trying to find out how many stamps to use to send small item in letter ?

[jwarrenzc90]

i just sold an item,  which is a small vintage star wars rifle weapon,  and i was going to send it in a standard size letter,   and i taped it between two small squares of thin cardboard,   and it feels really light,   it feels almost as light as just a letter with paper folded inside it,    but i don't have a scale to weigh something that small,  only a regular digital scale to weigh humans body weight,   which would'nt even show anything if i put something that light on it,    i'm just guessing its about 4 ounces maybe ?,   i don't know really ?,         but i need to send it from my location in dallas with zipcode 75206 to Lodi, California with zipcode 95240,      so i'm trying to figure out how much it cost or how many stamps i should use to send something like this ? 

usually i go up to the post office lobby,   (its open 24 hours),  and use the self-serve kiosk to weight stuff and print the labels and put in the drop-box,   but with something this small,  i was just going to drop it in a mailbox somewhere,   but i just want to put the right amount of stamps / postage but i don't know how much?     

heres a pic of the item,    to see how light it is

[lja440]

You still should weigh it.  Max weight for a First class letter is 3.5 ounces.

Also this method will not have any tracking so you will not have a case if the buyer files a INR.

https://bizfluent.com/list-5912435-first-class-postage-rules.html

[ujokinme]

Your listing states $3.50 Standard Shipping (USPS First Class Package®) so why are you trying to cheap out by sending it in a envelope?

Sandwich it cardboard, put it in a bubble mailer and ship it the way your listing says it will be shipped and the way you charged the buyer for.

So what you are asking is can you stick $0.75 in stamps on an envelope and pocket the extra $2.75 that the seller paid for shipping.

Unbelievable.

[jwarrenzc90]

i ended up putting one .50 cent stamp, one .49 cent stamp and one .20 cent stamp on it, which i think covers it according to what i read googling the subject.

its always hard coming up with the correct shipping cost when creating a listing, i probably put the weight as under one pound, so it recommended first-class mail at $3.50, which was the cheapest option too, so i put that, but then once i go to actually send it, i realise its such a small, light item that if i am able to send it in a letter for cheaper and save some money, then why would'nt i ?, i always try to ship stuff that cheapest i can, and i compare between using usps boxes and my own plain boxes on the self-serve kiosk at the post office, and see which cost less and go with that one.

when i create listings, and choose the shipping information, its hard to be exact about it, i try and weigh all my items at the post office beforehand to have an exact weight for them to enter, but theres alot of items i did'nt weigh, and i don't have a shipping scale yet, even though i mean to get one soon, so i take an approximate guess, or sometimes search the specs of the item online and find the shipping weight or weight of the item unpackaged, but even when you know the weight, then it can still end up costing either more or less once you go to ship it, because of unknown things such as different types of cardboard boxes your using, that vary with weight and thickness, and affect the final cost, more or less than you thought it would be.

but, if i were a perfectly organized person, i would have all my items already prepared, boxed up already and weighed at the post office with the weights written down, but i don't, but whatever i end up paying when i finally ship stuff, its never that far from the cost the buyer paid for the shipping cost, where i'm totally ripping them off, to be honest, i've only sent about 2 or 3 items in letters, that were listed with a higher shipping cost like this one, i think one time was because the kiosk had problems and was out of service, so i could'nt print the label, so i found a letter in the trash and used that with some stamps i already had in my wallet, just so i could be able to send it some way.

but, now your making me sound like a bad guy who rips people off or something, which i'm not, but i'm just being honest that when i go to ship things that i try to do it for as cheap as possible, to keep a little more of the money, cause i don't make alot and always trying to scrounge as much extra as i can for myself.

[bonjourami]

most buyers complain in feedback when they feel they have been overcharged on shipping, so consider yourself lucky.

[ujokinme]

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@jwarrenzc90 wrote:
i ended up putting one .50 cent stamp, one .49 cent stamp and one .20 cent stamp on it, which i think covers it according to what i read googling the subject.

its always hard coming up with the correct shipping cost when creating a listing, i probably put the weight as under one pound, so it recommended first-class mail at $3.50, which was the cheapest option too, so i put that, but then once i go to actually send it, i realise its such a small, light item that if i am able to send it in a letter for cheaper and save some money, then why would'nt i ?, i always try to ship stuff that cheapest i can, and i compare between using usps boxes and my own plain boxes on the self-serve kiosk at the post office, and see which cost less and go with that one.

when i create listings, and choose the shipping information, its hard to be exact about it, i try and weigh all my items at the post office beforehand to have an exact weight for them to enter, but theres alot of items i did'nt weigh, and i don't have a shipping scale yet, even though i mean to get one soon, so i take an approximate guess, or sometimes search the specs of the item online and find the shipping weight or weight of the item unpackaged, but even when you know the weight, then it can still end up costing either more or less once you go to ship it, because of unknown things such as different types of cardboard boxes your using, that vary with weight and thickness, and affect the final cost, more or less than you thought it would be.

but, if i were a perfectly organized person, i would have all my items already prepared, boxed up already and weighed at the post office with the weights written down, but i don't, but whatever i end up paying when i finally ship stuff, its never that far from the cost the buyer paid for the shipping cost, where i'm totally ripping them off, to be honest, i've only sent about 2 or 3 items in letters, that were listed with a higher shipping cost like this one, i think one time was because the kiosk had problems and was out of service, so i could'nt print the label, so i found a letter in the trash and used that with some stamps i already had in my wallet, just so i could be able to send it some way.

but, now your making me sound like a bad guy who rips people off or something, which i'm not, but i'm just being honest that when i go to ship things that i try to do it for as cheap as possible, to keep a little more of the money, cause i don't make alot and always trying to scrounge as much extra as i can for myself.

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Please tell my that this is a joke (ha-ha) thread and that you aren't serious.

In this case you charged the buyer $3.50 for USPS First Class Package shipping but by your own admission you sent it in a regular envelope for $1.19 in stamps so that you could "keep a little more of the money". 

You also don't consider yourself a bad guy for ripping people off? What do you call that?

For around 20 bucks you can buy a scale here on eBay and know the exact weight of your items already boxed up so you can give buyers an accurate shipping cost and actually ship the item the way that they paid for.

You could also buy or find (maybe in the trash) a cheap printer and print your own shipping labels at home and get a reduced rate on shipping.

Shocker isn't it.

Unbelievable.

[richard1rst]

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@jwarrenzc90 wrote:

   and i taped it between two small squares of thin cardboard,   

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For a "letter" to be a "letter" it has to be completely flexible to go through their automatic machines. If the package has any rigidity to it then it is a package. Don't be surprised it it shows up postage due.

[fab_finds4u]

You plan to stick some stamps on it and drop it in the mail?  SMH.  How can you tell if your buyer is honest?  Some buyer's think no tracking  means free merchandise. 

How thick is the envelope? Will it qualify for First Class letter rate or a First Class Pacakge? 

3/4 of an inch in thickness gets tracking.

Di 201 Quick Service Guide - Postal Explorer - USPS.com

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/q201.htm

Dimensions: Minimum: 5 inches long, 3-1/2 incheshigh, and 0.007 inch thick. Maximum for First-Class Mail card prices: 6 inches long, 4-1/4 inches high, and0.016 inch thick. Maximum for letters and other cards:11-1/2 inches long, 6-1/8 inches high, and 1/4 inch thick.

201 Quick Service Guide - Postal Explorer - USPS.com

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/q201.htm

[7606dennis]

I would not ship it as a letter.  I would suggest shipping it as a First Class Parcel.  

[lja440]

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@jwarrenzc90 wrote:
i ended up putting one .50 cent stamp, one .49 cent stamp and one .20 cent stamp on it, which i think covers it according to what i read googling the subject.

its always hard coming up with the correct shipping cost when creating a listing, i probably put the weight as under one pound, so it recommended first-class mail at $3.50, which was the cheapest option too, so i put that, but then once i go to actually send it, i realise its such a small, light item that if i am able to send it in a letter for cheaper and save some money, then why would'nt i ?, i always try to ship stuff that cheapest i can, and i compare between using USPS boxes and my own plain boxes on the self-serve kiosk at the post office, and see which cost less and go with that one.

when i create listings, and choose the shipping information, its hard to be exact about it, i try and weigh all my items at the post office beforehand to have an exact weight for them to enter, but theres alot of items i did'nt weigh, and i don't have a shipping scale yet, even though i mean to get one soon, so i take an approximate guess, or sometimes search the specs of the item online and find the shipping weight or weight of the item unpackaged, but even when you know the weight, then it can still end up costing either more or less once you go to ship it, because of unknown things such as different types of cardboard boxes your using, that vary with weight and thickness, and affect the final cost, more or less than you thought it would be.

but, if i were a perfectly organized person, i would have all my items already prepared, boxed up already and weighed at the post office with the weights written down, but i don't, but whatever i end up paying when i finally ship stuff, its never that far from the cost the buyer paid for the shipping cost, where i'm totally ripping them off, to be honest, i've only sent about 2 or 3 items in letters, that were listed with a higher shipping cost like this one, i think one time was because the kiosk had problems and was out of service, so i could'nt print the label, so i found a letter in the trash and used that with some stamps i already had in my wallet, just so i could be able to send it some way.

but, now your making me sound like a bad guy who rips people off or something, which i'm not, but i'm just being honest that when i go to ship things that i try to do it for as cheap as possible, to keep a little more of the money, cause i don't make alot and always trying to scrounge as much extra as i can for myself.

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First off, that letter you found in the trash. If a stamp has been affixed to a letter and gone through the mail IT CAN NOT BE REUSED. It doesn't mater if it is unmarked or not. To reuse stamps is THEFT OF SERVICE. 

It is very easy to know the exact postage. You weigh it either using your own scale or one at the post office and enter the info into the shipping calculator. I have been on eBay since 2004 and shipped thousands of packages, my postage has never been off not even once. 

Even with lots of books that qualify for Media Mail I set them up with a corresponding Priority box. I offer a price for both. Same with large lots of clothing I have boxes almost identical to the Priority large mailing box  (12"x12"x8") and offer both Parcel Select and Priority. Most smaller items I list with Free Shipping and just give the shipping method.

I think there is a VERY GOOD chance that your buyer will see that you charged them $3.50 for s/h  and then stick $1.19 worth of stamps on it. This will definitely come back to bite you if it also arrives Postage Due because you reused stamps. 

Know this fact:

You ONLY save money when YOU PURCHASE your inventory.  That is when you indeed make your profit. You can't change the trending price, you can't change your fees, you can't skimp on packaging, you can't steal from the Post Office. 

You CAN search out good bargains at auctions and garage sales. Such as I a couple weeks ago purchased at the local auction house 5 boxes of record albums, After tax I spent $360, I put them up for sale individually and have cleared away $202 of my investment already last week selling less than 5% of the inventory. Granted not every album was a gem but even if the Barry Manilow doesn't sell this lot will bring me well over $2000 within the next couple weeks. 

So my advice. Buy smarter, be honest about your items that you list and about your shipping method. You always want your buyer to get the quality that they expect or better.

And if you say you can't do this because you are not organised. LOL well imagine a episode of Hoarders minus the dirt, bugs rotting food and non working bathrooms and you pretty much have my house. I have 2 walk in closets floor to ceiling books, My one bedroom currently has 14 crates of LP's (about 100 to a crate), 10 crates of 78's and around 5000 45's. (Needless to say this bedroom does not contain a bed).  Another closet holds metal shelves with around 10 sets of china and other glassware. Underbed storage holds my inventory of CD's and DVD's.  Pretty much my 2300 sq/ft home resembles a warehouse more than a actual house. My 2 car garage hasn't had a car in it for 5 years as that is where I refinish furniture. Current projects out there include 3 dressers a round table, a sideboard, a desk and a telephone seat.

[muttlymob]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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@jwarrenzc90 wrote:

   and i taped it between two small squares of thin cardboard,   

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For a "letter" to be a "letter" it has to be completely flexible to go through their automatic machines. If the package has any rigidity to it then it is a package. Don't be surprised it it shows up postage due.

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Incorrect.  A rigid letter is classified as a Nonmachinable Letter, it has a surcharge but is still mailed at letter rates if it fits all other letter physical standards.

Another standard making a letter nonmachinable is lumpiness - ie, contains items that make the thickness uneven.  Such as the OP's item.  If his letter was less than 1/4 inch thick, it would be classified as a Nonmachinable Letter and the surcharge would be applied.  Depending on the weight of his letter, he probably added enough postage to cover the nonmachinable surcharge.

The more likely problem for the OP is that his "letter" might exceed the 1/4 inch thickness at some point, thus no longer a letter of any kind.  That, and the possibility that his envelope may not get diverted to the nonmachinable mailstream and will get caught in machinery and damaged.

[jwarrenzc90]

i won't do this again in the future,   since i agree it is'nt fair to the buyer,     and i think i will feel better if i just mention to this buyer what i did and be honest,   and then refund him the amount owed,  that he paid as part of the shipping cost,  that i did'nt use since i sent it cheaper in a letter,     then i won't have to worry about it coming back to me in a bad way,      cause i don't want to ruin my feedback score of my ebay profile,    i've been a seller since 2000,    and have kept my user percentage in the 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% range and want to try to keep it that way.    

i'll try to stop being so stingy by trying to keep extra money by shipping stuff cheaper,        and really i don't do that all the time,   but i did with this one that i made the post about.               

and as far as whether it was accepted as a standard letter for it's thickness?,   it was two square pieces of black matte board i cut out and sandwiched together against the item and scotch taped them together,     and each piece of matte board is around 1/8" inch  or so,   and the item is probably also around 1/8" thick,  so all together the whole thing would be about 3/8" thick and not flexible,  but the pieces i cut were only about 3" X 3" inches square so it was flexible around the rest of the letter.  

and as far as me using a letter i found in the trash can,    i covered any markings that were already on it,   with those USPS labels that say "From" and "To" on them,  cutting just the white sections of the labels and using those to cover anything that was already on the letter and then put my own postage over everything,  so any markings that were on it were'nt visible after i covered them good,     i thought it was ok to use things like shipping boxes or letters or anything that were used previously to ship stuff with,   as long as you cover all the shipping markings and stuff good ?,       i know you can't use USPS boxes as non-USPS boxes by turning them inside out,    cause it says USPS all over it and stuff,  so i don't do that.