Shipping Questions

Hello Lauren,

1. How do you determine shipping cost?

This should answer your question
http://postcalc.usps.gov/

2. How do you print shipping labels?
You can purchase these labels from any office supply outfit.
If you want to cut corners, you can use reg paper and tape it on the package.

Hope This Helps
Karen

Just a little advice i have gathered from cutting corners-

-if you are serious about your business, cutting corners doesn't look good, and customers are very visual when it comes to how they get packages. You want to make sure you have high standards for your business, people will notice you went the extra step.

-sometimes, i just go to FedEx/UPS and they put everything in a box for me and label it. Its great and hassle free....but it is more expensive. However, UPS/FedEx will provide you with tracking numbers (and if you ask for it, so does the post office, i have just had bad experiences with them) instantly, and most of the time, customers like to know that information, its a little extra step that also shows how much you care.

- also, dont get lazy, make sure to calculate the current shipping for all of your items. i cannot tell you how many times i have seen stores claim that if the shipping isn's correct they will refund my money. Its frustrating and it turns me off to their items.

You seem to be on the right track by asking these questions, so good luck to you! I wish you success!

Daina

I charge a flat rate of $5 for all of my items, I priced this based on the cost of the actual postage and how much it costs for things like envelopes and packaging too!

As for labels I just print my own on sticker paper and stick them on the envelopes, you could always get them professionally printed if you wanted.

Hope this helps a bit, good luck with your store :)

I dont think printing them on your own paper is cutting corners at all! Of course if you use plain paper, dont do any extras and be plain.

But I custom pack my whole package.... right down to the label.
I print my own off on super nice paper, decorate the box etc..and my packaging has flair and style! (rather than a more sterile look) Customers really appreciate the extra mile to personalize their purchase - including extra things like packaging, notes, thank you cards, a free handmade gift... the list goes on!
Get creative, cheaper doesnt always mean blah!

Thanks guys for all of your help!!

I'm just afraid of setting my shipping rate WAY too high, but it just seems so dang expensive to mail stuff! I have crochet hats and things like that, so I have to use a larger box from USPS, which sometimes can get up to $11 if they order a bunch of stuff. Do you guys pay the difference in shipping? I'm still kind of starting out and I can't really afford to pay all of the shipping... But you gotta spend money to make money, right???

Do you guys have any kind of further advice for me on that issue?

You guys have REALLY helped and I really appreciate it =)

When I started creating my store, I spent a bit of time working with different sizes of padded envelopes, my small pet beds, and a scale until I knew what it would cost to mail every possible weight combination. It was time well spent, since a flat shipping rate wasn't feasible.

I use Paypal's system to print a first-class shipping label with tracking information on regular paper, which is securely taped on the padded mailer.

When I have an order outside the US, I use Priority Mail.

i do not charge flat rate.. i just charge a low primary shipping cost and add cents for additional items. I tried charging flat rate.. most customer do not like to see high shipping rate (at least for my products).. it depends.

How do you print shipping labels?

- I purchase my labels through PayPal and print it using regular copy paper.. I trim it nicely using a paper trimmer and tape it nicely. This saves me time, energy and gas plus shipping through paypal will give you discounts compared to walking in the post office.

and also, just make sure to include a small handling and material fee when determining a shipping cost. I know shipping isn't cheap.. and most customers do not want to pay for it. Just be reasonable that's all. Goodluck.

Condition: Original and NEW
Edition: US/UK English layout
US buyer: we will ship the item by USPS with tracking number. Normally it takes 4-7 business days.
International buyer (Except US): we will ship the item by Post Air Mail. Normally it takes 7-15 business days for delivery.

ATTN: : There would be a little bit different from the our pictures. As the keyboard varies in cable color and back holes from batch to batch even from the same manufacturer, which won't affect the compatibility.Please consider before bidding if you cannot accept that.

http://www.replacement-keyboard.com/sony/sony-vgn-fw245j-hc-us-laptop-keyboard.html
http://www.replacement-keyboard.com/sony/sony-mp-09l13us-886-black-us-laptop-keyboard.html

Great question TKBC. I was wondering the same thing and this forum post helped a bunch! I wish you the best of luck!

i bought a mail scale

I sell crochet stuff too but mostly hats. I did trial and error until I got an average of one item...2...etc. I don't make $ on shipping. I use USPS and also buy tracking for every item. The customer and you will be both be happy for that extra step!

If you don't have a scale, get a digital shipping scale off Ebay. I got one for like $20 and its been one of my most useful purchases. This means you don't have to go to the post office and wait in long lines to mail stuff, you can use Paypal. You either hand it to your postman or stop by and toss it in their box.

I use Paypal to print shipping (I use regular paper and just cut and tape it on the package.) They tend to be cheap, accurate, and include tracking for less than the post office. I ALWAYS suggest using tracking for your orders. Its just a norm nowadays, and both you and your customer know where your package is while en route.
You will however still have to go to the post office for international orders.

If you sell a lot of similar size/weight items, then you can probably keep shipping pretty consistent across your items. Mine vary a bit due to different sizes/weights, so I have different shipping categories. I try to get as close to actual shipping, so people don't feel like I'm gouging them extra for it. I do still round up, but usually in .50 increments.

Do remember to factor in your cost for packaging. If you again have a lot of similar size items, you can get bulk mailers off Ebay for WAY cheaper than buying them at a store or the post office. I think my bubble mailers average out to only being like .12 each.
In a pinch, Walmart does carry shipping supplies, and is the cheapest AFAIK. (Office Depot and the like do too, but I think they're a bit more.)

Also remember to factor in tracking costs, and if its a unique or higher cost item, stuff like insurance.

I know shipping is expensive, and it has been going up (its worth trying to keep tabs when it does so you can keep your prices current, I know it did earlier this year.) But with small light stuff, its not too bad. I think in a flat bubble mailer, up to like 3-4oz is only $1.98 with tracking on Paypal. $2 is probably as cheap as its going to get unless you're throwing something very small and flat in a regular letter envelope, but I don't think you can do regular tracking with that since its not a package.

Kitsunerei- wow! That is less than the post office. Most of mine are less than 3-4 oz each time and I pay $3 about every time for bubble envelope with tracking. Tracking is about $0.80 per package through the USPS. Our local post office discouraged me big time from printing off my own shipping- due too inaccurate weights, etc. Have been thinking about getting a scale for a bit. Saving $1 per package is still a $1 and would be great to offer my customers lower shipping.

Sure, you can screw up doing your own shipping, but its really not hard to do it right. I think your office is giving you some BS. I do think the savings will help you in the long run, and its always more appealing to get something with lower shipping.

Paypal is just so much more convenient too so long as you have a scale and printer. Since Storenvy is Paypal-based, you should be able to one-click prepare a shipping label from their payment notice, there's a drop-down menu next to it. (I just always verify that has the same address as on their order.)
Also Paypal's tracking is now apparently FREE. I think this changed around Feb this year, it used to be .19 (still a lot cheaper), but the last several packages I mailed were free tracking (delivery confirmation). I don't know if its always free.

I recently mailed a 4oz bubble envelope (package/thick envelope category) via first class mail (2-5 days) with delivery confirmation for $1.81. Somehow this seems cheaper than it used to be even though shipping went up.
I find first class usually arrives within 3 days. Its also cheaper than media mail for light stuff.
From some of my recent mailings: 2oz was $1.64, 5oz was $1.98, 6oz was $2.15 (all within the US.)

Unless its like 3.1oz, I usually round up when weighing. Remember to weigh with your packing materials. I've never had something returned for weight.

I think they can do to Canada too, but I don't recall for sure.

I got like a big box of like 100 bubble envelopes off ebay, so my packing cost is like less than .15. I also save boxes and packing material from work since we get weekly shipments.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/ship/center-outside

Nice! Thanks for the info!!!! I am checking out those bubble envelopes on ebay too!

Oh my Kitsunerei! Thank you so much for that awesome information! I really appreciate it!!! Anything I can do to make shipping cheaper... I need to invest in a scale! I wonder if my mom has one.. Thanks again!