift card goes a long way too…

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi @joatuc_72 

I totally hear you about unhelpful PO personnel. I’ve had some over the years refuse to scan at the counter and insist on my dropping my packages in the outgoing bin for later scanning. This attitude improved once it became simpler for customers to print out a Scan form.

But the way i approached this overall was to make every effort to reverse that uncooperative trend. I Introduced myself to the PostMaster at my favorite (or most-used post offices) and cultivated friendly relations with the workers behind the counter. Just did as best i could, such as being on a first name basis, and making a point to show appreciation for their efforts on my behalf.

Over time, this went a long way towards improving their responsiveness. Postal workers are often at the mercy of a demanding general public, not an easy place to be at times—where a smile and thank you can be a welcome change.

Though not for everyone, I am also a proponent of using Priority over Ground Advantage. I roll all my costs into the item price and offer Free Shipping. This is strictly to improve the speed of transit, and to remove buyer questions and confusion about the high costs associated with shipping.

[12345jamesstamps]

I mail items cross country and they arrive 3-4 days...those without tracking.

With tracking...I will wait in line and use my own postage stamps and maybe a little extra from the post office.

I don't use eBay labels.

Haven't had anything lost in years.

Yea...you can get a tiny discount using eBay shipping labels...but...here's the big but...my business plan is 'repeat buyers'.

How do we obtain repeat buyers? Fast shipping. These buyers want their items immediately.

My base is 25+% repeat buyers.

Selling similar items in the same category that should be a base for sellers.

I don't offer quick shipping in my items for sale...however, I usually ship the next day.

This is where the feedbacks come in...'shipping was fast and quick' by my buyers.

As more and more sellers use eBay labels vs. post office postage...some say there is no difference in delivery.

I disagree...my items arrive usually quite quick...even International which really surprises me(even with tracking International).

Just my own experience...I suggest trying all shipping methods to get the fastest shipping...cost shouldn't be the factor...obtaining 'repeat buyers' is what you want in the long run.