I've been asked a few times via PM over the past couple of months to expand on some of the "never go into a post office" thoughts I've posted here, so I'm choosing today to list all of the headache-reducing tips and tricks I know of in this one (soon-to-be) gigantic thread. And then BeyondTheBreach and BadMike will chime in and tell me what I'm doing wrong ...  

One warning before we begin: this thread will cover the USPS and U.S. shipping options only. Not only do I, personally, prefer not to ship internationally, but I know next to nothing about it. (Maybe BadMike or BtB could begin an international thread, as they know a lot more about that subject).

Okay, here we go:

Tip 1: Get free supplies.

The USPS will happily deliver an unlimited amount of free Priority Mail supplies to your doorstep. Practically anything is available: boxes, stickers, forms, etc. You'll need to open up an account on the USPS web-site, but that's free and only takes 45 seconds.

So, log onto www.usps.com and look for this link (warning: these links, of course, might move around if the USPS changes the layout of its site):



Follow the links for Priority Mail and you'll eventually see a page that looks like this:



Look at those prices! Free! Woot! At this point, using your USPS account, you can order whatever fits your needs. I usually get an order of "regular" boxes, an order of flat-rate boxes, an order of flat-rate envelopes, and some stickers. That keeps me going for about three months, in most cases.

Tip 2: Print your own postage.

This is the part that usually frightens people off, but it's really quite easy. There are a number of ways to print your own postage, but I've found PayPal to be the easiest (in terms of eBay shipping, that is). Every completed eBay listing has this link just waiting to be clicked:



(Yes, I like Footballers Wives ... so sue me. ).

Following that link will send me to a page where the buyer's information is already filled in. If everything looks good, I'll click "okay," and be taken to a final step where I will pay for the postage directly from my PayPal account. After that, it's just a matter of hitting the "print" button ... and out comes a totally legal, totally valid, ready-to-go USPS label.

Postage labels can be printed on any sort of paper stock, but I've found that spending some extra money on adhesive labels is worth it. I'm sure there's about 500 places to get adhesive labels, but I'll just mention that I get mine from Label Universe (www.labeluniverse.com).

Now, if you're printing a label that's not connected to an eBay auction, or if you don't want to use your PayPal money to purchase the label, there are other home-printing options. The most obvious is the USPS site itself: with a credit card handy, you can print labels by filling in your address information, etc., and just following the instructions. There's also third-party services that are quite good: I use Endicia for non-eBay shipping (www.endicia.com).

It's worth noting that printing your own postage also provides free delivery confirmation for Priority Mail labels and a lower-cost confirmation number for Media Mail (14 cents, I think).

Tip 3: Have it picked up.

Okay, back to the USPS site. Again, you'll need an account, but it's worth it when you follow this link:



Following that link will lead to a form where you will fill in the total number of packages you'd like picked up, how much they weigh, and where you'll leave them. When you're finished and click "okay," your closest USPS branch is electronically notified of your request ... and the rest is up to the carrier. You don't even have to be home when your carrier comes by!

In fact, I have a pickup request for today; here's what it looks like:



In case you can't read it, it's for five packages with a total weight of 10 pounds, left by my front door. They are out there right now, just waiting to wing their way to my high bidders!

(Obscure USPS rule: carrier pickup requires that one package be either Priority Mail or Express Mail. This isn't much of a problem if you just time it so that one Priority package goes out with a group of Media Mail or Parcel Post, or whatever. I've even had my carriers tell me not to worry about it ... )

And that's basically my three steps to eBay shipping happiness. Note that at no time did I ever have to go into a post office or interact with a postal employee. That's the whole key for me: it's streamlined, it's simple, and it lets me do things other than stand in lines. Plus, the USPS actually prefers it this way: they are chronically understaffed and they are desperate to get people out of lines at the post office.

+++++

Executive summary:

1. Get a USPS account;

2. Get free supplies;

3. Print your own labels;

4. Have it all picked up.

5. Do something else with your time!                

Actually, some of the options are pretty humorous. I believe you can even leave your packages in your back yard.  

Xaxaxe wrote:... and there they go with the nice postal carrier. Bye, packages! Bring me good feedback!

See, I'm telling you, carrier pickup does work!  

Very nice!  I would only add that there are many more free package options than what are available on the website...I discovered this one day while trying to reorder some obscure type priority boxes.  I usually order over the telephone for this reason.  When you get your supplies in the mail, sometimes they have a list enclosed that lists pretty much all the priority supplie you can order if you wish; just keep it handy and refer to this if you wish something different. If you aren't interested in oddball boxes then the website will do you fine.
  Note that I cannot trust my present carrier enough to pick up my mail..hell, I don't even trust him to DELIVER my mail, which is why I have a PO Box.  But you can still put postage on at home, and drop it off at the local post office, you just have to hand it to a person if it's over a certain weight (can't remember it right now). Still should save you time and money....

Mike B.

Carrier pickup FAQ:

https://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/ ... VAi&xssl=1

I glanced at it; it does mention that residents of multi-story buildings should leave their packages on the ground floor.

Kosh Vorlontay wrote:This might be a dumb question but do you ever send international? If yes, does your mail carrier pick those up too?

1. As little as possible (I've probably shipped overseas a total of five times in the last three years combined);

2. Yes, but you (the shipper) must be at home when the carrier arrives. I think this is to double-check that the correct forms are being used and that any signatures can be taken of, if they are necessary.

I don't trust my mailperson to pick up my stuff either (she hates me, I'm certain)  And my "home" post office is run by rural ass-monkeys who make me take all my printed packages to the clerk window to be individually weighed and shook (because I MIGHT be cheating media mail with my 100+ packages each week) but by driving 25 minutes to civilization each week, my neighboring post office lets me leave my pre-posted mail on their loading dock (even international and large boxes) so that might be something to look into.

Badmike wrote:Adhesive labels are easier, but cost roughly 40 cents each.  Kind of makes up for the 50 cents you saved with delivery confirmation   I'm assuming the cost goes way down if you buy in bulk?

Yeah, I buy mine in lots of 200 ... the price seems reasonable, although I've never stopped to break it down completely. But just think of all that tape I'm saving!  

Badmike wrote:You have to have a good, reliable, adjusted correctly postage weight machine.

Whoops! I totally forgot to mention this in the original post. But, yes, you must have some way to weigh any items that are going to use a home-printed label. The cost of the label, obviously, will be determined by the weight of the item and the method of shipment.

The good news is that a decent scale for home use is a one-time (and fairly cheap) investment. I have a 10-lb. digital scale that works just fine, and it was purchased for next to nothing during a big sale at Amazon. Other than my digital camera, I consider it to be the best eBay-related purchase I've ever made.

Boreas wrote:I just wanted to drop a note of thanks to Xaxaxe for this post.

De nada.

Boreas wrote:Does anyone have suggestions for the least expensive shipping boxes for non-priority delivery?

How much online shopping do you do? Or, put another way, how often does Amazon or NobleKnight or your other favorite online retailers send stuff to your house? My point being: save those boxes!  

(Amazon's are particularly good; they are sturdy and the shipping labels (usually) peel right off)

If that doesn't work for you, all I can say is that you can probably find a better deal than Office Depot or Office Max. Their box prices are just insulting. I'm sure a couple of other sellers here can chime in with some better recommendations.

Xaxaxe wrote:How much online shopping do you do? Or, put another way, how often does Amazon or NobleKnight or your other favorite online retailers send stuff to your house? My point being: save those boxes!  

(Amazon's are particularly good; they are sturdy and the shipping labels (usually) peel right off)

If that doesn't work for you, all I can say is that you can probably find a better deal than Office Depot or Office Max. Their box prices are just insulting. I'm sure a couple of other sellers here can chime in with some better recommendations.

For boxes, check your local comic book shop, they get nice ones in.  Or buy bulk online. A box at Office Rippo costs $2 at least....

Mike B.