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| | | Author: | Fr0stByt3  | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 12:32 | | Subject: | Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 202 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| Can't drive so I walked twenty minutes to, and then twenty minutes back from
the post office in a heat advisory of about ninety-seven degrees only to figure
out that the shipping settings I was using screwed me over big time on shipping
costs. Buyers in my store were charged less than two dollars or so and it took
me over ten to ship my first two orders.
I guess that's being new at this for you, with a little bit of stupidity
sprinkled in for walking but hey, had to get them out somehow.
I'm going to close my store temporarily until I figure this out and then
reach out if I need help. Really don't want to go through this again especially
since I'm not really trying to make a living here but would still like to
break even if possible.
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| | | | | Author: | runner.caller | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 12:37 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | Can't drive so I walked twenty minutes to, and then twenty minutes back from
the post office in a heat advisory of about ninety-seven degrees only to figure
out that the shipping settings I was using screwed me over big time on shipping
costs. Buyers in my store were charged less than two dollars or so and it took
me over ten to ship my first two orders.
I guess that's being new at this for you, with a little bit of stupidity
sprinkled in for walking but hey, had to get them out somehow.
I'm going to close my store temporarily until I figure this out and then
reach out if I need help. Really don't want to go through this again especially
since I'm not really trying to make a living here but would still like to
break even if possible.
|
That's no fun, but at least you've got some real order data to help you
dial in your shipping rates for future orders.
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| | | | | | | Author: | Fr0stByt3 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 12:45 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, runner.caller writes:
| | That's no fun, but at least you've got some real order data to help you
dial in your shipping rates for future orders.
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I suppose I do. Thing is though, I was using automatic API setting from USPS
for both my packages and my envelopes. I'm wondering if I should charge a
flat $5 for shipping envelopes.
And speaking of envelopes, I tried picking up some of those free ones from the
post office but they're cardboard and without padding so I'm going to
try to buy some padded ones off of Amazon to protect buyer purchases.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | wildchicken13 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 12:47 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, runner.caller writes:
| | That's no fun, but at least you've got some real order data to help you
dial in your shipping rates for future orders.
|
I suppose I do. Thing is though, I was using automatic API setting from USPS
for both my packages and my envelopes. I'm wondering if I should charge a
flat $5 for shipping envelopes.
And speaking of envelopes, I tried picking up some of those free ones from the
post office but they're cardboard and without padding so I'm going to
try to buy some padded ones off of Amazon to protect buyer purchases.
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You can order padded ones from USPS.com:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-flat-rate-padded-envelope-P_EP14PE
My local post office doesn't have them, either.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | peregrinator | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 12:51 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, runner.caller writes:
| | That's no fun, but at least you've got some real order data to help you
dial in your shipping rates for future orders.
|
I suppose I do. Thing is though, I was using automatic API setting from USPS
for both my packages and my envelopes. I'm wondering if I should charge a
flat $5 for shipping envelopes.
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Definitely do not use the automatic Courier API setting.
You may want to invest in a postal scale, they are not expensive. I think mine
was $25
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | calebfishn | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 22:10 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, peregrinator writes:
| | In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, runner.caller writes:
| | That's no fun, but at least you've got some real order data to help you
dial in your shipping rates for future orders.
|
I suppose I do. Thing is though, I was using automatic API setting from USPS
for both my packages and my envelopes. I'm wondering if I should charge a
flat $5 for shipping envelopes.
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Definitely do not use the automatic Courier API setting.
You may want to invest in a postal scale, they are not expensive. I think mine
was $25
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+1. Best $30.00 I ever spent.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | CPgolfaddict | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 22:07 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| The 'API' methods in BL are woefully out of date. It isn't really
an API...but rather someone hardcoded in the shipping amounts from a long time
ago. BRICKLINK really needs to remove these... this is on BL for outdated stuff
still being available.
I'm attaching a screen shot of the commercial First Class package rates 'API'.
Currently the only rate bands are 4, 8, 12 and 15.9 ounces. AND...those rates
for First Class Packages depend on shipping zones. It isn't a fixed rate
for the entire country. This changed several years ago.
In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, runner.caller writes:
| | That's no fun, but at least you've got some real order data to help you
dial in your shipping rates for future orders.
|
I suppose I do. Thing is though, I was using automatic API setting from USPS
for both my packages and my envelopes. I'm wondering if I should charge a
flat $5 for shipping envelopes.
And speaking of envelopes, I tried picking up some of those free ones from the
post office but they're cardboard and without padding so I'm going to
try to buy some padded ones off of Amazon to protect buyer purchases.
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| | | | | Author: | wildchicken13 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 12:52 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | Can't drive so I walked twenty minutes to, and then twenty minutes back from
the post office in a heat advisory of about ninety-seven degrees only to figure
out that the shipping settings I was using screwed me over big time on shipping
costs. Buyers in my store were charged less than two dollars or so and it took
me over ten to ship my first two orders.
I guess that's being new at this for you, with a little bit of stupidity
sprinkled in for walking but hey, had to get them out somehow.
I'm going to close my store temporarily until I figure this out and then
reach out if I need help. Really don't want to go through this again especially
since I'm not really trying to make a living here but would still like to
break even if possible.
|
Based on your post I am inferring that you pay for shipping at the post office.
There is nothing wrong with that; indeed, that is exactly what I did when I first
started selling on BrickLink. However, if you expect to grow your store and ship
a lot of packages, you may want to consider purchasing postage online and printing
labels from home. If you accept payment via PayPal, there should be a link on
the transaction details page that allows you to print a shipping label directly
from PayPal, but many use Pirate Ship, USPS Click-N-Ship, or some other website.
A standard inkjet printer with letter paper will be just fine, but you can also
buy a special thermal label printer that doesn't use ink. You will also need
a postal scale, but those are relatively inexpensive.
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| | | | | Author: | UTLF | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 13:18 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | | | Author: | Fr0stByt3 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:02 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, utlf writes:
| | Trial and error is the best way to learn!
|
Trial and error for sure. I just received a couple orders and I'm not satisfied
with how I set up my envelope shipping costs (a flat rate of $5). The buyers
didn't order much at all and I feel like I'm charging them too much for
shipping. Is $5 too much?
For perspective, the orders were not even fifty cents each.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:13 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | wildchicken13 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:24 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 32 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, utlf writes:
| | Trial and error is the best way to learn!
|
Trial and error for sure. I just received a couple orders and I'm not satisfied
with how I set up my envelope shipping costs (a flat rate of $5). The buyers
didn't order much at all and I feel like I'm charging them too much for
shipping. Is $5 too much?
For perspective, the orders were not even fifty cents each.
|
Same here. I have no minimum buy in my store and many of my orders are under
$1. I do not understand what compels some buyers to pay $4-5 shipping for a few
cents worth of LEGO bricks but I figure that as long as the buyer is okay with
it then it is okay. The truth is that shipping costs are not based on the value
of the items but on the size and weight of the package.
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | BricksOfFaith | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:27 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, wildchicken13 writes:
| | In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, utlf writes:
| | Trial and error is the best way to learn!
|
Trial and error for sure. I just received a couple orders and I'm not satisfied
with how I set up my envelope shipping costs (a flat rate of $5). The buyers
didn't order much at all and I feel like I'm charging them too much for
shipping. Is $5 too much?
For perspective, the orders were not even fifty cents each.
|
Same here. I have no minimum buy in my store and many of my orders are under
$1. I do not understand what compels some buyers to pay $4-5 shipping for a few
cents worth of LEGO bricks
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I’ll never figure it out either. I just got an order for one little minifigure
torso (super cheap) and paid 6 dollar shipping!!! I can’t figure it out 😂
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | UTLF | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:39 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | BricksOfFaith | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:40 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 30 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| | I suppose that’s what they said 😂 even though it was super commen 😂 |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | wildchicken13 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:40 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, BricksOfFaith writes:
| | In Shipping, wildchicken13 writes:
| | In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, utlf writes:
| | Trial and error is the best way to learn!
|
Trial and error for sure. I just received a couple orders and I'm not satisfied
with how I set up my envelope shipping costs (a flat rate of $5). The buyers
didn't order much at all and I feel like I'm charging them too much for
shipping. Is $5 too much?
For perspective, the orders were not even fifty cents each.
|
Same here. I have no minimum buy in my store and many of my orders are under
$1. I do not understand what compels some buyers to pay $4-5 shipping for a few
cents worth of LEGO bricks
|
I’ll never figure it out either. I just got an order for one little minifigure
torso (super cheap) and paid 6 dollar shipping!!! I can’t figure it out 😂
|
I once had a buyer in Thailand order a single:
The part itself cost only $0.10 but shipping cost $15 and it took six weeks to
arrive.
He got his part, though.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | BricksOfFaith | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2022 14:40 | | Subject: | Re: Unpleasant Shipping Surprises | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Shipping | |
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| In Shipping, wildchicken13 writes:
| | In Shipping, BricksOfFaith writes:
| | In Shipping, wildchicken13 writes:
| | In Shipping, SomeRandomUser writes:
| | In Shipping, utlf writes:
| | Trial and error is the best way to learn!
|
Trial and error for sure. I just received a couple orders and I'm not satisfied
with how I set up my envelope shipping costs (a flat rate of $5). The buyers
didn't order much at all and I feel like I'm charging them too much for
shipping. Is $5 too much?
For perspective, the orders were not even fifty cents each.
|
Same here. I have no minimum buy in my store and many of my orders are under
$1. I do not understand what compels some buyers to pay $4-5 shipping for a few
cents worth of LEGO bricks
|
I’ll never figure it out either. I just got an order for one little minifigure
torso (super cheap) and paid 6 dollar shipping!!! I can’t figure it out 😂
|
I once had a buyer in Thailand order a single:
The part itself cost only $0.10 but shipping cost $15 and it took six weeks to
arrive.
He got his part, though.
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Now that’s just weird 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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USA, Kansas
Canada, Ontario
