View Full Version : How do you handle your shipping charges?
Britboy
05-06-2003, 11:56 AM
I'm doing a few auctions, and I hate to put $9.00 shipping for Priority, because it just looks so high and I'm sure it turns off potential bidders. I can put $5.00 for Media Mail, but can I even send games by Media Mail? Do they give you a hard time at the post office about it?
Advice would be appreciated from you experienced sellers :D
Arcade Antics
05-06-2003, 12:15 PM
What are you shipping? Several complete games? Several loose games? System? $9.00 might be fair or might be high - depends on what you're packing up. :)
Britboy
05-06-2003, 12:31 PM
packages of 10 NES carts, and other packages of 4 to 5 PS2 games. The $9.00 is perfectly fair, but it just LOOKS so high. So I made it $5.00 by media mail, with priority available for $9.00. Is that wise though? Does anyone send games by media mail, and does the post office give you shit?
Arcade Antics
05-06-2003, 01:07 PM
People use media mail for games all the time, no problems there.
I don't think anyone would mind the $9 for the priority shipping, but offering them a choice might open the door to a few more bidders. But - media mail might be less than $5 for lots of that size. Best thing to do is weigh everything and just use the USPS.com postage calculator. Good luck, and happy shipping! :)
Britboy
05-06-2003, 01:09 PM
Thanks dude
Here's the text from my last auction:
"Shipping from zip code 02324 will be calculated at www.usps.com based on a weight of 10 lbs and your preferred method of shipping (Priority or Parcel Post)."
This lets people know the shipping cost if they are inclined to find out before hand without saying $$$$ shipping and possibly turning people off. It also lets them choose how they want it shipped. If it was an auction for games I would have also included Media Mail as an option.
Savedman
05-06-2003, 03:40 PM
I go right past the post office on my way home. There is a set of scales just inside the door that is available 24 hrs a day. If my package isn't huge (I've never had a problem with my package being hugh *Heavy Sigh*) then I use the scale to tell me how much it will cost to ship. For priority it asks for a zip code so I put in 90210. The scale will tell me how much both shipping rates are. That way I can put the exact amount right in my auction. I don't upcharge my shipping.
bobdrywalls
05-06-2003, 04:25 PM
the dude at the post office wanted me to do media mail, but i shipped 1st class and did that garantee thing for $2 more.
Britboy
05-06-2003, 04:43 PM
LOL I use 90210 for calculating purposes too. Only California zip code I know. man thats funny! LOL
Tritoch
05-06-2003, 08:23 PM
LOL I use 90210 for calculating purposes too. Only California zip code I know. man thats funny! LOL
Me too! LOL LOL LOL
I live in NC, so I figure calculating shipping based on 90210 is a worst-case scenario...as long as it's in the continental US of course. :D
maxlords
05-06-2003, 09:00 PM
I usually put that shipping will be actual shipping cost, and I give an approximate based on previous shipping costs. Seems to work fine..as long as they know you're not gonna charge $15, they don't care.
hezeuschrist
05-08-2003, 01:39 AM
I really don't think it's too absurd to ask for $3-4 shipping on a single game. Padded envelope + Gas to post office + time + actual postage is what I look at.
Savedman
05-08-2003, 10:20 AM
I really don't think it's too absurd to ask for $3-4 shipping on a single game. Padded envelope + Gas to post office + time + actual postage is what I look at.
My brother figures it that was too. He doesn't get too many complaints. I charge exact shipping charges so I guess I'm losing out. I just do it for fun though. I'm not trying to make any real money. If I was I'd try to find a drop ship wholesaler and be a powerseller.