Shipping options for large items?

[skeletonstore]

Recently I had a repeat customer want to purchase a pick up only item.  So I figured I could still ship it to him.  I saw no options on Ebay so went to USPS and couldn't believe the ridiculous prices of retail.  Then I went to the Ebay shipping calculator and forget about the fact USPS charges the same rate for 4th quality as "Priority" but it was still outrageous with like an 8% discount.  Then there was Fedex with a 50% discount.  How can this be?  In my experience though Fedex has always been cheaper for large box items.  For example I shipped a bicycle before at a very reasonable rate.  One problem is I had to travel a couple towns over. Now I notice they have more drop off locations but dropping a package off in a drug store?  Supermarket?  I also noticed in my area they're using budget rent a trucks or broken down old trucks.  Then I wonder about whether they're going to open up a custom box like UPS used to do and ruin my packaging.  We're talking the difference between $113 Priority vs $35 Fedex.  That's an astounding difference.  I also think it's a form of price gouging on the part of the USPS. Hard to tell which company is floundering more.  In my area workers are going to Amazon. They drive brand new vans and big trucks. The main problem in my area and some other can relate is high crime which makes pick up only a hard sell. UPS is no better than USPS. 

[candd205]

Interesting observations.

[rabites-n-chocobos]

You need to break this down and make it readable.

You just gave us one big block of unreadable text..

[dnasilver]

USPS is not set up for shipping large items. What does Amazon and new vans and "big" trucks have to do with anything? Sounds like you are complaining more about the area you live in than something about eBay. 

Hard to read what you wrote. It is not very clear.

[soh.maryl]

Maybe you did not know this, but the USPS has been floundering for years.  When any business is having a hard time, they often try to increase their income.  And, of course, the USPS has to buy gas for their vehicles just like the rest of us.  

Not sure how the vehicles driven by Amazon employees plays into this issue.  

[babsklassykloset]

Good day.  You may want to consider creating a FedEx account.  This affords you the option to "schedule a pick up" of your item which is very helpful, especially on larger items.

Their rates are better on large items, however, measure and weigh accurately or you will be billed the extra.

[bashort]

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@skeletonstore wrote:

Recently I had a repeat customer want to purchase a pick up only item.  So I figured I could still ship it to him.  I saw no options on Ebay so went to USPS and couldn't believe the ridiculous prices of retail.  Then I went to the Ebay shipping calculator and forget about the fact USPS charges the same rate for 4th quality as "Priority" but it was still outrageous with like an 8% discount.  Then there was Fedex with a 50% discount.  How can this be?  In my experience though Fedex has always been cheaper for large box items.  For example I shipped a bicycle before at a very reasonable rate.  One problem is I had to travel a couple towns over. Now I notice they have more drop off locations but dropping a package off in a drug store?  Supermarket?  I also noticed in my area they're using budget rent a trucks or broken down old trucks.  Then I wonder about whether they're going to open up a custom box like UPS used to do and ruin my packaging.  We're talking the difference between $113 Priority vs $35 Fedex.  That's an astounding difference.  I also think it's a form of price gouging on the part of the USPS. Hard to tell which company is floundering more.  In my area workers are going to Amazon. They drive brand new vans and big trucks. The main problem in my area and some other can relate is high crime which makes pick up only a hard sell. UPS is no better than USPS. 

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We use UPS for anything that weight over 5 pounds or so that will not fit in a regional rate box.

We do not have a good place to drop of FedEx locally, it involves going through the checkout line at the local dollar store that is very busy and we usually have several items.

The reason why UPS and Fedex are so much cheaper than USPS is simply that they are vastly more efficient than the USPS.

[luckythewinner]

Shipping options for large items?

So it sounds like the shipping options you have found so far seem to be: 

a) you charge $113 for Priority mail

b) you charge your buyer $35 for Fedex

c) you start your own delivery company

d) you just say no to your prospective buyer

Did you try UPS? Their trucks are brown and unattractive though. 

[tsme35]

Need to check size limits at drop off locations, I know UPS is limited to 16" at most of them.

[d-k_treasures]

I would bet that the 35.00 fed ex quote will end up being at least 135.00.

And remember - the USPS delivers everywhere. UPS and Fed Ex do not.

[fab_finds4u]

Be careful using FedEx. They add fuel surcharge that's not going to be shown when you calculate a shipping cost on FedEx.

2022 Complete Guide

https://www.bsxinsight.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-ship-a-bike

[titipeo]

You posted a lot of nothing, as nothing is related to the high cost of shipping a large parcel. USPS prefers to ship smaller items, that fit neatly in an envelope or one of their flat rate boxes, simple & easy. Anything larger will incur additional cost. Other carriers, UPS/FedEx are more than able to handle larger packages, however be careful when providing the dimensions and weight, always round up, in order to prevent dimensional charges. 12.2 is 13, and so on.

Your comments on Amazon, well, step back for a moment and think about this, 

Amazon has a sellers platform, Amazon has their own warehouses, distribution centers, Amazon has their  own vehicles and handle their own deliveries, Amazon has their own drop off locations for returns. Amazon is pretty much in control of everything that they handle. 

eBay has a sellers platform and that's it, you are the warehouse, you choose which carrier to use to deliver your package (USPS, UPS, FedEx), and there is no drop off location for returns because you have to send a label to your buyer, who will have to use a 3rd party carrier (USPS). In the end eBay is not in control of everything, and the seller neither. 

[titipeo]

I forgot to add, that if your buyer will like to return this item, the return cost is on you as well, so think it over if this item is worth sending. Any reason why you 2 can not meet half way for pick up?, minimizing the chances of damage. 

[deosil111]

Try ups ground. Don’t use ups store but go to the customer service location near you and ship ups ground. They charge dimensional weight so heavy small things will be assessed as larger. Ups store adds on their charge, don’t use em.

[toysaver]

FedEX and UPS are notorious for only providing estimates when you purchase a label and adjusting the cost to double and triple after you've shipped.  The PO is far better in this regard. 

From the standpoint of any shipper it's the dimensional size that matters.   If they have a 15x15x15 inch box shipping for $30 and that same 15x15x15 inch space in a delivery truck can be filled by 10 smaller packages shipping for $150 which makes more business sense?  Hench, the 15x15x15 inch space should cost the same as 10 smaller packages.  Five years ago it didn't used to cost as much but with fuel costs and the increased volume of shipped goods prices finally caught up.