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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,035 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
660 Posts |
Hi all, Using ebay to advertise my coins, I am totally confused about how to mail my collectable coins out to my buyers. I plan to send most of them via USPS in a letter-size envelope and some in a Flat-rate envelope. The prices I see when I try to calculate shipping costs on ebay seem way out of line. Would you guys please tell me how you calculate/send your coins economically? UPS and FedEx choices are just as confusing. Thanks, Fred P. *** Moved by Staff moved to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
There are two advantages of using the ebay filters for mailing. The first is that you save a bit of money. The second is that you don't have to put in the tracking information as it's already read by that system. They send a sent message to your buyers, too. The only bad thing is that it's tough to send really low value items, like a single coin in an envelope, as they usually require tracking. Tracking isn't free on First Class, I don't believe, so that will often be more than the cost of the mailing itself. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
For shipping coins: First class shipping up to 4 oz: $2.66 Bubble mailer: I get a 25 pack from Sam's Club for $4.99 I put each coin in an off-brand, c. 12¢ flip, and tape it to the packing invoice. I charge $2.99 for shipping, and most buyers are happy to pay that. I "lose" less than a quarter in shipping and materials, which is pretty negligible when considering ebay fees. If I am selling more than a few ounces of coins, I usually use a flat rate box; c. $7 for whatever you can fit in there, and it's automatically insured for up to $200. I have never sent a coin via untracked mail, and about 1 in 10 such packages I paid for simply never arrived. I wouldn't risk it, personally. International shipping is a whole different beast. The cheapest option available on ebay is a little over $13 for first class, or $20-30 if it requires a signature. There is a back way (Google "Ship paypal without ebay" for a link) that you can send "mail" less than an inch thick in a padded envelope, usually for $4-7 internationally. I wouldn't offer international shipping on items worth less than $50. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:There are two advantages of using the ebay filters for mailing. The first is that you save a bit of money. The second is that you don't have to put in the tracking information as it's already read by that system. They send a sent message to your buyers, too. I would add a third, when you print the label on ebay there is no chance you can mess up the address. If the address is wrong it's on the buyer not you Quote:
Tracking isn't free on First Class, I don't believe, so that will often be more than the cost of the mailing itself. I don't believe there is any tracking for first class letters unless you send them certified. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
660 Posts |
Thank you, Finn235,
That is some good information. I do appreciate your support and knowledge. Fred
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3733 Posts |
a good rule of thumb, is never send anything without tracking, that you can't afford to lose.. because it does happen..
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
I send up to four cents in flips for a standard rate of $.50 for the first oz, $.21 for each additional oz. using standard envelopes with either a folded letter or card stock cardboard with flips taped to the inserts. These coins are contemporary Lincolns mostly, MS coins and RPMs. I never have tracking and have yet to "lose" an order. Of course, these are coins worth(Charged) no more than $1.79 shipped,very inexpensive. I would NEVER be able to sell a single RPM if I had to charge customers the $2.67 bubble mailer printout labels from the bay, that's insane! I have shipped(mailed) up to 10 nickels for a cost of less than $1.00 for a total $15 sale. As long as you put a hardened insert and write in BOLD RED LETTERS: "HAND STAMP ONLY" so the autosorter don't chew up the heavier than normal letter. Also, I tape the flap, corner to corner.
Now, if my coins are rare, silver or worth over $20, I do what Finn and others suggest about bubble mailers and small box priority mail. And yes, you can get tracking on first class but you pay for it extra, I've never had use for it. BTW, just sent a group of nickels, not worth a lot so if it gets lost is OK, these were sent to Russian Federation...each small envelope went First class, international....cost.....$2.34 apiece. 30 nickels for $9....
Edited by Crazyb0
08/13/2018 5:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7968 Posts |
Hi, fplagge. When I sell coins in the $20 to $250 range, selling to U.S. customers, I think Finn235 nailed it with his comments: The important thing is that you are not sending things normal first class in a standard white envelope. You are sending FIRST CLASS PACKAGE. This service is usually done in a bubble mailer, not a normal white envelope. If you are shipping more expensive items, you may not care what the bubble mailer costs. As Finn235 says, you can buy them in bulk at a retail store or oneBay for as little as $0.20 each. Or you can get smaller quantities for maybe $0.35 to $0.50 each in a grocery store (depending on the size). My wife gets enough Amazon shipments in bubble mailers that I never need to buy one. I just recycle hers after peeling off the labels. Like FInn235, I also charge $2.95, which covers the discounted First Class Package fee you can get on ebay of $2.66, plus the 10% fee. You may also want to makeng your items available to German buyers, but you must charge about $16 to cover the cost of registered mail to Europe. For very valuable items, You may want to consider additional insurance. I am sure others here can comment on that. Edited by tdziemia
08/14/2018 07:20 am
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
If you are shipping more expensive items, you may not care what the bubble mailer costs. As Finn235 says, you can buy them in bulk. Or you can get smaller quantities for maybe $0.35 to $0.50 each in a grocery store (depending on the size). Amazon is by far the cheapest I have found bubble mailers. You can get them in bulk MUCH cheaper than any store |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
660 Posts |
All good info, guys. Actually, my "real" question is "why does ebay force us to choose a shipping method at all?" I really prefer to mail things to customers outside of ebay parameters, but ebay "insists" on us choosing from their form. Is it "legal", to just select any method on our offers and then ship outside ebay control whichever way I choose? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5688 Posts |
You can certainly ship on your own outside of ebay, then just mark the item as shipped and add a tracking number if available. But ebay discounts shipping through USPS and the savings add up, so I see no reason not to purchase shipping through them. Edited by Zurie
08/14/2018 08:29 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
660 Posts |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,035 |
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Posted 08/13/2018 4:00 pm
