Can I use UPS flat rate for shipping heavy magazines?

[justemb-48]

Has anyone used UPS flat rate shipping with your own box? than enter the tracking number into eBay? It is the best price I can find for heavy items like magazines.  You can only do flat rate online at UPS website, not in the UPS stores. And not an option in eBay.

[simba6]

You have to check with UPS.  If they have a special flat rate box, then you will have to use it.  Some of those rates have other conditions. Again,  check with UPS first to avoid charges later.

[rfmtm]

Yes, you can use the new UPS flat rate shipping with your own boxes and upload the tracking to ebay.  Note that it is not always the best deal, so check both ways to be sure.

Also make sure to use any discount code available.  Better yet, add your UPS account to PayPal, and you will get the PayPal discounts rates on your account.  They are better than most discount codes, and only about a $1 or so higher than ebay's discount.

[kosmosattik]

I filled a Medium Flat Rate Priority box, the top loader that is ideally sized for magazines, and it came to 7 lbs.

Plugging the box dimensions and weight into the shipping calculator, there are better deals over short to intermediate distances; the eBay rate of $13.75 for that box is cheaper only over long distances.

For instance, 550 miles from my home to Chicago goes for $10.08 via UPS Ground, my preferred shipping method in this case, or the same $10.08 via USPS Priority mail, or a few pennies cheaper by USPS Select Ground.  However, UPS Ground is a lot cheaper than those other options going 2,500 miles to Los Angeles while being about $2 more than the flat rate box.  UPS Ground is about the same as the flat rate box going 1,400 miles to Dallas.

If you are not filling that flat rate box, thus a lower weight, the value proposition with other methods looks even better.

The proof is the "putting"--put your zip code, representative dimensions for you own boxes, and representative weights in the shipping calculator and see what you get.