Whats the best way to ship arcade parts.

Thomas

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I sold 4 things over the weekend and they shipped today. The cost was $66.80 US Postal Service Priority Mail With Confirmation. I thought that was a little expensive.
 
I sold 4 things over the weekend and they shipped today. The cost was $66.80 US Postal Service Priority Mail With Confirmation. I thought that was a little expensive.

How big were they? The priority mail flat-rate boxes don't care about weight (as long as the item fits completely in the box and is < 75 lbs) for fairly reasonable rates. The largest flat rate box at the moment is 12x12x5 1/2 and goes anywhere in the US for $13.95. For 10.35, you get either 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" or 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" size boxes. For $4.95 you get the envelope, but that won't hold much in the way of parts.

You can use the USPS.com website to try different shipping options (assuming you know the weight and size of your package).
 
Yep it was the MPU boards that killed me. I had one small box for 4.95 plus confirmation total 5.65

Then the 13.95 box which wasn't 13.95 it was 14.70 ??? Then the confirmation total = 15.40

I then had two custom boxes...

20.30 and 25.45 these had the boards in them.

I will need to adjust my shipping.

At work I use worldship and those boxes with the mainboards would have cost less than ten each. I wish I could use that account...
 
For 10.35, you get either
13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" or
13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" size boxes.

You listed the same box size twice.
I know there are two different sizes, but I don't know what they are..


To save some cost, you can slip down to parcel post.
If you're shipping large items, you can usually save a fair amount by using FedEx Ground. It may not be convenient to everyone though.

Many people use the flat-rate priority boxes out of convenience, but they're not always the best deal. I reuse a LOT of boxes, but it takes some effort to find and keep them.

I've got a lot of boards that would fit into Flat Rate Priority boxes, but there would be NO room for padding/packing. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want your $50 PCB shipped in a bare box.

K
 
fed ex open an account and I think its about 10% off from the start. I think your discount increases based on volume.

pretty much anything over 2lbs cheaper to send fedex or ups. The only possible exceptions are if you can fit it in a flat rate box or ship it media mail.
 
Williams boardsets fit quite comfortably in the flat rate boxes (the thin flat ones not the brick sized ones). Never had problems.

I use them to store boardsets so they stay together on my shelf. Plus it's handy when I go to sell them :D.

ken
 
Pac boards are huge. It typically costs $12-$20 to ship them usps priority. I have send plenty of them and they always fall in that price range.
The trick is to use the right size box. Anything over a certain size and they tack on ridiculous oversize fees.
 
For anything very big or very small I use USPS. Also use USPS if shipping overseas or out of the country. For board-sized items I use UPS almost exclusively. With insurance it comes out a few dollars cheaper than USPS.
 
With USPS if you buy the postage online & print the label, you can save a few cents to a couple of dollars depending on the item. It also gives you an idea what the shipping is going to be before you get sticker shock at the post office.

That's why I usually price things + shipping. A big box to Austin may be $10, to NY it may be $15 and to Seattle it may be $21. Personally I think it is fairer (unless it is small enough to go in a flat rate box) to charge the actual shipping cost rather than make everybody pay the $21.

I know all the business types are screaming "but that's money you could have in your pocket" and if I was a business, I would agree. But I'm not. I am just a hobbiest/collector, like most of you and I am just trying to help you stretch your $$$ when I ship.

ken
 
Pac boards are huge. It typically costs $12-$20 to ship them usps priority. I have send plenty of them and they always fall in that price range.
The trick is to use the right size box. Anything over a certain size and they tack on ridiculous oversize fees.

Yes exactly !

The shape and size of the box matters alot on the price .
 
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