Let's Discuss Shipping Options, Ideas, $$Saving, Issues.

[bill.purvis2012]

We all ship our items.  I imagine there are so many different methods we use as there are different sellers.  But, over time, we've bound to have learned some do's and don'ts that work best for us.

Would you be willing to offer some advice??  I've learned some lessons the hard way, but, I think I'm doing pretty good at it.  Still, postage is expensive. Packing materials are expensive. Time is expensive.

Recently, I've saved a few $$ by using the new FedEx home delivery and 2-day rate discounts by EBAY. I also use the Priority Flat Rate envelopes at times and save some money. First class every time possible. Always buy my postage here on EBAY. Thank you, EBAY for those postage discounts!!

So, come on. Share your best shipping, postage ideas with the sellers.  

[bill.purvis2012]

I'll also add that I love Global Shipping. Totally painless.  

[greynape]

To save on shipping materials, I use the plastic shopping bags from grocery stores etc. I put them aside and usually have quite a bit. They hold air and cushion the items around them in the shipping box. I Also use bubble wrap as well but the bags come in very handy to take up some extra space.

[corvettestainless]

I ship shaped sheet metal pieces in sizes from 2"x3" to 24" x 10" curved...that can get scratched or bent. I wrap in bubble wrap- purchased here, 700 12"x12" pcs for $40, so average order is about .24c (4 sheets). 1st Class I buy padded plain manila envelopes, 8x10, 10x16 and 12x18 here as well, cost aprox .25c each when buying 200 at a time. Cost to ship 1st class is about $5, so I'm in it for $5.50.

Use free priority boxes, all shapes, 26x6x6 and 36x6x6 triangles, 15x8x6 shoe boxes (sometimes tape 2-3 together), as well as Flat Rate padded envelopes, Md flat, Lg flat (including the 24x12x2 game box). Large order I use the boxes that the Priority's or Envelopes came in (24x20x20, 24x18x8 etc.), place stickers and to this day, never had to find/buy a box. 

Always free shipping to customers. Always USPS. 

100 pkgs a month since 2011- 6? packages got 'stuck', 1 package damaged, (3 others attempted 'damaged' but customer wouldn't provide picture or when I told them that USPS will be by to 'inspect'.. crickets. 0.0 packages permanently lost. 

[b86fiero]

Don't use USPS Media Mail to ship magazines, coloring books, activity books, puzzle books, comic books, and the myriad other items not allowed.  The complete list can be found at the USPS web site.

I just received magazine back issues and a game the sellers shipped via Media Mail that had been opened for inspection by the USPS.  Those sellers will be billed for the appropriate shipping amount.  For the magazine seller that will be over 3 lb Priority from CA to OH. 

[axiombody]

Considering shipping before buying an item can benefit the profit margin for sure.  If it is too big for that flat rate box it may not be worth selling.

[johnrj1226]

USPS Priority Regional Rate A & sometimes B boxes can  save you money on items 2 lbs or greater when shipping to locations within 500 - 600 miles of your home base & some times further.

Ship as much as you can via First Class Package for package weight less than 16 oz.

Personally we  don't use many med or large flat rate boxes but we very seldom ship anything over  8 lbs.

[1786davycrockett]

If you live near a Barnes & Noble bookstore, ask the store manager if you can have packing peanuts, plastic packing foam, bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, etc -- each B & N receives shipments nearly every day, and is DELIGHTED to give away packing materials!

[mtgraves7984]

I, too, love recycling shipping materials. Like others have said... plastic grocery sacks are great. I can even get those brand new. The Kroger cashiers save me the stacks of '**bleep**' bags (you know... the ones that give baggers fits... that don't open easily or separate quickly from the stand, etc.) and have them waiting for me in a tall neat (folded) pile inside a 'to-go' cardboard box.

If you hit Kroger (or WalMart, etc.) when stock goes out, they'll give you their empty cardboard boxes. (The Boar's Head Rep kept hers, btw... Boar's Head rules.) I made a huge score of clear plastic bags, bubble wrap and bubbled bags recently at Home Goods while inventory was going out. (Props to the store clerk!) Funny… two aisles over people were paying for them!

My favorite is the long umbrella sacks (oooh… and the smaller ones for discarding fluorescent tubes) inside the front door at Lowe's, etc. (They discard the troublesome ones, just like Kroger's cashiers.) They make perfect 'custom-size' bubbles for each and every ball cap I sell. (Shhh… They're also great as boot forms for my closet!)

And, YES to the USPS labels from eBay! Time and money saving!

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

USPS Priority Regional Rate A & sometimes B boxes can  save you money on items 2 lbs or greater when shipping to locations within 500 - 600 miles of your home base & some times further.....

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Under current USPS pricing the postage for a Regional A box is always more than the postage for 2 pounds but cheaper than the postage for a  3-pound package regardless of which Zone you're shipping to. Likewise, the B boxes are always cheaper than the postage for 6 pounds.

[anneecakes]

I keep a box-cutter handy. If I've packed an item in an appropriate box that ends up weighing 17 ounces (or similar),  I cut down the box's inner folding flaps to lose that extra ounce of weight that is standing between me and 1st Class shipping. Shaving that extra ounce off usually saves me about $3. 

[crescentstation]

I've used Stamps.com for many years, ship USPS First Class Packages whenever possible, and recycle any inbound packaging materials. My items are small and generally under 1 pound. My two most popular shipping containers are 6x6x4 and 8x4x4 (inches).

[tvr-inc]

I created a spreadsheet that I input Shipping cost expected, box cost, bubble cost, label cost, ebay and payapl fees, selling price etc, This way before I even list I know what my profit will be. This way I know exactly how much to sell for and what my bottom sell price would be to cover all cost. This way I also can offer free shipping. And still cover oit all. I use Fedex and USPS thru ebay. I also have a UPS account. I alsways compare when shipping to save myself the most money. I usps Regional box A alot. Everyone knows about flat rate boxes. But Priorty A and B can save you alot of money. They are designed for business. You cant get these boxes at the Post Office. You have to order them free from USPS.com. The biggist thing I have learned about shipping is. Do a great job on packaging. I have purchased as well on Ebay and am always amazed by some of the shotty packaging I have seen. Most of the feedback we get is because of our great packaging and quick shipping. That is the other thing. Ship items out asap. Customers love when they get their package before they expect. We get return buyers because of the great shipping services. We buy bubble wrap from Uline. It ends up being $.11 per sheet. We also buy their big rolls of paper. It is great for void fill and ends up being $.01-.02 per foot. Shop around for the packaging material you need. You also can find good sellers on ebay for your labels, bubble mailers. I have been selling on ebay for 19 years now. I sold my company and now make a living just selling on Ebay and online. I have learned that old saying. "A penny saved is a penny earned". But with good quality service as well. Hope this helps. Always glad to help and see others succeed. Many have helped me.

[iart]

We've found that, often, trying to save money ends up costing us more money.

We buy most of our boxes new. We use professional packing material and the ebay branded packing material.

Our buyers seem to appreciate the professional appearance of what we send out. First impressions are important.

Good luck!

[mightymouse]

Most items I ship are between 3 and 10 pounds. I offer free shipping on most items. So I get my free shipping supplies from Ebay, priority mail shipping items from the P.O. and still have to buy boxes and foam peanuts. I get foam wrap (comes 37" long and 11 1/2" wide) from construction sites. They use this to wrap new cabinets also to wrap signs and other items they don't want scratched. They just toss it, so you can get it from the dumpsters or you can ask them for it, most of the time it is no problem (works better than bubble wrap). I order my foam peanuts and other boxes from a shipping supply company (most bigger cities have one) boxes are about 1/2 the price of retail boxes and the foam peanuts are (for me)  27.00 a bag which is 14 cubic feet. I use to try and get boxes from retail stores but most of them don't want to be bothered any more.