keziak
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posted on February 22, 2001 10:22:40 AM
HI all -
When the postage rates went up, I stopped promoting Priority in my auction ads and email. I don't refuse to ship that way, but I guess I'm so embarrassed by the high rates that I only mention the option in passing.
Result: buyer use of Priority has dropped to near-zero. Meanwhile my sale rate on ebay, half.com and Marketplace is cooking right along, so I am hurting for packing supplies!
I've tried manila envelopes, padded envelopes, and even making my own boxes out of cardboard. I bought a heavy stapler and will try the folded cardboard method, though I never found a local supplier of plain cardboard rolls, and I haven't been enthusiastic about mail-ordering it. Meanwhile, I quit my job where I always got a good supply of cast-off boxes, and I haven't found any stores around here that gave me the time of day when I asked for their discards.
Another result: more complaints about slow mail delivery.
So I think I'll go back to giving the shipping for both Priority and media mail rates in my auctions, and hope for some bites. I don't think the Priority boxes are all that great, but they are free and readily available, so they are convenient for me. I'm even toying with the idea of offering a small discount if they choose Priority.
keziak
who has a lot less time for this board now that I"m a SAH mom!
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taz8057
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posted on February 22, 2001 10:26:41 AM
Hi,
I still ship via priority mail mainly because all my auctions are under 2 lbs. The post office still has the best price on shipping for what I am sending.
Plus I get all free supplies by shipping via Priority mail.
-Trey
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"If your mind can concieve it, and you believe it, then you probably can achieve it."
http://www.CondomDeals.com
***********************************
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MAH645
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posted on February 22, 2001 10:40:36 AM
I have started offering both.We ship alot of the media mail and go through a ton of cardboard.I get most of my cardboard from grocery stores,Aldi and Sav-A-Lot.I use the lids the can goods come in.
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jrb3
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posted on February 22, 2001 11:19:03 AM
Stop making boxes and get as many as you want for free.
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=335153&id=335153&post=reply
Joe B
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packer
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posted on February 22, 2001 11:23:04 AM
life after postage increases?
THE PITS!
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cassiescloset
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posted on February 22, 2001 11:48:51 AM
Do you know anyone who works in a hospital? I regularly take home nice boxes that would otherwise go into the trash. Our loading dock (you may want to check your local hospital's loading dock) has tons of boxes stacked up every day of the week since the hospital is open 24/7.
We have tons of boxes of all different sizes. Unlike boxes picked from dumpsters and grocery stores, these boxes have shipped sterile medical equipment and supplies so the boxes are mint. There is always packing peanuts as well.
Just cross out any bar codes on the box before you ship.
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keziak
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posted on February 22, 2001 12:14:56 PM
HI Cassie -
I guess the problem is that any workplace might have boxes, but have you all had luck asking for them as a non-employee? I've asked at a few stores and got vague replies meant to brush me off, like "you have to come certain days" - "which days?" - "not today".
keziak
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keziak
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posted on February 22, 2001 12:17:21 PM
Joe - I've love to get as many as I want for free but haven't had much luck with that so far except at places where I worked.
keziak
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chococake
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posted on February 22, 2001 12:19:23 PM
It's hard to get free boxes where I live. All the stores now flatten and bind them for recycling.
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auctionqueenie
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posted on February 22, 2001 12:39:44 PM
I carefully open the packages I receive from auction buys and mail orders and reuse the boxes and padded envelopes for mailing out my auctions to my customers. This has cut down on my shipping costs.
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keziak
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posted on February 22, 2001 01:04:37 PM
auctionqueenie - that worked well for me until I started selling lots more than I buy!
; - )
I do have a basement FULL of boxes, though, they are just way too big for books. That's why I have been experimenting with turning cardboard into my own boxes, following more or less the pattern of the priority boxes you buy flat and fold. A few of them look a little gnarly but they seem very sturdy...hope they arrive in good shape.
keziak
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mballai
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posted on February 22, 2001 01:36:59 PM
The average web/mailorder shipping charge has been around $5.00 or more. I typically charged about $2.50 to ship an average book; another dime now to absorb the increases is still manageable by most.
The Post Office will continue to shoot themselves in the foot. The real income sponge for the increase is largely for labor costs which were supposed to be reduced with automation which has been the main excuse for many of the past increases. Higher rates are just around the corner so brace yourself.
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keziak
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posted on February 22, 2001 01:50:55 PM
HI mballai - I've found that the rates for media mail/bound printed are actually quite reasonable. I shipped one in-state today that was over 3 lbs and it was just under $2!!
But between ebay and the fixed price sites, I need dozens of boxes or something a week to handle the outgoing mail. I can't tack on extra for "handling" to the fixed rate sites even if I wanted to - I have to keep my prices low to be competitive to begin with.
Dunno, wonder if I could charge $3.50 for a basic under-2 lb package and go buy boxes at the teacher store to ship those. That would be an extra $1.50+ for the buyer to enjoy the privilege of waiting 2-6 weeks for a media-mail package. They might as well pay the $3.95 for Priority!
keziak
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corrdogg
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posted on February 22, 2001 02:19:30 PM
keziak:
You could use corrugated self-seal mailers:
http://www.associatedbag.com/pricing.cfm?id=34-10-05
These are around $0.26 each FOB shipping point.
or
http://www.associatedbag.com/productdetails.cfm/CORRUGATEDMULTIDEPTHBOOKFOLD
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taz8057
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posted on February 22, 2001 09:38:17 PM
I heard the post office might go up again on postage next year too!
-Trey
***********************************
"If your mind can concieve it, and you believe it, then you probably can achieve it."
http://www.CondomDeals.com
***********************************
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