Shipping a video game through Fedex, Measure bubble mailer?

[briar*patch]

Before I would ship video games with USPS flat rate padded envelope Priority, but with so many delays and I only ship now with fedex.  My question is how do you measures a mailer envelope? It only has 2 measurements and eBay label requires you put three measurements. Also I have calculate shipping on, so trying to get a accurate shipping cost. 

[ra_201044 · Accepted solution]

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@briar*patch wrote:

Before I would ship video games with USPS flat rate padded envelope Priority, but with so many delays and I only ship now with fedex.  My question is how do you measures a mailer envelope? It only has 2 measurements and eBay label requires you put three measurements. Also I have calculate shipping on, so trying to get a accurate shipping cost. 

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It has 3 measurements - when it's filled with a video game in a case. Use 1 inch for the height(last number if LxWxHeight or LxWxDepth).

[erkosuniverse]

Also when you list your item,in the package type area near the weight dimensions,in the drop down of package type you can choose letter,thick envelope,etc.😁

[cellguy215]

If it is only a small light package like that don't worry about it, just put 1x1x1

They care about dimensions for larger items.  They do a formula LxHxW/144 or something like that and whichever number is higher is the weight. 

A case of potato chips takes up more room in the truck than a case of beer. But the case of beer weighs 5x more.  

[orangehound]

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@briar*patch wrote:

Before I would ship video games with USPS flat rate padded envelope Priority, but with so many delays and I only ship now with fedex.  My question is how do you measures a mailer envelope? It only has 2 measurements and eBay label requires you put three measurements. Also I have calculate shipping on, so trying to get a accurate shipping cost. 

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If you are not familiar with FedEx shipping, let me give you a word of caution.  FedEx is VERY picky about packaging, and if you do not fully conform to their expectations then they will slap on a $14-16 surcharge to your shipping costs ... for example:

• If you try to ship something in a bubble mailer that is 14" by 14", then they will hit you with a $16 surcharge because the second longest side must be under 13".
• If you seal your bubble mailer with duct tape, you will get hit with a $14 surcharge because cloth tape is not allowed.

The USPS will basically let you ship a package wrapped and packaged any way - you can use plastic, chicken wire, etc.  and shaped like modern art.  But not with FedEx ... they insist on conformity.  With FedEx, we only ship only ship in plain rectangular cardboard boxes and pay particular attention to size.

(The worst fee on FedEx is an oversize fee called the Ground Unauthorized Package Charge ... it is $920 ... and, yes, eBay sellers have gotten this before)