alexol

There are a number of online discount shipping places.

Personally, I often use Shippo - easy to use, much lower prices than the offices of UPS, FedEx etc.

The most expensive (locally) seem to be the official UPS Stores. Apparently they are effectively franchises and do not charge the same prices, place to place, so worth asking around.

If you sell something on eBay, their shipping costs are well discounted. I haven't tried buying a shipping label from eBay without having sold the item there first - don't know if you can or not.

If you ship once or twice per year, just bite the bullet. In general, USPS seems cheapest for smaller packages, FedEx Ground or UPS for larger ones. Worth trying the independent shipping places too - one local one here (Shipping Etc) is very good, helpful and relatively inexpensive.

If you are selling something, it's definitely best to find out about shipping first rather than be unpleasantly surprised later. Been there, done that!

Red6

In shipping, like most other things, you get what you pay for. I have done a good bit of online selling through ebay and craigslist and I have used most of the available shipping companies. I was also over the shipping department at the company I worked for so I have done a good bit of shipping.

Basically you have 4 companies to utilize domestically: US Postal, FedEX, Fed Ex Ground and UPS. They all have their strengths and weakness.

US Postal - usually, but not always, the cheapest. But unfortunately, the most unreliable. I have had items disappear to never be found. Their tracking is unreliable, it will tell you that it has departed your location and when it arrived, but nothing in-between. Their pricing is very complicated and I have yet to be able to estimate with any accuracy what something will cost to be shipped until I actually deliver it to the post office. They have so many confusing rules about packing and rates that one can rarely estimate accurately. I will usually use US Postal for low cost items such as books, documents, or things that are not valuable or extremely fragile. I have had several items that just disappeared completely. US Postal said the item was delivered but my customer never received it.

Fed EX Express - Very reliable, great tracking, but expensive since it is mainly overnight or 2nd day delivery. Usually the go to company for overnight deliveries of documents and small items.

Fed Express Ground - Many do not realize but this is actually a separate entity from the Fed Ex Express. This is ground delivery only and is usually 3-5 day delivery. They have their own separate terminals, trucks, employees etc. Fed Ex purchased a company doing ground delivery in order to compete with UPS ground delivery. Much less expensive than the Fed Ex Express delivery and in many cases cheaper than UPS ground delivery. Good tracking info while in transit. However, I have seen more issues with Fed Ex Ground deliveries than the more elite Fed Ex Express service.

UPS - Usually considered the real workhorse of delivery. They offer everything from same day when possible, overnight, 2 day, 3-5 day in the US and freight delivery services. Usually more expensive but most times very reliable and their tracking system is second to none. Most small business depend on UPS to deliver the bulk of their product.

Shipping today is expensive, whoever you use. For cheaper, durable items, like books, camera bags, or something that is easily replaceable, I would probably go with US Postal.

For more expensive, items like cameras, or delicate equipment I would go with Fed Ex or UPS and pack them VERY WELL. UPS and Fed Ex does not handle their items any easier than US Postal. BUT the tracking is much better and their insurance is much better. Corporations that ship in high volumes get discounts from Fed Ex and UPS. The more they ship the cheaper it is. Individuals like us get little or no discount so we pay full price.

The days are gone when a seller can neglect shipping costs. For items selling below around $50, the shipping costs can be a significant percentage of the total costs. If the buyer cannot pay the shipping then he should not be buying the item. I usually add on the actual shipping costs after telling the buyer my best estimation. More trouble for both parties to coordinate that transaction but it has to be done.

COVID has also complicated this issue. Costs have gone up and shipping times have increased due to the increased online shopping. ALL shippers are still working to catch up and have added on more workers and purchased more trucks. I was living in Florida back in April and tried to rent a moving van to move some items. NO VANS were available anywhere in Florida. Amazon and Fed Ex ground had rented every van in FLorida to add to their fleets to handle the increased items.

Good Luck.

Red6

It is actually both. The shippers now use a system call dimensional weight. Here is an example.

Take a box 1 cubic foot in size. The shippers will have a dimensional weight for that box, say 5 pounds. And for that 5 pound, 1 cubic foot box, they will charge a set amount. So if you ship that box empty, you pay that set amount. If you ship that box with up to 5 pounds in it, you pay that set amount.

However, if you take that same 1 cubic foot box and ship 7 pounds in it, you will pay the 5 pound set amount in addition to a charge for the extra 2 pounds.

So in effect you pay both volume and weight charges for shipments. This started in airborne shipments where space is at a premium but also moved into ground package deliveries soon after. Almost all boxes are measured and the dimensions are entered into the computer along with the weight to calculate the final charges.

Red6

I think that may be a possibility in the future. Jeff Bezos, of Amazon, is a savvy businessman and if he sees an opportunity he will pursue it.

However, at the moment, especially during this Covid crisis, I think Amazon is struggling just to deliver their goods in a timely manner.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I recently sent a Canon 7D, and 6D camera body with a 28-200mm lens plus manuals, straps, using a USPS flat rate box.
Everything was double boxed, bubble wrapped, etc. and arrived in great condition.
As I recall the cost was <$50.
Best wishes on your task and
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Fastenal can be a good way to ship large or heavy freight. They use their trucks and distribution network. But you have to drop off and pick up at a store I believe...

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

These services use volume of the package as the primary determinant of cost. Weight is a secondary factor. The upshot: the smaller the box, the cheaper it ships, that is unless you are a bulk shipper like B&H. It amazing that I can return a product to B&H for less than $9 via prepaid FedEx, but if I ship and pay myself it will cost $30+.

DonB Loc: Port Royal , Tn

One overlooked shipper is Grayhound Bus. Might check them out.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I use the USPS online “click it and ship it” ap. You enter the information and it provides options, costs, and you can schedule USPS to pick it up at your mailbox, buy the postage, insure it and print the shipping label - all online - pretty painless. Unfortunately, all forms of shipping have gone up, but I find USPS to be the least expensive, and with their online service, you don’t need to leave your home.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

I recently shipped a wrist watch to Utah from Eastern Washington for repair. It was sent by UPS and yes it was packaged by them. The cost was just over $50.00. I thought the cost was excessive but the watch needed repair and could not be done locally.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Pack it yourself. They charge a packing fee to pack it.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

It's not volume as much as it is the size of the box. If a box can be handled buy the automatic equipment is cheaper cost more to send a box that cannot be handled automatically. The weight is primary. it's just like letters if it goes to the machine it's okay if it doesn't it cost more.

ringmaster

People need to remember that a few years ago when oil prices went nuts all the shippers raised prices they said because of those oil prices. Oil has since dropped like a rock and those same shippers have never dropped their prices.

Bob Werre

I've sold many model railroad items (some over 1K in value) worldwide and quite a few photo items including a 4 x 5 enlarger for about 12 years now. About half are Ebay related, the rest direct via 'lists' or groups. Once in a while we get requests for UPS, FedEx so we'll price them then let customer choose. Generally USPS is within a dollar of the others. They'll trace the package in route, with a few exceptions. Shipping to Canada no matter what method usually makes for slow delivery and in couple of cases damage from customs inspectors! Finding the correct box is often a creative challenge--I have a source for used boxes, or they'll fold one for me.