General Forum

I noticed the signs above the counter at the US Post Office today that the first class parcel post is now a minimum of $3.50.

There was a thread about that a couple of weeks ago. That's why I only ship through Paypal now. I shipped 3 trades Wednesday for less than $3 each. The $3.50 price at the PO is only $2.66 on Paypal. I shipped 5oz. for $2.79.

Yes! I don't know how they do it, but I'm glad for the PayPal option. If you think about it, it's like sending 3 packages through PayPal for the price of 2 through USPS.

It's really close to that ratio. I spent $8.11 for two bubble mailers under 3oz. and one under 5oz. that would have cost a total of about $10.75 to ship from my local PO. I used to go to the local PO all the time to ship trades. Mostly because I wanted to support the local office to make sure it stayed open, but also b/c it was close to home and there was rarely ever a line there. The more I was there, the more I realized that they'll never close that office. It may be way out in the country and no mail gets delivered FROM that office, but a ton of mail comes into it from the businesses in the area (including an international company right across the street that I have contractual obligations to) and they also have about 100 PO boxes. The hours there have changed over the years but I don't think USPS will ever be able to close it.

I know exactly how they do it though. USPS has a deal with Paypal for shipping options. Just like they have had one with Pitney-Bowes for many years now. USPS saves money on paper, ink, etc. by allowing other companies to do their job for them and the customers pay the price of paper and ink. The huge movement to online shipping options also allowed USPS to close down hundreds of minor postal offices throughout the country over the past decade. The populous complains when they hear that the USPS is losing BILLIONS of dollars per year AND they complain when the price of stamps and shipping go up! But the reason for that is not their fault. It's the Postal Unions. There are multiple unions inside of the USPS: rural carriers, city carriers, sorters, clerks, etc.. And each state has their own unions inside of the National Unions. I know this for a fact b/c my Mom is the VP of the NCRLCU (North Carolina Rural Letter Carriers Union). The reason for the USPS losing tons of money every year is because they have to set up retirement accounts for every employee they hire long before they even hire those people. My Mom has AWESOME benefits packages and that happened WAY before she got involved in the union. But there are funds set aside for employees who haven't even been born yet. Thank the US Government for that BS. USPS is the only company on the planet that is forced to provide a retirement plan for people that haven't even been employed by them yet. My Mom wanted me to join the USPS many years ago, just for the pay and benefits (which are certainly good), but I don't want to deal with all that crap. I didn't then and certainly don't want to now.

Oops, I'm on a rant again, but neither for or against on this one. Just stating the facts that I know. I have got to stop now b/c work is coming sooner than I'd like on a Friday. However, I know there are many of you that are fixing to head to work as I'm heading to bed on my side of N.A. and others that will see this before they head to work on the other side of the continent. Really makes me see how crazy my schedule is on Fridays though. Have a great start to the weekend everyone!

Members, I will say it again as I've said it before...ship with Paypal. Cheaper, print and paste from home, put it in the mailbox or front porch for USPS to pickup. So simple. Canadian and international shipping is also cheaper, it's a no brainer!!

~BOB~

I did quite a bit of searching last night on PayPal and while I found references to printing postage could not find how to do it. 

1) Do I need some special account

2) Does someone actually have to buy something from me (fee bearing transaction) for it to show up?

I thought I got killer rates for USPS, UPS, and FedEx, but some of the quotes you guys are throwing out seem to beat mine for these bubble mailers. 

Edit: OK, think I found it.  Summary > Selling Tools > MultiOrder shipping.  I was able to walk through the steps to create a label.  Looks like the same rate as I paid for the last package I sent.

Spaz the EXACT same issue in Canada now, Canada Post owns Puralator Courier (I think) to help ease the pain, have all sorts of deals with out-sourcing and a individual stamp in Canada is over $1, you have to buy 10 or more to get them for 87 cents each (fuzzy on that price as well). Are putting up community boxes to get rid of home to home delivery, I could go on and on and I think they are still making smaller profits year in and year out. I have friends that work for them so I see both sides but sadly unions just kill certain forms of business in the 2000s.

BOBSCARDZ, can you use payal to print Canadian postage? or do you need a business account?

When Ebay goes to ADYEN, will there still be a Paypal option for shipping?

link for paypal shipping for those who have not used it yet is:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

fyi

mark