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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Shipping advise
Jonathan Nimerfroh, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 3:26 PM on 10.15.09 |
->> Looking for an easy way to ship mail and packages to clients from home. Looking to see what others are using?
Thanks
- JON |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 3:31 PM on 10.15.09 |
| ->> I use the USPS and FedEx |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 4:37 PM on 10.15.09 |
| ->> FedEx and USPS as well. |
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Mike O'Bryon, Photographer
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Ft. Lauderdale | FL | USA | Posted: 4:44 PM on 10.15.09 |
->> I have been a MailBoex ETC ( now UPS Store ) customer for over 20 years... and I used FedEx when it was MailBoxes... now that they converted to UPS... I use UPS and while both have had hiccups along the way... I've been happy with both
-- Mike |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 4:45 PM on 10.15.09 |
->> This one is pretty easy:
FedEx (Express, Ground, Home)
USPS
UPS
You can set-up free accounts with them all and they all have the ability to ship online.
YOU need to decide which service is best for you, meaning do you need signatures upon delivery with GUARANTEED delivery times, free supplies (not with FedEx Ground or Home), etc.
Delane |
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Jim Pierce, Photographer
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Waltham | MA | usa | Posted: 4:48 PM on 10.15.09 |
->> Jon,
I use USPS. I have the Pitney Bowes Stamp Expression postage printer so I buy the postage in whatever value needed.
Depending on how many packages/mailers you are sending out this might be an option.
This time of year 30+ mailers a day are being sent so it is nice doing it all from my office.
Jim |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 11:26 PM on 10.15.09 |
| ->> I use Fedex. Their supplies are great, their online web site works very well, and they let you keep a credit card on file with them so you don't have to write your card number on every slip. UPS is a lot clunkier with supplies, web site, accounts, etc. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 12:02 AM on 10.16.09 |
->> USPS for 99.9% of shipping. All priority mail supplies are FREE and can be ordered in bulk and delivered to your door free. They have various sizes of boxes and tubes and you can also request the plastic totes from your carrier. If you can tie your billing into paypal you can get a discount on the cost of shipping too. Pickup is also free.
Okay so nothing is really FREE, we are all paying for it so we might as well make the most of it. Just don't get caught using the 'free' priority boxes for ANYTHING other than priority mail. Plenty of stories about postal inspectors knocking on doors. For me the savings of not having to order boxes and shipping tubes from U-Line was HUGE.
I print to a brother QL-580 |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 7:27 AM on 10.16.09 |
->> The USPS has a few new restrictions on packages that will be going into effect in January. Anything that weighs over 13oz and has postage consisting of stamps only must be hand delivered at a counter to a live person (homeland security stuff I guess). No pickup, no drop boxes, etc. or they'll return it to you.
It's not completely clear whether that applies to labels you print at home and/or if it applies to postage printed at the post office using one of their automated machines. But reading the ruling, it seems clear that they want any package weighing over 13oz to be handled by a live person. This would be a real disadvantage for me - I send a lot of things after normal business hours and it's a pain to stand in line at the post office. Goes into effect January 10, 2010.
(warning: pdf link)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-10-09/pdf/E9-24332.pdf |
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AJ Mast, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 7:39 AM on 10.16.09 |
->> http://shipgooder.com/
This will give you the base rates for all the carriers for a given package. Most of them have some type of discount program (use a Amex card @ FedEx, buy postage online from USPS, etc...) |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 10:03 AM on 10.16.09 |
->> David the restriction on stamps has existed for several years. Two years from what I was told. They are simply making this the "Final Ruling".
The key wording in the ruling being "bearing only postage stamps as postage".
I just got off the phone with Bert Olsen, the one listed in the PDF as the USPS contact. The rule applies only to pieces of mail over 13 ounces that use postage stamps. The rule does not apply to metered mail, or any of the postage systems that are available on-line. People and companies using any of the electronic postage systems will still be able to schedule pick up service or use drop boxes. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 10:43 AM on 10.16.09 |
| ->> I have a Dymo mailing center I use for almost all of my packages. Most of my orders are below the 13oz rule. This has been a great time saver. |
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Jim Pierce, Photographer
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Waltham | MA | usa | Posted: 12:59 PM on 10.16.09 |
->> I re-evaluate this type of stuff at least once a year just did it a month or so ago. I find it is still more economical to buy my own supplies and print my own postage.
The only other option was the $4.95 envelope from the USPS priority mail but since 99% of my packages are under 13oz with 98% of these being under 6oz I can do it for about half as much and from what I can tell more efficiently. This is based on shipping a typical T&I photo order in a rigid mailer. If they were heavier priority mail would be the way.
The self adhesive white rigid mailers cost me on average around .30 each, I just bought 100 of each size and with shipping it was $61.00 These are either 6x8 or 9x11.5. The postage meter costs me about $6.00 per month and the stamp paper costs me .06 each stamp. Total actual postage for a typical order is around $2.00, add in .06 and .30 and a portion of the $6.00 monthly fee and my actual cost is less than $2.50. Some orders are more some less so I charge $3.00 in shipping.
The process is simple:
stuff the mailer, peel the address label off my custom made 2 ply order forms that the customer has filed out, place it on the mailer, seal, weigh, print postage, and place stamp on the mailer. The weighing is extra but is 2 minutes for 50 or so mailers, not an issue at all
From what I could tell you need to type the address of the reciepient on the same label as the postage. To me that is a huge task since I already have had the customer fill this out for me, I just peel and stick. Online orders I handwrite this but this is a small part compared to T&I.
As far as the larger items I buy long square boxes 3x3x18 and when ordered with the mailers these cost about 1.20 each including delivery to me. I did use the round tubes but they were far too cumbersome to store. The square boxes come flat and easily fit behind a door or bookcase, 1 minute to fold into a box. These with a 16x20 ships out for 2.50 plus the 1.30 total less than 4 bucks.
Eric forget U-Line they are almost double what I pay, check out packagingprice.com or royalmailers.com.
Just another option that might work for others.
Jim |
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Jonathan Nimerfroh, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 1:29 PM on 10.16.09 |
->> Thanks everyone for all your feedback.
- Jonathan |
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Jim Pierce, Photographer
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Waltham | MA | usa | Posted: 10:02 PM on 10.17.09 |
->> Not sure why but got a nice discount coupon for mailers..
makes buying my own even better..
Jim |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 11:27 AM on 10.18.09 |
| ->> I buy my mailers on eBay. That appears to be the cheapest way to get them. I think ULine is still more expensive than eBay. |
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