OT--Need help figuring out shipping

[Juliah]

Any ebay'ers or small business owners out there who would please help with recommendations on the best way to ship packages? We recently started a small business and need to ship mostly small packages (a shirt, about 10 ounces, in a Tyvek mailer) plus some larger orders now and then (box with tote bags--maybe a few pounds).

DH talked to someone at the post office, and the rate structures seemed pretty confusing. Depending on weight (or size?) you couldn't use certain methods (parcel post? 1st class?) Sorry, I don't know all the details, but it just seemed like a maze to figure out the most economical method to use, and it would change depending on the weight or size of what we need to ship at any given time. Are there rules of thumb on what method to use when?

DH also tried to sign up online for the USPS service that lets you print a shipping label, and it kept giving error messages. He talked to someone at the post office who said, oh, when that happens, it usually takes a year to straighten your account out. A year?!?

So, do you use the USPS, and, if so, do you have any tips on shipping methods? Or do you use another vendor, like UPS?

All info appreciated!

 

[digitaldevice]

Ok I run a website full time. We sell a lot of items. We use Stamps.com for USPS item up to 5#. Anything over goes FedEx. Due to the cost. We get a better shipping rate with FedEx over 5#. Also Stamps.com works great for international packages it now does the customs forms.

 

[Juliah]

Thanks so much for the reply! I'll check out stamps.com and FedEx.

Sorry for the dumb question, but do you have to do customs forms to ship to Canada?

 

[LadyyRedd]

Thanks so much for the reply! I'll check out stamps.com and FedEx.

Sorry for the dumb question, but do you have to do customs forms to ship to Canada?

I am pretty sure you'll need to fill out customs forms to ship to Canada no matter who you use to ship with.

Kimya

 

[Conway733]

If you go to usps.com you can get flat rate boxes for free delivered to your home. Fit whatever you can into the box (I think there is a weight max, you'll have to read the description) and it ships priority mail for a flat rate of $8.95.

 

[scammermom]

I do ebay and do direct sales and ship almost every day via USPS.

Shipping to US: You can print out labels on USPS only for Priority Mail and Express Mail. If something is 13 or less ounces, you can do First Class Mail. I have a variety of stamps here that I can attach my own unless I'm already planning on going to PO. 14+ ounces is Parcel post or Priority Mail which depending on how far it's going, Priority Mail is usually not that much more.

An envelope is less than 1/4 " thick.
A large envelope is less than 3/4" thick.
Otherwise it's a package.

Your mailer with a shirt is probably a package since it's probably more than 3/4" thick. So you start off with $1.13 plus .17/ ounce. A 10ounce package is $2.66.

I also have my own scale (which I bought off ebay). I then leave them on my mailbox for the mailman to take.

For Canada/Worldwide, you'll need to take them to the PO.

I order Priority Mail supplies free off the UPSP website. They have boxes of all sizes and they're free!

Hope that helps you some. Feel free to PM me if you would like!

 

[Juliah]

Thanks Scammermom, Kimya, and Conway733 for all the great info!