PlaymoFriends
General => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: Rasputin on October 05, 2012, 07:41:31
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I would like to know what is the easiest way to do these. I have a big pile of sets to send out to other members and have never been on the shipping end. Do you use your own old boxes or buy new ones? Do you weight them at home and use the postal calculator on the web or do you go to the post office? I guess I am just wondering what the most efficient way others have found. I have so little time and do not want to be floundering with this.
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I haven't done co-ops, but I sell on Etsy and Ebay, so I ship a lot.
If you have boxes that are the right size, you might as well use them (provided they are sturdy and still in good condition).
Do you have a postal scale or a kitchen scale? If so, you can package them (mark them so you know which is which), weigh them, and print out shipping online. Paypal has a decent multi-shipping function (useful if people are paying via Paypal), though there are other sites. Online shipping is usually cheaper than going to the post office. You'll need packing tape to secure the edges of the label if using paper instead of label sheets, so that it won't rip off in the mail.
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Always round up to the nearest ounce when weighing (and don't forget the label and tape will add a wee bit more weight).
Domestic shipments 13 oz. and under
- cheapest method is first class
- once labeled, these items can be put in any post office dropbox (though I'd pick one that looks relatively secure), dropped off at the post office or given to your mail carrier.
Domestic shipments over 13 oz.
- You have a choice between Parcel Post and Priority. Parcel Post is slower but is not always cheaper. Use Paypal or USPS.com to compare.
- These packages MUST be given directly to a postal employee. No dropboxes.
International shipments
- First class is the cheapest. It goes up to 64 oz. for international.
- You will need to fill out customs forms. There are online ones available.
- These also must be given directly to a postal employee.
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I re-use boxes whenever possible and wrap them in brown paper. I put my address in the biox and on the outside of it and also on the back of the wrapping paper. I weight at home, but then go to the post office for the actual stamping. It brings them in business, they can offer a helpful advice, e.g. "If you send that as two 1kg parcels rather than one 2kg parcel, it will be a lot cheaper", and they're nice people to talk to.
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I always use boxes I already have from recieved shipments or from Chris's store to save money. If you must buy envelopes for smaller items, you should probably include that in the shipping price. Weighing at home is definitely easier for small packages that can be weighed on a kitchen scale. If the box is too heavy for that though, it's best to go to the post office to get an accurate weight. Shipping is a bit of a hassle! Be sure and give yourself plenty of time for filling out detailed customs forms when sending packages overseas.
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. . . .
Domestic shipments over 13 oz.
- You have a choice between Parcel Post and Priority. Parcel Post is slower but is not always cheaper. Use Paypal or USPS.com to compare.
- These packages MUST be given directly to a postal employee. No dropboxes.
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This rule may be different in various areas, but in my neck of the woods (Boston) we can put Priority Mail packages with online-generated paid postage labels into a package-only drop box at the Post Office - the lobby where the box is located is also open 24/7, which is very convenient. :) There are also FREE Priority Mail shipping boxes and envelopes available for the taking at the Post Office.
It is easy to set up an on-line account with the USPS which will allow you to generate the labels online and print them out yourself. You can also request home delivery of any Priority Mail shipping items, again all for FREE, when you set up an online account with the USPS (U.S. Postal Service.)
Also, you can use Priority Mail flat rate boxes and envelopes (again, available for FREE at the P.O. or by home delivery) which come in various sizes and corresponding costs. This will usually cost a little bit more for relatively light-weight items like Playmobil, but may be worth it considering that you don't have to weigh anything.
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Thank you Ismene, Gordon & bb. I am paying attention in class :lol:
Ismene, I do have a paypal account. Do I understand correctly that I can print my own shipping labels and pay for the actual shipping through them? Most of these are for international shipment.
Do you insure them or not? or ask each specific person? Are there any tricks on the form to save people taxes? I would imagine there are duties or taxes in some regions.
I learned in here that on paypal when you are sending funds to people you can save them money by clicking "Personal" then "gift".
Thank you
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This rule may be different in various areas, but in my neck of the woods (Boston) we can put Priority Mail packages with online-generated paid postage labels into a package-only drop box at the Post Office - the lobby where the box is located is also open 24/7, which is very convenient. :) There are also FREE Priority Mail shipping boxes and envelopes available for the taking at the Post Office.
It is easy to set up an on-line account with the USPS which will allow you to generate the labels online and print them out yourself. You can also request home delivery of any Priority Mail shipping items, again all for FREE, when you set up an online account with the USPS (U.S. Postal Service.)
Thank you Indianna,
Is there any such services for international shipments? Will an account with USPS save me time/money to open an account? It sounds like printing my own labels will save me time if it works for international.
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Hi Rasputin -
Yes, you can generate International Priority Mail labels through an account with the USPS and you can also generate customs forms at the same time, which is very handy. You will need special window envelopes for the International Priority Mail labels/customs forms. Also, since the shipping forms are loose (in a plastic sleeve) it is a good idea to also put a regular shipping label on the package and a packing slip with all shipping info inside the package, as well.
I believe that having an online account is much faster and more efficient than waiting in line at the P.O. ;)
. . . I learned in here that on paypal when you are sending funds to people you can save them money by clicking "Personal" then "gift".
This option means that the sender of funds will pay the fees.
I also should have said that you can even arrange for USPS to pick up the packages from your location.
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I also should have said that you can even arrange for USPS to pick up the packages from your location.
That's right, and in a situation like this it's best the buyer pays the paypal fees.
Do you insure them or not? or ask each specific person? Are there any tricks on the form to save people taxes? I would imagine there are duties or taxes in some regions.
I'd ask each individual if they want to pay to have the package insured or not. If the items are of low value it isn't usually worth it.
As far as the customs form, lowering the value of the items to save on import taxes would be dishonest and probably illegal.
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Hi there,
Yes...selecting 'Personal' for Paypal payments means that the recipient of the money does not get charged for the transaction.
Also, when sending abroad if you mark the customs form as a 'Gift', it will often mean the recipient does not get charged for import tax etc. I guess each country is different, but here in the UK the first approx $40 of a gift is free of tax, but they often include the shipping price in that $40!! They don't call it Rip Off Britain for nothing :lol:
Claire :wave:
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. . . . As far as the customs form, lowering the value of the items to save on import taxes would be dishonest and probably illegal.
So true! My own rule of thumb is that the customs value is whatever the recipient has paid for the item(s) but not including shipping costs. So a set that originally cost $10 but which the person bought from you on ebay for $50 would be valued at $50 because that is what was paid for it while a pile of odd bits that you are sending to a friend for free would be called a gift (but you would still have to declare a value for the items.)
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Yep, same here. However, if the person has had you take it out of the boxes and throw them away to save on shipping, that also arguably lowers the value of the items somewhat.
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For domestic shipping in the US I always use Priority Mail, if it's more expensive than Parcel Post it's usually only a little bit and the odds of safe arrival are much higher and faster with Priority. You need a reasonably accurate weight - but only to the next pound. The cost for 1 pound 1 ounce and two pounds even are the same. Two pounds and one ounce puts you into the next higher price. If there is usually someone home when your mail carrier comes around then you have the option of asking them to take the packages for you. You can do this as part of the online postage but need to remember to set the shipping date to the next day since it wont go out until they pick up from you then. This is how I do all my retail shipping at work
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This rule may be different in various areas, but in my neck of the woods (Boston) we can put Priority Mail packages with online-generated paid postage labels into a package-only drop box at the Post Office - the lobby where the box is located is also open 24/7, which is very convenient. :) There are also FREE Priority Mail shipping boxes and envelopes available for the taking at the Post Office.
According to usps.com, anything over 13 oz. is supposed to go directly to a postal employee. They may be bending the rules in some areas though.
IMO, Playmobil is too lightweight to make flat-rate worth it. After a few packages, you would end up spending more than you would for a cheap kitchen/postal scale.
As far as the customs form, lowering the value of the items to save on import taxes would be dishonest and probably illegal.
It's definitely illegal - falsifying government forms and all that. The value should be what was paid for the item, minus shipping costs.
Also, when sending abroad if you mark the customs form as a 'Gift', it will often mean the recipient does not get charged for import tax etc.
Depends on the country. The US, for instance, lowers the cut-off before custom fees kick in if the package is marked as a gift.
For domestic shipping in the US I always use Priority Mail, if it's more expensive than Parcel Post it's usually only a little bit and the odds of safe arrival are much higher and faster with Priority.
Yeah, Priority is better than Parcel Post. I find First Class is reliable and tends to arrive as fast as Priority (except around Christmas), but it's limited to lighter items. It would work if someone only requested a few figures though.
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According to usps.com, anything over 13 oz. is supposed to go directly to a postal employee. They may be bending the rules in some areas though.
Hi again, Ismene! Not bending the rules at all - a domestic package with a Priority Mail label generated online or at a self-service postal kiosk (and, therefore, paid for by a credit or debit card) can be placed directly in the chute and does not need to be handed over the counter. Here are a few references from the USPS FAQs pages:
I thought all packages weighing at least 1 pound had to be taken to a Post Office retail associate. Will that be an issue with the Automated Postal Center?
Absolutely not. By limiting payment options to credit and debit cards, the mail is traceable by the Inspection Service, is accepted at any weight and does not require you to present to a Post Office retail associate. The only exception is International Mail – any package over 16 oz. (1 lb.) must be presented to a retail associate at a Post Office.
Also:
Priority Mail® packages weighing over 13 oz. with postage paid by stamps must be taken to a clerk at a local Post Office.
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Okay, then they must have changed it to accommodate online shipping. That makes things more convenient. :) I wonder if they have amended the signs at our main post office yet.
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most things have allready been mentioned. But, i would always ship insured. IF it get's misplaced or damaged, you'll always be able to reclaim the damages.
Without insurance, you wouldn't. I've had it once to the UK. Buyer didn't want insurance and i had him write this to me explicitly, to cover my butt.
I re-use packaging whenever possible, but always ship inside a box for larger items.
I'd be honest on the customforms. If someone bought something from you, name it as t is. If it's used -> used toys. When new, write -> toys.
Always be honest about the value on custom forms, be also be smart.
For instance: the stuff you're sending me: I didn't buy it from you, you are just sending it to me. Hence it's a gift, because there was no transaction. As for the value, it would be approx. what it would cost me second hand.
If i'd bought it from you, then this wouldn't be the way to go. Get my point? :hmm: (i kinda lost myself here...)
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hi rasputin, i operated a 'publishing' business - completely unrelated to toys of any sort - for 12 years. in addition to working with shops and distributors, we did a great deal of mailorder so i guess i have some experience with the logistics of shipping and streamlining the process as much as possible.
domestically, the usps continues to fare poorly. rates will continue to rise and specialty services will go up. it remains a good way to move packages and, often, better than their reputation suggests. it is always worth considering the alternatives, however, especially on heavier items. fed ex is a better value than ups but not always as convenient depending on your location.
if using usps, always ship with delivery confirmation when shipping domestically. it puts a little more responsibility on usps although if a package goes missing, it's missing and, at times, a carrier doesn't scan the number.
if you anticipate shipping a lot on a regular basis, there are a handful of companies you may want to look at working with to buy your postage such as endicia.com. where i live, the post office is notoriously inefficient with many unfirable employees who only contribute to the general frustrations of going into their physical shop. we found early on that doing everything from our location was the best way to go. automating your shipping and customs expenses is key. companies like endicia help to facilitate this. i am sure there are many others now as i has been a few years since we shut down.
invest in a thermal printer. you can use this to print your entire address, customs form, postage and delivery confirmation. many refurbished thermal printers are available second hand.
a scale, of course. they are cheap and widely available. they all come from china. you don't need a branded digital scale. thoe are all just rebadged anyways. i bake quite a bit and my scales are essential to making the bread making process go quickly. i will, at times, use that same scale for items up to, i believe, 20lbs.
there are usb scales that you can plug right into your computer. this could allow you to skip the process of committing a weight to memory or writing it down before preparing your shipment.
the postman is your friend. if he isn't, make it so. people are people and if a bond is there to be forged, your carrier may be willing to take your shipments to the post office during his mail route. this will save you a trip.
if you do have to make that trip, bring your goods around to the back of the post office. you may be met with stares at first but if you indicate that these are aleady metered packages, someone should advise you where to place your goods.
as for packaging, reusing is good for the environment and the wallet. double walled boxes are best - this, for instance, is what most electronics are shipped in. alternatively, you can double box but this will add to the overall weight and expense - especially for overseas shipping.
if you expect to be shipping a lot of single box 'special' figures, it may not hurt to invest in some new boxes. hardbound book mailers would be perfect. for a start, try looking at uline.com. this will give you an idea of pricing and they have a presence all over. similarly, a roll of bubble wrap is also a wise investment.
at the end of the day, you may end up tacking on $1 or so for these packing materials but i'm sure people would welcome that over a damaged box.
finally, as for co-ops, i am a member of one and the participants will also tack on paypal fees if this is principally how you expect to get paid. ultimately, with fees and charges in this environment, i suspect the goal is true transparency so nobody feels gypped.
i hope this helps.
nunney
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Thank you all for the info, it is very helpful