USPS Parcel Post changes name and adds free d/c.

[kturock]

as a usps employee, i agree with all of the last 4 posts.

all are true.

[MagickalMemories]

The flat rates now have DC# included and for less then the two separate costed in the past. Couple that with being able to get those boxes free and never have to wonder how much shipping will be as its a set price I find them to be the best way to ship.

Actually, everything except First Class (which is eventually going away, anyway) comes with a DC#. It prints right on your receipt.
Don't get me wrong, the free boxes are nice (I have over 100 in my basement right now, in preparation for a ton of auctions I'm about to list), but you can get regular priority boxes free, as well.
Plus, like I said, if you're not taking advantage of the high weight limit, you're cheaper off to buy a box from WalMart for $.65 or so and use Parcel Post. It's true. I've done the math in the past by asking the clerk, "How much would shipping have been if I'd used Parcel Post?" The difference can be quite surprising. Try it.

Eric

[tordeck]

I like not having to guess or tell a buyer to wait while I go to the PO and find out the cost. With flat rate I can hit off a quick total no issue.

[DenverZeppo]

I like my Regional Rate A boxes, but that's just me. They tend to be a great fit for stuff that's between Flat Rate small and Flat Rate Medium, and cheaper than Medium Flat Rate stuff.

Like the others, they drop off free boxes for me too.

[MagickalMemories]

I like not having to guess or tell a buyer to wait while I go to the PO and find out the cost. With flat rate I can hit off a quick total no issue.

That's definitely one of the great selling points. No arguing that. Especially if the buyer's paying shipping. That's why I ordered a bunch of the Flat Rate boxes for these auctions, as well.
I usually do a good job estimating prices, though. So, I end up breaking even. I'm occasionally over and occasionally under but, overall, I've done pretty well.

Eric

[MEDEVL]

Good god rates to Canada have skyrocketed! I sent 8 magic cards (high value so they were double boxed but still weighed less than a pound) and it cost me $29.00 wit hinsurance. That's ridiculous. I had long ago quit dealing with Canadians due to expense and hassle so maybe this isn't as a big a jump as I think but it blew me away. Thankfully the deal was worth it to me overall.

[pretre]

I like not having to guess or tell a buyer to wait while I go to the PO and find out the cost. With flat rate I can hit off a quick total no issue.

That's definitely one of the great selling points. No arguing that. Especially if the buyer's paying shipping. That's why I ordered a bunch of the Flat Rate boxes for these auctions, as well.
I usually do a good job estimating prices, though. So, I end up breaking even. I'm occasionally over and occasionally under but, overall, I've done pretty well.

Eric

As a big fan of USPS's site and flat rate/normal priority, I have to say that half of the allure is that you don't have to go to the post office or even leave your home.

Luckily, you don't need to estimate if you know weight. USPS lets you calculate prices on their site (and an iPhone app) which is freaking sweet. I will generally do the math for normal box vs flat rate and choose from there. Some locations are better at flat rate, just because of distance from me (FL, New England, HI).

The fact that USPS will deliver boxes to your home as well (for free) is insane. If I could print and send First Class or Parcel Post (standard post) from my home, I would be over the moon. (Just double checked and the shipping site is still just Priority/Express. Also, when are they going to let me ship to freaking canada without walking into a post office. Grr)

[kturock]

I like not having to guess or tell a buyer to wait while I go to the PO and find out the cost. With flat rate I can hit off a quick total no issue.

That's definitely one of the great selling points. No arguing that. Especially if the buyer's paying shipping. That's why I ordered a bunch of the Flat Rate boxes for these auctions, as well.
I usually do a good job estimating prices, though. So, I end up breaking even. I'm occasionally over and occasionally under but, overall, I've done pretty well.

Eric

As a big fan of USPS's site and flat rate/normal priority, I have to say that half of the allure is that you don't have to go to the post office or even leave your home.

Luckily, you don't need to estimate if you know weight. USPS lets you calculate prices on their site (and an iPhone app) which is freaking sweet. I will generally do the math for normal box vs flat rate and choose from there. Some locations are better at flat rate, just because of distance from me (FL, New England, HI).

The fact that USPS will deliver boxes to your home as well (for free) is insane. If I could print and send First Class or Parcel Post (standard post) from my home, I would be over the moon. (Just double checked and the shipping site is still just Priority/Express. Also, when are they going to let me ship to freaking canada without walking into a post office. Grr)

you can now. You choose cnada as the destination instead of domestic US. You fill out and print the customs forms as the address label. I've done it before.

[pretre]

you can now. You choose cnada as the destination instead of domestic US. You fill out and print the customs forms as the address label. I've done it before.

You can print the labels, but you cannot pay postage and mail from your home. With Priority/Express, you can do everything from your home and leave it out for the mailman or arrange pickup.

[kturock]

hmm. I know i've printed postage ofr postage to Canada, it must have ben heavy enough to be Priority.

[pretre]

hmm. I know i've printed postage ofr postage to Canada, it must have ben heavy enough to be Priority.

Yeah, that works. Of course, priority for Canada is crazy expensive. Like $27 for the first pound or something like that.

[MEDEVL]

Yep, that's exactly how much it was. My package was less than a pound but the only way to get tracking was with Priority. Seems like a scam since the insurance I bought usually has a tracking number on it. I just don't see the big deal mailing stuff to Canada. I always thought our two nations wee trying to make things easier and cheaper to dela across the border but not as far as the mail service is concerned!

[Crushar]

Why is it so expensive to ship to Canada? One reason is that it is a "private" corporation and not a governement entity as it used to be....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Post

[kturock]

Because you're paying for 2 sets of postage: 1 from US to the Canadian border, the second from the border to it's address.

The same with all mail going to any countries. No one works for free.

[MagickalMemories]

My suspicion, though, is that it's a combination of both. Shipping to Canada jumped recently... more than would make sense for a simple fee increase.
On my few Feebay sales, I don't even deal with anything outside the US anymore. Too much hassle trying to estimate costs without a weight. I can still do that pretty easily within the US, though.

On here... well, I just arrange for the receiver to pay shipping before shipping to Canada (and will require a tracking # [about $12] for most Canadian traders).

Eric