USPS shipping

So i know this is tech support, but I've just started selling on ebay, got my first buyer, and i had a question about USPS shipping.
I can go online and i can go through usps.com to calculate the price for Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope w/ delivery confirmation. the question i have is: do i have to have the padded envelope with me, or can i just order online, go to the USPS office and get it there (at the online price).

Also, i have a Priority Mail Mailing Envelope (no padding) with me right now, but would it be "safe" to send a logitech mouse [new, in retail box] (assuming i wrap it up or something).... i could send it in a box, but i ran out of those [i just ordered some a few minutes ago from usps].

thanks for the help, and sorry for the nooby question.

for the mouse the best way would be one of those flat rate boxes with delivery confirmation.

Quote from shyam09 : So i know this is tech support, but I've just started selling on ebay, got my first buyer, and i had a question about USPS shipping. I can go online and i can go through usps.com to calculate the price for Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope w/ delivery confirmation. the question i have is: do i have to have the padded envelope with me, or can i just order online, go to the USPS office and get it there (at the online price). Also, i have a Priority Mail Mailing Envelope (no padding) with me right now, but would it be "safe" to send a logitech mouse [new, in retail box] (assuming i wrap it up or something).... i could send it in a box, but i ran out of those [i just ordered some a few minutes ago from usps]. thanks for the help, and sorry for the nooby question.

You don't have to have the mailer at the time of calculating the approximate price. But yes you can get one there at the time of wrapping it up for shipping but I wouldn't do that. Walmart or even Office Depot has padded envelope for far cheaper.

Shipping is a bit rough and tumble. If it is OEM and is not in its original container then you'll want to bubble wrap the crap out of it and put it in a small package or box. Just know it will not get treated delicately so you have to prepare for the worst. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time with handling returns and exchanges.

If it is in its retail packaging then it is sealed tight and wrapping it up should provide enough to ship it safely. A flat rate box would be ideal.

Quote from shyam09 : So i know this is tech support, but I've just started selling on ebay, got my first buyer, and i had a question about USPS shipping. I can go online and i can go through usps.com to calculate the price for Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope w/ delivery confirmation. the question i have is: do i have to have the padded envelope with me, or can i just order online, go to the USPS office and get it there (at the online price). Also, i have a Priority Mail Mailing Envelope (no padding) with me right now, but would it be "safe" to send a logitech mouse [new, in retail box] (assuming i wrap it up or something).... i could send it in a box, but i ran out of those [i just ordered some a few minutes ago from usps]. thanks for the help, and sorry for the nooby question.

If you want the online price, you will have to print out the prepaid shipping label from home and bring it with you to the Post Office. Bring your own tape to attach the label to the box if it isn't a sticker. Even then, you will have to hope that they have the Priority Padded envelope on hand.

As others suggested, use a (Priority mail) box. If you know the weight of the mouse with packaging, you can compare the flat rate vs weighted costs. Otherwise, just print out a flat rate label and bring it with you to the Post Office.

If the mouse is sealed in its retail box, I would use padded envelope (if the shipping cheaper than the flat rate or other boxes). As long as the shipping label is printed (or hand-written) neatly and the postage is paid according to the dimention/weight. You shouldn't have any problems.

Normally I just use the packing material(boxes, peanuts, air cushions) from the shipped packages I bought on ebay for the item I sold. Just make sure to black out the existing bar-codes and any markings left from the previous shipping process to avoid confusion. It's not pretty but it saves money and the environment.

A digital kitchen balance is a useful tool if you plan to do more ebay selling in the future. That way you can calculate and pay the postage online and have the shipping label printed out at home and all you have to do is to drop the packages off at the post office (if not using the flat rate box).

Here you go. [usps.com]
Order as many envelopes as you wish (may have to do multiple orders though). For free.
As people have already stated, it's not guaranteed that the Post Office will have those padded envelopes in stock. Mine used to keep them, but now doesn't. So YMMV.


I'd just order all the envelopes from that site. They ship it via priority mail and you'll get it within 3-5 days. Obviously you can't use it this time, but good to stock for the future. You can get priority mail tape, envelopes, boxes, everything your heart desires!

Quote from teetee1 : Normally I just use the packing material(boxes, peanuts, air cushions) from the shipped packages I bought on ebay for the item I sold. A digital kitchen balance is a useful tool if you plan to do more ebay selling in the future. .

I collect that stuff too! Got multiple bags filled with envelopes, peanuts and those air bags (which I can never find at any store)


+1 about the scale.

Where can I get an accurate and inexpensive scale?

Quote from hot0m : Where can I get an accurate and inexpensive scale?

ebay.

and once i get it, i take it to the post office to compare the values with the ones on their scale.

Quote from menace33 : You don't have to have the mailer at the time of calculating the approximate price. But yes you can get one there at the time of wrapping it up for shipping but I wouldn't do that. Walmart or even Office Depot has padded envelope for far cheaper.

Priority Mail supplies (boxes, tape, stickers, address labels, etc) are all free. OP would need to print out the label at home to get the online (cheaper) price, and can get the envelope and pack it at the PO.

If not sending Priority Mail (or Express, also with free supplies), then yeah, supplies will be cheaper somewhere besides the PO.

OP, for the first shipment, just send it in a Flat-Rate Priority Mail box, unless it will fit in the flat rate envelope and is packed properly.

Another +1 for the scale. I got a digital scale a LONG time ago and it's come in handy SO many times.

The USPS used to give away "scales" but they were go/no go on weight brackets and sucked big time.

Quote from the.J129 : Here you go. [usps.com] Order as many envelopes as you wish (may have to do multiple orders though). For free. As people have already stated, it's not guaranteed that the Post Office will have those padded envelopes in stock. Mine used to keep them, but now doesn't. So YMMV. I'd just order all the envelopes from that site. They ship it via priority mail and you'll get it within 3-5 days. Obviously you can't use it this time, but good to stock for the future. You can get priority mail tape, envelopes, boxes, everything your heart desires!

Thanks for the link. These come in very handy every time I move.

Quote from mmathis : Priority Mail supplies (boxes, tape, stickers, address labels, etc) are all free. OP would need to print out the label at home to get the online (cheaper) price, and can get the envelope and pack it at the PO. If not sending Priority Mail (or Express, also with free supplies), then yeah, supplies will be cheaper somewhere besides the PO. OP, for the first shipment, just send it in a Flat-Rate Priority Mail box, unless it will fit in the flat rate envelope and is packed properly.

Yeah my apologies for not being more clear. The OP is starting to sell on Ebay and I'm sure he'll offer more than just Priority Mail shipping eventually so he'll need them sources for shipping inventory at the cheapest.

i may have asked this before, (or maybe it was in a dream lol) but how can i sell more. I'm reaching my selling limit and I sort of like doing this buying and selling things? I searched on ebay and it said either verify your info, connect to another selling account you had, or call them. It seems my only option is to call them, but I have no idea what to say since I'm just starting out (and it hasn't even been a month yet)

oh and btw thanks for the help. I have ordered many boxes, and am just waiting for them to come.