Shipping costs for small items

[Doug Beach]

USPS shipping (Ground Advantage) has seen some significant increases lately. Boxes that used to be ~$7.50 coast to coast a year ago are now ~$10.50.
I include shipping in the purchase price. No separate line item. “Free shipping.”
I’ve shipped somewhat over 300 small boxes all over the country via Ground Advantage. Zero lost, zero damaged. One went missing early Covid, but showed up a couple months later.

 

[Davers]

For the most part for me shipping rates are what they are, but I'm finding shipping rates on small items are out of hand. I feel like these places have to be making a profit for what they are charging for shipping. I ordered a clamp on bolt knob for a howa mini. Total package weigh is probably less than 2oz and $17 to ship, haha!

I agree!!! I was going to order a front sight bead for one of my shotguns, found it, but the cost of shipping was almost higher than the price of the front shotgun sight. So I didn't order it. The online business could have placed it in a regular envelope and mailed it for the cost of regular mail, by USPS.

 

[boltfluter]

I ship an item that I make that weighs 2 ounces for $4.35 to $5.06 in a 4" x 6" padded envelope via USPS Ground Advantage. I buy the shipping labels through eBay with their 20% discount. Actually I can ship two of these items for the same price. The USPS is your best bet for shipping small items.

I charge my customers $8.95 shipping to cover the packaging and to help offset the eBay fee. I sell the item for $24.95 on eBay.

Very similar to what I do with small items like recoil lugs and bolt knobs. $4.35 is a deal no matter how you look at it. I hated to charge someone $11.35 for an item that costs $32.00. So, I do the best I can to minimize shipping costs. Nobody likes being gouged on shipping, myself included.
Paul

 

[k260]

Small flat rate box I shipped today was $11.70. Half hour to package and label the box, 30 mile round trip to the post office, 2 hours I could have been in the shop actually being productive. How much should I charge??

Use pirateship, print the label at the shop, stick it in the mailbox, done. And, you can order Priority Mail shipping supplies for free from the USPS website, get small Flat Rate boxes and Flat rate envelopes, the box will fit inside the envelope and gives better protection than the envelope itself and that $11.70 package ships through pirateship at $9.70. And you didn't have to leave.

 

[Texas Solo]

I once ordered a 1911 recoil spring from Midway. They wanted $8 shipping on a $5 spring. When I got it USPS the usps sticker on the envelope said $1.20. Don't try to tell me Midway doesn't make a profit on shipping.

 

[butchlambert]

Use pirateship, print the label at the shop, stick it in the mailbox, done. And, you can order Priority Mail shipping supplies for free from the USPS website, get small Flat Rate boxes and Flat rate envelopes, the box will fit inside the envelope and gives better protection than the envelope itself and that $11.70 package ships through pirateship at $9.70. And you didn't have to leave.

That's great, but how do you put 6x9x12 boxes in a mailbox?

 

[Davers]

I once ordered a 1911 recoil spring from Midway. They wanted $8 shipping on a $5 spring. When I got it USPS the usps sticker on the envelope said $1.20. Don't try to tell me Midway doesn't make a profit on shipping.

YES, I believe Midway and other online retailers are trying to make a profit on shipping. NO REASON a $5 part should cost $10 to send out.

 

[butchlambert]

Shipped 2- 5/8x3/4 set screws to Oz. Cheapest way was $22.60.

 

[DaveTooley]

That's great, but how do you put 6x9x12 boxes in a mailbox?

Butch
Talk to your mail carrier about pick up options. If you're not worried about road agents I'll bet something can be worked out.

 

[butchlambert]

Dave, we are about 1/4 mile off the farm road. I guess that the drivers are afraid of our deer, fox, squirrels, armadillos.

 

[DaveTooley]

Do they deliver oversize Amazon packages to the house?

 

[DLT]

For the most part for me shipping rates are what they are, but I'm finding shipping rates on small items are out of hand. I feel like these places have to be making a profit for what they are charging for shipping. I ordered a clamp on bolt knob for a howa mini. Total package weigh is probably less than 2oz and $17 to ship, haha!

Oh yes they are making money on shipping.

 

[tmwinds]

YES, I believe Midway and other online retailers are trying to make a profit on shipping. NO REASON a $5 part should cost $10 to send out.

Cost of the product doesn’t have anything to do with the shipping cost. It’s size, weight and distance.

 

[butchlambert]

Do they deliver oversize Amazon packages to the house?

Dave, Amazon is good. All items are on our door step. Fedex always leaves them on the road under the mailbox.

 

[Fire Dog]

Fellers, A small flat box is $11 postage. A large company has to pay a salary and benefits and a little place like me that mails daily, how much is diesel for 40-50 miles to and from the post office. I don't wait for orders to build up, I ship daily even if it is an envelope with a couple of tension screws. I do think that my postal product supplier is too expensive and I don't think all of them may be fair.
Just remember that it cost more than just the shipping cost.

Thank you for making that clear to those that think they are being ripped off on the shipping…
Small business people usually go the extra mile to assist their customer service as usually they are the one also handling the packing and shipping where a large company has to pay someone to pull the order, pack it up and either set it aside for pickup by courier service or get it to the Post Office…
Perhaps if companies would go back to saying “Postage & Handling” it would be clearer to their customers. {Former small business owner}

 

[Fire Dog]

Shipping has gone crazy.
FedEx went to a minimal weight. So say one of my boxes is 24x12x12 and weighs 6 pounds I am getting charged for like 25 pounds. And all the surcharges are just insane

This has always been been the case for major shipping companies, volume verses weight…
Whichever is more, a big box of feathers will cost more because of the volume and a box of anvils will cost more because of the weight…
International shipping uses the formula 1 cubic meter {1mX1mX1m} =250kg
You will pay either calculated by the volume or the weight, which ever is more.

 

[Dave Way]

USPS ground advantage still gives you tracking and the $100 insurance but it’s generally cheaper than the flat rate boxes.

Dave.

 

[Texas Solo]

Cost of the product doesn’t have anything to do with the shipping cost. It’s size, weight and distance.

Maybe so. But I was talking about a 1911 recoil spring !

 

[tmwinds]

Maybe so. But I was talking about a 1911 recoil spring !

I feel your pain but that’s the world we live in. I don’t doubt the vendors are making a profit on shipping.

 

[hotrodlouie]

I agree about shipping cost, just ordered revolver spring 4.50,shipping 5.40.
This might give you good laugh to start the day, back around mid 1990's I had to
buy reciprocating compressor connecting rod. Cost 78,000.00 this is the funny part
weight 2,400lbs. thinking what UPS charge for shipping today, are the post office calls tells
you they lost it.