How to Ship or Mail Items

Whether you occasionally sell items on an online auction site (such as eBay®) or run a full-time business, you will need to know the basics about shipping.

For instance, which company has the cheapest rates? What kind of shipping scale is best to use? Where can you get free supplies? How can you re-use or make your own boxes? What packing materials should you use and where can you get them? How can you print labels from home, and how does it work? What are some tips to save money? We will cover all of these topics starting with:

Which Company Has the Cheapest Shipping Rates?

Of course, there are several companies out there offering to ship your packages. The most common are: USPS® (United States Postal Service®), UPS®, FedEx®, and DHL®. Each company has its own pros & cons as well as different rate structures, however, usually the cheapest one to use is the USPS®.

Occasionally (depending on the weight of the package & distance shipped), one of the other shipping companies may have a slightly cheaper rate, however, the postal service usually has them beat. Also, they have cheaper rates for books, flat rate priority boxes ($8.10 shipped anywhere in the U.S. up to 70 lbs.), flat rate priority envelopes ($4.05 anywhere in the U.S.) and more.

Rates are based on how fast you want your package shipped, the size of the package, weight of the package, and the distance or "zone" in which it is being shipped. Below is a basic summary of the different services the USPS® offers.
 

USPS Shipping Methods & Speed

First Class- for packages/envelopes weighing 13 oz. or less; speed 2-5 days; price based on weight only (regardless of destination in U.S.); goes by ounces. (3.5 ounces would be considered 4 ounces).

Parcel Post- for packages/envelopes weighing over 13 oz. or more; speed 2-9 days; price depends on weight, size, and distance; goes by pounds (example: 3 pounds 4 ounces = 4 pounds).

Priority Mail- for packages/envelopes of any weight; speed 2-3 days; price depends on weight, size, and destination; Flat rate boxes (2 different sizes) & envelopes available. Flat rate box postage is $8.10 to anywhere in the U.S. regardless of weight/destination (up to 70 pounds). Flat rate envelope postage is $4.05 to anywhere in the U.S. regardless of weight/destination; otherwise it goes by pounds (example 3 pounds 4 ounces = 4 pounds).

Express Mail- for packages/envelopes of any weight; speed 1-2 days; price depends on weight, size, and destination. Flat rate envelopes available for $18.80. Goes by pounds (example 3 pounds 4 ounces = 4 pounds).

Media Mail (book rate)- restricted to certain items such as books & other media. speed is from 2-14 days; price depends on weight only (not destination). Goes by pounds (example 3 pounds 4 ounces = 4 pounds).

If you want to estimate all of the different company's rates to make sure you are selecting the cheapest one, you can go to http://www.redroller.com/. On this site, you enter the package weight/size and zip code, and it automatically gets rates from the top shipping companies. The only problem with this site is sometimes it does not give the rate for the USPS® Parcel Post (the slowest but usually cheapest method).

Also, you can go to any of the individual websites and calculate shipping yourself & compare rates. Simply click on a link below & click on "calculate shipping" on the home page.

Click below to calculate rates:
 

Post Office® UPS® FedEx® DHL®
 

By the way, you will need to know how much the package weighs before calculating shipping. To do this, you will need a scale.

Now, for information on shipping scales, where to get free supplies, how to make re-use boxes & more:
 

Learn About Shipping Scales