Here's a couple of pictures of my Ebay mascot, Belle!

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How is the best way to ship your Ebay items?  There are probably about as many opinions about this than there are Ebay sellers!  Alot of it depends on exactly what you are shipping, of course.  If you tend to sell smaller items that are usually under 50 pounds, the US Postal Service (USPS) will be your best bet.  Fewer, larger items would be better shipped United Parcel Service (UPS).  Once again, these are my opinions and from my experience seem to work the best for me.  Here are a few reasons that I choose USPS almost exclusively for my items.  Remember this.....my wife has worked for UPS for almost 20 years, so my opinion definately isn't based on her employment ; )

The USPS offers quite a few shipping methods that suit most Ebay seller's needs.  They have Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Post and First Class Mail.  Those methods are available for shipping within the US and Puerto Rico.  Express Mail can be quite costly so Priority Mail usually will work for most rush shipments.  Priority Mail is 2-3 day delivery to all addresses and the USPS has about 10 different size boxes that they offer for FREE!  Parcel Post is another good method for shipping packages as well.  WATCH OUT, THOUGH!  Sometimes Priority Mail will be cheaper than Parcel Post under certain conditions, plus your buyer will receive their item quicker which makes YOU look better!  These are times when:

• your package weighs over 13 ounces but 1 pound or less, or,
• your buyer lives within the same delivery zone as you, or,
• your heavier item is being shipped a great distance and would fit in a Priority Flate Rate box.

Most of those reasons apply to most every item shipped.  The Priority Flate Rate boxes are the best thing to happen to Ebay and the USPS.  These boxes, as well as all Priority boxes, are free and can be shipped directly to your front porch also for FREE!  If you're printing your shipping labels on-line, this makes things even easier.  You get FREE Delivery Confirmation for your Priority packages and $0.18 for Parcel Post and First Class.  Delivery Confirmation is required when a buyer disputes not receiving the item from you.  As far as the Priority Flate Rate boxes go, they are available in three different sizes.  The two that are $8.95 are 11"x8.5"x5.5" and 12"x3.5"x5.5".  Those two have come in pretty handy for me!  As of May 1, 2008, the USPS also introduced another Flat Rate box that runs $12.95 and measures 12"x12"x5.5".  All of the Flat Rate boxes are just that.....one rate for any weight, up to 70 pounds. 

As with ANY package, always check the USPS website to see which method is the cheapest for your situation.  You can go to the USPS webiste and click on the "Calculate Postage" link and enter your ZIP code, your buyer's ZIP code and the package weight and all of the options are there for you!  Just pick the best and cheapest for your situation.  Remember that if you are printing your labels on-line, Delivery Confirmation is added automatically, so if your quote is close for Parcel Post and Priority, Priority may be the cheapest in the long run, and get your item to the buyer quicker. 

Also check the size of your package (haha, I know).  The USPS charges a "non-machinable" charge for large packages (haha again).  That $2.75 charge is waived on Priority Packages so alot of times it will still be better using Priority.  I ship 5-8 packages a day from work that weigh around 35 pounds and measure 41"x16"x16"....it is amazing the small difference in Priority and Parcel Post after figuring the non-machinable charge.  I always ship those boxes Priority.  Check out Ebay for sellers that offer boxes for shipping, too.  Some of these sellers have their boxes "drop-shipped" from the manufacturer and with their discount, they'll be cheaper than ordering them yourself.  If you need "peel-n-stick" shipping labels, let me know.

Here's a quick recap:

• Priority is sometimes the better and cheaper method
• Priority boxes are free, shipped to your house free and USPS will pick them up at your house FREE!
• Extra large boxes get a $2.75 charge for Parcel Post, but not Priority Mail
• Delivery Confirmation is required for disputes when a buyer files an "item not received" claim
• Delivery Confirmation is free for Priority Mail and $0.18 for Parcel Post (when printed on-line)
• When in doubt, go to the USPS rate calculator on the USPS webisite and click on "Calculate Postage". 

I am always ready to talk about Ebay, motorcycles and any of my items.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  Just go to one of my items and click the "ask seller a question" link.

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THANKS!!