Cubic Shipping - Pirate Ship Question

[southern*sweet*tea]

So I joined Pirate Ship to check out the cubic shipping. I notice it seems to apply to bagged items, or so it seems.

I have a stack of magazines (11x8x2, weight 6 pounds) tightly overwrapped with plastic. If I put those in a poly mailer would those qualify? Or would they be too stiff? I'm sort of confused on the whole cubic thing and what it applies to - boxes, bags or both.

Thanks in advance

[slippinjimmy]

Size & weight are the only things that matter for cubic pricing. Basically it's the reverse of dimensional weight, small but heavy get a discount rather than light & large which get a surcharge.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

Size & weight are the only things that matter for cubic pricing. Basically it's the reverse of dimensional weight, small but heavy get a discount rather than light & large which get a surcharge.

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aaahhh, got it!

Your explanation flipped the switch, the lightbulb came on

So far every boxed item I tried didn't qualify for cubic. Maybe they were too big, or not heavy enough lol

[moo*cow*corner]

There's separate rates for bag and boxes.

Size limit for bags is longest side of the bag cannot be over 18".

Size limit for boxes is max 864 cubic inches (LxWxH).

This page has some good info...
https://www.pirateship.com/usps/priority-mail-cubic

[moo*cow*corner]

For your mags...I'd cut 2 sheets of cardboard (with rounded corners) a bit bigger than your bundle of mags, make a sandwich and slip the whole thing in a polymailer. Seal it up, then tape in the middle all the way around, once in each direction. Slap on the label and I think they should be fine.

[southern*sweet*tea]

@moo*cow*corner 

Thank you for the link, it explains a lot!

[no_zero369]

So what are the costs to use Pirate Ship?

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

So what are the costs to use Pirate Ship?

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None, it's free.

[tunicaslot]

Pirate ship right now is free for users. They do have different programs that business can sign up for to include return labels ect that due cost a seller - but it's not necessary to enroll in one of those to use the site.

To qualify for their simple export rate for mailing overseas - you do have to contact them and ask them to include you in the program. This helps a bunch with the overseas ship costs.

sweet - glad to see you're giving it a try and moo thank you for the link!

[remote_controls_and_more]

Use these 

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-tyvek-envelope---ep14-P_EP_14

These ship at .2 cubic rate. And they are free from USPS 

[no_zero369]

Thanks for the reply!  How is that sustainable?

How come eBay doesn't find these kinds of shipping deals for the sellers here?  Aren't they making enough money selling us the label at commercial and buying it at commercial plus rates?

[mangorunner]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Thanks for the reply!  How is that sustainable?

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That's a good question and one I'm pondering, as well.  What is in it for Pirate Ship to provide a website and USPS rates at cost?  What's in it for them?  What are they getting in return?  Data collection?  Something else that I've overlooked?

[berserkerplanet]

Pretty sure PC Postage outfits like PirateShip, Pitney Bowes, Stamp.com get negotiated rates via NSAs that give them some wiggle room (profit).

[dtexley3]

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@mangorunner wrote:

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Thanks for the reply!  How is that sustainable?

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That's a good question and one I'm pondering, as well.  What is in it for Pirate Ship to provide a website and USPS rates at cost?  What's in it for them?  What are they getting in return?  Data collection?  Something else that I've overlooked?

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Where I work (not the post office), we manage funds we receive from the state to benefit our customers.  We get a specific small admin rate off the top that we are allowed to keep for operating expenses.  I imagine these Postage vendors have a similar contract.  The most likely get to keep 8-10% of the money received for each label purchased.  (The percentage may be less or more, but for most of the governmental related contracts that I've seen across multiple sectors 8-10% is the norm.)