USPS Ground Delivery

[makingcustomershappy]

Am I allowed to ship USPS Ground.  Some of my items shipping cost is rather high unless I use USPS Ground, due to USPS Ground having no tracking makes me unsure. I feel the customer won't mind waiting a little longer if this helps keep the cost down.  Any advise would be appreciated.

[lja440]

Why would you think that USPS Retail Ground or Parcel Select doesn't have tracking, All USPS packages services have tracking included.

Also a quick look at your current listings I see nothing much that would have a savings with ground shipping. Ground will only save you money if the item is very heavy or large or going past zone 5 usually.

I only use it myself if the item can not be shipped via air. I used to use it for Horse Saddles but I don't list them on eBay anymore.

[lja440]

No offence but you really need to educate yourself on shipping. You have s fluted candy dish shipping in a LFRB this will require double boxing to prevent damage and at 6" high and 11" wide, will not even fit in a LFRB (12"x12"x5.5") as a inner box. You need at least 2" of quality padding around all sides top and bottom for the item in the inner box and then another 2" all around between that and the outer box. OR IT WILL DEFINITELY ARRIVE BROKEN.

Your Westbend slow cooker definitely can not ship by First Class Package as the weight limit on FCP is 13 ounces retail and 15.9 ounces on-line postage.

[makingcustomershappy]

Thank you, I don't remember where I saw that there was no tracking but apparently I was wrong and that's good, in case I use it at some point. I dislike having to do the shipping, I often hope I'm not wrong when I weigh and measure boxes, so far I haven't messed up LOL
I appreciate you replying and helping me out.

[makingcustomershappy]

I've read a lot on shipping but I guess not enough. I overlooked the first class for the slow cooker, I need to double check my listings more carefully. Thank you for bringing that to my attention, because something like that could fall back on me, I do appreciate your help, especially in reference to the padding and 2" when packing. This will help me out a lot, well now I'm going to brush up on the shipping. Thanks again

[lja440]

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@makingcustomershappy wrote:
I've read a lot on shipping but I guess not enough. I overlooked the first class for the slow cooker, I need to double check my listings more carefully. Thank you for bringing that to my attention, because something like that could fall back on me, I do appreciate your help, especially in reference to the padding and 2" when packing. This will help me out a lot, well now I'm going to brush up on the shipping. Thanks again

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No problem. LOL as a eBayer and a mailcarrier packing is kinda my thing. I also ship troop care packages and often help locally when I or my Postmaster notices someone new shipping packages to APO's. (I'm a member of Books For Soldiers www.booksforsoldiers.com)

Any questions on how best to pack or ship an item can be answered here on this board by many of us and someone is always around.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@makingcustomershappy wrote:
Thank you, I don't remember where I saw that there was no tracking but apparently I was wrong ....

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Maybe you just saw some old information.  It's only within the past few years that USPS has started to automatically include tracking on all packages including First Class packages and the services formerly known as Parcel Post ( now called Retail Ground and Parcel Select Ground).

If you compare the current rates for online Priority Mail (i.e., Commercial Base) against the rates for Parcel Select, you will see that Priority costs the same or just one cent more.  So the only time it makes sense to offer Parcel Select would be if you are shipping hazmat that must travel by ground (perfume, some lithium batteries) or if the package is over 1 cubic foot (which would have a surcharge if shipped to Zones 5 - 9 via Priority). 

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

[makingcustomershappy]

Everytime I post here, I always get helpful feedback, which I really appreciate. When I measure and weigh my packages, I always round off the numbers, I've read enough about that, and I don't want any problems with the postage being incorrect. After I started doing ebay, I realized, I haven't done much shipping in my lifetime...lol

You've been very helpful and I thank you for your honesty, that's what I needed. I hope you have a wonderful day.

[makingcustomershappy]

I didn't know that, the good thing is that everytime I post here, I learn something new, so thank you.
Also thank you for the link, I will check that out right now.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@makingcustomershappy wrote: ... When I measure and weigh my packages, I always round off the numbers ...

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For weight, you should always round UP.  A package that's 1 pound 1 ounce ships at the 2-pound rate.

[pauls-parts]

You should look into opening a UPS account. Most items that are the size of a small microwave are cheaper to ship thru them and it is faster. When using USPS. Make sure you get a receipt when you drop it off. I know sometimes their is lines but I learned the hard way that if you do not have a drop off/ acceptence receipt they will not even run a track on the item. A couple of years ago I had 3 lost packages in 2 months. No drop off receipt. I was s.o.l. I had to refund the customers for those 3 items. So now I wait in the lines.