SaleHoo

[lilembz]

I have been on ebay for awhile and when I ship items I have always shipped the old fashioned way of wrapping them up and taking them to the post office. I know a lot of sellers on ebay now do the Pay Pal labels and get them picked up at their house. Can anyone tell me how they weigh the items, and how the process works to do the labels at home and have them picked up. I know its def more conveinent, does it also save money?

[GRBoutique]

I use UPS as my shipping carrier for all my shipments. I have an account with them and all I do is just order their free shipping labels/pouches and print shipments at home with my laser printer =) I do sometime have them pickup some of the shipments that are somewhat large but it does cost a fee domestically. For international, if you let them pick it up, it free. I don't know about USPS though =(

[gulfy13]

I almost use usps for all of my shipping. I don't use paypal as their can be some hidden costs, normally about one dollar, but I figure a bucks a buck...

I order all my boxes from the usps from home and they ship them right to your door and they are free. Then I have an online account set up with usps, it only takes a minute and then all you have to do is weigh your item and box it up, ( most of the smaller boxes are self sealing so that saves alot if time too).

Next you just log into your account, enter the customers name and address and once you have all the info entered you hit "print" and it prints the label on regular paper and then you just tape it too the box..If you don't want to do that you can order the shipping labels and then print on them, but it just seems faster to do it on regular printer paper...Once the label is printed it just charges the postage to your credit card and your done...

You can buy a small shipping scale to weigh your packages, they don't cost very much...and you can find them on ebay very cheap or at any office supply store...

I normally just drop off my packages at the post office whenever I get ready as most of the post offices have a special bin for them and you just drop them into that anytime of day or night..If you don't want to go to the post office you can arrange pick up and it's free...

[lilembz]

thank you guys for the info, it is very helpful. Quick question, how strict are they with the weight, if you estimate a amount, and your off, do they add charges? Also from past experience I know sometimes when I take a box to the USPS, they will charge me a additional fee if the box is irregular, if your doing a label online, how would you know if you needed to pay that fee?

Also one last thing, getting it picked up from home sounds more convenient, does that usually take longer? And do you just leave stuff on your porch?

[gulfy13]

Well as far as the weight, I there is some leeway in the way they rate the boxes..for instant, a box weighing from 0-2pounds is one rate and then an additional charge for each ounce over that amount and so on...When you enter the weight it will tell you the cost.. I myself hardly ever just guess at the weight because if for some reason there is an extra charge, they don't charge you they send the box postage due,,and this might not go well with your customer...I suggest just buying a cheap postal scale, it will save you alot of time and money..

also if you are going to ship items that weigh, lets say, several pounds or more, then it would probably be a good idea to just use the flat rate box. You can ship up to 70 pounds for about 8 dollars as long as it fits in that flat rate box..

As far as odd sizes on the boxes, as long as the length and girth dosent exceed 108 inches you are ok at the stated rate..If the box goes over those diminsions, just check on the additional cost on the home page: "calculate shipping"..Pretty much all the info you need about shipping can be found on the usps homepage and is set up so that you can calculate just about any kind of shipping need right from your home pc...

As far as myself, I normally just drop stuff off at the post office 99% of the time as there are bins you just drop the item into so you don't have to stand in any kind of line. But the few time I have had pick up the picked up the boxes the next day when delivering the regular mail..I just had them setting outside my front door..no problems..I guess it would depend on where you live...

[wholesalelist101]

The USPS recently started asking for package measurements as well as weight. The measurements are length, width, and height. I usually buy the sticky labels and use PayPal. It seems so much easier. You can go on eBay click on "Print Shipping Label" and it will take you straight to PayPal. The shipping address is already filled in for you and everything. All you have to do is enter the package weight, measurements, and click on Pay then print it out and stick it on the package. I also usually just drop my packages off at the post office.

[lilembz]

Does Pay Pal charge you extra to do the labels through them, wholesalist101?

Also why is that when I go to the usps website to either calculate shipping or to pay for postage they dont list parcel post or media mail? Can you not have Parcel Post picked up? And even if you cant why wont they at least give you the rate when you go to Calculate shipping, so you would know for when you go the Post Office, if they are only offering it at the Post Office?

[wildbill0480]

I've been printing my shipping labels via paypal for the past month. It is a time and money saver. First you will absolutely have to get a scale. Once you print out your labels just click on schedule pickup button and your package(s) will be picked up the next business day. You can also add special instructions for pickup like "package at back door" or "behind big rock" etc. Where ever you'd like them to pick it up from. Not to mention you save 20% on postage compared to paying postage inside post office. Another nice feature about doing it via paypal is you pay for postage directly out of your paypal account.

Paypal does not charge extra for this feature. I guess they figured they get enough of your money as it is.

[grahamg]

The discounts work in the UK too!

[customersplanet]

Hi
I print several packages a day and experience has taught me that your best bet is to invest in a thermal barcode printer. I use to print via my inkjet and trust me when I say, ink cost can add up. I invested $70 in a used Zebra 2844 thermal printer and $10 for a roll of labels consisting of 250 labels. It was the best $80 I have ever spent.

I then enrolled in ** Link Removed: Only Available to Registered Members** and used their software for 30 days free. I have continued to use it paying the $15 a month service fee. The speed and efficiency of this software is superb to any other out there and it's fully customizable. You can print virtually any type of postage, including your own stamps. They have one flat postage rate throughout the US and and one for international destinations. I sure would have saved hundreds of dollars had I used them before. I was skeptical but once I got in, I was hooked.

The only time you have to use your regular printer is to print international labels with the custom form attachment. Even this is done via the Endicia software. It even allows you to hide postage fees. Also, no more typing in customer information. Just copy and paste from the Paypal payment notification. Speed and efficiency! I have tried USPS.com and Paypal printing. Both paled in comparison to the Endicia software. Hope this helps.

Allan

[wholesalelist101]

Does Pay Pal charge you extra to do the labels through them, wholesalist101?

Also why is that when I go to the usps website to either calculate shipping or to pay for postage they dont list parcel post or media mail? Can you not have Parcel Post picked up? And even if you cant why wont they at least give you the rate when you go to Calculate shipping, so you would know for when you go the Post Office, if they are only offering it at the Post Office?

No PayPal does not charge you extra for printing labels. They only charge you for the cost of postage. If your looking to calculate shipping for media mail and parcel post I found them both here ** Link Removed: Only Available to Registered Members**

[lilembz]

Thank you guys for all the info, I def will be looking into all the info you gave me, and will be getting a scale, and going to try the Pay Pal lables too, thank you customersplanet I will check out the info you gave me too!!! Thanks a lot you guys saved me a lot of time

[planes]

I use Paypal and a company called Redroller.

I just find it easier for me to click the make a shipping label option on eBay. I may change this over time.

I use redroller for DHL shipping. I find DHL to be cheaper for the larger items. I set up an account with DHL and they pick-up same day from my house. I do this through redroller as through DHL the online shipping process is a big pain but Redroller really streamlines it.
The savings with DHL are significant over the PO with larger items. Many times 10 20 or 30 dollars.

I shipped an ATT Merlin phone system with 10 units at about 60 lbs for 25$ with DHL.