How do you ship small packages

[DrRod]

As part of my general clean up and down-sizing effort, I am about to mount a sales campaign on eBay. I'm planning to sell old toys, antique cameras, automobilia, and the like. For me, the hardest part of the transaction is mailing the stuff out after sale. It needs to be convenient and economical at the same time time. So I'm asking your advice on UPS vs FedEx vs post office.

And do you find the boxes "if it fits it ships" a good value?

Thanks

 

[kcflhrc]

My experience is USPS is horrible so I always use UPS. Tracking with USPS is really bad. If you have a UPS Store close to you that is what I would use. No experience with the boxes however.

 

[fried1765]

My experience is USPS is horrible so I always use UPS. Tracking with USPS is really bad. If you have a UPS Store close to you that is what I would use. No experience with the boxes however.

USPS is almost always the least cost!

 

[kcflhrc]

USPS is almost always the least cost!

That is true, but they suck the most.

 

[downsizingnow48]

We've used the USPS flat rate express boxes a lot, no issues at all. UPS is always more expensive. On eBay can you offer buyers a choice? If so let them make that decision and pay accordingly.

 

[RickB]

That is true, but they suck the most.

Fast, cheap, good. Pick any two.

 

[RNeumann]

USPS is the way to go- especially with eBay. Go onto the USPS website and get the boxes you need sent to you.....they don’t cost you anything to get them. I have ordered 100 or so at a time. I keep a good selection of the small, medium and large flat rate boxes on hand at all times. I also like the USPS Tyvek envelopes.

When you sell an item, eBay can do the shipping label for a bit of a discount.

If you plan to ship internationally, get a bunch of the USPS international label/envelope things that sticks to the front of the package.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive been selling on eBay for many, many years. Have exclusively used USPS flat rate boxes as most of my stuff is small and light, but I sell it that way and have never had any issues with it. Nearly every package is delivered within 2-3 days. Tracking always spot on. I just sold a 75 foot 4 wire generator cord. With a bit of work I got it into a large flat rate box and shipped it across country for $18. Fedex wanted 45, ups wanted nearly 60. It was a no brainer. Thing weighed nearly 45 pounds.

 

[KennyG]

USPS flat rate boxes are pretty easy but be very careful in packing if the object is in any way fragile. We see a large percentage of flat rate boxes mangled. It almost seems like they target them for rough handling.

 

[Oaktree]

My experience is USPS is horrible so I always use UPS. Tracking with USPS is really bad. If you have a UPS Store close to you that is what I would use. No experience with the boxes however.

I haven't noticed a big difference one way or the other between the 3. For small-ish packages I use the USPS 100% of the time, if for no reason other than the cost is a little lower and it's WAY more convenient. Post office is 10 min away, and is open 8a-5p M-F and 8-noon on Saturday. Fedex is 45 min away, and is only open 10a-4p M-F. UPS is even worse...the local depot's counter is only open from 5-6:30p M-F. That's right, only open an hour and a half a day!! Staples is an option for UPS, but I believe they add a surcharge to UPS's already high rates. YMMV.

For something large and/or kind of heavy, yeah go with one of the package outfits, they're better equipped to handle larger items.

 

[not2old]

Ive been selling on eBay for many, many years. Have exclusively used USPS flat rate boxes as most of my stuff is small and light, but I sell it that way and have never had any issues with it. Nearly every package is delivered within 2-3 days. Tracking always spot on. I just sold a 75 foot 4 wire generator cord. With a bit of work I got it into a large flat rate box and shipped it across country for $18. Fedex wanted 45, ups wanted nearly 60. It was a no brainer. Thing weighed nearly 45 pounds.

FYI: I recently made my own similar cord. While Amazon and e-Bay had reasonably priced goods, the shipping I was quoted before purchase ranged from $60.00 to $200.00,making it too expensive.

 

[Howling]

I ship and receive packages on regular basis.

USPS - Good for smaller packages. Flat rate envelopes and boxes are good pricing.

Larger packages
UPS is the largest package company and, in my experience, the roughest on packages (most damage).

FedEx Ground is my choice for standard package delivery. Definitely less damage then UPS.

We use FedEx Express for all overnight and international shipments. Costs more but even better handling of the packages.

FedEx Ground and FedEx Express are basically separate companies operating under the FedEx name.

 

[clemsonfor]

USPS is the cheapest. But often when you get up to 7 pounds it's cheaper on UPS

 

[handtools]

And don't forget that many times actual weight means nothing as they charge for dimensional weight based on the size of the box.

 

[jjp8182]

YMMV is absolutely the case - I've lived several different parts of the country and the quality of service between the big 3 cay vary noticeably (on both the shipping and receiving side) between localities (and drivers).

That being the case (if it's at all practical) I'd recommend making the shipping service a customer pick (with them paying actual shipping fees) as they should have an idea which one of the big three provides the better (or worst) service at their location. If it's not, I'd recommend being clear about which delivery service you're using up front in order to reduce problems for yourself and the customer (there have been times I haven't bought things just because of which delivery service was going to be used).

Though whichever service is used I'd recommend packaging the item with the expectation that it will be thrown, dropped, and otherwise go through things that most people would consider "abuse." That recommendation would stand even if the package is marked appropriately as mistakes/accidents do happen and since the name of the game for almost all delivery services is maximizing throughput it's pretty fair to assume that not every package is going to be treated as nicely as most wish it would.

Of course that's just my :2cents:

 

[PILOON]

Well I'm in Canada and for me USPS/Can Post is the only way.
They respect the waivers, ($75/gift and ??/Commercial) while the others charge all kinds of fees and tax as much as they can.
Same goes to ship out.
I've had $6-9 item cost me over $40.00 for a free shipment with UPS and FexEx.