This guide for picking shipping companies is for sellers to know how to save money.

Knowing weights is essential.

Learn eBay’s Shipping Calculator and use rulers to measure packages; overweight and oversized items cost more.

Buyers want quality and savings while sellers want profits and cheap deliveries.

Should you use USPS & UPS along with eBay or PayPal? You should know also about other alternatives like FedEx.

USPS is for items at less than 2 lbs weight. CD’s, DVD’s, books and software can be shipped as Media Mail. Money is saved but there are slow shipping times. Books sent inexpensively from AK to NC took 2 weeks.

Cheap shipping packages from NC to NY took 5 days.

It’s viable because of costs. Savings can be at 70% over Parcel Posts. Shipping small items using First Class mail is better. With items weighing 5oz or less, use First Class. Use Media Mail for heavier items.

Parcel and Priority Mail sometimes cost the same. Priority Mail also provides free boxes and flat rates. Both ship inexpensively to every state but some sellers don’t send to AK and HI. The USPS ranks first in international shipping; they ship overseas inexpensively.

UPS Ground costs keep customers wary. But the USPS will deliver to PO Boxes while UPS/FedEx won’t. eBay sellers should get a UPS account.

Discounts are based on the number of shipments and can be substantial based on UPS revenue. Save money with UPS by not shipping to residences. Sellers using only UPS don’t give customers better alternatives.

Consider FedEx even though it doesn’t have eBay’s calculator.

PayPal’s FedEx debit card records costs. You have to enter FedEx tracking information manually.

If FedEx is faster and costs the same as customer choices, we use FedEx. However, FedEx charges more when shipping to residences.

Get accounts with UPS/FedEx and get discounts from their sales reps.

Compare costs until you know the cheapest rates. A 40 pound package from NC to CA costs $37.79 using USPS and takes 7 days, $44.82 at UPS Ground at 5 days, and $30.00 at FedEx Ground at 5 days. Here, FedEx is cheaper.

For books and media, USPS Media Mail costs $14.14 at 7 days.

Consider added costs and the costs from the 3 carriers including UPS and FedEx discounts. The Post Office will retrieve items from homes; UPS and FedEx also will but at a price.

Packaging materials matter so over pack instead of under packing. Weigh after packaging and before making shipping labels.

Reuse viable packaging materials to reduce costs. Tell customers you use recycled materials.

Add handling fees for USPS and UPS. FedEx and UPS charge more for shipping to AK, HI. We use the USPS for AK and HI.

When using flat rates, weigh the package and calculate for the farthest location from your area. Use separate rates for AK and HI.

Sometimes shipping costs rise because of mistakes. Don’t ask the buyer for extra fees. The customer is not responsible for shipping errors.

Compare costs with delivery times.

Under 2 lbs it’s the USPS, at over 2 lbs, it’s the FedEx or UPS unless it’s for very rural places or AK, HI, or PR. UPS and FedEx charge extra for extreme rural and residential deliveries while USPS doesn’t.