Use USPS for shipping?

therealdanhill

therealdanhill

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Hi, I want to lowball some stuff off, I just wanted to know the most effective way of shipping. Do people generally use USPS flat-rate boxes to ship, or should I just buy some stuff from Walmart? What is the standard and easiest way to do it?
 
[quote name='therealdanhill']Hi, I want to lowball some stuff off, I just wanted to know the most effective way of shipping. Do people generally use USPS flat-rate boxes to ship, or should I just buy some stuff from Walmart? What is the standard and easiest way to do it?[/QUOTE]


If it is 13 oz or less go with USPS.
 
Dude you can get free boxes from usps online, and free bubble envelopes. If you don't want to pay for the flat rate service just flip the boxes inside out and retape them.
 
flat rate is not that great for shipping games. Its cheaper to send 2 360 games in a bubbler than flat rate. Systems are another story though.

Do like galaqtic said and turn boxes inside out, and if you can get the bubblers online for free then go for it. I just reuse the ones from the packages I have received. Recycle fool! ;)
 
If you have older priority boxes, you could flip them inside out, but the newer ones have "priority mail postage required" stamped all over the inside.

USPS is the cheapest method for lighter items, but you have to get your own boxes/envelopes if you want to use first class or parcel post.
 
[quote name='St4rgalaqtic']Dude you can get free boxes from usps online, and free bubble envelopes. If you don't want to pay for the flat rate service just flip the boxes inside out and retape them.[/QUOTE]

I know you're trying to help the OP save money, but doing this has the opposite effect down the road. Those boxes are for Priority Flat Rate only (it's in their fine print). Using them for a cheaper purpose deflects the cost of the boxes at a later time at everyone else that uses USPS by way of rate increases. Just reuse old boxes instead of taking new ones.

OP: Like one of the first repliers stated, USPS for under 13 ounces (First Class rate limit) is probably the best method. Use PayPal shipping and delivery confirmation will be 19¢ (included in total price now) instead of about 80¢ at the post office.
 
Make sure you use at least SOME packaging. Old newspaper... anything. I've won way too many items from lowballs that just send their items in paper envelopes. It's sad.
 
First class shipping, or media mail with USPS. You can buy two bubbled adhesive sealing envelopes for a dollar at the Dollar Tree.

Only go with flat rate boxes if you're shipping a heavy object. Most games will cost you under $3 to ship. In most lowballs, it cost the seller more money to ship, than they're actually getting out of the game. I don't quit understand the logic of the lowballs but I am not complaining about games in the $1-$10 range.
 
Seconded for using packaging material in addition to envelopes...I had a Deathsmiles Limited Edition shipped in a bubble envelope...it arrived with the envelope opened and the box severely crushed. Worse, the seller charged me $12 shipping (and only paid $4 himself...yeah, I made him refund me the difference). Not to mention double-disc PS1 games do not always fare well when shipped in an envelope. As a matter of fact, for double-disc PS1 games and any games in cardboard boxes, I'd recommend shipping them in a box with ample bubble wrap or crumpled newspaper (I simply abhor styrofoam peanuts...they are the very bane of my existence :p ).

Also, don't hesitate to use Regional Flat Rate boxes... Their max capacity is around 15 pounds, but if you're only shipping one or two states over, you can ship that 10- to 15-pound package for as much as it would cost to ship a 1- or 2-pound package.
 
For heavy stuff like books or game systems > flat-rate
For under 13 oz. UPS First Class

That will generally take care of most of your items. You can always use Paypal/Shipnow and try the different selections to see what is cheapest for the weight of your items.
 
Oh, use Media Mail when you can, but only if you cant get the First Class shipping (since it has a minimum of a 1lb before its cost effective)

As other people said... for crystal boxes that crack easy, don't use bubble wrap envelopes. It's usually better to put these in a box with peanuts or newspaper.
 
[quote name='St4rgalaqtic']Dude you can get free boxes from usps online, and free bubble envelopes. If you don't want to pay for the flat rate service just flip the boxes inside out and retape them.[/QUOTE]

Actually saw a guy get arrested for getting caught doing this, it is illegal. Remember the post office is a part of the federal government so if you commit crimes against them it is a federal crime.
 
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