Forum

Few questions for DVD sellers.
 

1. How do you ship your DVD's without it costing $5+ with delivery confirmation?

2. How do you pack your DVDs? Do you use a box or envelope it's it's in a "boxset"?

3. I heard Media Mail was very slow so I do not wish to use it. Is there a way from me to ship via First Class mail with Delivery confirmation?

So is there a good way to pack and ship DVD's without it costing the price of the DVD?

Thank you!

It depends on how big they are, first class needs to be under 13 oz. some boxsets you can sell the seasons seperately and ship first class in a bubble wrap evnvelope and others you can't.

Agreed 100%

Packages OVER 13oz have to go Priority Mail OR Media Mail.
I use media mail because the cost is lower.
1st Class WITH Delivery Confirmation for a 11oz package is only $2.74.
Media Mail WITH Delivery Confirmation for a 11oz package is only $2.57.

You might see that as a difference of only $0.17
BUT
Ship 1,000 packages a year and then do the math.
1000 X 0.17 = $170.00 back in my pocket.

I ship all mine Media Mail and never have any complaints.I order my padded envelopes through Uline.The # is S-7548.They fit the smaller version P90 and insanity perfect.So the total i pay for shipping is $3.57 including delivery confirmation +.46 for the envelope for a total shipping price of $4.03.

Wow... How do you ship that cheap? I shipped one DVD and it cost me over 5 bucks :confused::confused::confused:

You can use USPS - The United States Postal Service (U.S. Postal Service) to print your own labels or use a program called Stamps.com - Buy Postage Online, Print USPS Stamps and Shipping Labels <---- I use that it costs about 12$ a month.

I use a lot of USPS First Class Mail shipping using the Paypal shipping link which automatically inserts the tracking into Ebay of course.
But one thing I may do differently than others is that I use a lot of POLY MAILERS (NOT padded bubble mailers) and you can find them on Ebay in many sizes really cheap. I believe about 5 cents each for the 6x9 for instance.
Secondly if I need padding inside the poly mailer, I use the liner from the TYVEK PRIORITY MAILERS you can get free from the Post Office. This can easily be cut to fit any size mailer. I don't fee guilty at all because I use the tyvek part for other things I ship. Believe me I do my share to keep the Post Office in business.
Using this system I reduce the weight of my packages to a bare minimum which is the best way to save money. Never had a complaint from a buyer.

What I noticed is Ebay/Paypal First Class shipping is alot more expensive than Amazons. If sending a Package First Class, it may be similar but if sending a large envelope, forget it. It's like 30 cents more per item for 10 ounces

Paypal charges the package rate for both large envelops and packages instead of differentiating as the Post Office Does and as Amazon does.

USPS - First-Class Mail Prices

That's a good idea using the Post office liners Lostsub.I just ordered 15 of them.When you cut them out do they say anything on them about being priority mail.Because with me using media mail the USPS does open and inspect packages.Plus with me not having a returnable address the package would be lost.

i always use media mail when i can and it is not that slow. Takes a week to get from east coast to west coast.

no one has complained about the media mail speed so far.

Nope, there is nothing printed on the bubble liners.
As far as one post that said shipping is more espensive using the 1st Class link on Paypal. That's the difference between a "flat" envelope and mailing something at all irregular in an envelope whether it is bubble or not. If I would put any item at all into an envelope my Post Office would charge me package rate anyway...so it's better for me to simply use Paypal shipping and get the tracking for free.
On the other hand if I had something really flat that would past muster at my Post Office maybe I could send it for the "letter" rate.....but no tracking.
I recently received a cellphone battery inside a bubble mailer and the seller got away with the "letter" rate. This seller ships a lot of stuff too, so it kinda ticks me off actually. It is a significant savings for him and makes for an unfair advantage. I am actually considering talking to my Postmaster and have their Post Office contacted about the violations. If that makes me a snitch then so be it. The seller is ripping off the Post Office for thousands every year, and the honest shippers pick up the slack.

Our Post office has a hand held gadget they slide the questionable envelopes thru if they feel especially thick or awkward.
If it slides, it means the dimensions are fine and it is ran through.

Those were books I mailed and am charged more if I use Paypal Shipping vs Amazon when using Large Envelopes. So nothing was irregular

Shipping Cost
 

Use Click1 from the post office. Tracking is included and you save a few pennies.

I always have the PO check if it is cheaper by media or 1st class mail.

Get a scale.They are about 14.00 on ebay.You will be able to print labels with postage.

I ship everything priority mail and just eat the cost. Also include a nice note that says "IF YOU ENJOYED THE FAST SHIPPING PLEASE LEAVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK!!" Nothing like a customer ordering something saturday noon and it showing up at their door monday AM. Also makes me feel good about myself ^_^

Also note that I get free shipping supplies (delivered to your door for no cost) for priority mail and can print the labels online. This means that when I get orders I can print off all my labels (regular paper and tape them on) and then just drop em off on a counter at USPS without saying a word and walk out (no waiting in line). I also work full time and go to school, so its not realistic for me to do anything else. If I didn't, I'd say the time alone and the ease of shipping alone is worth choking an extra 5-10 on shipping. I just calculate it into my costs

I print all of my labels using Encidia.com and print them onto 4X6 Thermal Labels using a Dymo Labelwriter 4XL. You can get 5,000 for $89 from RoyalMailers. The advantage to a thermal label is not only do they look more professional in my opinon but there are no ink cartridges to change or anything like that.

Ditto the above, except I use a Zebra 2844 Thermal Printer with equally cheap rolls of labels. I'd never go back to the laser printer method I was using before. I also print out the packing slip at the same time with the thermal printer, and only separate the 2 when I'm putting the label on the package. Keeps it real cheap and simple which eliminates any confusion.

Mostly our usa customers post the dvds in priority mail,as most of the dvds are fitness dvds boxset,the size is not so small,but they said the cost is very small for the shipping,and they even can ignore it .

Also I'd like to add that I let people know that I ship priority mail as normal shipping. I have often sold items ahead of people selling cheaper and even had people ask if they can get it by a certain time. You will find that there are more than a few buyers out there that are under a very small time limit for buying gifts for other people and don't want to get them in store. Save the day!

I agree depending on if the profit margin is there, I usually find in my best interest to ship priority. Unless I see that they are in my state, then I go first class or Media Mail if they are too big.

Please explain how you print a packing slip with the thermal printer? I thought it only prints on smaller sized paper or labels? I am going to be getting a thermal printer sometime in the near future and am trying to figure out if it is going to be worth it. Also can you print the shipping labels on the dymo? Thanks for your time!

are the thermal labels self adhesive?

I simply print a small packing slip on a thermal label in "landscape mode". I've gotten similar packing slips from other internet merchants so it's not unusual. I've never had any issues in thousands of shipments, never had any comment from a buyer. Since the packing slip and shipping label stay attached until I use them it keeps it quick and easy. This might be everybody's preference but it works for me.