Ha Ha. I'm at work and work is slow this week and next so I had some time. I could bring my comics to work......
Here's what I show for an item going to CT, I didn't check other Zip codes These prices include the 19 cent delivery confirmation.
First Class. 6 oz was $2.28 7 oz was $2.43 8 oz was $2.60 9 oz was $2.77
1 lb Media Mail was $2.57
At 8 oz or less I use 1st Class. Keep in mind too that First class ends at 13 oz.
BTW a 14oz Priority is $4.85, 2 lb is $4.99
While we're on the subject on postage details a few words about insurance.
I can't stand buying insurance so I will admit a certain bias. Basically insurance is a casino gamble where you the buyer are definitely not the house. It works like this. You can buy $1000 worth of postal insurance for $10. The odds of the package getting lost or damaged are 1 in 5000. Which side gets the better bargain.
But that's not the worst of it. Anyone ever try to make an insurance claim with the Post Office? I have and they did pay it off - eventually. Like 3 months later. It was like dealing with one of those crappy rebate coupons when you buy a flat screen TV from Best Buy. Sure it works but one little mistake and forget it. Oh yeah, since it takes 16 weeks you probabaly have forgotten it. You have to prove every little thing and show all kinds of communications with the buyer and take pictures etc etc.
And guess what. That rare Detective #2 that you insured for $2000 and got let out in the rain by the PO? Sure they refunded the money but they then keep the comic. Yeah it got mostly destroyed by water damage but who knows what happened to the book at this point.
OK rant over. My technique is to self insure. What I do through ebay is offer insurance of $1 for every $100. Then if the $140 comic gets lost in the mail, if the buyer bought insurance I refund it immediately, no muss no fuss. By selling 100 items I come out ahead and more importantly I don't have to deal with the Post Office Insurance.
BTW the cost of insurance is
$100 - $2.25 $200 - $2.75 $500 - $6.70 (max allowed via paypal, online) $1000 - $11.70 $5000 - $51.70 (or $1 per $100) $25000 - $46.00 Registered mail only. Interesting, I've never dealt with this.
So anyway, the smart business move is to insure something yourself to the point where you can afford to pay the insurance. Also, insurance gives peace of mind so if shipping a $1000 without insurance makes you break out in hives, then by all means buy the insurance.
My recommendation is that the onus to buy insurance is on the buyer. But as a seller I don't like to open this can of worms. So if a $100 item gets lost with no discussion of insurance, I try to split the loss with the buyer. No body is happy but it's a bad situation anyway. And what I mean by "can of worms" is that if I outright insist that insurance be bought by the buyer and I am not responsible for loss or damage I come across as sort of a jerk. If I say that I will cover any loss etc, then I open myself up to false claims. So again, the onus is on the buyer and that seems to be the standard anyway. To transfer 100% to me I ask for $1 per $100 and then I insure it myself.
My personal breaking point is about $5000 but I can count on 1 finger how many times I've shipped a $5000 order. Yours may differ.
When shipping overseas, tracking is impossible once it leaves the US. One way around that is to buy insurance for $100. That's a cheap way to get a delivery confirmation and tracking by the post office. I don't know the ins and outs but I've used this technique before on higher dollar items.
It won't cover you (beyond the $100 of course) but it help if there is any discrepancy with an out of country delivery.
I know we are in close proximity so I get your stuff within days or a day of your mailing the items to me. What tends to be your experience with other parts of the country, delivery time-wise?
My experience with Media Mail is maybe a day or two later. A week at the most around Xmas and Mothers day for obvious reasons. I'm pretty good about getting packages out the door so let's say you pay me tonight and I ship it tomorrow morning then if it gets to you in 4 days rather than 2, I'd think you wouldn't even notice the delay.
The problem is if I wait until the following Saturday to even get it to the post office. Now when you get your Media Mail package 2 weeks after payment, is it really the fault of Media Mail?
I do forget the issues for Media Mail to Hawaii and Alaska, my orders out of the 48 are not common.
Ask your english speaking international orders if they can make use of an APO or AEO address (This is for military or diplomatic)
Likely they can't but it's worth asking. If they can, then media mail rates apply even if shipping to Germany. If it works send me kudos and go out for a nice $50 meal on the savings from shipping an 8 lb box of comics.
All of these tips are appreciated and well received, thank you.
I do charge extra on shipping costs for handling. It does take me time to cut cardboard (wish I had your option of cardboard co. cutting) and I really do try to make the comics protected. I package them like I would like to receive them. I recognize that people take into account "shipping" costs but don't take into account the & handling" part so I try to educate them in my listings.
I also ship in bubblewrap mailers for added protection.
You should be able to find a vendor locally in Bollermore or online for finding mailers for cheaper than retail.
#6674429 - 05/08/1301:52 AMRe: A few simple guidelines for the Marketplace
[Re: Bosco685]
MiraclemetMiraclemet
FACT if I stop posting, trillions and trillions of transistors would be out of work.
Registered: 09/08/11
Posts: 4869
Loc: The ATL
What do people think of eBay sellers listing their auctions here but offering to end auctions early if someone offers to buy at their (non-eBay) BIN prices?
My is that it's not kosher ... but I'm more of a eBay buyer than a seller...
_________________________ These are my slabs! Looking for Green Lantern SS books. ...Im new, its my first!
Registered: 12/08/07
Posts: 30052
Loc: Virginia, USA
Originally Posted By: Miraclemet
What do people think of eBay sellers listing their auctions here but offering to end auctions early if someone offers to buy at their (non-eBay) BIN prices?
My is that it's not kosher ... but I'm more of a eBay buyer than a seller...
If they add to this statement "...and I'll sell for slightly less since I am now saving on a Final Value Fee and Final Shipping Fee" then I think it is a win all-around.
If they are going to sell it at the same price, then it is just a benefit for the seller.
is that it's not kosher ... but I'm more of a eBay buyer than a seller...
