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DMG (Smartmail)
 

So I found an item I can buy real cheap, sell real cheap and make a nice profit. Now here is the issue. Someone is selling this on ebay for $1.99 free shipping? WHAT? So I clicked on the shipping question and it states:

Economy Shipping (DGM SmartMail Ground)

I cannot find out about this anywhere?

Can someone enlighten me.

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

DGM SmartMail. "DHL eCommerce US has partnership with the USPS, which allows DHL to deliver small packages to the recipient through the USPS network known as DHL Global Mail [DGM]"

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

So was this shipped from California as it says or did it come from China?

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

That's anybody's guess. Just cause they say theyre going to ship a certain way doesn't necessarily mean they did.

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

This is just DHL's version of a private-public partnership like USPS also does with Fedex (Smartpost) and UPS (Surepost). Every time I go to our local DHL warehouse to pick up a shipment I see their "smartmail" stuff waiting in bins to be taken to a post office.

It's been a few years since I've really looked into that kind of service but the last time I did, a special contract between you and the shipping company is needed to use the service. At least that was how it worked with Surepost and Smartpost in 2016.

I doubt the shipment you're talking about was shipped directly to you from China. I don't think Smartmail is an international service.

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

It is a negotiated contract service for huge amounts of small parcels. You call them, you get assigned a rep and you negotiate a contract rate. The rates are very low (even significantly lower than the already pretty cheap USPS first class).

However, you will be required to meet daily and monthly minimums or they will not even take your packages. Don't even consider this unless you will be shipping at least 5K of these small packages a month. Another major drawback to this service is that it will take twice as long as first class (average 4-7 postal days to delivery) and your customers will not like that. It will change hands from DHL to USPS. That alone often costs a whole business day.

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

Expect 2 week delivery times. I've bought from sellers using that nonsense and packages will disappear for 3-4 days even once they reach my local facility.

I considered these services myself, but I already have customers complain with slow times using USPS First Class. Those slow 2-3 week ship times used to be acceptable years ago, but not now. If I don't get packages shipped out within 24-48 hours, I get customers asking for refunds so they can order elsewhere.

Re: DMG (Smartmail)
 

Looking at what others are saying, this could be your USP. If you manage to ship using a faster method, and get it to the end client next day as oppose to 2 weeks, then this could work. Of course charger higher to take into account the shipping costs. Most people want things fast...