Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Drew Walker6 said:I still have to send some via COD...
well, fitting this into a standard shoebox is going to be a struggle. It’s quite large. Honestly, how much does their specific packaging cost? And what am I looking at for the total shipping fee including the COD service $57?

I’ve already sent items twice using much larger boxes—specifically those heavy-duty wine shippers meant for a six-bottle set. That’s essentially double the volume of a shoe box. I simply wrapped everything up, clearly labeled the exterior, dropped it off at the UPS Store, and they didn't ask a single question. They processed the payment, and that was that.

Jamie Lee67 said:The box volume feels roughly similar to a standard shoe box; mine arrived a bit smaller than expected $4.75... I honestly don't see them sending anything larger than $10...

The price is perfectly reasonable, regardless of the box size. Unless they are massive, which I doubt, it doesn't matter—because even for those other ones that are twice or three times the size of a shoe box, the price remains exactly the same!

I recently shipped some boots in a box that large and it cost me $5.00... then another time, I used an even bigger box that weighed about 4 lbs, and I paid the exact same amount! 😉

Linda Williams97 said:The price seems pretty standard regardless of what kind of box you use... I mean, unless they're absolutely massive, but I haven't seen those. It’s wild though, because even if the boxes are twice or three times the size of a standard shoe box, the shipping cost stays exactly the same!

I actually sent some boots out recently in this huge box and it cost me $5.00... then a different time I used an even bigger box that weighed about 4 or 5 pounds and I still paid the exact same amount! 😉

Since I see everyone chatting about shipping boots, I figured I'd jump in and ask a quick question.🙂.
Does anyone have a ballpark idea of how much it would cost to ship some boots (Mart)?
I'm asking specifically about the Mart ones because they feel a little heavier than your average pair.
Also, if I end up sending them, do you think it's better to use the original branded box if I still have it, or just toss them in a generic shipping box?
Thanks so much 🙂.

As long as they weigh less than 11 pounds, it doesn't matter 🙂 Just put them in their Mart box, wrap the whole thing in paper, declare the value $27 and get it moving, buddy 🙂

Sandra Brooks91 said:Honestly, even if they weigh more than 11 pounds, it shouldn't be an issue. 🙂 Just pop them in one of those Mart boxes, wrap the whole thing in paper, declare the value $27 and just send it off, honey! 🙂)

Oh, okay! Thanks for the tip! But quick question—how much extra am I going to get hit with for shipping once I actually list a declared value? $27
Also, do I need to wrap everything in paper before I head to the UPS Store, or can I just handle all the packaging at home?
I’m asking because one time, the clerk there didn't believe me when I said I was just mailing bills, so they actually made me open the envelope right then and there! 🙄.

You can handle stamps at home since they check them so closely due to the low cost. If you're shipping between cities, it’ll run you about $14.40 for a package like this, but if it's staying within the same city, it's closer to $3.25. You can find all the specifics over at www.usps.com 😁

Sandra Brooks91 said:You can totally just do it at home since they check the stamps really closely and the prices are super low for those. If you’re sending something between cities, it’ll be about $14.40 for a package like this, but if it’s just within the same city, it’s closer to $3.25. You can find all the specifics over at www.usps.com 😁

Oh, thanks so much for the help 🙂.

I honestly never felt the need to wrap my packages in paper.

Honestly, my recent experiences dealing with the post office are enough to send me into a total depression! 😂
I had to ship those last two packages using that annoying cash-on-delivery method because they were computer components—people just don't trust sending money via direct transfer anymore!
So, here’s the thing: I filled out every single form perfectly, checked all the right boxes, and yet this woman didn't bother asking a single question about when the delivery should actually happen!
Then my boyfriend calls me up—he was the one buying the stuff—and he’s complaining about how insane the shipping costs turned out to be $27! Since the item weighs less than a pound, it should have gone through standard HP Express! I looked everything up online and $13 it definitely shouldn't have cost that much! But apparently, that old lady behind the counter decided to slap the most expensive rate on it just because she wanted to guarantee next-day delivery before 10 AM! God knows what kind of ridiculous fee she tacked on, and I didn't even ask for that service! 😕

How am I supposed to know what she's pulling over there? What kind of operation is that post office running anyway? 👎
If City Express wasn't so outrageously expensive, I would've just sent everything through them instead! ☕

So, did you even ask how you’re supposed to send it? 😕

I honestly cannot fathom WHY people don't just ask for instructions before they hit send. And then, what happens? You come crawling back later to complain about how much the USPS screwed you over. 🙄

It never even crossed my mind that if I didn't speak up, she’d end up getting hit with the most expensive service plan available!
Honestly, I don't ship these kinds of packages very often—I have to admit, I'm not exactly an expert on every single shipping option out there—but this whole situation was just plain dirty. ☕

It wasn't anything personal against my girl, but man, I really felt for that guy! 🤷

Maybe it’s because it’s just common sense—if you’re paying for HP express, you want your package delivered yesterday. Otherwise, why wouldn't you just opt for cash on delivery?

ironwolf52 said:Look, it didn't even cross my mind to mention that she’d end up blowing through her most expensive data plan!
Besides, I rarely ship packages like this, and I have to admit, I don't actually know all the different ways you can handle this kind of shipping! But this whole situation was just plain messy! ☕

It isn't about my feelings! It's just that I felt genuinely bad for the guy! 🤷

That is exactly why—because you don't know—you ASK.

And if you were already doing research online, then you could have easily looked into this right away. Everything is laid out clearly for you. 🙂

Angela Flores76 said:Well, did you even ask how to send it? 😕

I honestly don't get WHY people don't just ask before they hit send. Then everyone comes along later complaining about how much the USPS screwed them over. 🙄

Exactly!! Seriously, why let yourselves get ripped off for no reason... it's not like people can't speak up. 🤷

Hey, quick question—is a shipment from VŽ to Zg always either $4.75 or $5.00, or am I totally off base here?
Take a balloon, for example, where the value hits up to $33.

All set! 👍

Alright folks, I’ve got a question for the group!
How do you guys actually handle trading stuff with someone you've never met before??
So, here's the deal—I met this person on a forum and we're looking to swap phones, but honestly, neither of us trusts the other enough to just mail them out into the void!
My big idea was to swap IDs—you know, send over photos of driver's licenses or some other official doc—and then just ship the packages via Greyhound or something!
I mean, I don't know how else to protect my back... I've already been burned once by a scammer, and let's just say it sucked... So, how would you all play this hand????

So, do you actually know anyone from where they're from, or is it kind of the other way around?

swiftseal97 said:I have a question for the group!
How on earth do you guys trade gear with a complete stranger??
Here’s the deal: we met through this forum and want to swap phones, but neither of us trusts the other enough to just ship them out!
I suggested we exchange IDs—send photos of driver's licenses or some other official document—and then send the packages via Greyhound!
Is there any other way to protect yourself??? I’ve already been burned once by a scam, so... How would you handle this?

The only safe way to do this is in person. 🤷

swiftseal97 said:Hey guys, I have a quick question.
How do you actually trade stuff with someone you don't know at all??
Basically, we met through this forum and want to swap phones, but neither of us trusts the other enough to just ship them out!
I suggested exchanging info—maybe sending photos of our IDs or some other document—and then just mailing the packages via Greyhound or something.
I'm not sure how else to protect ourselves. I've already been burned once before... So, how would you handle this?

In that case, I'd suggest that neither you nor this guy ever trade online again. 😁
Simple as that.

This seems incredibly complicated to me.
The idea of sending a photo of my ID to a stranger... no. 😁

Because... everyone who buys things online, whether it's here in America or over on eBay, sends money from their own accounts to strangers based on good faith—which is a pretty vital factor in online shipping. 😁
And in 99.9% of cases, both parties are decent people.