How to measure a Priority soft package

[tori_729]

I forgot to put dimensions into a listing and am taking a loss on shipping for it. BUT instead of shipping in a box, I'm shipping in a large package. It's a plush animal, so easy to stuff in but it's a BIG stuffed animal so dimensions are still too much. I'm trying to figure out how to measure so as not to incur extra fees but every inch seems to change the pricing. Tips? It's not uniform and I'm struggling lol. I might ship it UPS b/c of the fee promo I got but I'm still stumped as to how to measure.
attached a pic.

[corvettestainless]

you measure as if though it were a 'box'; the highest point of the table, the widest point, the longest point. UPS or Fedex belong to ebay, you may pay X now, but if it's oversized, you may get hit later with a lot more $.  Be sure to put the correct dimensions, because this will ship 'dimensional' weight and not real weight. 

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

Yes, every inch will afffect the postage cost because it's over 1 cubic foot (i.e., 1728 cubic inches) and thus is charged the "dimensional weight".

It's lumpy but it still has a height, width and length.  The height  would be the tallest (thickest) point above the chair. Imagine constructing a box to go around it; that's your 3 dimensions.

You might be better-off finding a box that you can cram him into.

[simba6]

Don't smash it too much.  It might not "recover" when unpacked.

[tori_729]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

Yes, every inch will afffect the postage cost because it's over 1 cubic foot (i.e., 1728 cubic inches) and thus is charged the "dimensional weight".

It's lumpy but it still has a height, width and length.  The height  would be the tallest (thickest) point above the chair. Imagine constructing a box to go around it; that's your 3 dimensions.

You might be better-off finding a box that you can cram him into.

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After taking it to UPS and them saying they thought my measurements weren't enough, I should have just put it in a box. I measured like it was a box but he said the laser scanners won't measure that way. 😕 So I might end up with more charges. Whoops. Oh well, live you learn! 

[pjcdn2005]

I'm not positive, but I think I read that Fedex has extra charges for 'irregular' packages.  If UPS has something similar, you may have an extra surcharge.

[bearswatching]

Whoa. UPS and Fedex BELONG to eBay? Since when? These are totally independent companies.

[lja440]

Measure as it sits. height at the highest point and same with length and width. 

If it is a soft plush you can stick it in a large 2 gallon Ziplock (I love those bags)  and squish the air out and zip it closed. It can make a world of difference in size.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@lja440 wrote:

Measure as it sits. height at the highest point and same with length and width. 

If it is a soft plush you can stick it in a large 2 gallon Ziplock (I love those bags)  and squish the air out and zip it closed. It can make a world of difference in size.

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Back when I was selling clothes, I used my Vacuum Sealer to "flatten" puffy items 😉

[tori_729]

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@lja440 wrote:

Measure as it sits. height at the highest point and same with length and width. 

If it is a soft plush you can stick it in a large 2 gallon Ziplock (I love those bags)  and squish the air out and zip it closed. It can make a world of difference in size.

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Oooh, can you get those bags in grocery stores? I don't know if I've ever seen them. 

This plush wasn't the kind I wanted to squish too much. The head was separate from the body in a way and I didn't want to bend it too much. But this is good to know for future shipments!

[lja440]

Yes I get mine at Walmart. They only seem to be stocked around the holidays so when I see them I grab a couple boxes.  They come in 2.5 gallon storage bags and 2 gallon freezer bags and are currently available on Walmart.com.  There is also a off brand bag in that size offered that I have never seen in the stores.