Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

I'm looking to ship a small package (under 1lb, just a cell phone) to another state via FedEx, and I have a few quick questions:
1. What would the total shipping cost look like—you can just give me a rough estimate—and am I able to cover the cost as the sender?
2. Does FedEx offer COD (cash on delivery) options? Basically, can the recipient pay a specific amount once they receive the package?
3. How does FedEx handle weekend service? Are packages sent out on Monday, or are they already in transit by Saturday or Sunday?

I could really use some help here 🙂 I'm looking to order a few things from one of the users on this forum, so I was wondering if anyone knows what shipping costs look like when sending stuff from America over to Canada, and also if banks usually charge a fee for making wire transfers into the US

I was just browsing the website and noticed they've updated the shipping rates for anything under 5 kg $3.00....is this a new thing?🤔

If you're traveling within the same city, like NYC to NYC, it might be around $12.27. That's exactly what I've paid twice already.

Chloe Moore65 said:Maybe if it's within the same city, like going from downtown Chicago to downtown Chicago, it's just $12.27. Honestly, I've already paid that exact amount twice now...

They actually have Zone I and Zone II... Zone II is $9.27!🤷

I honestly have no idea what that is

Elizabeth Brown90 said:The website mentions that shipping for packages up to 5 kg is $3.00...is that actually a new change?🤔

Maybe that rate only applies if you're sending something within the same zip code, because I remember it being $10.70 before...
Every single package I sent out last week ended up costing me over $12...

Elizabeth Baker38 said:Maybe they’re just doing that for local shipments within the same zip code. Last time I checked, it was around $10.70.
Every single package I sent out last week ended up costing me about twelve bucks and some change.

Oh man, seriously? When it was $14.40 we used to just round it up to $15, but if this is happening now... what are we even supposed to do?!😕

Well, I have already suggested we just round it up to 13.

Adam Newman12 said:I’m looking to ship a small package (under a pound, just a phone) to another state using CNN, so I have a few questions:
1. What would the total shipping cost look like (you guys can probably estimate it here), and can I pay for it upfront as the sender?
2. Does CNN offer COD (Cash on Delivery)? Basically, can the recipient pay a specific amount when they pick up the package?
3. How does CNN handle weekends? Do they wait until Monday to move things, or are packages already in transit by Saturday or Sunday?

Honestly, just head down to the local Post Office and send it via Priority Mail. It'll end up being way cheaper than scheduling a home pickup. If you set a next-day delivery deadline by 5 PM, the COD fee usually lands around $16. Just keep in mind that the buyer will also have to cover the shipping surcharge, which is about 3.66% of whatever price you're charging for the phone.
Also, don't bother trying to ship over the weekend—they'll tack on an extra 50 percent for the hassle.

um, I was just wondering, roughly how much would it cost to ship a package weighing somewhere between 30 and 40kg? According to the USPS website, they charge about $0.75 or $0.90 for every single kilogram over the initial 10—so, if I'm doing the math right, I’d end up paying maybe $35 - $13. 😕 Is it just me, or does that amount seem way too low?🤷

Chloe Moore65 said:but I already suggested we just round it up to 13

Oh, totally, but honestly, it feels so silly to actually drive all the way down to Chase and try to make a deposit like that...$34🤷

There is nothing more foolish than using checks; most of us just use online banking anyway.

I could really use some advice here...

I need to ship some glasses to a girl who's buying them from me. They're worth $200! What's the best way to get them delivered safely?

Maria Roberts said:Sales tax hasn't been abolished; I just paid it today on everything I did at the Post Office.

Look, I don't know what kind of transactions you were conducting, but sales tax on postal shipments was indeed eliminated, which is exactly why shipping rates have dropped. 🙂

Shipping COD to San Francisco ($13, before they cut the tax)
Shipping COD to Savannah ($5.25, after the tax was scrapped)
To me, Savannah feels way further away than San Francisco, and if I'm doing the math right, the price gap here is actually more than 23%🤔

Quick question:
If I’m sending out a small padded envelope as a recommendation, is there any way to mark it as "fragile" so people know there's something breakable inside? And if so, how much extra would that cost me—or does that option only apply to larger packages?

I’m looking for some clarity here: am I strictly required to use a bubble mailer for registered shipping, or is there some wiggle room?
My plan was to wrap everything in kraft paper and send it off as a registered package—mostly because I'm doing a COD shipment.
The customer needs to pay on delivery, $117 right? Plus, I have to cover my own shipping costs. So, do I really need one of those padded bubble envelopes?
Just some food for thought while I sit here hunting through the fine print for an answer.

So, I had something sent via certified mail from downtown Chicago to a suburb outside of St. Louis on Wednesday morning, and—believe it or not—it still hasn't shown up. How does that even work? What’s the typical turnaround for something like that these days?

Meanwhile, on the flip side, I had something else sent from a town near Atlanta—sent on that very same Wednesday—and it arrived the very next day (also certified, though not expedited...).

What’s the absolute best way to mail a perfume? I was thinking about wrapping it in some bubble wrap, tucking it into an envelope, and just sending it via certified mail... does anyone have a ballpark idea of what that might cost me?🤔