Shipping

[rlradski]

Brand new seller. What do most sellers do? Take their packages to USPS, have USPS pickup, stick your packages in a blue mailbox close by?  Just wondering as I start, will I be driving to post office daily once off the ground? Can I get a same day pickup from USPS?  Thank you for helping!!! 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@rlradski wrote:

I agree! I should have clarified. I have seen scanned items lost by the PO and you know they are there somewhere…. In the Twighlight Zone!  People getting things 3 months after mailed. That’s what I meant. I will NEVER leave an unattended package! I’ve been a victim of the pirates! Thank you for your concern. Everyone needs to heed that warning!

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Gotcha.  Well, if you won't leave unattended pkgs, not sure how you'll do a pickup?  Honestly, I used to leave unattended pkgs daily for years, it wasn't a problem in my hood, but everyone needs to make that assessment for themselves.   

People getting things 3 months after they've been mailed?  That's rare.  It did happen more during COVID.  Look, I've been a daily shipper for over a decade.  In all that time, exactly 2 pkgs have not shown up.  It's very rare.   That's not what you need to worry about.  99% of my pkgs arrive in 2-3 days.  Ship within your handling time & get your Acceptance scan, that's what you need to worry about.   

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@rlradski wrote:

If you saw my OCD comment, you know what my daily drive will be! I too, will be keeping a log of miles for tax purposes.  I need that acceptance receipt! Thank you!

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FYI, the APC Kiosk does provide a receipt, either printed or emailed. 

[Anonymous]

I use eBay shipping to save money but my printer broke several years ago so now I opt for QR code sent to my phone. I use the Self Service machine at my PO which I can access 24 hrs a day plus weekends.  I get a label and receipt and pkgs go into the bin. No human contact. 

[a_c_green]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I use eBay shipping to save money but my printer broke several years ago so now I opt for QR code sent to my phone. I use the Self Service machine at my PO which I can access 24 hrs a day plus weekends.  I get a label and receipt and pkgs go into the bin. No human contact. 

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I agree. The one thing I would add here is to check that the drop chute will open and close before you scan the package for dropoff, because there's nothing more infuriating than getting the kiosk Acceptance scan, then discovering that you can't actually get the package into the drop chute because some knucklehead has clogged it with a bunch of earlier mailings. 

This would happen most often on Sundays at our local PO, and I complained long and loud about it in their on-line Comments form (since it was obvious from parked cars and general noise from in back that there were people back there at least in the daytime on weekends and some holidays). They seem to have improved their periodic checks for overflowing bins now.

[dbfolks166mt]

     I have not purchase my labels off eBay in a long time but I use Pirate Ship which has about the same, sometimes better, discounted rates as eBay. I also pay for those labels with a cash back credit card so that is a nice bonus. 

     I always drop items at the post office and have the items scanned and weighted by a post office official and obtain a receipt that has the weight and the tracking number. I am a bit fortunate though since the pots office is less than a mile from my house and there is a regional distribution center less than 3 miles away which is open on Sundays. I often ship heavy items, up to 50 pounds, generally in flat rate boxes or envelopes and prefer not to overwork my carrier with pickups or going to the PO and dropping the heavy package on top of somebody's glassware shipment. Any heavy items the postal worker scans for me they label as heavy and put it in a special cart. 

[dbfolks166mt]

@rlradski 

Flag gets put up on the box. My rural carrier picks up. (and scans)

(not a high crime area)

I have an additional auxiliary oversize box for overflow. (mounted over a large standard rural mailbox)

    Is this you??  😃

If I have an inordinate amount going out, or a large item on a rainy day I will sometimes take them to a nearby PO (closes at noon) where they get an acceptance scan from the handheld scanner. (no receipt)

If I am headed someplace on another errand when post offices along the way are open, I will take the outgoing with me to get a scan and a paper receipt.

I keep track of my mileage for a deduction at income tax filing time. I keep a pen and ink ledger of my mileage.

As I generally purchase/print the labels on the day of mailing I do not "schedule a pickup online".  Even if I should occasionally purchase the night before I still do not "schedule" as it's just, last I knew, a pain of paperwork for the office. 

[kensgiftshop]

I always take packages to the PO, have them scanned and get a receipt.

[rugerskick]

Whatever way gets your packages an acceptance scan, thats what you need to do.  For many, that means visiting the post office.  Some have mail carriers that will scan them from home pickup.

[alberus2]

I am a new seller from South Africa.

Where can I find discussions with recommendations for preferred couriers?

I apologise that my comment is a bit off topic but I do not know how to post the questions otherwise 

Many Thanks 

Albert

[jerseyboymusic]

@alberus2 

These are the USA message boards. You will know much better than us what delivery services you have in South Africa.

Best to start a new topic, since this one will be closed out due to age by the moderators

[alberus2]

Thanks for the Reply and assistance.

I was not sure where to start a new topic but think that I just did so successfully.

Shipping from South Africa is a challenge.

There are a few but prohibitively expensive.

I hope I get feedback from SA Sellers on my topic/question.

Kind regards from SA

[squinkercat59]

We live in a small town, and our post office is only about eight blocks away. We take our packages there, and get the clerk to scan them.  We sometimes go to a neighboring town where there is a self-serve kiosk, where we can drop them off before or after regular business hours. But you have to be sure if you do that, the town has the same first three digits in the zip code as your own, so the postage amount is correct. 

I have not had the best luck with leaving packages in the mailbox. I have found they are not always scanned, especially with a new or incompetent carrier (we had one that also consistently left our packages and mail at a house on the next street over, with the same house number).  Also not a good idea if you live in an area where there are thieves. They can see that red flag up and know there might be a package in there. Easier to take from a mailbox on the street, than come up to a porch. Luckily I have not had that particular problem, although I have heard of it.

We have three day handling due to other work and family commitments, so while we try to get packages out daily, sometimes it is every other day. But generally, we are on our way to or from somewhere, so getting to one or the other post offices is no problem.

[kh-stanley1]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.