Shipping an 8 LB Package in the US

[daveroo]

I'm used to shipping items in the 2-5 oz range.

Now I'm getting ready to list an item that will weigh about 8 pounds.

It will NOT fit in any USPS boxes.

Shipping will be limited to US addresses.

Value will be under $50.

What is the least expensive way to go:

-- USPS in a box I put together

-- FedEx (ground?)

-- UPS (ground?)

-- Other

I dread using eBay Calculated Shipping because it seens to cause problems/surprises.

But maybe that's the way to go to cover ALL legitimate US addresses.

Feedback, please.

[partial*eclipse]

eBay calculated shipping works just fine for USPS, if you enter the package weight and dimensions accurately.  For Priority Mail, the postage for 8 pounds would be $11.40 - $31.80 retail and $8.20 - $29.47 online.

HOWEVER, if the package is over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) then it will ship via the "dimensional weight" if it's going to Zones 5 - 8. This can be much higher than the regular weight-based rate.  UPS and FedEx also have dimensional rates.  USPS Parcel Select and Retal Ground don't encounter dimensional rates so that woudl be a good secondoption for large boxes.

[southern*sweet*tea]

USPS is the way to go if the box is NOT oversized, use calculated shipping.

For oversized boxes I've found Fedex to be the most reasonable price wise.

Just my experience, YMMV

Box it up properly, measure it, then plug in the weight and measurements in USPS, Fedex and UPS websites using various zip codes from around the US.  That will give you a general idea what you are looking at as far as price goes.

[tripper101]

Value means nothing in this case.  The size of package, the zip code it is shipping from and to and the weight determine the cost. 

[phcd1]

Without the size and from/to zips, it's hard to answer but if it's normal size (< 12X12X12) and it's not fragile I would use FedEx SmartPost (I'm going to catch heck for saying that) or FedEx Ground. I just shipped something 23 lbs SmartPost and had no issues. It just has to be packed VERY well, Taped VERY well and NOT breakable. I had 1 damaged item with Smartpost and that was when it was first introduced. I'm wiser now. Beware though, there is no insurance (none that will pay off) with Smartpost, but who needs with a $50 item?

[kitchen-topia]

Just by chance is this an item that comes apart and can be shipped in two flat rate Priority boxes? Provided it was cost-effective.

[daveroo]

Thanks for all the input.

What I'll probably do is put the listing together, and test Calculated Shipping.

I know what the USPS site says so I can compare the two.

BTW the size is under 1400 cu in so at least that's not a worry.

[daveroo]

But I was sort of hoping there's a place on eBay where I can put in all the shipping info and see what price shows up.

[frodobagginskennedy]

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

Here is the shipping calculator

[daveroo]

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@frodobagginskennedy wrote:

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

Here is the shipping calculator

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Ahhhhhh, thank you.

[daveroo]

Having played with the calculator it appears best to use it in my listing.

Thanks again.

[ebbyisme]

I always figure in potential loss.

If you sell the item for $40 with $30 shipping and the buyer files a SNAD.... are you going to pay out another $30 to get the item back? and be out $60 in shipping + fees and maybe get the same item returned. Or give the item away? losing shipping and cost of item.

Of course it depends on the category and the buyers you are dealing with but with any item, if the wrong person notices it is an easy free item...... and it depends on the other items you sell. For some a $70 loss is easily recovered, for others it may take a long time.