Shipping an empty 5 gallon bucket

[opensourceeverything]

Hello, I am relatively new to selling on ebay, at least in bulk. I have some 5 gallon buckets I thought I would put up for sale but Im confused: Similar listings online average somewhere around 13-16 dollars with free shipping. Some offer ~$8 shipping for a single bucket. 3 Buckets can average around 35$ with free shipping.

My question is this: Why is it when I estimate shipping on a 5 gallon bucket assuming average size of LWH = 13x13x14 in. and weighing ~1kg= 2.2 lbs, USPS UPS and FedEx all come out to around 20-38$. For estimates I assume a worst case scenario of Indiana to California, but even doing very small distances the shipping is still very high. Can someone help me understand if I am missing something or not finding the best shipping options?

Thanks for your time.

[acrc3113]

Any large item whose packaging exceed 12" on any size incurs dimensional weight costs when you ship, whether it's through the post office or another carrier. That said, major retailers, like amazon and walmart, have special discount contracts with USPS, UPS, and FEDEX to ship their items. So do asian firms. Long story short, the average individual pays a lot more to ship items so that the various carriers can cover part of their losses from their major retailer contracts. It's been that way for a long while. You can thank those fine folks in Washington who approved those discounts over a decade ago. How do you think it is possible to buy an Asian manufactured toaster oven, that is shipped across the ocean, then to a retailer warehouse, and then to a retailer, and still buy it for under $50 ?

[nobody*s_perfect]

You are running into a surcharge for dimensional weight.  The threshold for USPS shipping is 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) and IIRC the others have lower thresholds.  The USPS dimensional weight of your package is 15 pounds. The sellers who access cheap shipping are using options that are not available to you through eBay shipping labels.

Unless there is something very special about these buckets, it will not be reasonable to offer them for sale here with shipping. You could offer them with local pickup only but that can be a headache when you get buyers who want you to ship the item despite the terms shown in the listing.

[johnrj1226]

@acrc3113

This statement is not correct

"Any large item whose packaging exceed 12" on any size incurs dimensional weight costs when you ship, whether it's through the post office or another carrier."

In the case of USPS if a package exceed 1728 cu. in the dimensional weight pricing is imposed. USPS does  have a max length of 108".  Personally the longest item I've every shipped  via USPS was a 86" long 3.5" round tube at standard priority shipping rates total  weight 3 lbs - my cost $8.59 from GA to PA

Never have shipped any thing via UPS  but I suspect they  may have some stipulations for oversized packages.

[tdumonde2014]

You can buy 5 gal. Buckets at Lowes for as little as $3.48. Is this a worthwhile endeavor? 

[kensgiftshop]

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@opensourceeverything 

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You can buy 5 gallon buckets for $3 - $5 dollars, I don't think it would be worth trying to ship.

I'd sell them local.

[acrc3113]

Good luck trying to ship a tube that size for that rate now. At one time I could ship a band saw fence to PA for $35. Not now. Some stuff is just better off being sold locally.  

[simba6]

Shipping will cost more than the item is worth. 

[7606dennis]

Frankly, with the availability of this item locally and at relatively low prices, I would suggest an evaluation of the feasibility of this item being profitable to sell online.

[johnrj1226]

@acrc3113 

FYI on August 4, 2020 I did ship this item for $8.59 stated in my previous post.   Bought the  label thru eBay at the commercial rate.

Guess I would have to pony up an extra  40 cents due to the temp USPS holiday increase on priority mail if I shipped the  same between Oct. 18, 2020 thru Dec. 27, 2020.

[nobody*s_perfect]

That's the appropriate postage cost for that package, which would not ship at a dimensional weight. As you pointed out, USPS dimensional rate is based on volume not length.

Many sellers misinterpret the USPS shipping calculator page, which asks if any of your dimensions is over 12 inches, and then if you answer "Yes" it asks for all 3 dimensions.  But that setup doesn't mean that all packages over 12 inches WILL be charged a dimensional weight; it's merely a shortcut that lets you skip the dimensions if all of them are not over 12 inches.

[johnrj1226]

86" x 3.5"  x 3.5" ( 3.5" was rounded up to 4") = 1376 cu. in.  Just the way USPS says to measure a round shipping package/tube.  Always  check my dimensions, weights and entries at least 2 times.  My wood working and engineering background taught me that.  Actually the cubic size of this package is/was 945.65 cu. in. based on a 3.5" diameter x 86" long tube.

No APV $ ding on any of my eBay invoices since I shipped this item in early August.  Would think an 86"  long item would go  under some extra scrutiny during its travels thru the USPS system

[little*blackdog]

If it's any consolation, you're not the only one who has bulky but lightweight items to sell.  I do too.  Have to sell locally in a yard sale or online with local pick up only.  Shipping costs have gotten so high buyers aren't going to pay for the cost of shipping the big things anymore.