Shipping and boxes

[20hawk04]

I sell a variety of items and I’m considering going to all priority shipping and or buying boxes. What is the most economical?  I started out priority and buyers keep asking for cheaper slow shipping I’m at a crossroads. Any advice is appreciated 

[katzrul15]

We do some of both Priority and 1st class parcel.  I do some media, but no parcel post any more.

Have been resourcing boxes from CVS and Walgreens - smaller ones from health and beauty.  Kind of a hassle to go ask, etc, but nice sturdy boxes, etc.  If you use e-Bay shipping, you can do 1st class up to 15oz range, etc.  Nice savings.

[stainlessenginecovers]

You sell practically nothing that can be shipped any way cheaper than USPS Priority; so not sure what buyers think they want. 

If you have something under 16oz; it can go USPS 1st Class, but you have to provide the box/envelope.

Priority- USPS gives free boxes, so that is a savings. You can order them from the USPS website. 

Obviously buying your own boxes will cost you money, so again-if shipping Priority, no reason to do that. 

Tell any customer that wants something shipped 'cheaper' to pound sand (of course, in a nice way, but bottom line; shipping is expensive and those that want to sit home and buy stuff will have just suffer the costs). 

[reallynicestamps]

As long as the shipping service is TRACKED you retain your Seller Protection.

Do not agree to use a cheaper service that does not include tracking.

https://postcalc.usps.com/Business/Index

You might also consider using Calculated Shipping which will adjust the cost to the buyer automatically based on her zipcode.

[slati_2013]

There is no such thing as "cheap, slow" shipping. Some buyers seem to think the USPS offers a shipping service that is cheap and slow. The right Priority Mail box is your best bet. If the shipping address is in a zone near you, it might be cheaper to use your own box and ship Priority Mail. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@reallynicestamps wrote:

As long as the shipping service is TRACKED you retain your Seller Protection.

Do not agree to use a cheaper service that does not include tracking.....

---

All USPS package postage automatically includes tracking (formerly known as Delivery Confirmation ) at no additional cost.

[collectfest]

On items the qualify for 1st class I always use it with exception of high value items.

I've had no issues using 1st class. In my experience, packages have been arriving as quickly as priority mail. Having said that I do a professional job shipping, bubble wrap, peanuts etc.

[bbravo65]

...just a friendly reminder that when weighting the package, make sure to weight the completely wrapped, packed, and taped package, not only the item to avoid any possible Postage Due...

...due to COVID-19, many Mail Carriers refuse to knock on door and ask for money (mostly in cash)...they would rather return the package back to sender...the majority of receivers don't like to pay the Postage Due as it wasn't their mistakes...also senders still have to pay for that Postage Due when receiving back their returned packages then, buying another correct shipping postage to re-send...it's such a hassles...!

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@slati_2013 wrote:

There is no such thing as "cheap, slow" shipping. Some buyers seem to think the USPS offers a shipping service that is cheap and slow.... 

---

The new USPS rates that went into effect on January 9 include some decreases in the cost of Parcel Select Ground shipping which make it significantly cheaper then Priority Mail.

For instance, shipping 3 pounds to Zone 8 costs $17.74 via Priority Mail, but only $12.25 via Parcel Select.

You can compare prices using eBay's shipping calculator tool.  

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

[monica-sells]

You have a neat array of 'stuff' there....it is definitely not 1 size fits all....

The best way for much of it under 15.9 ounces is calculated 1st Class (if its within 3 zones of you...after that, you might as well switch to Priority Mail Flat Rate to get the free insurance) If memory serves me right it's like 7 bucks coast-to-coast 1st Class @ 12 ounces and just .80 cents more for Priority Flat Rate...

Anything over 50 bucks I would ship Priority Flat Rate for the free insurance....In many cases, I add a few bucks to the item and offer Priority Shipping cheaper than list price and point that out...(discounted Priority blah...blah)

Like I said though, you definitely have a diverse item list with lots of different sizes/weights, so you are probably going to have to use multiple resources....

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@monica-sells wrote: ... The best way for much of it under 15.9 ounces is calculated 1st Class (if its within 3 zones of you...after that, you might as well switch to Priority Mail Flat Rate to get the free insurance) If memory serves me right it's like 7 bucks coast-to-coast 1st Class @ 12 ounces and just .80 cents more for Priority Flat Rate.........

---

Shipping 15.99 ounces s a First Class package to Zone 8 costs $6.28 and $9.68 via Priority.   Priority Mail starts at $7.75 for the basic original Flat Rate envelope.  Here are the current online rates for a First Class packages; not sure how you decided on that Zone 3 boundary.

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

[fashunu4eeuh]

---

@20hawk04 wrote:

I sell a variety of items and I’m considering going to all priority shipping and or buying boxes. What is the most economical?  I started out priority and buyers keep asking for cheaper slow shipping I’m at a crossroads. Any advice is appreciated 

---

This is why i do free shipping. Then there is no need for such discussions with the buyer. It is all rolled into one price.

I am a small seller with mainly vintage and antique items (plus some designer duds). They are generally unique so free shipping works well when i am determining price on my items. I don’t know if it would be as feasible if i were selling commodity-type items.

[dhaga]

My MO is to buy brand new boxes from Uline for most of my shipping of similar sized items I sell. The advantage of new boxes is they come flat packed so storing them is easier and they are very sturdy (they have not been beat up). For small non fragile and light items I buy "lightweight" boxes and I can get many of my items to ship at under 8 oz. Above 8 oz is a tipping point that bumps up the shipping cost quite a bit. My tip is to play a lot with the shipping calculator and various weights and box sizes and compare services. A days worth of work playing with hypotheticals will really pay off in helping plan for which box sizes will get you better shipping rates. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     As others pointed out there is no one single best method for shipping and a lot of it depends on what your are shipping, size, weight and distance it is traveling. I very seldom use flat rate boxes but I do use a lot of padded flat rate envelopes and flat rate regular envelopes. It's amazing what you can fit into those and still pack the item securely. I just sent 17 pounds of lead solder to a buyer in Japan in a padded flat rate envelope.  About the only time I use flat rate boxes is when I determine in advance that there is no other cost efficient method by which I can ship the item. I have shipped some VERY heavy items 30, 40 and 50 pounds in a flat rate box that could not have shipped cheaper and/or faster or slower any other way. 

     There is a break point where UPS ground becomes more cost efficient than USPS but again it depends on the variables noted above. If you use UPS I would suggest you purchase the labels somewhere other than through eBay. The eBay UPS charges are only estimates and there have been issues with sellers getting hit with unilateral add on charges from UPS once the item is in transit or delivered. I ship UPS on occasion and always purchase those labels through Pirate Ship.. The regional rate boxes (A and B) are still priority mail but are more cost efficient than flat rate boxes or regular calculated priority mail. There is also Priority Mail Cubic which eBay does not offer but can also be obtained from Pirate Ship. 

     When it comes to shipping it's more of learning from experience than it is trying to find a solution in a book. You are on the east coast so distance is a big factor when it comes to shipping some of your items especially those that may head across country. 

     You may want to check out the USPS web site they have a lot of different size shipping boxes you can obtain free of charge. 

[714ricki]

It really depends on what you're selling & the weight of the item.

All of my items weigh less than a pound. Therefore, I order corrugated boxes or jiffypack mailers. A good corrugated box can cost you about $0.50-0.80 per box & a jiffypack mailer will cost you about $0.15 per envelope. A lot of selles use polymailers which will cost you about $0.10-0.15 per mailer. 

If your items will weigh more than a pound than have a good supply of the different priority mail boxes, mailers, & envelopes which can be ordered free of charge from the USPS. Just make sure you having packing material in case the boxes are too big for your item.

Regarding the type of shipping, you need to dictate what shipping options are available to the buyer & move forward. Try not to let them force you to a lesser service. As a seller, you need tracking & a prompt delivery. For the cost, USPS 1st class mail is still very good value. However, the cost has escalated over the years. 

My recommendation is to charge the buyers a fair shipping and handling rate. If the buyer complains, then don't lose any sleep over it. Most buyers will pay for the shipping. However, they have been very accustomed to receive free shipping. Hold your ground & offer them a fair shipping rate. You will be OK.