Hi everyone, I have been lurking on these boards for several weeks, trying to figure out if I want to dive into selling. I have a question......what shipment method do you use, and why? Do you charge a flat rate, or use a shipping calculator? Do you print your own postage thru USPS, Paypal, or others? Do you ship in a box or an envelope? I am trying to get my home office ready for ebay selling, and I'm really hung up on the shipping. Any/all advice is welcome.... Thanks so much!!
Hi there! I use USPS for my shipping and print my postage through PayPal. It's very easy and fast!! If anything weighs under 13 oz, I ship First Class. It takes 2-5 days. If it is over 13oz, I always ship Priority Mail because Parcel Post takes way too long! I estimate my postage costs and try to get it real close to the actual costs. It's probably not a good way to do it because sometimes I underestimate. If it's a lot of items, such as a lot or several auctions won, I will ship in a flat rate box. The post office just came out with a larger flat rate box for $12.95. You can stuff a lot of clothes into that! I've nver used any of the other carriers, USPS seems to be the cheapest and easiest. Hope this helps! Good luck!!!
Thanks for your reply. I am thinking that USPS is the way to go. Do you print your postage thru Paypal? I haven't tried this yet, and I'm wondering if it is difficult.
No, not difficult at all! You will need a postage scale and you just click on the button that says Print Shipping Label after the transaction! That's it! Very easy! :)
Hi, I also use USPS. I charge a flat rate of $2.00 for shipping, which seems to work out okay. Packages usually cost me between $1.50-$2.15 to ship out, so I think that seems fair. I do not print postage at home. I was wondering if USPS offers a discount for that, Do you then have pick up at your house or do you still drop off at post office? What about International? It seems like a lot of people say its worth it to ship international, but I still am only doing Canada. Any thoughts or suggestions??? What about customs forms, what boxes do you mark, gift? I really still am not sure. I shipped to Switzerland today for the first time ever, so I am going to keep my fingers crossed. I am open to any advice or suggestions. Thanks!!
I have only been selling on ebay for a couple of months and I have been using the USPS Priority mail flat rate envelopes and boxes. To use the flat rate just seams very easy to me when I am getting my auctions ready I decide if it will fit in an envelope or if I have to go up to a box and then I am done...no weighing or measuring or anything. My customers say that the shipping is really fast with Priority and the rates are reasonable. I love that it offers a free confirmation of delivery as well. I don't charge any handling fees...just charge the cost of postage. I also print my postage online through PayPal and it is the easiest thing ever. I was really nervous about selling. However, I should warn you about somehting I just found out about Priority Mail...it is not a guaranteed service meaning that it does not guarante your package will arrive in 2-3 postal days. I just had a problem with two flat rate boxes that I shipped out last Wednesday not getting delivered and nobody knowing where they are. Because of this I just opened a UPS account and I am going to give them a try. I know the shipping prices should be a little less but the delivery time is longer. I do like that UPS has an automatic insurance of $100.00 on any package that is sent. I guess we will see what happens. Good Luck with your new endevours!!
I have been doing this for going on two years now and I only ship USPS. I ship clothing in poly mailers that I purchase from an ebay seller . They are great!! They are light weight and water proof, and come in many sizes!! They also dont tear as easily as paper. I use bubble mailers to ship accessories. You can also get alot of clothes in a Flat rate Priority Envelope!( i put them in a mailer first). I have a Postal Scale and Always print my postage via paypal. (Delivery confirmation is only .18 with paypal and is at least .60 at the post office) I usually give a reasonable flat rate, between 3.25 and 4.50 for clothing, with multiple discounts. Please remember this is a business!! Take into consideration all of your cost!! The shipping materials and the Paypal fees!! If you ship internationally, First Class has to be done at the post office. If you ship Priority, you can print the label from Paypal. I print on standard paper and use packing take to adhere it to the package. Good luck!!!
Oh, First class International needs a small, green customs form. All of my listings state that I mark what the actual amount is paid for the item, so any additional taxes or tarrifs are the responsibility of the buyer. I mark other, and than put in the price the customer paid, (not to include shipping). Hope I have been helpful!!
Hi: I do everything like bbarbeebaby, but I recently bought shipping labels from an ebay seller. If you keep watching the auctions you can get the labels v. reasonable and it cut my packing time, since I don't have to cut paper and attach it to the mailers. Good luck! Cristina
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