posted on July 17, 2001 01:28:12 PM
I am a little confused about something. I ship 99% of my stuff via USPS Priority mail. The problem is, I have to have the winning bidders' address (zip) FIRST to be able to figure the shipping cost. I have seen auctions that go ahead & list the shipping cost in their descriptions, but how do they know what it is gonna be if they don't know who is gonna win & where they're from? (It can vary quite a bit) Also, how are you suppose to send A.W.'s "WBN" if you don't know where the winning bidder is going to be from?!!!(You have to provide a shipping price on the form before you send it) Thanks!
posted on July 17, 2001 01:31:14 PM
What I've seen is that these people simply charge $12.00 Flat rate for UPS within the Continental US. Other sellers simply put their ZIP code and shipping method for UPS into their autions with a link to UPS's cost calculator and let the buyer figure it out for themselves. Or both.
posted on July 17, 2001 01:32:57 PM
What I do is to put in a zip in the USPS site that is on the opposite coast. Mine is 91762 and I put in 10022. Actually, it turns out that things shipped to Kansas cost the same at things shipped up to Maine.
posted on July 17, 2001 01:38:46 PM
I do almost the same thing as bunnicula, except I give a range. Eg. $X (My state) to $X (East Coast). Then I tell them they may email me for exact shipping to their zip if they'd like. And I offer UPS Ground if it's less expensive to their zip.
For five pounds and under, I use a flat rate based on USPS rates plus a little handling charge.
I don't do a lot of heavy items anymore, so this may be cumbersome for you. I just got tired of the shipping cost hassle, so now something has to be really special, or I put heavy things in consignment.
posted on July 17, 2001 05:27:27 PM
Everybody isn't just charging a big ol' flat rate. If they are shipping pkgs that weigh 5lbs or less it isn't necessary to know the destination if it is in the U.S. The rates for U.S.P.S. priority are flat up to the 5lb weight.
