Topic Wiki

Shipping Domestic

WeightUSPSUPSFedEx
13oz and UnderItems under 13oz are usually able to be shipped USPS First Class Mail. By far this is the cheapest option.
Weekly Pickup CostUPS charges $22 for weekly pickups - if you are not shipping with your own UPS account (e.g. Amazons account) If you ship with your own account at least $75 weekly then the fee is $11.It is about the same rates as UPS.
Who Pays When Refusing a packageNo oneShipperShipper
Ship to a PO box?YesNoNo

Need to ship a package with tracking?
Login to paypal and then click this link https://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_bulk-ship

Knowing which shipping service to use and when could be tricky. It depends on items weight, how fast needed to be delivered, contents value.

Here are 2 free tools I found that can answer many of the pricing questions on this thread:
1. Fitshipper is for when you know the delivery address, size & weight.    2. Fitshipper for listings is when you are not your sure of the destination (eBay etc.).



Items 1-5lbs is when it gets tricky.

For Fedex and UPS there is a Home Delivery charge of about $3 for all shipments that are delivered to a residential address.  This is what will usually make the rates with Fedex or UPS a lot higher than USPS Priority (on low weight packages)

The base rate - commercial address for shipping zone 1, 1lb with Fedex is $6.65, with USPS it's $5.05

With Fedex or UPS the rate increased much less per additional lb

Shipping Insurance with Fedex/UPS is a lot cheaper than USPS. This will be a key factor on deciding when to use USPS over Fedex

Direct Signature Requirement comes standard with $300 of USPS Insurance, and $500 of Fedex insurance

•°•°For Decently priced USPS labels see this post  Or this updated 8/2/21.•°•°

Latest 1/10/22 the best labels so far.
For insane rates.
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=28357.msg2538377#msg2538377


Q: Under 1lb what is the best service to use?
Typically USPS Priority Mail

Q: What is flat rate? When will it give you the best price?
Flat Rate is a specific size box that does not have a weight limit, and has the same rate for most of USA. Usually this will be the cheapest when shipping to the farthest zone.

Do all companys offer flat rate?
USPS has the best flat rate service. Fedex offers "One Rate" but that will only be a savings on Express shipments. If you have discounted rates with Fedex, the "One Rates" will not be cheaper, unless the box is heavy.

Q: If you don't have a shipping scale available, what would be the best website to find out the weight of a specific product?
Amazon has the shipping weight for most items. Add an additional lb or 2 for the weight of the box.

Q:When shipping to an apt building, will the package gets left in the hallway of by the recipients door?
A:It depends on the delivery driver. I would recommend requiring a signature when shipping to an apartment so that it will not get left outside.

Q:If USPS loses a package that wasn't insured, has tracking code. Can I get money from them?
A:$100 of insurance is included in Priority Mail Express service.
$50 insurance is included in Priority Mail service.
https://www.usps.com/ship/insurance-and-extra-services.htm

Q:What Carrier is the cheapest to send packages 1LB - 5LB NY to Canada?
USPS Priority likely will be the cheapest. If you have discounted rates with Fedex or UPS they may be cheaper.

Q:Items that I am shipping that the item is packaged in a box; is it necessary to put it in a shipping box or a shipping bag is good enough?
A:Depends what you are shipping. A bag is fine for items that wont get damaged in a bag. I use a bag all the time for such items.

I buy small boxes at Uline, its about $0.30 for a 7x4x4 - which in dimensional weight its 1lb.

You could also consider bubble envelopes ...

Q:How well priced is amazon shipping?
For having inventory shipped to Amazon using their UPS account, by far that is the cheapest option. For having an item shipped to a customer using Amazons shipping rates, they are not the best rates. If you ship enough to get discounted rates with UPS of Fedex you will be bettor off using your own account.

Q: How much does it cost for UPS Pickup?
UPS charges $22 for weekly pickups - if you are not shipping with your own UPS account (e.g. Amazons account) If you ship with your own account at least $75 weekly then the fee is $11.
It is about the same rates with Fedex.

How Much is pickup for one package?

Q: How can I get around it? Flag down a driver
Flagging a driver down not necessarily is the best way around the daily pickup fee. If you are shipping daily for the convenience it should be worth to have a daily pickup.
With Fedex if you do not have an daily pickup and give the packages to a driver you will be charged $3 per box.
Additionaly many drivers do not like accepting packages from people that do not have a daily pickup, as they have to save room on their truck for their daily pickup customers.


Q: What Are the flat rate sizes?
« Last edited by myi on January 10, 2022, 02:13:34 AM »

Author Topic: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When  (Read 204924 times)

Offline ilherman

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #100 on: November 12, 2013, 09:38:11 PM »
I've got some heavy boxes to send with UPS, can I just call in and ask for a free pick up?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline raphy781

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #101 on: November 12, 2013, 09:41:01 PM »
I've got some heavy boxes to send with UPS, can I just call in and ask for a free pick up?
I'm assuming they're prepaid? IIRC UPS will charge you $10 for the pickup.

Offline ilherman

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #102 on: November 12, 2013, 09:43:19 PM »
Yes they are prepaid. So my only way is to pay $10? (or shlep everything to my local store?)
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline raphy781

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #103 on: November 12, 2013, 09:44:54 PM »
Yes they are prepaid. So my only way is to pay $10? (or shlep everything to my local store?)
You can flag down a driver although they may give you a hard time.

Offline ilherman

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #104 on: November 12, 2013, 09:45:34 PM »
Can I ask my local UPS driver who delivers  packages to my house, to take my packages when he comes for a delivery?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline raphy781

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #105 on: November 12, 2013, 09:49:58 PM »
Can I ask my local UPS driver who delivers  packages to my house, to take my packages when he comes for a delivery?
I was told by a driver that officially they're not allowed to do that but I've randomly given packages to drivers many times and they've always taken them in the end.

Offline ilherman

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #106 on: November 12, 2013, 09:52:03 PM »
Thanks. I am talking about 150 lbs in packages... The driver haves to be really nice to wanna take it..
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline raphy781

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #107 on: November 12, 2013, 09:54:14 PM »
Thanks. I am talking about 150 lbs in packages... The driver haves to be really nice to wanna take it..
Hey it doesnt hurt to try.

Offline Hamavin

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #108 on: November 13, 2013, 12:37:55 AM »
Has anybody had bad experience using ups express boxes for ground?

Offline sillypainter

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #109 on: November 13, 2013, 12:57:47 AM »
Has anybody had bad experience using ups express boxes for ground?

No problem at all.

Offline Hamavin

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #110 on: November 13, 2013, 11:56:17 PM »
R u sure? Was told they can return to sender?

Offline jaywhy

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #111 on: November 19, 2013, 11:05:13 AM »
What is the best service to use to send a few 4 packs of beer?
Each package weighs about 6.5 lbs. Speed is not a concern at all.

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #112 on: November 19, 2013, 11:34:56 AM »
What is the best service to use to send a few 4 packs of beer?
Each package weighs about 6.5 lbs. Speed is not a concern at all.
From where to where?

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #113 on: November 19, 2013, 11:40:26 AM »
If I want to send a suitcase or box from NYC to Cleveland (say, 50 pounds), what's the cheapest way to send it? Approximately how much should it cost?

Shipping speed can be slow if necessary - up to a week or two, even.

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #114 on: November 19, 2013, 11:52:38 AM »
If I want to send a suitcase or box from NYC to Cleveland (say, 50 pounds), what's the cheapest way to send it? Approximately how much should it cost?

Shipping speed can be slow if necessary - up to a week or two, even.
Fedex Ground

Depending on the size of the suitcase, you may be charged dimensional weight or extra handling fee

I estimated a 60lb box to be $30

Offline jaywhy

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #115 on: November 19, 2013, 12:14:04 PM »
From where to where?
All from S. Florida.
One to Passaic, one to Cleveland, and one to LA.

Offline DovtheBear

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #116 on: November 19, 2013, 01:12:53 PM »
All from S. Florida.
One to Passaic, one to Cleveland, and one to LA.
Can we arrange for one to Brooklyn as well? ;)
"להסתובב זה לא אומר להיות חופשי"

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #117 on: November 19, 2013, 01:14:10 PM »
Can we arrange for one to Brooklyn as well? ;)
USPS Priority (or Parcel Post) should be the cheapest.

Offline jaywhy

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Re: **Shipping Master Thread** What service To Use When
« Reply #118 on: November 19, 2013, 03:31:08 PM »
Can we arrange for one to Brooklyn as well? ;)
Inquire within ;)

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« Last Edit: November 19, 2013, 04:57:34 PM by raphy781 »