posted on April 14, 2005 02:12:50 PM
I have looked over many options for shipping and wanted some ideas maybe I haven't come up with.
I want to sell craft paints. Most often they are in the 2oz size, and maybe only ship one of these to a customer at one time.
Maybe I am missing my options, but is the cheapest method Parcel Post as a package? Seems too expensive to me. I do charge customer the cost, but if a bottle sells for maybe $1.25-$2.25 for example, I would not want to charge $3.00 or so for shipping.
I may be miss understanding the ways to ship this type of item and thought I would see what ideas on this that I may have missed.
I know one 2oz bottle may not seem worth dealing with, however I have a reason for this particular kind of sell.
Hope you can help,
Thanks
posted on April 14, 2005 02:20:04 PM
I have looked up one way that may work on USPS...would be First Class. I don't think I can print postage online for that, am I correct? Are there other options for printing First Class online other that the USPS site, and is it possible to get insurance, delivery confirmation, etc. if I wanted to, not that I would for this kind of item and price though?
First class mail. Since it's a bottle and liquid, you'll need a leak proof zip lock type bag, bubble wrap and a box though. 6 oz. anywhere is only $1.52.
posted on April 14, 2005 02:26:15 PM
You can print first class on line, and get DC, but it costs you a label processing fee plus the DC fee. In this case, since it's all fixed weight, I'd simply buy stamps and forget about insurance, DC and label printing. That's just my recommendation though.
posted on April 14, 2005 02:42:20 PM
Pour the paint into a ziplock bag and zip it. Put it in a regular envelope that has already been addressed. Take it to the window of the most anal clerk in the post office. Ask him to hand stamp it as "fragile" in several places. Stand back quickly and take a picture of the results. Come back and post the picture in this thread. We can then analyze the situation and offer further suggestions.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on April 14, 2005 02:50:40 PM
Thanks for the advise. Do I understand correctly, or not....I can ship this item in a box, for let's say one of my small ceramic pieces (weighing under 13oz) in a box...It doesn't need to be an padded envelope let's say? Where I am looking on the USPS site just keeps talking about envelopes. This could work for some items, paint, paint brushes, or the like, but not for breakable ceramics, so some items do need to be boxed.
It sure looks like this would work out great for small stuff.
posted on April 14, 2005 02:54:45 PM
I am not sure you can even ship this by USPS. There are certain items that are verboten, & I think paint is one of them, particularly if it flammable.
posted on April 14, 2005 03:13:29 PM
Hello:
USPS says:
Some things cannot be mailed or can be mailed only in small quantities for safety and legal reasons. Call 1ˇ800ˇASKˇUSPS or visit your Post Office if you have questions about the item you are mailing. Restricted materials include:
* Aerosol cans
* Alcoholic beverages
* Ammunition
* Drug paraphernalia
* Fireworks
* Flammable or explosive materials
* Illegal or infectious substances
* Lottery tickets
* Poisonous materials
I don't believe tubes of paint fall under any of those (I'm assuming this is like tubes of oil paint?)
I send lots of small lightweight items first class boxed -- model railroad parts most recently.
posted on April 14, 2005 03:27:47 PM
Ok sparkz...I would love to do that to some of the employees that don't know what they are talking about!!! I have very little patience with someone that doesn't know their job, or tell you one thing, and you do what they say can be done, get up to the counter, or whatever, and "Oh No! That's not the right way". Can be more than maddening!! (Pardon spelling) I would like to have a firecracker and do you know what with it to some of these you know who's!!
Anyway, got some great ideas here, thank's.
posted on April 14, 2005 03:46:04 PM
Sanmar is correct. You need to determine that the paint is non-flammable before you even think about shipping it via the post office. If it is, you have to go with UPS or FedEx. Don't try to misdescribe it and sneak it past them. If you get caught, the problem won't be so much with the Post Office as it will be from the FAA. First class, and on occasion parcel post and media mail can wind up on an airplane and that's where the real trouble could start.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on April 14, 2005 04:19:39 PM
Lottery tickets??????? OH!!!!! because they can be tracked right back to the Rightful owner!!!! Winner!!!!!! when a postal employee decides to GRAB the winning ticket,, too temping and would embarras the Postal system Once it hits the Media....Postal employee pilphers Winning lotto ticket! better set a HARD rule,NO tickets through our system,,,,,Diamond rings are STILL untraceable.....
No lottery tickets,,,,,hahahaha, what a joke! stick that in a letter to Granny and all is well.
Good Luck!
[ edited by JACKSWEBB on Apr 14, 2005 04:21 PM ]
posted on April 14, 2005 04:45:14 PM
Lottery tickets made that list for legal reasons.Gambling is illegal in many states and some states consider a lottery ticket to be gambling.
Here in Florida, gambling is illegal UNLESS it is done on an Indian reservation or your "donations" are going to support our local politicians, oops, I mean our schools, yeah right!!!
posted on April 14, 2005 05:18:31 PM
hahahahahhaa, hahahahahaha, So,,,,,,,Swampland real estate deals in Forida are NOT a Gambling? Some days you WIN! No water covering your lovely plot and some days you lose,,,,,high tide.....and those Cruise Ship tours,,,,,,
posted on April 15, 2005 06:21:18 AM
Paint is considered a hazardous material, but I think you can ship via the USPS, but you have to fill out a hazardous materials form.
I know that the form is required for UPS and Fedex. I know when we receive paint that their is a multi page hazardous materials form filled out and sent with it from the shipper, but all of our paint either comes UPS, Fedex or major truck line.
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Alive in 2005
posted on April 15, 2005 07:37:20 AM
Hmmm. Well, there's paint and there's paint. Presumably this is water based acrylic ... hardly flammable. To settle the issue, perhaps aroundtheworldtreasures can read the label, or contact manufacturer.
