Why Does it Cost So Much to Mail Something so Small?!

[johnso9y_3]

Hi all,

The item I'm trying to sell a replacement game pieces that, when packaged, is about 1 oz per package. The package is a 4 x 6 bubble mailer. The object is flat as is the piece of cardboard it'll be encased in while in the bubble mailer.

The calculated shipping on eBay is $4.00 - $4.45. If I charge the buyer for shipping, I'm afraid I'll never sell anything. However, if I take on this cost, I'll be operating at a loss.

Is there ANY way to bring the price down to something reasonable? I figured that something that I could send with a Forever Stamp would charge only a little more than a Forever Stamp.

If I go to the post office, send the package from there, and request a tracking number, will I get a better price? What price should I expect by going directly to the post office? If I choose to go the post office, can I avoid being charged for shipping through the eBay website?

[diph5455]

You should go directly to the post office to see the price list and related issues.

[dogchow747]

The issue is tracking, 

They want all items to be tracked in the ebay environment.

I can still buy cheap coins sent via snail mail, but probably not for long.

All part of the buyer protection guarantee.

[geo2061]

@johnso9y_3 

  Going to your Post Office will be More expensive than purchasing your postage on-line (USPS,eBay,Pirate Ship etc..)

The eBay calculator gives you the price Prior to the on-line discount

- i believe the bubble mailer alone classifies the item as a 'package' - i.e. can not be machine sorted (like a Letter)

The new Standard Envelope for First Class may work for your needs - i can't give any help there as i have not used it yet

On an aside - keep in mind that eBay is a very difficult place to make any serious profit on small inexpensive items

Best of Luck and Smooth transactions..

[itscalledapostingid]

Depending on the category you might be able to use EBay Standard Envelope.

[lja440]

 the post office for 1-ounce package say to zone 8 it will cost $4.45. If you print that postage online the cost is $3.49.

[toysaver]

If it's about 1 oz per package don't forget slapping a shipping label on it can make the rate go up to 2 oz.

[annadryl]

It's all the same under 4oz.

But you have to assume that it will go to the furthest zone, so I assume it's $3.49 First Class to the East Coast (and it usually is) , or even east Texas, and that's worked into my price. The buyer pays it.

That's buying labels, not the counter price. My tiny guitar parts won't qualify for the new standard envelope of course, but hopefully they work out the kinks for stuff that might. Cardboard game pieces is something I hadn't even thought of. That might be awhile...

[releasethekraken_1]

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@toysaver wrote:

If it's about 1 oz per package don't forget slapping a shipping label on it can make the rate go up to 2 oz.

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Which has $0 effect on the rate.

[1tuna]

I think usps 1st class is a genuine bargain

I ship all my items in a 5 inch cube box and the ebay rate is pretty good

I can ship 250 packages for $1000........thats a bargain if you ask me

maybe you can take advantage of shipping 3-4 ounces for the same rate

you coud aslo try shipping more expensive items for the same money

jewelry is easy to ship 1st class..no need for insuance either

[donsdetour]

Just adding to the situation

You need to know that ebay charges final value fees for:  item final value, shipping, and tax.

When figuring what you need to charge for an item to make a profit all of this needs to be considered or you may find your self loss of money if your item costs to much...

[dogchow747]

I will say this to ebay:

Ebay is a good place to scrounge small, hard to find and inexpensive parts for repairing electronic equipment. Simple basic stuff.

I live in Austin, the tech capitol city. It can be hard to find small basic parts here.

Radio Shack is gone, Frys is gone, MC Howard is gone etc etc.

It really bites to have to pay nearly $4 shipping on a .89c bulb or something similar.

The US based folks that sell that kind of thing are not running a scam, the part will show up, usually quickly.

Let them do what they are doing as long as long as their customers are happy.

[wastingtime101]

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@johnso9y_3 wrote:

I figured that something that I could send with a Forever Stamp would charge only a little more than a Forever Stamp.

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There's a huge difference between shipping a letter and a package. You want to ship a package. Do you mind telling us what the item is, @johnso9y_3? Depending on the item, there may be other options available.

After reading your post I have to ask - do you know exactly what your selling fees will be so you can price accordingly? Are you aware that fees are charged on the total amount - item, shipping and sales tax?

[richard1rst]

***Why Does it Cost So Much to Mail Something so Small?!***

Well - let’s see:

I hand a package over to my post office. Someone takes that package into the back room where someone else loads it onto a truck.

Someone then drives that truck to the regional sorting facility where someone else unloads the truck, someone else sorts the packages, someone else loads everything onto another truck and someone else drives that new truck to the airport.

Someone unloads that truck and someone else loads everything onto the airplane. The airline charges for transporting those packages as baggage to another airport where someone else unloads the packages and puts them onto another truck that someone else drive to another regional sorting facility.

Someone there unloads the truck, someone else sorts the packages and put them onto other trucks going to individual post offices which someone else drives

Someone at the individual post office unloads the packages and someone sorts them into delivery routes and someone loads them onto the individual route carrier’s truck. Then the individual route driver delivers it to the address specified.

By my count that means at least 20 people (EACH OF WHOM EXPECTS TO BE PAID) handled that package, along with 6 vehicles each of which require fuel, plus the airplane which also needs fuel.

By the way you are wrong on the $4.00-$4.45. lja440 got it right at $3.49.

Within that framework $3.49 is an absolute bargain. ECON101 anybody?

[whitewaterford]

@johnso9y_3  :  The eBay standard envelope would be the most cost effective way to ship if game tokens meet all the criteria listed.  Game tokens probably do NOT (currently).  I've only used the eBay standard envelope once, but had no issues.  But if you read the boards here you will find that many sellers have had issues with USPS for this new feature (returned mail, surcharges, tracking, etc.)  But, I think this is eBay's attempt at adding a low price shipping option for small, thin, flat items that can be mailed in an envelope and to provide minimal tracking.  They started with trading cards only, but have expanded to items like coins, stamps and postcards recently.

You could mail in a letter with a a forever stamp instead, but the drawback is that you cannot add tracking to a letter and eBay requires tracking if you want to remain in good standing.

Other options are to sell in larger lots.