Need Shipping Advice / From ebay w/ Paypal

GreenHead

Im sure this has been addressed somewhere on here before, but did not see some particular points addressed when I did a search. I know to protect myself from Payapal, I need to ship to a Confirmed address using a delivery confirmation from the post office. I just realized that you cannot purchase a D.C. on first class mail and have to at least spend the $3.85 for Priority to be able to add D.C. for 55 cents. Is this what everyone does? Even if its only say a $30 item? Seems to me that if I put in my ebay auction that shipping and insurance will run arond $6.50 for Shipping/Insurance/Padded envelope/ that I would get nothing but grief, especially if I know the item will sell for around $20. I know I can save the 55 cents for the D.C. by doing it online through USPS.com, but that still puts SHipping at $6.00 with insurance.

What are some of the solutions that you have found?

By the time Ebay takes 3% plus all the fees, paypal takes 3%, and shipping cost $6.00, there is not a whole lot of the $25 left.

Thanks for any advice you have.

Ken

Mac53

Gee, maybe we should start our own Paypal questions thread. I've been able to get DC with first class mail. I thought it was OK for everybody, but now I'm starting to wonder if that hot post office chick is just trying to into my pants.

wolfbear

You can use delivery confirmation on a bubble envelope
as long as it is 3/4 of an inch thick, or thicker. If it's not, put some cardboard in it.

Then you can mail it first class for as little as 60 cents + the DC charge.

charliehustle14

I use delivery confirmation on first class mail all the time. I don't believe you are required to ship priority to get delivery confirmation, unless things have changed very recently.

ajmoeller81

Just got back from the post office myself.

It varies by whoever is ringing you up but their standard policy is that they cannot put Delivery Confirmation on anything that is less than "3/4 inch" thick. So if you put a card in a small box that meets that size requirement, then you should be able to ship it first class with DC. I have been able to get away with DC on envelopes either because the mail worker didn't say anything or I paid for it to be Priority.

Snowball

You can just make the bubble mailer a little thick about 1/2 - 3/4 in. use some extra padding like bubble wrap. That will be first class parcel to them and you can use DC. Just say you want DC on the package. You can't use DC on a letter envelope or flat envelope.

I use usps shipping via ebay/paypal. It cost actual postage + .13c DC + .20c process fee and you print the label. You can also print with regular paper but have to paste and do not tape the bar code. I just tape over the address sso won't smudge if ever.

GreenHead

Very interesting comments. Especially since I just got back from the post office trying to mail first class with D.C., and was told I cannot do that and must go with Priority if I want a DC. The 3/4 inch thick thing was also explained to me, but that was in order to get insurance. THese were bubble mailers that were very close to 3/4 inch thick. Close enough to qualify I would think. Maybe I need to go back and say WTF? Thanks for your quick comments.

Ken

Mac53

Dang. And I was having such a nice fantasy about Ms. Post Office Clerk.

sagard

The other thing to be wary of is whether or not PayPal considers DC proof of receipt. It is not my belief that they would, so on any high dollar item I use signature confirmation.

GreenHead

Yes, Sagard. Anything over around $200, I would use a sig confirmation. One would think that somewhere there would be a clear, easy to read and search source for all this type of information.

Ken

habs71

<< <i>You can use Delivery Confirmation with:

First-Class Mail® Parcels - Envelopes and small packages weighing 13 ounces or less. Applies only to boxes or envelopes measuring at least 3/4” at thickest point.

Priority Mail® - Cost effective delivery in an average of 2-3 days.

Package Services Parcels - Send small and large packages, envelopes, and tubes. Includes Parcel Post®, Media Mail®, Bound Printed Matter, and Library Mail.

Standard Mail Parcels - Items weighing less than 16 ounces can be sent at discounted presorted and automation rates. Available only for pieces subject to the residual shape surcharge and mailed at the Electronic rate.

Parcel Select® - Send large volumes of packages at a discount

USPS.com >>





Skip

Snowball

<< <i>Very interesting comments. Especially since I just got back from the post office trying to mail first class with D.C., and was told I cannot do that and must go with Priority if I want a DC. The 3/4 inch thick thing was also explained to me, but that was in order to get insurance. THese were bubble mailers that were very close to 3/4 inch thick. Close enough to qualify I would think. Maybe I need to go back and say WTF? Thanks for your quick comments.

Ken >>



JUst say "First Class Parcel" and DC.

If you have the self serve stall go there. One of the Post Office here installed a self serve stall like 2-3 months ago they told me its like an online postage you can get 1st class, parcel (no international mailing). Has a table-like weighing scale beside it. I haven't tried since I do print postage online. They said you can use debit or credit card to pay the postage. They also provided a big bin for the packages. I'll probably hand over to the counter or use the meter mail slot. Someone might drop a heavy package in there.

Mac53

The problem with the self serve stall out here is that you cannot put DC on the package, at least that I've been able to figure out how to do.

kingraider75

The above comments are correct.

My Post Office is pretty cool about not measuring the padded envelopes, however there is one "lady" who always gives me a "lecture" about how thick they are suppose to be.

If the card is over $15 I usually just put it in a penny sleeve and thick toploader. Then put some cardboard around the toploader to make it longer, then put it in a 300 ct box. Then put some filler( old wrappers, newspaper) in the 300 ct box to fill it up. With this method I don't have to worry about the card being bent or about the package not being thick enough for DC. I get the boxes for 40-50 cents each and I get padded one's for 25 cents each, so it's a little more costly on a bulk basis, but well worth it since I don't have to worry about any hassles.

metsfan

Ken:
It sounds like the postal clerk doesn't know the rules. You can request DC with a bubble mailer as long as its 3/4 inch thick at it's thickest point. This has nothing to do with insurance. You can always put bubble wrap around it if you need to

easttexascardsandgames

As long as it is 3/4" you can get DC on it. Paypal will consider the number to be proof of delivery provided the item was mailed in 7 days and shows DELIVERED.. If you look it up and it does not show delivered Paypal will not recogonize it. On an item over 200.00 you are required to use signature confirmation. DC will not be accecpted on these items.

If they give you any problem with DC on first class packages then ask to speak to the postmaster and have them show you the rule. Or simply ask the clerk why DC costs .45 for priority and .55 for all other mailing methods it can be used on.

brianwintersfan

GreenHead I believe your post office is wrong.A bubble mailer should be able to be used with no problem.I mean the DC slip has a box you can check right next to first class mail parcel.
I've only run into a problem once with a goofy postal worker who pulled out a ruler and measured it.After telling her a few choice words I said I'll just go down the street to a different p.o.and mail it that way anyway which I did with no problems.

GreenHead

Thanks for all the advice guys. I went to the post office and got it all straightend out. The person there simply did not know the correct rule. When I asked him to check on it for me, he was able to make a phone call and confirmed that I could in fact do it that way. Just small town people not being up to date on all the rules I guess. On a side note, I found thats its cheaper and easier to just print the mailing lable off of paypal and pay for postage and insuarance that way. Only .13 cents for a DC then, although you pay Paypal .20 cents just to use the service. Saves time at the post office and saves time writing address on envelopes.
THanks
Ken