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Author Topic: eBay shipping cost question Tyler Potts Expert Film Handler Posts: 159 From: Anderson, SC, USA Registered: Sep 2008 posted 01-08-2009 09:20 AM                       Does anyone have experience shipping heavy things sold on eBay? I'm going to be putting up an electric guitar and an amp but don't know how to set up shipping cost easily. Do I have to box the items and weigh them then get USPS to quote me then have the customer pay in advance? Or do I ship it then hope the customer pays me back for shipping? Stupid student loan payments kicked in...  |  IP: Logged Todd McCracken Master Film Handler Posts: 263 From: Northridge, CA, USA Registered: Mar 2008 posted 01-08-2009 09:48 AM                    Just put the items and packaging on a scale, then goto whoever your going to ship with web site and get an estimate. I would use the farthest point your willing to ship as your posted shipping cost.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-08-2009 09:53 AM                        Tyler: If you use a website to calculate your shipping cost, be sure to take note of the measurements of your shipping box. UPS charges by size as well as by weight and distance, and the postal service also has "large package" surcharges when you exceed a certain size. UPS also has extra charges for shipping to residences and small towns. But all this can be calculated at the appropriate website (ups.com or usps.com).  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 01-08-2009 10:01 AM                        UPS is EXTREMELY expensive to ship through, since I think normal people without accounts must go through The UPS Store. Kinkos/FedEx is much cheaper (quicker to deal with at the counter, too), and FedEx is less likely to destroy your shipment. According to my friend who works for FedEx, signatures of the recipient are not required, but they like to get one if they can.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-08-2009 10:10 AM                        Don't go to a UPS store just to ship via UPS; they mark up the shipping cost. Non-business customers can ship via UPS at less-inflated rates by going to a "UPS customer counter." These can be found on their web site. A UPS Store can actually be useful if you need the item packed properly before mailing it. Unfortunately, damage claims can be difficult to pursue through them. I shipped something back in August of last year at a UPS store specifically because I wanted it to be packed correctly. Naturally, the unit was damaged in shipment (apparently due to rough handling and not improper packing) and it took until December to get a check from UPS to cover the repair costs. Fedex Ground is generally good to deal with and cheaper than UPS. I would recommend either over USPS for shipping something expensive and fragile.  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-08-2009 06:29 PM                     I am in the process of shipping 12 cases from Iowa to myself in Medford and checked with UPS, FedEx and DHL. The least expensive was DHL at about $650. So I checked with the post office and learned I could mail them all for $94.83. I have sold some stuff on eBay and charged the buyer shipping. Check with the shipping companies and post office and add the freight and any extra insurance to the cost of the guitar.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-08-2009 07:04 PM                     Sometimes, I find good ol' USPS to be the fairest amongst all of them .. when using parcel post, and if shipping recorded items (CD's DVD's, audio/film recordings, printed matter) - then Media Rate wins them all, but with a small price: Media Rate is a ground shipped item.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-08-2009 09:25 PM                     I reccomend "Foamed In Place" for heavy valualable things sold. This way the foam in place outfit also packs it at the same time eliminating the packing hassle AND liability for you. Getting UPS or whom ever's insurance doesn't necessarily eliminate the liability if they deny a claim. I also always charge extra for packing heavy objects... Its going to take you time and tape/packing materials or the "Foam In Place" guy to do it! Mark  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-08-2009 10:25 PM                     I've sold a lot of stuff on eBay over the years and the buyer has always paid shipping costs. In turn, I have always paid when I bought something. Granted these were never really heavy items, but we're a long way away from the rest of the world so it's not cheap.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-08-2009 11:25 PM                        quote: Scott Norwood Don't go to a UPS store just to ship via UPS; they mark up the shipping cost. I thought they went to using the standard (not marked-up) rates a couple of years ago. Either way it can be expensive. I'm really curious about Robert's situation: quote: Robert E. Allen shipping 12 cases from Iowa to myself in Medford and checked with UPS, FedEx and DHL. The least expensive was DHL at about $650. So I checked with the post office and learned I could mail them all for $94.83. Over $600 for DHL, but the Post Office shipped the same stuff for under $100? and UPS was even MORE than DHL??? UPS rates aren't THAT much different from the post office. Maybe they quoted air rates or something.  |  IP: Logged Eric Webb Film Handler Posts: 40 From: Atlanta GA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 01-09-2009 12:52 AM                     It looks like all are increasing their prices during this month also. USPS on Jan 18. USPS Price Changes UPS & FedEx changed their prices on the 5th UPS Price Changes FedEx Price Changes  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-09-2009 02:50 AM                     Hey Mike! I went to the websites for DHL, UPS and FedEx last month and did the figuring using their software. I went to the USPS website last month and again a few days ago and their price was the same for 12 2'x2'x2' 25 pound boxes $94.83. They were all ground rates.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-09-2009 10:10 AM                        Hi Robert, Well I hate to ruin your day, but that rate for the Postal Service is for EACH box, not a total for 12 boxes. I went to UPS.com and put in the specs you provided and got a result of $746.40 for UPS vs. $1137.96 for the post office. I also selected that you would "give your packages to the UPS driver" instead of scheduling a pickup (it saves money to do that). In addition, I selected a "residential" delivery -- if you could have the packages sent to a commercial address (a storefront, not a business-in-a-home address) that'll save money as well. Finally, I selected that you do NOT have a daily pickup account. If you could find someone who does have an account to handle the shipment for you (using their software rather than going thru the webvsite) it could cost even less. Since I don't know the exact zip codes or Iowa city involved, actual costs might vary somewhat but not too much. One thing: You said you were shipping "cases" -- if that means non-cardboard wood or metal shipping cases, you will have to pay an additional-handling fee on each one, somewhere around $5 per package. In case you are wondering why I seem to know so much about this UPS stuff, we have a UPS customer counter in our store so I ship anywhere from 5 to 50 packages a day.  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-09-2009 11:46 AM                     Mike: You're absolutely correct. Boy, do I feel stupid! Back to the drawing board. Thanks for the heads up.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-09-2009 11:57 AM                        No problem! Another thought would be to check with a local trucking company. I have less experience with that, but I think it might be cheaper than the UPS option.  |  IP: Logged

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