Ebayers:Are you using the new Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes??

[samsid99]

Just wondering....

Are all of you ebayers having any luck with the new priority mail flat rate boxes? Are they making a difference or do you find you are doing your shipping the same as always.

I am returning to ebay after a 4 month break. I know summer season is slow but being a teacher I have the time now to devote to it.

Also where can I learn to post my pictures in an ebay auction from somewhere else so I can save $$ on fees. I heard a few talk about this but not sure how to look into it. I am pretty good with the computer so I am sure I can learn. Thanks for any input.

 

[ceecee]

They haven't helped me at all. If you are lucky enough to sell the right size things they would work out well. They just are too small for the things I needed them for.

 

[DianeV]

They have helped us on a few items especially the ones going from Michigan to the West coast.

You can upload your pics to a file on your computer and then upload them onto your auctions right on your listing. You only get one free and they are $.15 each addl. one after but thats not that bad I dont think

 

[powellrj]

I don't ebay, but my DS is in the Army with a APO address and I mail packages to him every week. I have found that I use to pay about $15 to mail the "large shirt size" so its about 1/2 price with the flat-rate box.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

please tell me about the flat rate boxes -- what size and how much are they?

 

[MyGoofy26]

From the USPS website:

Flat rate boxes are $7.70 and are available in two convenient sizes, 11" x 8.5" x 5.5" and 13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375"; maximum weight is 70 lbs.

 

[polkadotladybug]

You can order them thru the USPS website - they are 7.70 for postage, but the boxes themselves are free.

One size is good for shoes - clunky heavy shoes that weigh over 2 lbs. Also you have to weigh all your options. I am on the East Coast, so I check rates to the farthest zip code (90210 - LOL!) - see what it would be Priority versus Parcel. Plus how easy it is to have a regular box.

I shipped two wooden Playskool toys (vintage) from SC to California - they weighed 3 1/2 lbs - even Parcel would have been more than 7.70 - so I sent them in a Priority box for 7.70. Now 3 1/2 lbs instate or near me would probably be cheaper since the USPS goes by Zones.

There are many factors to consider (which drives my hubby crazy since he tries to list stuff with me on ebay and has no clue how I figure out the made science of shipping prices)

Carol

 

[Savin4Disney]

To funny Carol.... I always check 90210 as zip when figuring out shipping costs.

My son is even named Brandon... (but don't tell him)

 

[Kellydelly]

It's easy to put your photos in the auctions for free. You have to use html to do it. You also have to have your photos hosted on a website. I use photobucket.com. I registered there before they started charging. I think you can use snapfish or other free sites too, though. You just need to click on the html option when you get to the description part of your auction set up. Then type your description and add the codes for the photo files. It will look like this:



<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/kellydelly/DSC074172.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

You can use the <p> paragraph code in between each photo and description to seperate them.

I am no expert with ebay or the computer but when I had someone show me how to do this I was thrilled! Nice big photos for free, as many as you want! You do want to take advantage of the one free pic ebay gives you, though. In case your host site goes down and your pics disappear from the auction.

 

[Kellydelly]

To funny Carol.... I always check 90210 as zip when figuring out shipping costs.

I use 90210 also, to estimate shipping costs !

 

[DBarber600]

We sell Thomas the Tank Engine Trains and track and have found the flat rate boxes work well when shipping a large lot of wooden track from Iowa to the West Coast. We usually save between one and three dollars off of what the shipping cost would have been.

 

[minniedisney1]

I LOVE THEM!!! I sell a lot on ebay and they have made my life sooooo much easier. I use those exclusively now, unless it is something lightweight that I know I could get away with the $3.85 rate. I have them shipped to my house since I have found that it is nearly impossible to find them at the P.O.

 

[samsid99]

Thanks every one! I am off to see what I can do with snapfish.com. Are there other free picture sites that you guys recommend? I hope to list between 20 and 30 items today. And I have my flat rate boxes ordered. I am $400 away from my August 22nd trip!!! Thanks Kellydelly for the tips!

 

[cinamin27]

Are there other free picture sites that you guys recommend? I hope to list between 20 and 30 items today. And I have my flat rate boxes ordered. I am $400 away from my August 22nd trip!!! Thanks Kellydelly for the tips!

Its not free but pretty cheap in my opinion $3.95 per month & you can cancel anytime you want - auctionboutique.com - it will host TONS (& I mean TONS - 100MB of space) of pictures for you + they have over a 100 FREE templates to make your auction look pretty. I used to use the ones on ebay & I think those were like 10 or 15 cents per auction & then add on all the extra picture fees & ebay was quite expensive per listing. Now I just use auctionboutique for all my pictures + the templates (can use a different template for any & all of your auctions & can make them coordinate with your clothes & items you are selling). all you have to do create your "listing" at auction boutique, click on the button to convert it to html code then copy & paste it into your ebay listing. easy as pie!

 

[MyGoofy26]

I use Imagestation and Photobucket for image hosting. Both are free.

 

[elgerber]

I use 90210 also, to estimate shipping costs !

So do I!!! I guess great minds think alike.