Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

[VLSI]



Yep...had an item arrive to me damaged, torn right through the mylar envelope. That won't happen with one of my boxed shipments. Side note....I rarely deal with shirts (since I despise ironing).

If you're paying an average of $8 to ship a shirt, you're losing money this way. It costs me roughly $3 per shirt, give or take a little depending on the final weight. Even if 1 in 100 shirts were to arrive damaged (which hasn't been the case) and you had to refund, you still come out ahead. From a customer service perspective, you may still prefer your method, but from a purely financial perspective, envelopes are the way to go. If you're really worried about the bag getting torn, use a tyvek bag instead of the cheap poly ones. Tyvek is pretty tough to rip and still far less than a box.

 

[Brianpore]

Quote: Never every had a Tyvek fail me

 

[grendel]

Even dress shirts

Not sure how you're shipping. Once you are over 1lb (1lb 1oz) the priority mail and regional rate A cross country are the same price. Over 2 lbs regional rate is cheaper for box A (95% how I ship stuff over 1 lb). I guess there is a sweet spot between 13oz and 16oz where priority is cheaper then regional rate, but not sure if I have anything that falls into that black hole weight wise.

I fold and then wrap everything (in items not to be named

) then they go inside a poly bag, envelope, or box.

How much does it cost to ship a 2-3 lb package with a suit? I pay $6-7 with a regular priority box. Don't think they'd fit in a small flat rate or regional A, and medium flat rate or regional B cost more ($10+)

 

[VLSI]

Unless you ship everything really close by, there's no way it's that cheap. Brian is right about the rates. Regional rate A is equal to a 1lb-1lb15oz priority mail package, and over 2lb regional rate A is cheaper.

 

[Brianpore]

Quote: hmmm, not sure how you are shipping it that cheap cross country as priority mail is based on weight and distance.


Shipping from NJ to NJ 2.8 lb box (yes, you could save 66 cents shipping priority vs regional rate, if you go to 3+ lbs regional rate is cheaper) - Once you get out of your "zone" close by then you lose the 66 cent savings and regional rate is cheaper as well.

Here you have the same box shipped from NJ to CA (here I would just use the Medium flat rate box and save $2)

​

I would say 90-95% of the time Regional Rate is going to to be the cheapest and best way to ship if the item is over 13 oz. There are exceptions to every rule, like a large coat that will not fit in a flat rate box or shoes (they don't make a good flat rate/regional rate box for shoes).​

 

[VLSI]



Shipping from NJ to NJ 2.8 lb box (yes, you could save 66 cents shipping priority vs regional rate, if you go to 3+ lbs regional rate is cheaper) - Once you get out of your "zone" close by then you lose the 66 cent savings and regional rate is cheaper as well.

Actually, still $.20 cheaper

 

[Brianpore]

Quote:
How's it 20 cents cheaper

$5.90-$5.24 = 66 cents. No way your fitting a larger suit into a regional rate A box which is where I assume you are getting the 20 cent difference from. You would have to use a regional rate B box which is 66 cents more

Still not sure how he's shipping a suit cross country for $6-7 though....

 

[VLSI]

Yea, I was looking at the A rate. I've never used a B box Suit can't go in a rate A? Pants in a poly bag, jacket in a poly bag, slide the two bags into the box.

 

[Brianpore]

Yea, I was looking at the A rate. I've never used a B box

Suit can't go in a rate A? Pants in a poly bag, jacket in a poly bag, slide the two bags into the box.

They 'can' but its a damn tight fit and if I'm shipping an expensive suit I'd rather pay the extra few dollars and have it show up not looking like I shoved it in the smallest/cheapest box I could find. I **** Sport Coats in box A and suits (unless a super small suit or very light weight summer suit) in box B or medium flat rate box, whichever is cheaper.

 

[VLSI]



have it show up not looking like I shoved it in the smallest/cheapest box I could find.

I've shipped a pair of jeans in the small flat rate box

 

[Steve Smith]



They 'can' but its a damn tight fit and if I'm shipping an expensive suit I'd rather pay the extra few dollars and have it show up not looking like I shoved it in the smallest/cheapest box I could find. I **** Sport Coats in box A and suits (unless a super small suit or very light weight summer suit) in box B or medium flat rate box, whichever is cheaper.

Note to self: Don't buy sport coat or suit from Brian.

 

[Brianpore]

Quote:

I always suggest getting items in the mail drycleaned before wearing

Quote: Bascially the same price to put them in a Flat Rate or Legal Flat Rate envelope though

 

[concealed]

So what size from the USPS website is best for suits? Wes, what are the dimensions of the boxes you use to ship a size 44L suit in?

 

[Brianpore]

So what size from the USPS website is best for suits? Wes, what are the dimensions of the boxes you use to ship a size 44L suit in?

I use (whichever is cheaper)

Medium Flat Rate https://store.usps.com/MediumFlatRate

or

Regional Rate Box B https://store.usps.com/RegionalRateBoxB

 

[capnwes]

So what size from the USPS website is best for suits? Wes, what are the dimensions of the boxes you use to ship a size 44L suit in?

I ship suits in a 13x10x4 box. I inform the buyer that it will be sent in that box and may require pressing.
I ship all my shoes in a 13x9x6 with 8 sheets of bubble wrap.