how do you ship things cheap?

[The motor guy]

on ebay I always see shipping prices dirt cheap. I looked at the post offices rates for flat rate boxes and the smallest they had on their sites was like a 11x10x5.75" iirc and they charged like $12.95 as their flat rate. That seems kind of steep. Is there a cheaper way to ship things, especially on ebay? I guess I can get an account and that will make it cheaper? Although I know nothing about that.

 

[Ga129]

When selling items sometimes you can slightly raise what you are asking for the item to cover shipping and then tell them you are giving a good deal on shipping, but really it's being paid. Other times I think some online stores are able to get lower shipping prices by shipping in bulk or shipping large quantities of stuff maybe?

 

[skyactiv]

Use UPS.

 

[The motor guy]

I remember when I used to ship my oil analysis samples I would put it in a very small box and they charged me like 9 bucks to ship it. Weighed like a pound. Although I think this was a franchise type fedex/UPS store not actually UPS itself. I was told it would be cheaper if I bypassed that store and went straight to fedex/UPS. Although I'm not sure how much cheaper.

 

[spasm3]

I've always wanted to try this, but i never have.

Address an envelope to you, put person you want to receive it as the return address. Put no stamp in it an drop it in a large public post office box.

 

[AZjeff]

An account with UPS will save you a little bit, 5 or 10% (I have one)

An account with USPS and buying your postage online will save you a little bit (wife likes this)

You would not believe the discount large volume shippers get with UPS etc. We ship product at work on some of our customer's accounts. A box that would cost you or I $15 costs them $4. Can only imagine Amazon's discount rate.

 

[BigD1]

If you sale just a few items here and there on Ebay like I do, I just buy the USPS discount shipping through Ebay. Saved me a lot of money doing it this way instead of going to my local post office and paying full price.

 

[raytseng]

sign up online and print and ship and you will get significant discounts.

just like if you walkup to a hotel or airport and ask for a ticket, you're going to be paying full price, same with shipping.

 

[AirgunSavant]

Flat rate mailer $5.05
Or better padded flat rate mailer $5.75
Or A or B box for $5.32 and so on ( regional)
13 ounces and under- First Class

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
I've always wanted to try this, but i never have.

Address an envelope to you, put person you want to receive it as the return address. Put no stamp in it an drop it in a large public post office box.


this only works if sender is in your zip. So unless you're only mailing local, it's not going to make it past routing and out of your local postal area.

they may mark it postage due on the other end as well.

 

[Lyman]

I ship things all the time. I use USPS for most and DO NOT use flat rate boxes. Buy your own box or envelope. Ship first class or priority. Most things I ship are small and run about $4-6 for the lower 48. BTW first class comes with free tracking now

 

[dishdude]

USPS seems to be the lowest cost.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
I've always wanted to try this, but i never have.

Address an envelope to you, put person you want to receive it as the return address. Put no stamp in it an drop it in a large public post office box.


They covered this under some obscure rule and made it illegal. Same if you put a nickel stamp on it. Not in good faith.

Apparantly cube boxes are more expensive than rectangle boxes with USPS.

Using paypals postage generator for your printer saves around 8% IIRC vs counter service. Paypal gets a business rate.

 

[Kira]

Apparently flat boxes are read (or flipped and read) easily.
Cube boxes can require manual handling to arrive at the addressed side.
ERGO: No dodekahedron shaped boxes at any time.

My limited experience found the self service UPS counter at a nearby Staples store the cheapest for boxes.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Ga129
When selling items sometimes you can slightly raise what you are asking for the item to cover shipping and then tell them you are giving a good deal on shipping, but really it's being paid. Other times I think some online stores are able to get lower shipping prices by shipping in bulk or shipping large quantities of stuff maybe?
Lying to the buyer is always good business. Who do you think you're fooling?

 

[grampi]

I don't think there are any ways to get reasonable shipping prices anymore...shipping costs have gone through the roof over the last several years and I don't know why...I shipped a football about a year ago and it was $25...a football weighs a few ounces and fits into a box about the size a shoe box...Really? $25? You've got to be kidding me!

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I don't think there are any ways to get reasonable shipping prices anymore...shipping costs have gone through the roof over the last several years and I don't know why...I shipped a football about a year ago and it was $25...a football weighs a few ounces and fits into a box about the size a shoe box...Really? $25? You've got to be kidding me!


You should have deflated it and used a priority mail box. No weight limit, but if it fits in the box it ships, they have some starting at $6.

 

[JustinH]

When I was in college I worked for a place that sold a lot of stuff on ebay, like a truckload a week.

We would get 50-60 percent off the retail fedex rate.

 

[Cutehumor]

I just sold my kindle fire on ebay a month ago. I paid $6 using a free USP "B" box. it was shipped 300 miles away with free tracking and free insurance.

 

[cptbarkey]

like many things the answer is "it depends". these are my ebay rules.

1. to puerto rico, use USPS flat rate.
2. anything under 1 lb use USPS
3. anything over 1lb goes Fedex smartpost (hybrid USPS/fedex)
4. rule # 1, 2, 3 can be broken, whoever is cheapest under whatever circumstance wins.