Description: Please join Rafael Zimberoff, ShipRush Product Manager for Z-Firm and eBay Certified Solution Provider, and learn how to save money when shipping with the United States Postal Service. Rafael and ShipRush by Z-Firm have over 10 years experience in parcel shipping software. Rafael will share tips on how to utilize ShipRush shipping software to save money and time with First Class Mail and Ground Shipping.
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My name is Rafael, and I am here to discuss 'Save $ on Shipping: Strategies using First Class Mail to save money.' I am the ShipRush product manager, so I 'live shipping' all day every day.
I suspect the same is true for many of you!
It is important to take shipping seriously. Every eBay sale will result in a shipment. As a seller, your goal is to offer good shipping service at a fair price. This helps attract buyers!
The ultimate goal is a happy buyer, and a profitable sale.
To grow your business, you need to be efficient with both time and money.
The Pieces of a Shipment:
-The item itself (that is being shipped) -Packaging materials (box, padded envelope) -Other pieces (packing tape, packing list, shipping label)
1) What can go First Class Mail 2) What weighs just one pound (and will probably go Priority Mail) 3) What is bigger/heavier/valuable/time sensitive (and probably needs to go with FedEx / DHL / UPS) . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
The Next Step for Saving $ is: Be Smart with First Class Mail
Many sellers send everything Priority Mail. For many shipments, this makes sense, but remember to 'use your head' !
If the weight, fully packed, is 13 oz or less: First Class it is!
If you have 25-50 parcels a week that are eligible for First Class, it will save you $25-$55 every week.
And once you hit 2-3 lbs or more, if it won't fit in a Flat Rate Box, Priority Mail may just be more expensive than the alternatives. Run the numbers, and make a plan!
Look for a tool that integrates with eBay, PayPal, and any other ecommerce system you use. The time you save is worth $$$ itself! (You could spend that time listing items to sell.) . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
The Next Step for Saving $ is: Be Smart with Priority Mail
Many sellers send everything Priority Mail. For many shipments, this makes sense, but remember to 'use your head' !
Anything that can go First Class mail should... it is cheaper! (Did I already say that?)
And once you hit 2-3 lbs or more, if it won't fit in a Flat Rate Box, Priority Mail may just be more expensive than the alternatives. Run the numbers, and make a plan!
#1: The #1 strategy is to use Priority Mail smartly, as mentioned.
#2: Send everything possible First Class.
#3: The second strategy is to know exactly what a box costs you. The Post Office provides nice free packaging for Priority Mail. You should know what it costs you to purchase boxes, so you know how much that free box is really worth. (Hint: It might not be worth much. Some sellers are spending more in total because they like the 'free' box!)
#4: Don't purchase postage for parcels at the post office! It is OK to go to the post office to drop off parcels, but your shipping labels and postage should be processed on line before you get there. The Post Office charges more for Priority and Express shipments when you purchase the postage at the post office counter. Also, Delivery Confirmation costs more at the post office counter ($0.30 - $0.50 more!).
#5: Purchase postage with a Rewards credit card. If you get 1% cash back with a rewards credit card, that is $ back in your pocket. This is especially important if you spend $500 or more on postage each month. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Clothing: Perfect for first class. Most items weigh 12oz or less and can go in a polyolefin style envelope. The envelope weighs less than 1 oz typically. Purchased new, they only cost $0.20-$0.30 each.
Small Electronics: If small enough, first class. Otherwise Priority Mail at 1 lb.
Priority Flat Rate Box: Perfect for dense items that weigh a lot but are small enough to fit.
CD's, DVD's, Media: First Class Mail or Media Mail
Remember: Media Mail is restricted to actual media! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
New Packaging: You probably need a small assortment of boxes and envelopes on hand. Factor this cost into your cost of business.
Recycled Packaging: The best! Ask friends who work in offices or shops to let you pick up used boxes and mailers. This is lower cost and environmentally sound.
Next: OK, it weighs 25 lbs, and the post office just isn't right... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Larger packages (starting somewhere between three and six lbs, depending on your profile) are often best shipped with a private carrier. So how to save?
2) High volume shippers: Contact FedEx to see if you can get a discount off of the Daily Pickup rates. Be sure to have some information in hand first: How many packages you ship each week, what your monthly 'spend' on parcel shipping is, & projected growth.
Note: FedEx Ground is often a better deal than the competition. If you ship a lot via Ground (that is heavy, bulky, etc) be sure to check the FedEx rates.
Watch Dimensional Weight: Pack items as small as you can (while still padding the item sufficiently). Dimensional Weight is based on package size, not weight, and applies to Ground and Air shipping. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
-Overall Approach -Tools -Techniques ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Know how items will be shipped before listing. Understand total cost (e.g. cost of packaging, shipping service, etc). Think of this as understanding the 'end before the beginning.'
In other words: Know the total picture before you list.
In your work day, use 'bundling.' Bundle similar items together in your workload. Say you sell clothing and small electronics. You might do all your clothing shipping on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and electronics shipping on Tuesday and Thursday. Grouping similar work together makes it much more efficient.
I might add that keeping track of how you spend your time is part of running a business. For example:
2 hours purchasing 3 hours photographing and listing items 1.5 hrs packing and shipping 1 hour customer service
Time is important! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Of course you need shipping supplies, packing tape, and all the normal stuff. (I won't bore you with _that_!)
But you for sure need an electronic scale... and maybe two of them.
I have a Mettler Toledo PS-60 scale for parcels (up to 150 lbs), and a smaller, plastic, postal scale for items less than 1 lb. There are some scales that can play both roles... but I don't have one.
You simply have to have a good scale (or two!). Otherwise you are wasting time and $.
Scales can be purchased here on eBay, and elsewhere.
Make sure to have a couple on hand! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
A great thing is to pre-weigh your packaging material (boxes, poly bags, etc). Keep it written on a chart on the wall. So you can know the total weight of items easily. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
So how much effort does it take to print those shipping labels?
If you are retyping, hand writing, or doing the Copy and Paste deal with shipping addresses: Stop!
If you need to print 5 or 10 or 100 shipping labels a day: Automate!
Use one of the free-of-charge tools to automate the printing of shipping labels.
Look for a tool that can:
-Import your eBay sales automatically
-Save the tracking numbers back to eBay automatically
-Combined shipments (when one buyer purchases multiple items)
-Bulk Shipping (print lots of labels with one click)
-Print packing lists with the labels (so it is all there in one place)
-Print to inkjet printers, thermal printers, laser printers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Can I print the shipping labels on my thermal printer and my invoices on my laser printer at the same time? Or do they both need to print on my thermal printer?
>> what are the advantages of this over just using paypal shipping?
PayPal shipping is GREAT for many shipping needs.
Some things other tools offer:
1) More advanced packing list printing 2) More "process automation" of the post-sale steps (e.g. labels, emails, feedback, and more) 3) More automation around printing batches of labels
and other factors.
There are a number of shipping tools out there. If you are looking to save time, it is worth taking a look! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
>> Can I print the shipping labels on my thermal printer >> and my invoices on my laser printer at the same time? >> Or do they both need to print on my thermal printer?
Depends on the tool you use.
Tools like ShipRush can do this, yes. (That is the tool I know the best.)
Other tools may also be able to do this. Be sure to look at tools that are ebay-integrated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
We use Endicia. If we use Shiprush/Endicia, would we continue to use Dazzle? And if we swith our Endicia account to a ShipRush/Endicia account and we don't like it, can we switch back to our Premium Endicia account or would we have to open a new Endicia account?
>> I use the same Eltron UPS label printer (4x6) >> for USPS on Shiprush. Works great!
Cool! Thanks for the good words!
>> Question: Is there a way to do bulk address >> verifications, so that all addresses are verified >> first, and then labels are printed after that process?
Good question.
Answer: No, sorry (at least, not at this point!). I understand how a bad address in the middle of a batch could be a headache.
I will pass this suggestion on to the ShipRush product team.
Thank you! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team: Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
>> We use Endicia. If we use Shiprush/Endicia, would we >> continue to use Dazzle?
Probably not. ShipRush for eBay usually fully replaces Dazzle (your mileage may vary!).
>> And if we swith our Endicia >> account to a ShipRush/Endicia account and we don't like >> it, can we switch back to our Premium Endicia account or >> would we have to open a new Endicia account?
You can keep your Dazzle account while you try out ShipRush, no problem! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team: Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Agreed. Send your mailing address to info@zfirmllc.com and we will send you a chocolate bar! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team: Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Does Ship Rush offer a way to edit packing slips before you print them out? Sometimes all the details aren't quite right...Thanks for the workshop, there are some helpful reminders here.
>> Does Ship Rush offer a way to edit packing slips before >> you print them out?
No. Interesting point!
What might be wrong on a packing list? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team: Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
OK, I have three more chocolate bars for the next three (good) questions! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . ShipRush Team: Free ShipRush for the Postal Service (for eBay & PayPal): http://www.zfirm.com/products/shiprush_usps.shtml
Can I turn my current Endicia account into a ShipRush-Ready Endicia account, the FAQ on the website is not clear. Also, it says that I need to request that my Dazzle account be complimentary? So does this mean my Endicia account will now be free? Who would I be paying the monthly fee to?
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