wow postage can add up

pugga

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jul 27, 2009
Messages
113
Hey all, just finished writing up my first WTS thread and thought that before I finish and post it up I better check postage options and costs and am glad I did:eek:. I don't know how some of you guys do the deals you do unless you added it on top of the deal. By the time I added the basic postage cost ($11) I might as well just keep the torch. Even worse for example on the 3 lights totaling $200 if i had to do 3 packages registered (havnt even looked at insured) take off $60+ doesnt leave that much. Anyway thats my rant/eye opener for now, back to the drawing board
 

jhc37013

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
3,268
Location
Tennessee
Are you using USPS you can ship a light with insurance with tracking info in a flat rate box for around $8 as long as it fits in the small flat rate box. I have rarely found a light even with its original box that will not fit in it.
 

pugga

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jul 27, 2009
Messages
113
Opps sorry I should have clarified I'm in Australia. It is cheaper to post around Oz but adds up for international postage.
 

jhc37013

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
3,268
Location
Tennessee
I guess as long as what light you are getting in return is worth the shipping cost it is fine or if you just sell a light you factor that into its cost.
 

pugga

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jul 27, 2009
Messages
113
Hey J,

Actually your WTS threads were a source of info on specfics for my first thread. It would be nice if 1 person took the whole lot but I see that doesn't happen very often.

Cheer Chris

Ps the sale was to fund a you know what lol
 

PeaceOfMind

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Messages
301
Location
Ontario, Canada
Yup, it adds up, and not much you can do about it except try to combine items. When I list something to sell I generally factor in a bare minimum of $10 shipping cost (usually more) to send from Canada (including sending to someone within Canada, within province). Which is why I'd never bother to sell something worth less than maybe $30. Under that and there's so little point.
 

LEDninja

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
4,896
Location
Hamilton Canada
Canada Post charges a fortune to ship INSIDE the country. CAD$7.27 for 2 PR 2 bulbs in a plastic CR123A case (to protect the flanges from being crushed) inside a padded envelope. And it was only going 20 blocks.

It cost me CAD$13+ to ship lights outside Canada. And Canada post does not offer Registered Mail nor Tracking for outside the country.
 

Kestrel

Flashaholic
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
7,355
Location
Willamette Valley, OR
Canada Post charges a fortune to ship INSIDE the country. CAD$7.27 for 2 PR 2 bulbs in a plastic CR123A case (to protect the flanges from being crushed) inside a padded envelope. And it was only going 20 blocks.

It cost me CAD$13+ to ship lights outside Canada. And Canada post does not offer Registered Mail nor Tracking for outside the country.
The only international shipping I've done was shipping a few bulbs (or items of comparable size - lanyards or LiIon cells) a total of five times. I've been able to keep shipping to as low as US$3 to ship a very small parcel from the US to Australia and to Canada. My biggest problem is not going under the USPS size limit for a package, 3 inches x 5 inches - small packages sure end up weighing less.
 

southpier

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
5
that's why i seldom complain about S&H charges when i place an order online. plus, i know what it costs to drive somewhere to purchase something. and online orders save me the slaesclerks' attitude, so it's well worth a few bucks to me.

i like to buy old magazines, but because they contain advertising, cannot be mailed "book rate" or "media rate" (United States) and a dozen or so magazines get heavy quick.
 
Top