NEVER GO to the Post Office Again and SAVE $$ (Updated ver. 3 w/Mac info)
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New info...version 3! (Sorry...ver.2 had spacing problems and I needed to correct the Fedex info.)
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I live in a busy city neighborhood where the PO has cut down on clerks, every day is literally like the Christmas holiday rush (I'm not kidding), and just recently they've cut down on the hours its open, too! Since I don't have hours of time to wait, naturally I want to avoid the Post Office like the plague.
I used to use Stamps.com, and know about Endica.com, but I've since figured out ways to get around paying for these services without having to step one foot into the Post Office.
Here are the things I've come up with to avoid Post Office hassles:
A) SAVE TIME and $ with Domestic First Class, Priority, Parcel Post, Media Mail, & Priority International:
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1. If you use Paypal already you probably know that you can print shipping labels right from your transaction page, but you may not know that your transaction doesn't have to go through Paypal at all in order to print your shipping through Paypal. Here is the PP Click-and-Ship backdoor link:
www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now
2. If you do not have a Paypal account, you can always use the USPS Website click-and-ship page:
sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do
(both methods above have DISCOUNTED postage rates, FREE or DISCOUNTED Delivery Confirmation depending on which method you ship---shipping rates are actually HIGHER at the Post Office!)
B) First Class LETTER Rate, Domestic & International
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Unless you use a metered service, it seems there is no way to send flats via electronically printed mail. For these I often just weigh and get an estimate; postcalc.usps.gov/ then affix stamps and send. It’s cheaper than First Class Parcel Rate.
The caveat is letter rate does not permit Delivery Confirmation. If I MUST have DC I eat the extra few cents and print out the label as a First Class PARCEL through USPS or Paypal (above). For International Flats you must send as a PARCEL (below) or go to the PO. Remember that letter rate requires that the flat can bend, so no cardboard.
C) The Secret Way to Print First Class International without using Pay-Per-Month metered mail services:
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First Class International, unfortunately, does not print from either of the methods mentioned above. Here's what I do:
1. Buy a bunch of stamps in various dollar and cents denominations from www.usps.com/ which are delivered to you by mail
2. Download Shipping assistant from www.usps.com/shippingassistant/
3. Mac users can now use Shipping Assistant, too! (Thanks, Knotworkshop, for the info!): www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/sendituspsshippin...
4. Once you have the Shipping Assistant program, you can print your label. NO EXTRA CUSTOMS FORM NECESSARY! Everything prints on ONE simple page, with the shipping amount indicated.
5. You will have to choose an Exemption/Exclusion Legend for exported goods, which is located at the bottom of Customs Information. Use the “Select” button to view the choices. Any shipments valued over $2,500 require an export license.
6. DON’T FORGET to affix the postage stamps to your label, as it prints without postage attached. I use a calculator to help me figure this out and always DOUBLE CHECK.
7. You may want to insure your First Class International packages through www.shipsurance.com/ or www.u-pic.com/ First Class international packages are not trackable or covered under Paypal's Seller Protection and you want to be sure you are covered.
8. First-Class Mail International allows cards, letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages (small packets) under 4 lbs. Over 4 lbs and you must bump up to Priority.
D) DELIVERY of Your Packages
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Some people live in a rural area where the mail carrier will pick up any outgoing mail they have if they leave it in or near their mailbox. For those of us in the city, no such luck! Here's what I do:
1. If you have at least one Priority package to deliver, the Post Office will pick up the other types of packages along with the Priority one. Just call 1-800-ASK-USPS or go to the website to request a carrier pickup: carrierpickup.usps.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CarrierPickup.woa
2. You can also hand your packages to any carrier anywhere, and if your package fits it can be dropped in any mailbox, as long as the postage was printed online.
3. Although the USPS rules state that packages over 13oz with stamps affixed must be brought to the Post Office, I’ve been told that the Shipping Assistant packages are an exception because they are traceable through Shipping Assistant and your USPS account. I'll just say that my city carrier has never once refused a package, and I’ve never had a delivery not reach its destination. Some carriers will have different interpretations, however, so do this at your own risk!
E) Skip the USPS and Fedex It with the Special Etsy-Fedex Discount
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I don’t know how many people know this but there is also a special discount that Etsy has set up with Fedex which saves you up to 17% on home delivery, 20% on Fedex Ground and 21% on Fedex Express: community.etsy.com/resources/seller-deals
advantagemember.visionary.com/5248/
I have not tried it (yet), but people who have used it say that the prices are pretty good. We already know for the pricing, Fedex Ground ends up being THE way to go for heavier packages, even with Home Delivery, and we LOVE that there is a built-in tracking number with no extra charge.
It’s awesome that international shipments have a tracking number, but BE AWARE that some people have cautioned about a brokerage fee for overseas shipments (UPS, too), though apparently this is not in all cases (as in Canada). Make sure before sending.
If you do choose this way, MAKE SURE you are getting your discounts by checking your bill monthly. Apparently it’s a common glitch that the special discounts fail to initiate.
BE AWARE that you are charged for pickup service via this method: $12/week if you ship under $60/week or $9/week if you ship over $60+/week (this ONLY applies during the weeks you are actually shipping, it is not a continuous charge while you aren’t shipping anything). OR you can drop off your packages at a Fedex Facility or Drop Off for FREE.
Posted at 10:23am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
Responses
ADDITIONAL INFO:
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For Sales Over $250, Paypal REQUIRES Signature Confirmation in order to be covered under seller protection. You also must ship to the customer’s PAYPAL address to be covered on all shipments.
For USPS shipping, I buy Avery 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Internet Shipping Labels (8126). There are two to a sheet. To save money, I set Paypal to exclude printing an attached receipt (since all the info is online anyway), and that way only one label on the sheet is used. I set shipping assistant to print a separate page receipt so that at least the more expensive 2nd label isn't used. (Oh, and PS, there are people who sell a generic variety of these Avery labels on Ebay for a much cheaper price. The paper is thinner, but if you happen to be covering up text on a recycled box you can simply double up and still come out saving)
If the labels are too big for your packages, there is some pretty good advice for shrinking the labels here: www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6302791 People in that thread said that they never had any problems with shrinking the bar code messing up delivery.
In the last thread, some people were asking about what kind of scales to buy. I bought a great 75 lb. digital postal scale from this guy: www.oldwillknottscales.com/ He used to be on Ebay at the time I bought mine. His site will just give you an idea of what to look for; there are other good sellers out there, too, or you can get them at Office Max, Staples. etc.
Did you know you can RECYCLE USPS Priority and other Tyvek envelopes by MAIL? They are also made of recycled plastics such as milk jugs. www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Envelopes/en_US/tech_info/tech_environ.html
Some people claim that not going to the PO will cause the USPS to make less money and therefore cut staff. Unless you are using another CARRIER, I fail to see the logic in this since the USPS is STILL the service getting paid, regardless of HOW you are paying. The reason that the USPS is making less money today is because people are using email, faxes and newsletters much more than they are the USPS for handling advertising, mailers and documents. Packages, however, STILL need to be sent.
Posted at 10:24am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
Yay!! Thanks for letting me know that Mac users can now use shipping assistant. I will try this next time I have an international sale.
Thanks.
Posted at 10:27am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
YW! Knotworkshop did the research and found out about the Mac application. I'm really glad that you Mac users can finally use Shipping Assistant.
Hopefully Artisanwoodcrafting will come by and proofread me again. Glad he caught my Fedex blip in version 2!
Posted at 10:31am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
Excellent information ..I still use stamps.com tho, altho I do know about the shipping assistant, something about affixing stamps to a parcel just seems somehow risky ..I know it really isn't but I can't get past the "what if they fall off!?" that plays in my head.
Our post office is the level worst and I don't even live in a busy area, its more that the employees seem like they'd rather be anywhere else and they make up their own rules about things that I KNOW the real rules about ..very frustrating and as far as I am concerned, the lot of them could all lose their jobs and I wouldn't feel one iota of sadness ..how they all still have jobs is a mystery to me, since so many other people NEED jobs and could run circles around our current postal-zombies.
Posted at 10:31am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
Pixiebell says: "what if they fall off" lol.That cracks me up. Whatever did we do before we had computers?
Posted at 10:34am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
haha, Pixie, I know what you mean!
I sometimes insert my entire label along with the stamps into this plastic customs form envelope provided by the USPS:
shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10...
Posted at 10:40am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
Super Excellent Information.
I'm lucky as my post office is still functioning pretty good. Has a drop off table to place everything on as described here so it is a quick in and out, a satisfactory experiance. (Except no coffee served. You'd think they would figure out this money making added feature)
Overseas with customs forms involved need to stand in line for and not a problem. Or at least not one I worry about. My partner with her store no longer can drive, so I get to be the errand boy.
Wait a min., what do I get out of this?
Posted at 10:40am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
haha I know its totally irrational, those things practically have gorilla glue on em ..but what if they do?! LOL
Posted at 10:40am Jul 20, 2010 EDT
I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I have an excellent post office in my neighborhood. It is only a few blocks away, the service is fast, the clerks are very helpful and knowledgeable. Even if the line is out the door I have never spent more than 10-15 minutes in line. There is also an APC so I can send domestic packages anytime.
Posted at 10:41am Jul 20, 2010 EDT