Hello, I thought I would add some useful tips to this thread as I have found some little things that have helped me immensely over the past few years with getting stuff to where it needs to go.... First, I would advise everyone who is sending a big and or heavy item using Parcel Post to tape every square inch of the box. Seems crazy but I do it and it really strengthens the box significantly, and also makes it more tear resistant. A friend of mine that works for the post office told me the same exact things I have read here and about how packages get caught in machines and get ripped open all the time and that's why I started going crazy with the tape. I'm happy to say that so far I have not had any complaints of damaged or ripped packages from my customers. Second, if you do have a large package I would suggest to put two shipping labels on it, one on each side. I asked my mail clerk if that is allowed and they said it doesn't hurt and there is no penalty for it. So I figure why not? If one gets ripped off then at least there is another one on there. I also go so far as to write the send and return address in marker underneath the label or somewhere else on the package just in case. Remember, this is also because I tape every square inch of the box. Third, even though I have good luck using parcel post, priority mail is great! If you do not use eBay labels you should get into it for your customers sake. I have found that many times eBay labels will give me Priority Mail for the same price as parcel post, and you can really wow your customers by letting them know that you upgraded their shipping for them. It makes all the difference in the transaction when you can tell a customer that they will be getting their package ahead of time. This has led to a lot of very good and positive feedback for me. Fourth, it goes without saying but yes you should absolutely write Fragile on your packages if you don't want stuff to get broken, but I go so far as to write Fragile on every side of the box. I also Circle the signature confirmation words on my shipping label with red marker and write a small note to the carrier asking them to please get the signature and write thank you as well. In the past many of my packages have had missed scans so I started doing this and have not had a problem since. This is all just some food for thought and merely my experience, I hope that any of my advice will serve you folks well.
I probably missed it but what would customs fees be like if buying from someone in another country using usps insured?
It depends on what country you live in from what I know from friends. If you're in the US you don't pay anything, at least I have never paid any kind of fee when buying out of the country.
Im looking into starting up a sale thread on this site but I've never really shipped anything before and want to learn as much as possible. Considering the first post is from 2003, is all of that info still accurate now?
Shipping is actually quite easy! The first post, while accurate in premise, has some outdated stuff definitely. Usually I use paypals shipping label maker (https://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/, or if payment is G+S the address and stuff is there automatically [recommended you post prices that include shipping and the fee!]), but you can also use USPS Click n ship, or go to the post office directly. Ebay has the same basic thing as paypal shipping too, if you decide to go that route! Otherwise, try to package stuff safely and get things out as quick as you can!
I apologize if this isn't the place to post this, but I figured it was relevant to most members that ship items using USPS. Sounds like the situation is only going to keep getting worse... https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/...ZUxOVnFfNJqY_E3-qLAQcpASKa6dgoIpuSPXSNrfnmY_4
Depends on what you're selling. If you plan to sell individual deluxe class figs then you can send them 1st class even if they are carded. I use 13x10x4 boxes for carded deluxes and they come in just under a pound. If you buy postage online then 1st class goes up to 16oz otherwise in the post office it's only up to 13oz. Anything over a pound then you're probably looking at parcel (or ground or whatever they call it now) or priority but usually priority is almost the same cost. You can get free priority mail boxes at the post office or you can have them delivered if you order them from the USPS website. There's also more variety available on the website (boxes/stickers/envelopes). Please please please only use the free priority mail boxes for priority mail though. If you're going to sell a lot then I suggest getting a small postage scale. They are fairly cheap and worth the investment. Oh and for the most part stay away from flat rate boxes. They usually aren't worth the price.
Okay, thank you for the info. Curious about the part in bold though. Is it just an ethics or moral thing, or is there another reason to only use those boxes for that?
Ethics/moral, might be a legal issue, but with everything going on with the post office, I don't think we need to exacerbate the issue by taking their free products. It kills me when people say yeah but the post office raises their prices every year so I'm getting what I can but maybe if everyone didn't take a bunch of boxes maybe the fees wouldn't go up as fast. Of course people are going to do what they are going to do....