Estimate shipping charges

[spirithorse]

Greetings!
I never wanted my hobby to become a job and was happy with word of mouth sales 
close to home. Well, my wife shared pics on Facebook and now I becoming inundated
with requests for woodworking.

So, here are the main questions.
How do you estimate your shipping costs to be paid by the customer
and do you usually use FedEx or UPS?
Also, does FedEx or UPS charge for a tracking number to be sure the product
arrived safely and eliminate concerns of someone saying they want a refund
for non-delivery or due to damage or not happy with what they received?

You see my concerns? How would I know if someone just decided it was a whim purchase
so they damage it in their home and then request a refund?

Sorry to trouble you guys but, when I tried to research this myself on the internet, most of
the sites want you to fill out a form with the size and weight of the package and personal info
before I could get an estimate. Each order would vary in size and weight, location, etc and
I am not entering personal info on UPS forms just to get a ball park figure.

Thanks for useful information to help inform me.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[JimErn]

We use USPS flat rate boxes almost exclusively

smaller bubble envelopes we use UPS first class

USPS boxes are free, though there is a rumor that they will stop that

usps.com and you can create an account if you want

Fedex and UPS use weight and space to determine shipping as well as the zip code, so the box size is important that is why they want the measurements and weight.  About all you can do is put in the size box you use the most and pic a zip code to get an estimate.

Most people are honest (mostly) we have had some that say it was broken on arrival, I ask for a pic, rarely hear from some of them.  international is an issue, at least we found it that way.  Once the package leaves the US there is no tracking to speak of, and we get reports of customs keeping things that are in the package -we stopped international sales.  Worst areas for this in our experience was russia and south america.

[ike]

I sent a medical alert back to the company and got a bill for $300 becaduse it was damaged. I told them to take it to the postoffice because idt was sent in the box for Priority mail and was insured . They e=mailed iback ddthat it was up to me so I ask for a photo and never herd from them again dSo priority mail does work I don't sell by the internet so I don't have to mail much but when I do It's thru priority mail.

IKE

[kmmcrafts]

I don't care for FedEX or UPS unless I'm shipping big heavy items.. I ship most my stuff priority and or first class.. when doing the label online through etsy or amazon.. I get free tracking numbers with either one.. and free insurance with priority.. I'm not sure if they offer those services if you just walk up to the service counter though.. most everything I ship cost $12 or less and most weighs less than 2 pounds.. 

I stay away from the flat rate boxes unless the item is heavy.. if heavy then it's a good deal.. otherwise not so much a deal at all.. They offer free priority boxes in both flat rate and also regular rate.. I get the free regular rate boxes.. most used box is the 12 x 12 x 8 and i cut them down most times to about 12 x 12 x 5 ish.. To avoid getting denied on a claim.. be sure to have a minimum of 1 inch of space between the item and the box.. and pack it good and tight.. I shake my boxes to see if I can hear / feel it move / slide around in the box.. you don't want that either.. if it does... pack it better.. It's better to over pack that to under pack.. because they will deny a damage claim if it's packed poorly.. I was told one time to pack as if they might play foot ball or play catch with your package.. or else put fragile on the box and pay for fragile postage..  and if you do that... I'd put that fragile sticker on all sides and top/bottom so they be sure to see it.. I don't do the fragile postage.. I just pack it well.. I've had 6 claims in 10 years.. mailing probably around 800 -1000 packages a year... and those claims were all several years ago when I was still learning the ropes of shipping stuff.. LOL

Shipping calculator

https://postcalc.usps.com/

 

Free boxes

https://store.usps.com/store/results/free-shipping-supplies/shipping-supplies/priority-mail/_/N-alnx4jZ7d0v8vZ1dqlux5?_requestid=299062

 

Again try to stay away from the flat rate box.. in comparison.. a flat rate box 12 x 12 x 5 cost almost $15 to ship with.. and the box I use 12 x 12 x 8 and cut it down normally cost me $8.50 but has been a few items that cost me $11.. so in most cases I save the customer half the shipping rice by NOT using the flat rate.. The flat rate might be a better deal IF you're shipping something around 5 pounds or more.. 

[Jim McDonald]

A major portion of my job is shipping and receiving. For a small "mom and pop" operation, USPS flat rate is probably best--although FedEx Ground does advertise a similar product.

UPS has a system when you have an account (shipper number) that you can use to check your cost based on weight/volume/Zip Code. BUT, unless you are a high volume shopper, you are not going to get a good rate. I imagine the same is true with FedEx. 

Many times when I have a package coming from Canada, I can't see the tracking number until it clears customs. By the time the shipping is updated, I have the part.

Hope this makes some sense.

(AND, what Kevin said above about regular rate.)

Edited January 29, 2020 by Jim McDonald

[BadBob]

I ship almost exclusively USPS first class unless the weight is over 16oz or the customer requests priority mail. They all have tracking numbers.  I ship internationally. The only thing I have an issue with shipping internationally is that it can take a long time and tracking gets spotty once it leaves the country.

 

Don't for get to include all your expenses. Tape, boxes, bubble wrap and transportation to the post office. I figure it costs me $4 to get it to the post office. I embed these cost in the price of the item I am selling just like I would materials. The customer sees $3.85 for first class shipping.

 

To estimate shipping you need to know the packed weight and dimensions. Everyone uses dimensional weight now so the size of the box makes a difference in the price.  When you know this go to USPS Click & Ship and fill out the form. You can do this without making a purchase but,  you need an account.

I use a scale I bought from Harbor Freight I bought for about $20.

 

I let my customers choose any USPS shipping method they want and to date no one has asked for the more expensive shipping.

 

If I have something heavy I use UPS. For example, about a year ago I shipped a six inch jointer. This big chunk of cast iron went out in a plywood crate and cost $80 to ship.

[Bpardue]

because my intarsia pieces seldom fit into priority boxes, I ship UPS ground and have never had an issue with breakage. I charge a flat rate of $30 to ship in the US. UPS ground runs me $15-$18 plus the box and packing material. Because I cant find boxes for odd sizes that I need I end up customizing existing boxes and wrap the piece with bubble wrap and fill the remaining spaces with peanuts. I break even on the shipping cost. I shipped stuff up & down the east coast and 1/2 across the US.

Brian

[kmmcrafts]

Something else to be aware of with shipping insurance... They won't insure a box if it has branding names on it.. They "claim" the box draws attention for theft.. Even if the package wasn't stolen but was damaged.. they won't cover it. so my advice would be. don't go to the stores to pick up free boxes that they get the merchandise shipped to them in unless it has not markings of what is inside of it.. Any little thing to get them out of paying a claim.. they'll do.. I get family and friends that always saves boxes for me.. I keep telling them to only save the plain old box.. no markings or I won't use it.. 

[spirithorse]

Thanks for all the info, Friends,

The shipping costs has always been a nagging concern of mine whenever anyone discussed
starting a web site. If I had to add $30 for shipping to the price of intarsia I just don't see how
I could do any more business than I do locally. 

That always bothered me from a customer's point of view because if I needed a replacement part
for any of my scroll saws and the part was $6 but, they wanted $9 shipping, I'd find a way around it.
I'm not paying to make somebody rich on over-charging for shipping.

God Bless! Spirithorse

 

[kmmcrafts]

11 hours ago, spirithorse said:

Thanks for all the info, Friends,

The shipping costs has always been a nagging concern of mine whenever anyone discussed
starting a web site. If I had to add $30 for shipping to the price of intarsia I just don't see how
I could do any more business than I do locally. 

That always bothered me from a customer's point of view because if I needed a replacement part
for any of my scroll saws and the part was $6 but, they wanted $9 shipping, I'd find a way around it.
I'm not paying to make somebody rich on over-charging for shipping.

God Bless! Spirithorse

 

No matter how you calculate it.. The customer is still paying the shipping.. Years ago and also I some sites still to this day.. sellers would put a cheap price.. and then add a stupid amount to the shipping... This was a marketing ploy and a avoid transaction fees on eBay.. Because back in the early days these sites charged a FVF ( final value fee ) on the sold price and not on the shipping... That's how this stuff started... and thats now why many sites now include the total income of the sale including the sales tax.. so thanks to them... we all pay more to sell now..  This makes us sellers loose money to ship to other countries.. because it cost a lot more to ship so more is taken out of the pot for the FVF.. I ship my ornaent first class mail and it's typically 3 ounce... the cost is right around $3 but the same ornament to Canada in first class mail cost $10 - 11.. and some of the other countries it cost nearly $14... I'm paying 5% on this cost on etsy and 15% on amazon.. Amazon rules is you cannot sell on other online sources for less or they'll ban you from ever selling on their platform..

I refuse to shop on Amazon because they got so big... and they treat the sellers like crap... and somehow get away with it.. but they are where the money and the traffic is at... because everyone shops on there at some point. I don't.. But I do sell there. LOL.. I couldn't make it if I didn't sell there.. At the end of the day it works out close to the same as etsy.. because etsy charges listing fees... amazon it completely free other than the 15%.. shipping labels are much cheaper because they do so much volume..

The customer always pays the shipping.. set a fair price for your product.. and as close to actual shipping cost ( or calculate the shipping cost in the price and offer free shipping ) no matter how you do it.. set a fair price for yourself... the custom will buy if they want it.. You wouldn't be ripping them off if they are the one that clicked to buy it they are the willing one that clicked to buy it..  I used to charge a higher shipping cost and then refund any extra if it was more than a $1 .. I pretty much have a close enough ball park now that I no longer have to issue refunds.. 

  

[Jim McDonald]

14 hours ago, spirithorse said:

 the part was $6 but, they wanted $9 shipping, I'd find a way around it.
I'm not paying to make somebody rich on over-charging for shipping.

God Bless! Spirithorse

 

I sometimes sell parts to other truck dealers around the country and when I do, I calculate the shipping cost and then add a fair amount for the time and materials to get the shipment pulled and packed.  As a company, we are not making money on this small amount--but it does help cover some of my time.

I don't have to drive to UPS, but we do pay a monthly pick up fee.

[tgiro]

I never use the "If it fits - it ships" boxes as they are too expensive. But, the Post office does have some priority mail boxes that I use all the time. I can mail one of my teddy bears intarsia for about $7.50.

If I have to do a special box for a piece - each major shipper (UPS USPS, FedEx) has a website, where you can put in the measurements of the box and the weight and it will give you the price. You can, also include the cost of insurance and specify special handling. I try all three and take the most reasonable. If you register with the shipper, they will let you print the label and give you a number to call for pickup.

70% of what I ship goes out in a USPS box, but some of the larger pieces require the extra handling.

Note that what I do is mostly intarsia projects and turned segmented bowls. It all get insured for rather high values.

[kmmcrafts]

This blog is a place where I learned a lot when I was first researching starting my business.. A lot has changed since I started and I'm not sure if this is been updates etc.. Lots to read here.. I've posted this blog before but just thought since the questions have come up again I'd share the link again.. You have to go to the left side and choose the menu topic you'd like to learn about.. 

https://gotogreatpanes.com/blog/about/

[Roq]

On 1/31/2020 at 6:17 AM, kmmcrafts said:

Amazon rules is you cannot sell on other online sources for less or they'll ban you from ever selling on their platform..

That has changed:

https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazon-ends-policy-prevented-third-party-merchants-selling-products-lower-prices-sites/

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

27 minutes ago, Roq said:

That has changed:

https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazon-ends-policy-prevented-third-party-merchants-selling-products-lower-prices-sites/

That is good to see. People standing up to that Giant who wants to rule the world. Thanks for posting.