Shipping

[urba-celes]

Can anyone recommend me the cheapest/best way to ship a 13 lb queen size quilt set?

There doesn't seem to be a priority box big enough (22x16x13). So far the cost comes out $39.++

Speed is not a requirement. Thanks for any suggestions. Urba

[katzrul15]

Depends on where to where....

Under 10 lbs, USPS is almost always cheapest.  Over that, usually we find UPS to be cheaper than Fedex.  However, we have our own UPS and Fedex accounts - we don't use the e-Bay option, except for USPS.  We have a seller in a group we're in that uses Parcel Monkey to ship heavy car parts.  Never used them though, so cannot recommend one way or the other - think it is part of Fedex.

[glasswingcollectibles]

I just sold something similar in size and weight yesterday. I used a Home Depot medium size packing box (22" x 16" x 15") that I had on hand (they are available in the store). My package weight was 13 pounds. I offered the buyer 2 shipping choices - priority mail or UPS . She chose priority, and it cost her $29.55 (using eBay labels, my cost was $26.52). However, the package was going to the same state.  UPS would have been a much cheaper option for a package that size and weight, but the buyer chose the more expensive one.  I generally prefer to use boxes with no logo, but plain ones that size can be pricey.  Hope this helps.

[katzrul15]

Meant to add - you might post this on the Shipping board as well.  Good luck!

[nobody*s_perfect]

"She chose priority, and it cost her $29.55 (using eBay labels, my cost was $26.52)."

You (and the buyer) were lucky -- those are the prices to ship to Zones 1 & 2. If she had lived much farther, the price would have been much higher.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Your package is going to ship at the 28-pound rate because USPS (and other carriers) charge a "dimensional weight" for packages over 1 cubic foot.

If you use USPS Parcel Select Ground, the price will range from $23.53 - $79.50 depending on how far away the buyer lives. The rates for UPS and FedEx might be lower; or they might be higher, especially after adding post-shipping surprise surcharges.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi Urba, congrats on your sale!

Like the other poster, i find that heavy packages are sometimes cheaper to mail UPS, who gives eBayers a nice discount.

The following info won’t help you with this situation, but may assist you with other heavy items to ship in the future: It is best to crunch the shipping cost numbers prior to listing the item. Get your packaging done up front so you are not scrambling after the sale, when you are under pressure to perform. 

Before listing, select the packaging you are going to use, and pack your item. Weigh the contents, and measure the box. Input that data into the listing form. Pick a location farthest from yours, and estimate the possible costs.

When the correct weight and dimensions are in the listing form, Ebay can then automatically calculate the postage costs for each buyer based on his location.

Then there are no surprises. The drawback to this method is that you need a place to store the pre-packaged goods while awaiting sales. But this is how i do it, and it has served me well over the years. 

[glasswingcollectibles]

Agreed.  I did a calculated price on shipping my package, to a far away zone. That's how I know UPS would have been much cheaper.  I generally like to offer the buyers a choice, if there is a significant difference in shipping cost.  If there's not much difference, I offer USPS only.