Shipping Question

**Likwid24** · Jun 15th, 2012, 11:55 AM

Does anyone have experience with shipping products that are inexpensive?

My product is almost ready for launch and I started looking into choosing the right shipping method. We also have to set up the shipping method on the website.

I talked to UPS and Fed-Ex. It seems like their prices are way too high for my product. The shipping cost exceeds the cost of the product. I'm still waiting for their local sales reps to call me back to see if something can be worked out.

Right now it looks like my only option is the USPS. They're, by far, the cheapest. Only problem is that I hear stories that they lose a lot of packages or that many packages arrive very late. Also, their customer service is terrible. Everyone I spoke to seems like they know nothing and connect me with another person who knows nothing. One rep told me to use stamps.com or endicia.com.

Before I jump into stamps.com, does anyone have a better solution?

**HsrJames** · Jun 15th, 2012, 12:04 PM

I ship everyday using usps. A lot of the items are under $20.00. Paypal has a shipping section where you can print the labels directly from their site, you get the commercial rate from Pitney Bowes if you use them. If the items weigh under 13oz you can use the first class service which takes 3-5 business days, its very inexpensive and you can get delivery confirmation and limited tracking. Out of the thousands (probably 10,000 or more) of packages I've shipped I've only lost a handful.

**oddball** · Jun 15th, 2012, 12:37 PM

I've shipped hundreds, maybe thousands of things with USPS. Very rarely do I have problems, and all have been resolved pretty easily. You hear horror stories with all of the shipping companies though. USPS prices are cheap, which is why I stick with them.

**Vigilante** · Jun 15th, 2012, 01:25 PM

I hate USPS, but we use them every day for small packages as they are way more affordable than the GOOD carriers. Paypal has a USPS shipping engine where you can buy and print FIRST CLASS mail package postage. We ship for $2 with USPS what UPS/Fedex would charge $10 for. I don't pay Stamps.com, because USPS through Paypal is cheap(er) with no subscriptions, no commitments, no hardware, no leases, etc... just prints a regular label on a regular printer. We buy labels and padded shippers off of eBay cheap, cheap, cheap.