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USPS Mail Scale


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#1 optimusdrizzt

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Posted 15 April 2017 - 04:57 PM

So i have gotten to the point I mail allot of toys and i think it is in my best interest to print my own labels and stamps at home. I remeber people talking about his a few years ago. What is the best way to get a digital mail scale that is accurate and weight upto 10lbs maybe a bit more?

 

Any you guys recommend? Pros or cons with this method?

 

Any input is appreciated.

 

I also remember someone talking about signing up for a service and getting a free scale and then cancel a month later?

 

Thanks guys I figure some of you guys mail a ton and have better ideas and knowledge about it than I. I currently just take all my packages ready to go and hope i guessed the weight/distance right.

 

-Nate


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#2 OneTallPonderosa

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Posted 15 April 2017 - 07:53 PM

I have a Brecknell brand scale that I am pretty sure I bought at Staples for like $15. I have had it for 3 years, never had to change the battery once, and it works like a charm. 

 

I recall that the place I bought it also had a good range of scales from low end to high.  So I would just go check your local box store and I am sure you can get a nice cheap option. 

 

I buy all my postage either through eBay or straight on Paypal, have shipped a few thousand things in the past 3 years, and I have never had an insufficient postage issue, so it must be working. 


Edited by OneTallPonderosa, 15 April 2017 - 07:53 PM.

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#3 optimusdrizzt

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Posted 16 April 2017 - 08:07 AM

My next questions are dumb. 

 

I am having trouble finding a user friendly way to create a shipping label for a purchase that has not been made yet?

 

How do you calculate accurate shipping estimates? I got to that section and paypal and it has me enter the rates? I get a bit confused as to what I actually need to enter.

 

Any help with the way you do this would be great.

 

Sorry again I am a NOOB on this newer way. I have always lived next to post offices until now and I tend to love brick and mortar transactions (I almost always am willing to pay a few more bucks to go into a shop and buy it in hand there and interact with a real person). The money saving on postage has become way too tempting of late though.


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#4 Toymattic

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Posted 16 April 2017 - 12:09 PM

Hey man.  As for your first post - I've been using a digital postal scale (SAGA is the brand) that I purchased on eBay a few years ago.  It was around $20 shipped and has worked great ever since.  Also, if you're going to be shipping a good bit of packages I'd highly recommend investing in a thermal printer so you won't have to invest in ink or paper ever again. The thermal tape rolls are MUCH cheaper.  I use a Brother QL-710W that I purchased around the same time as the scale.  I can't even begin to tell you how much of a time saver it is to not deal with cutting out labels and taping them to packages anymore.

 

 

How do you calculate accurate shipping estimates?

 

You can use this link if you're shipping via USPS: https://postcalc.usps.com/

 

 

I got to that section and paypal and it has me enter the rates? I get a bit confused as to what I actually need to enter.

 

Is this the PayPal page you're using? https://www.paypal.c...iplabel/create/


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#5 UraHameshi

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Posted 16 April 2017 - 12:16 PM

You can buy scales for cheap on ebay. To ship something through Paypal without having a transaction: Log in to your account, when you're logged in enter this link: https://www.paypal.c...iplabel/create/

 

Basically just enter the address of the person, choose a carrier and shipping method, how much do your package weight (weigh it with your scale), sometimes you'll get asked for your package size (I use a ruler with inches to calculate that) and date you'll be shipping out. Buy it, print it and tape it on your package, go to the postal office and give it to the cashier so they can scan the code.


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#6 optimusdrizzt

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Posted 18 April 2017 - 06:28 PM

So i used that USPS calculator and used paypal calculated shipping and there is an $8 difference in price which is kind of a decent amount of difference? the package is 6lbs 5oz going from Ozark, MO to Kensington, MD

 

I am going to give it a chance on the paypal. Has anyone ever had any issues? I have learned to reshape my boxes when I can to shave off a few inches when they are bigger and that can save up to $5 on shipping (i tend to do free shipping) and that has helped a bit


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#7 OneTallPonderosa

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Posted 18 April 2017 - 09:08 PM

Your options are pretty limited when you start getting up in weight like that.  I would have guessed that at 6 lbs the cheapest option would be flat rate of some sort (unless its media mail). $8 seems like too large of a gap to me. The rates should be much closer unless you chose some totally different method of shipping. Usually at higher weights the flat rate box is cheaper than the USPS ground rates, but I cannot recall at what weight this happens.  

 

99% of what I ship is First Class so its really easy and cheap.  So long as you weigh it right and choose an appropriate method, I don't think you will have any problems using Paypal.


Edited by OneTallPonderosa, 18 April 2017 - 09:09 PM.

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Check out my want list: http://www.littlerub...howtopic=269336

 

I am always looking for more Robin Mask #214, Sunshine, Announcer, Claw, and Parthenon - MUSCLE or KESHI of any type!

 

 

LETS MAKE A DEAL! :ph34r:


#8 Toymattic

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Posted 19 April 2017 - 06:16 AM

I believe it's 16 inches when the price starts to shoot up like that.  It is also based on distance as USPS has the country split into regions.  For example, I live in SC and it could cost me more to send a 2-3lb package to California than it would to send a 10-20lb package to Florida since it's in my region.  As OneTallPondersa stated it's probably best to use the flat or regional rate boxes when sending heavier packages over greater distances (plus you get free insurance up to $100).

 

I checked the shipping calculator on USPS using the locations and package weight you provided, and couldn't find a reason there would be an $8 difference though.  The cheapest method being medium flat rate box ($13.60) and second being USPS ground ($15.75). 


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#9 optimusdrizzt

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Posted 20 April 2017 - 06:31 AM

I wish I could cram Metlar (the inhumanoid) and a few other big guys into a flat rate box. But I Guess I'll go with the $20 and see what happens.

 

Thanks for the help and tricks guys. Sorry again I am just trying to figure out how to keep prices down as I ship a package or 2 a week. Many times it is in trades so whatever I shave off gets to stay in my bank account!


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#10 Toymattic

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Posted 20 April 2017 - 10:34 AM

Haha, I hear ya.  Not much you can do about something like Metlar unfortunately.


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