quote:
Originally posted by nds76
Thanks, I have seen the print postage label links. But how do I know what to make the postage charge for? Do I need a scale? And how does it take into account of the cost of your shipping materials like a padded envelope in the shipping charge? Is the postage charge printed on the label or hidden?
While it is very helpful to have a postage scale (small mechanical scales can be obtained at dollar stores and electronic scales can be had for less than $10 on [ironically]
ebay). There is also a section in both the auction listing process (in the shipping and handline section) and the label printing process for adding in handling costs which would include the cost for padded envelopes, Safe-T-Mailers, and other packing materials which can be passed along to the buyer, but these options are usually for larger boxes. Usually, a coin seller should take handling costs into account when listing the auction. There's quite a few variables regarding shipping and handling when making a listing and when preparing to ship a parcel using the home-printed label process, so this information is over-simplified. The first time for self-printed labels is always the hardest since it's more of a learning process, but after that, the learning curve tapers off sharply. It really doesn't get complicated until one is shipping larger and heavier boxes.
I ship my coins and Scout patches via First Class Mail and state a flat rate of $1.65 to $2.25 in my listings which includes all my packaging costs plus postage and other mailing costs except insurance. If a coin is to be insured, the cost of such insurance would be included in the invoice sent to the buyer or, if he uses the Pay Now instant payment option, within the payment procedure; I make insurance on all my sales above $50 mandatory, so it's included in the checkout procedure.
If I remember correctly, in the lable printing process there is an option to have the actual postage cost either printed or not printed (hidden). I have an old (1978) mechanical scale which is only marginally accurate: the dividing line between, say two or three ounces is vague, so I round off to the upper ounce to be on the safe side, but have the actual postage cost hidden (I got tired of buyers complaining that postage was only 80 cents, but they were charged $2.25; they failed to take into account the packaging costs). I'm also not particularly fond of standing in line at the post office; the only time I now have to do so is for larger items for which I need to know the weight in pounds and ounces. There's a cutoff point (13 lbs?) beyond which a package changes mailing categories, but we usually don't have to worry about this with coins.
Again, especially for coins and other light parcels, it's a fairly simple procedure to print labels.
Fred
PS - I forgot to add the URL for postage scales on
ebay:
Postage Scales on eBay
Posted 05/13/2006 08:16 am
