Basic USPS Domestic Shipping Guide For Newbies

When I first started selling on Ebay, figuring out shipping was initially hard and confusing for me. Deciding how to package and deciding what is the cheapest shipping method possible is not exactly easy for a newbie.

It's best to invest in a shipping scale. It will save you a lot of time standing in line in the post office when you can figure how much your item weighs and then figure out the postage accordingly on paypal. In fact you do not have to have someone pay you on paypal to print out a label. Simply copy and paste this link: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

Weighmax Electronic Postal Scale - Weighmax 2850-15 @ Amazon. Max Capacity is 15lbs and graduation of 0.1 oz. Great, compact scale to use for shipping purposes.

Don't have a paypal? No problem. You can always use USPS's Click-N-Ship. However, you have to download the software and it's only good for priority mail.

USPS has several options for shipping that includes:

• First Class Mail
• Media Mail
• Express Mail
• Parcel Post
• Priority Mail

USPS First Class Mail is cheap for shipping but you can only use it for anything 13 ounces and under that you can ship in a mailer/envelope. However, if you are shipping USPS First Class Mail Parcel (which is anything not flat and uniformly thick), in order to be eligible for Delivery Confirmation (which can be purchased from paypal for 19 cents, and it's actually required to be purchased if you want to print a label out on paypal) the package has to be either 3/4 inch thick or rigid, meaning that it cannot be easily bent. Stuffing a was of bubble wrap around the item in a bubble mailer should do the trick but you can also just cut out a piece of sturdy cardboard (I use cereal boxes or whatever is lying around) and wrap the item in either plastic, cloth, or bubble wrap to tape on to the cardboard. This also provides extra security from any damage and additionally I write on the back of the package Do Not Bend! (Not necessary but makes it easy for sorting). Also easy to mail, as you don't have to go to the post office, you just have to drop it in a blue collection box.

Media mail is cheaper than First Class Mail if you want to send books, dvds, or games. But it cannot have any advertising or it will be denied and it can be randomly inspected. Only downside is that media mail can take long to get to its destination. You can simply just wrap the items in brown bags from grocery stores or in put them in a box. You have to go to post office and tell the clerk its media mail.

Parcel Post starts around $5 and depends on size and how many miles it takes for the package to be delivered. A good option and decent prices for bulky packages that doesn't have to travel far or can't fit in a small priority box or envelope.

Express mail is great if you want the item the next day or two but the prices are much higher.

Priority mail is a good option if you have heavy items that weigh more than 2 lbs since no matter how much it weighs you only pay the standard rate for it. It comes in the form of Small priority mail flat rate box, medium and large as well as a priority envelope. You can drop the small priority into a blue collection box or envelope if its 13 ounces or less. Note that you can order priority boxes, envelopes, and stickers to your house and delivered for free. Just go to usps and set up an account, but be warned you cannot use them for any purpose besides using it to ship by priority mail.

If you're selling I recommend you add Delivery Confirmation to every thing you send. It's only 19 cents on paypal and in case the buyer says that they did not receive the item and opens a case against you in paypal you have proof since you can check the Delivery Confirmation number at by entering it at USPS's website where it says 'Track and Confirm.' It will show you where the item currently is and when the item got delivered to its destination if reached. You may also purchase extra services like insurance, proof of delivery/shipping and requiring a signature upon delivery for items that are delicate or expensive if you want to be careful.