Go To Great Panes

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Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009
(This post is copyrighted–you do not have permission to repost this content elsewhere but you are welcome to link to it if you’d like to share the information.)

We’ve just added a Shipping page to the Pages links on the right. There you’ll find all the main shipping help posts I’ve put on the blog. I’ll update the new Shipping page with future shipping help posts too, so you can find them all in one spot.

Occasional updates about shipping info–like postal rate changes–can be found using the “sort by topic” link just below the Pages links or get notified when messages are posted by subscribing to our blog–see the links on the left.

Visit our Etsy shop: GoTo

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009
(This post is copyrighted–you do not have permission to repost this content elsewhere but you are welcome to link to it if you’d like to share the information.)

To figure your shipping rates you need to find out what your items weigh in packaging and then you can use the USPS shipping calculator for shipping rates (if you are in the USA):

http://ircalc.usps.gov

I recommend weighing several packages, writing down the weight and then taking the packages to the Post Office and having the clerk there weigh them too. Compare the weight your scale read to the post office’s scale so you know if your scale is off & how to adjust.

Using the Shipping Calculator

When you use the USPS Shipping Calculator it will ask for zip code. We use a zip code from the farthest zone so that we’ll know the highest rate the shipping can be if we are using a service other than First Class. To find out what zone is the farthest from you, see here:

Shipping Zone Tool

Click the little question mark links on the USPS calculator pages if you need more info as you go.

Be sure to click the “Display All Options” box near the top of the price results page if you want to see any service choices other than the most expensive ones….

Your First Class Domestic Mail will need to be labeled a package to be eligible for Delivery Confirmation (which all packages using Paypal labels automatically gets for a discounted rate). To be labeled a package it needs to be one of these:

• Rigid – does not bend easily • Not rectangular • Contain items that cause more than 1/4 inch variation in thickness • At least 3/4 inch thick

See the rules for delivery confirmation eligibility on the USPS website here: 10.2.2 Eligible Matter

For thin bubble mailers, we just stick a packing peanut in the envelope and that bulks it up enough to meet the requirements.

The largest package you can ship through USPS is 70 lbs and “may not measure more than 108 inches in length and girth combined, except Parcel Post, which may not measure more than 130 inches in length and girth combined”. See more on that including how to measure here:

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#1034246

If the box dimensions are large there’s some variation in pricing for International First Class packages:

http://ircalc.usps.gov/PopUps/FCMIParcel.htm

You can also use these rate charts if you prefer–click the name of the service to see the rate chart:

https://www.usps.com/ship/service-chart.htm

I like the charts, but it’s good to be familiar with shipping rules before just using them & not the shipping calculator. (You’ll be there in no time!)

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping

Figuring Out Your Secondary Shipping

Visit our Etsy shop: GoTo

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009
(This post is copyrighted–you do not have permission to repost this content elsewhere but you are welcome to link to it if you’d like to share the information.)

One of the trickiest things for new sellers–now made super easy:

1.	Weigh one item in packaging, get the shipping cost.	$4.00
2.	Add the weight of another of the same item (and the packaging it needs) to the weight from step 1, get the shipping cost.	$6.25
3.	Subtract shipping cost of step 1 from the shipping cost of step 2 and you’ve got your secondary shipping cost.	6.25 -4.00 2.25
4.	Your secondary shipping rate: (Don’t forget to add in costs for additional packaging if you include packaging costs in your shipping rates.)	$2.25

It’s not a perfect science, but it should get you close.

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping Basics

Visit our Etsy shop: GoTo

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009
(This post is copyrighted–you do not have permission to repost this content elsewhere but you are welcome to link to it if you’d like to share the information.)

The highest shipping charge is always the base shipping.

It doesn’t matter what order the items are added to the shopping cart, the item with the highest primary shipping rate will set the base shipping for the order.

The secondary shipping cost is if you add that item to a package.

“With another item” should generally be less than the first shipping price. (In some cases items can’t be shipped with other items, or the cost of shipping won’t go down when it is shipped with another item, so the shipping will stay the same for primary and secondary shipping.)

Every item after the one that sets the base shipping will add its secondary rate to the package.

An example:

Item	Primary Shipping cost:	Secondary Shipping with another item:
A	$5.00	$4.00
B	$2.00	$ .50
C	$3.00	$1.00

If someone buys all three, Item A’s shipping is primary–because it is highest, and Item B & Item C will have the secondary rate added:

Item	Shipping Applied
A	$5.00
B	$ .50
C	$1.00
Shipping total:	$6.50

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping Basics

Visit our Etsy shop: GoTo

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009

Did you know you can use Paypal labels to ship things even when your buyer didn’t pay through Paypal? Or even if you’re just shipping something to a friend?

There’s two ways to do it–using the Multi-order Shipping feature or using the ship-now link.

Multi-order Shipping

On the right side of the main account page there is a link under “My account tools” to “Multi-order Shipping”.

Personally I don’t like that feature–I find it cumbersome for printing one label so I use the “ship-now” page:

Ship-Now

1. Log in to your Paypal account.

2. Click this link (and bookmark the web page in your browser for future use):
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

3. There you can manually enter all the details for a label for a package even if you did not receive funds through Paypal. I copy and paste everything in to be sure I’ve got it right.

Click the bookmark in your browser whenever you want to do it again.

Teach a Man to Fish…

You can get to this web page address any time you need to, even without the bookmark. Knowing how to get there will keep you from ever having to worry about losing the magic link, so here goes…

You can create that link address yourself from a transaction label you haven’t yet printed:

a. Click the “Print shipping label” link next to any transaction and when the label page loads
b. go to the address bar in your browser and delete all the text after “ship-now” in the address and
c. hit enter. That will give you a blank label form to fill in with your shipment details.

For example, when you click the “Print Shipping Label” link the address of the label page will look something like this:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now&info=qnOjYY-GGnRwerueX9I9N1ts1Kzw…

cut the end of the address off so it just ends with ship-now:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

then hit enter on your keyboard. It will bring up a page with a blank label.

If you don’t have a transaction with a “Print shipping label” link:

i. Find a transaction that you already printed a label for, and click the “Details” link in the Details column next to it,
ii. Page down to the blue link that says “Ship Another”, click it and when the label page loads
iii. go to the address bar in your browser and delete all the text after “ship-now” in the address (as described above) and
iiii. hit enter. That will give you a blank label form.

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping Basics

Visit our Etsy shop: GoToSupplies

Sorry–had to turn off comments on this post due to a hundred or so spam post attempts over 24 hours. I’m done with deleting their pending pharmacy spam.

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009

Visit our Etsy shop: GoTo

Domestic Priority Mail:

When are flat rate boxes better than shipping by weight?

While we use First Class Mail whenever possible, sometimes you need to ship Priority. Boxes are free from USPS and they’ll even ship them right to your door for free if you order them online: Priority Mail Boxes

Domestic Priority Mail rates change based on shipping zones, unless you are using their Flat Rate Boxes (good for up to 70 pounds). Sometimes the flat rate boxes are a good deal–sometimes it’s better to ship Priority Mail by weight.

Small Flat Rate Box & Flat Rate Envelope (same price):
$4.95
These cost the same as the “up to 1 pound rate” for Priority packages regardless of the zone they are being shipped to. If your items are going Priority and fit in this package, you’ll get the best Priority rate possible.
Envelope: 12-1/2″ x 9-1/2″
Small Box: 8-5/8″ x 5-3/8″ x 1-5/8″

Medium sized flat rate boxes (formerly the “regular” size):
$10.35
Comes in two shapes:
Medium Box 1: 11″ x 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″
Medium Box 2: 13-5/8″ x 11-7/8″ x 3-3/8″

Shipping by weight cost is better than using the medium box for these packages:
$8.70: Up to 2 lb, shipping to all zones.
$9.90: Up to 3 lb, shipping to zone 6 or closer.
$9.45: Up to 5 lb, shipping to zone 4 or closer.
$10.30: Up to 7 lb, shipping to zone 3 or closer.
$9.90: Up to 10 lb, shipping to zone 2 or closer.

Large sized flat rate box:
There are two different boxes, both the same size–one is especially for shipping to APO/FPO Destinations ($11.95), it has a lower price than the one for all other addresses.
Large Box: 12-1/4″ x 12-1/4″ x 6″

$13.95
For non-APO/FPO destinations:

Shipping by weight is better than or equal to using the large box for these packages:
$11.95: Up to 3 lb, shipping to all zones.
$12.95: Up to 4 lbs, shipping to zone 7 or closer.
$13.75: Up to 5 lbs, shipping to zone 6 or closer.
$13.95: Up to 9 lbs, shipping to zone 4 or closer.
$13.30: Up to 11 lbs, shipping to zone 3 or closer.
$13.95: Up to 19 lbs, shipping to zone 2 or closer.

The flat rate box is always less expensive for these packages:
$14.30: 19 lbs and up

You can see USPS Priority Mail shipping chart and the rates and compare for yourself here:

http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm

Priority Mail Postage & Labels Online

You get a discount for paying for your postage online, and for Priority packages you get free delivery confirmation!

USPS.com: You can buy postage for all the flat rate boxes through USPS.com’s Click ‘n Ship.

Paypal only offers postage for the flat rate envelope (not the small box, though they are the same price and I use that label for the small box, which might be risky since the label says it’s for an envelope…) and the medium (formerly the regular) sized flat rate box. More on Paypal shipping here: Shipping Through Paypal

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping Basics

Visit our Etsy shop: GoToSupplies

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009

Visit our Etsy shop: GoTo

Here’s a handy little shipping zones tool from USPS:

http://postcalc.usps.gov/ZoneCharts/Default.aspx

If you are shipping First Class domestic the rates are the same anywhere in the US & its territories, but for Priority Mail, Parcel Post & Media Mail seeing zones can help you understand the rates.

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping Basics

Visit our Etsy shop: GoToSupplies

Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2009

Postal Rates Going Up–May 11

A little reminder that the rate for First Class Mail is going up 5 cents May 11, 2009 but…

it only goes up for the first ounce. The additional ounces rate stays the same so a 1 oz package will only be 5 cents more than it was before the change, and a 6 oz package will only be 5 cents more than it was before the change. Not so bad!

Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services & Extra Services are also going up. There’s a little info here about how the rates have changed:

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pricingfactsheet2009.htm

See this page for full details:

http://www.usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm?from=prices&page=NewMay09Prices

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Go To Great Panes, Kathryn Maloney ©2011

Do I need a customs form?

I’ve heard this question many times unfortunately the answer folks get is rarely accurate. The misunderstandings are sometimes perpetuated by postal clerks, so going to the post office for answers is not always more helpful than asking in forums.

The short answer is:

You need a customs form if your international package has
“potentially dutiable contents”.

It doesn’t matter:
• how light or heavy it is,
• how big or small,
• if it is a gift or something you sold,
• what mail service level or company you send it through.

If there is something that might require either duty or taxes (like sales tax) to be paid on it, it needs a form. Personally, I don’t know which goods are charged tax in different countries, so all our international packages get customs forms. Plus it can speed the way through customs if a package does get stopped (and an enclosure with the price & buyer info will help too).

You can see that answer directly on the US Postal Service website and be confident you have the right answer–the key is not to look just at the chart, but also the fine print below it. The chart:

https://webapps.usps.com/customsforms/helppickaform.htm

The fine print:

Customs forms are not required on First Class Mail International items that:

• Weigh less than 16 ounces and do not have potentially dutiable contents.

• Weigh 16 ounces or more; do not have potentially dutiable contents; and are entered by a known mailer.”

In both of the above options, the important point is about potentially dutiable contents–if the package has any, then it should have a customs form. The package should also have something that confirms the value & purchaser inside the package (like a receipt) in case customs inspects it.

The chart page above has sections that tell you which customs form you need based on:

• type of mail service you are using (First Class International, Priority Mail International, etc.), and
• the declared value of the items in the package (while some countries also tax the shipping cost, the customs form value doesn’t include postage–so don’t add that in).

If you are having trouble seeing where it says you need a customs form, these images have those parts highlighted in yellow for First Class International and Priority Mail International:

First Class International

Priority Mail International

So the only packages that can travel internationally without a customs form are shipped First Class International and are either:

• Under 16 oz and have no potentially dutiable contents,
• Over 16 oz, have no potentially dutiable contents and are shipped via ‘known mailer”.

If you’re looking for more details on custom form use & requirements see here: http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc1_008.htm

If you are looking to print First Class International labels without a paid subscription service, check out the following post–the customs form gets printed right on the label automatically too:

International First-Class Mail:
Print Labels From Your Computer

For more shipping tips see our main “Shipping” page–see the gold links on the right or click here: Shipping Basics

The new USPS small flat rate boxes are available! Order a set of 10 or 25, and they’ll be delivered to your door free!

Size:
5-3/8” x 8-5/8” x 1-5/8”

Cost to ship in the US:
$4.95 At the PO
$4.80 Online

Shipping internationally:
$10.95 Zones 1 & 2 (Canada & Mexico)
$12.95 To the rest of the world

Click here to go right to the USPS.com order page

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