Why do people overcharge for shipping?

[Teorropy]

Yeah, it does also cause more sometimes, but most of them are just trying to make the extra buck.

 

[Nanner]

Boxes at the post office are free.....newspaper works as well as bubble wrap (and I HATE peanuts)!!!! BTW why ship UPS? Isn't that more expensive than USPS and about the same amount of time? Not putting you down (I'm too nice )....just wondering the why's......

 

[trees]

Hi, well I have lost in shipping quite a few times, although the best way I have found to do it is by the calculated shipping. I bought a set of postal scales, I get the item, and the box it will be in, and weigh it. then I add a few ounces for the weight of the plastic, paper, or bubble wrap that will be used. All prioirty boxes are free, although the shipping costs are still based on weight and zone. NO special rates, or discounts. I print my own labels online, that way it saves me the 45 cents for confirmation when shipping priority.
Now I like to offer atleast two shipping methods which I loose on alot also, cause when parcel post is chosen, I then have to pay for the confirmation!
Either way, you can make money, but unless you think of a quick get rich item, you dont get rich. I just barely clear money! still trying tho!! :lol:

 

[Nanner]

Always think about buying scales but not until I'm surrounded by packages that need to get mailed Also they are darn expensive aren't they? I go on selling binges about 2-3 times a year otherwise I'm the buyer. I always print my labels also. LOVE that! Then I just set them by the door and ::oof::: The hubby, on the way to work has them zipping thru the US Mail by the time I get up in the morning. Before that I'd still send them with him but make him pay for the shipping He wasn't real fond of that! Post-it's on packages. This one goes Priority, this one First class....this one gets insurance....this one doesn't..... :lol:

 

[trees]

Also with parcel post, you have to buy the boxes and the clear tape!

Nanner! The USPS has started a new thing now! They will pick up your packages at your house for free! All you have to do is have them ready for pickup ( including any postage ) and go to the usps website and put in the shedule a pick up order! It does save a little time and gas money for a seller!
I got my scales off of ebay, for around $20.00
But they have them at Wal-mart for about the same price!
Trust me, I cant afford to spend alot on scales!
It does make it a lot easier tho!

 

[Nanner]

Kewl! Thanks! I'll have to remember that about the pick up! The post office is a little out of his way but it's either him or I drag the kid out just to run to the post office and drop off some packages. That's a pain!

Ya know I've never bought a box. A few yellow envelopes but that's it. I stash boxes in my basement and have been creative using those. Also when I do go to the post office I grab a ton of their boxes to have around.

Also I'll check into scales on Ebay or Walmart although I've just finished with my "spring/summer line" of toddler clothing Figure I made about a whoppin 150 bucks after fees etc. Oh well better than nothing I guess! (2 outfits that I bought in boutiques while traveling sold for next to nothing and were both like brand new! That start cheap price thingy)

Need to find an item to sell. Hubby is self-employed so I do have access to a tax number and wholesale suppliers but can't come up with something that would be a consistant good seller and easy to do.....yet! Then again I haven't given it a ton of thought. I know I have sellers that I buy from quite often who have found their "thing" on Ebay. Hmmm what's mine? (no not what hubby sells....he has a furniture store...talk about HIGH shipping)!!! :lol:

 

[trees]

Well Good Luck To You On Selling, It Is Pretty Cool Once You Have Your Tax Number And Can Buy Wholsale!
I Also Wanted To Mention That You Can Also Order All Your Prioirty Boxes And Supplies Off Of The Usps Website Also!
Then Those Things Come Right To Your House Also! I Love Things That Make It A Little Easier!

SOMETIMES I AM LUCKY AND GET THE MAIL MAN TO COME GET PACKAGES OFF MY PORCH EVERYDAY!

 

[Nightsurfer]

If this helps you can do what I do for the auctions I have had in the past. Do a rough caculation of shiping,use the total of the shipping for the opening bid.( depends on weight though).If that doesnt work for you look into purchaseing the digital poast office. They are Postal scales that will print the pre-paid shipping lables for you.Then drop off or let mail man pick up.(office max, staples ,office depo carry these)It's like haveing the poast office at home minus the long wait.

Good luck with your sales...

 

[cdsmith]

Boxes at the post office are free.....newspaper works as well as bubble wrap (and I HATE peanuts)!!!! BTW why ship UPS? Isn't that more expensive than USPS and about the same amount of time? Not putting you down (I'm too nice )....just wondering the why's......

I figured someone would point out that boxes at the post office are free. I once bought an item off eBay and got it by UPS, in a USPS Priority Mail box that had been turned inside out so that you couldn't see that it was a Priority Mail box.

I've found that Priority Mail isn't much cheaper than UPS. I shipped a motherboard in the big flat Priority Mail box and it cost almost $8 to ship with delivery confirmation. It probably would have been only $1 more at UPS.

I say in my auctions that I will ship by UPS or USPS Priority Mail at my decision. I base that decision on the value of the package. If it is expensive, I send it by UPS so that I can have the detailed tracking and signature verification. And insurance is way cheaper at UPS.

If it sells cheap, so it's not much money out of my pocket if it doesn't get there and I have to refund the money, then I ship by Priority Mail or old slow First Class mail. It's not that I don't trust the post office to deliver the box. I just can't get the detailed tracking and signature verification to know if the buyer actually got it and just says it never arrived, as a scam to get a refund. Maybe I'm just being paranoid and I shouldn't worry about such things.

I've been creative with my packing materials. I don't get newspapers to use as packing material. But I have been using plastic grocery shopping bags that I saved just for that purpose. But if I keep selling the junk I have around here, I'm going to run out of that kind of stuff soon.

 

[htownz]

More and more auctions are doing this. They will sell an item and the shipping will cost more than the item did. I wonder how many people don't pay attention to the shipping...