Most Cost Effective Way to Ship When Selling or Trading

[Scott7]

[MODS: If this is posted in the wrong forum, please feel to move and please accept my apologies]

As someone living in the USA who enjoys purchasing and trading steelbooks with fellow Ninjas, I find myself looking for tips from others on the most cost-effective ways to safely ship items from USA to other countries and overseas.

For those of you who do this somewhat regularly, what companies and services do you use to ship items as inexpensively as possible (without sacrificing reliability or item safety)?

Do you use USPS? FedEx? UPS? Which specific services (ie. Priority Mail, Media Mail, etc.) do you use?

My initial attempts to estimate shipping charges to other countries seem to yield very high shipping fees. I know I'm missing the best ways to do this.

If this thread exists somewhere else, I'd really appreciate a link. I did a search for something similar on HDN but came up empty.

TIA for any and all assistance!

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

Moved thread.

As I'm not in US, i can't help

 

[dfoles]

I use USPS personally. For National shipping, I just use the kiosk and get priorty shipping, typically $4-10. International I usually end up spending $15-30 to ship, depending on the country and how bomb proof the package needs to be.

 

[frankfish44]

Domestic Shipping

For packages within the US, I recommend USPS First Class with Tracking or USPS Priority Mail ( Includes tracking ) Both these options are inexpensive. I prefer USPS because they offer more flexible delivery options. If the recipient is not available, package is left at the local post office and they have 2 weeks i believe to pick it up. FedEx and UPS restrict delivery to 3 attempts though you can request a change in when an attempt to deliver is made.

International shipping

USPS First Class NO TRACKING is the best in terms of pricing. FedEx and UPS offer faster shipping but at a great cost so I would not recommend them. Just some quotes based on my past experience ( differs depending on packaging, steel and materials )

1 steel - $15-$16
2 steels - $18-$19
3 steels - $20-$22
4 steels - $24-$27
5-6 steels - $30-$37

Priority mail begins at almost $40 for a well packed steel. I don't recommend it if you are trying to keep costs down.
Light tracking can be added for $13.65 by registering the package. However, this option requires that you use paper tape and cover all the openings.

Best configuration IMO is first class mail international + registered mail for tracking.

 

[Wreck]

for $23.95 u can ship worldwide in flat rate envelope .... you can fit 2 steels safely in a box inside htat package envelope ... or 3 if using zavvi boxes inside.

its also priority intl so they get it a little faster

 

[Scott7]

Thanks for all the responses; keep them coming as this is very helpful info!

for $23.95 u can ship worldwide in flat rate envelope .... you can fit 2 steels safely in a box inside htat package envelope ... or 3 if using zavvi boxes inside.

its also priority intl so they get it a little faster

Wreck, is that through USPS?

 

[lgans316]

USPS seems as expensive as Royal Mail a bit more expensive actually.

 

[frankfish44]

Is signature upon delivery a standard part of registered mail, for international packages? I'm struggling to find an option for signature delivery, for registered mail.

I'm going to be mailing something to Canada, and I want to make sure I do this right, but also, cost effectively.

You should be fine just shipping it First class with no additional services to Canada. I believe First class to Canada has tracking if I remember right.

All registered mail has to be signed for.

 

[Scott7]

You should be fine just shipping it First class with no additional services to Canada. I believe First class to Canada has tracking if I remember right.

All registered mail has to be signed for.

Thanks. That is what I'm trying to do, based on your recommendation. However, this is absolutely maddening. I am trying to use First Class and the online customs form will not let me proceed without entering an AES Exemption code. No idea what it is, or how to bypass it. And the two code options are totally archaic. Help!

 

[Che]

All international mail have tracking numbers now through usps.com or paypal. I recommend using the large video flat rate boxes for 1-2 steelbooks. THEN put the box inside of a padded flat rate envelope. Shipping is $5.70 using this technique. For international shipping I use the same boxes inside 3M bubble mailers sized 8.25 x 11.25. 1 steel will be $13.41. 2 steels $15-18. Media mail is the cheapest shipping option within the USA. It should ALWAYS be an option.

 

[Scott7]

Never mind: looks like I should use 30.37a since the value of the goods is < $2,500...

---------- Post added at 06:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------

All international mail have tracking numbers now through usps.com or paypal. I recommend using the large video flat rate boxes for 1-2 steelbooks. THEN put the box inside of a padded flat rate envelope. Shipping is $5.70 using this technique. For international shipping I use the same boxes inside 3M bubble mailers sized 8.25 x 11.25. 1 steel will be $13.41. 2 steels $15-18. Media mail is the cheapest shipping option within the USA. It should ALWAYS be an option.

Interesting - thanks. I assume you mean first class international? Your prices seem close to what I'm getting but I don't understand what the bubble mailer outside of the box is for, other than some additional protection. Is that the only benefit?

 

[Che]

Well, the flat rate boxes are priority boxes so you'd have to pay priority prices if you only use them. The flat rate boxes are free, thus saving US shippers some money. Usps.com is your greatest ally. Helps save some coin! Yes, I'm talking first class international

 

[tristar6]

Whats the cheapest price to ship a steelbook (including enough protection) from the Uk to germany???