How can you ship stuff when you have a job?

[chrispass918]

I don't sell that much anymore but I just realized that with my job I can literally never go to the post office, my job is from 7:30am to 4:30pm and my brother will be starting some technician school in a month and everyone else in my family also has a job, I don't want my buyers to have to wait till Saturday when ever I decide to ship something. 

[dhbookds]

If you use USPS........you should be able to get daily pickups at your home.......check their website for details.  I would use a 3 day handling time at first to gauge how reliable it will be........and would also try to talk to my carrier about how important it is to you to get the pickups......and reinforce that with minor gifts along the way.

[2013grotz · Accepted solution]

Use electronic shipping purchases (Pirate Ship, USPS Click-N-Ship, Ebay) and print the resulting postage on your printer.  Then if your post office is anything like mine, there's a parcel drop in the lobby that's accessible at all hours.  So, personally, I've never really gone to the post office to ship any package that I didn't have some special concern with otherwise.

Course, if you don't have a printer, it may be a good time to get one.  If it's a family under one roof and you don't have the printer, it may be useful to the brother with the technician school if he has to do writing or anything formal he has to turn in.

[7606dennis]

I'm not quite understanding what you are asking.  You are operating a business selling on eBay and have the responsibility to get your customer's purchases to them.  If your regular job prevents this you may have to face the fact that holding down a regular job and operating an online sales business may not be compatible.

[thesilkfrog]

You can request the post office to pick up your packages. It's an option when purchasing postage or from the USPS website. I've been using it for a few years. Just tell the postman where to find it, and they scan it when they pick it up. I also get text messages to track the pickup and deliveries. 

[stuff4divas]

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@chrispass918 wrote:

I don't sell that much anymore but I just realized that with my job I can literally never go to the post office, my job is from 7:30am to 4:30pm and my brother will be starting some technician school in a month and everyone else in my family also has a job, I don't want my buyers to have to wait till Saturday when ever I decide to ship something. 

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I had a full time job that I kept for 2 years b4 feeling confident enough to quit that job and go full time with eBay.

During those 2 years, I sold on eBay as well, but in a limited capacity. When I got home and had a sale(s), I would package it/them up and bring it to my work's drop off location for packages.

Your workplace should have such a system since they must receive mail there.

As mentioned, you can also have free USPS pick up. Just give them your work address for the pick up.

[chrispass918]

Thanks, I'll shall see if my post office has that. Fortunately I do have a printer, if I didn't I don't think id sell most of the stuff I've sold. 

[krazzykats]

When I worked, I also would pack them up the night before and drop them off during my lunch hour the next day.

[soh.maryl]

Not sure what your goal was in posting your dilemma here.  Nevertheless, several eBayers have given you suggestions for your problem.  

Were we supposed to say, "Oh, that's too bad, guess you won't be selling any more"? 

[nuclearomen]

other have mentioned USPS Pick Up - but I want to make clear something no one else has on this. First you need to make a Pick Up Request on USPS(dot)com - and that request MUST be put in before 2am EST (Eastern Standard Time) - so say I need a package to go out and that needs to be picked up tomorrow, that Pick Up Request must be placed at USPS by (preferably before) 2AM for them to accept the following day date. Next - If you/no one at your residence will be home you need to place those packages where USPS can get them - if you do not have a secure location leaving them outside your door in area populated can result in stolen packages - so MAKE SURE you leave them in a semi secure area if possible (enclosed porch for example). You must make a note on that request where the carrier can locate the package, if the option isn't on there (such as door etc...) you must type it in, if it isn't clear where the package(s) are they will not pick them up. Last USPS DOES NOT provide recipes of proof of pick up - if USPS looses any packages you basically out of luck they will not take any responsibility for it. Same goes with using USPS Drop Off box at any USPS location (if provided) - it's always best to bring package to the counter and get a receipt - your choice though.  

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Options:

list your items with longer handling time so you can get to the USPS on Saturday morning to ship

I would not schedule a porch pick-up from the USPS (porch pirates)

You could always list as pick-up only

shipping from your workplace needs to be approved by management. If it is a small business, it is probably okay, but a major corporation, I would say a no!

[toysaver]

My post office has a door I can knock on when the counter is closed to hand the loot over.  Yours might do the same.  As long as employees are in the back they will be obliging.

[chrispass918]

Thanks 

[chrispass918]

And I meant sell instead of ship. Cause my stuff always sells pretty quickly when I do decide to sell something. 

[sextons-sweet-deals]

If you live in what I call a high populated area, your post office may have a 24/7 self-service kiosk with secure drop box inside for small packages