Share Shipping Tips and Tricks
- Do not use PayPal "gift" payments, wire transfers, Western Union, etc.
- Use PayPal credit card payments, or other systems that protect you from fraud.
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Seems to me the biggest source of friction keeping this from being a true "Dirtbag Climbers Exchange" is the cost of shipping stuff back and forth. I've learned a few tricks to reduce those costs and I'm sure the MP community has many more. Here, off the top of my head, are mine:
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Thanks dude, great tips! |
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Ditto all the above. |
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The Tyvek Priority Mail envelope is a great way to ship shoes or big cams. I think on Paypal it's $7. |
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What about skis |
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If you have it shipped to your work or a business address I believe it is cheaper through UPS/fedex as well...? I think something like an additional $4 for residential per package? |
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Lyle M wrote: If you have it shipped to your work or a business address I believe it is cheaper through UPS/fedex as well...? Yes, FedEx and UPS are cheaper to commercial addresses. |
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USPS Priority Padded Flat Rate Envelope = ships @ 7.25-8.05$ |
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Can we sticky this thread? |
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USPS nailed me $14.72 to ship three rockcentrics in a box with no dimension over 12” Will be using the link above! |
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Scott Morrison 182 wrote: USPS nailed me $14.72 to ship three rockcentrics in a box with no dimension over 12” Will be using the link above! Total weight still might be over first class availablity, but If they fit in a bubble/padded envelope and are light enough to go First Class Parcel, would likely be under $5 USPS priority and flat rate boxes (addressing these as two separate but related issues) can work as either friend or foe depending on weight and package size. |
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Alexx Dominguez wrote: USPS Priority Padded Flat Rate Envelope = ships @ 7.25-8.05$ Just like flat rate boxes, flat rate envelopes are usually only a deal if package weight exceeds first class availability. First class also includes tracking, and typically is delivered within a day of the priority shipping time. With first class it also depends on zone. Flat rate is same regardless of zone. |
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Ditto on the Tyvek Priority envelopes. These have almost the volume of a medium box, but are way cheaper to ship. I've shipped a lot of cams this way and haven't had an issue (except when USPS lost a package once). I bubble wrap each cam, zip-tie lobes on the large sizes, and reinforce the seam on the envelope with packing tape. Tyvek is tough and much more water-resistant than cardboard. |
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Caz Drach wrote: What about skis I suspect, but don't know for sure, that UPS would be your best option. I know people who UPS their luggage places ahead of time to avoid airline hassles. |
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Logan Peterson wrote: The 3% Paypal insurance actually protects sellers in a different way. F&F transactions can be reversed by the sender, I'm not going to say how. But it's a real threat. G&S can only be reversed through a Paypal dispute. |
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mountainhick wrote: Ditto all the above.FWIW, most climbing shoes (unless we're talking a pair of 36.0's!) will exceed any weight thresholds, so that padded flat rate envelope (the usps will send them in packs of 10 to your door, for free) is your best bet at $8. It's also workable for large sizes, as you squish the shoes (did this recently with a pair of 46.5 approach shoes) as small as possible, toe to heel, slide them inside one envelope to the end. They are now sticking out of the envelope by an inch or so. Take a second padded flat rate envelope (needs to look identical, so use same envelopes), and slide that over the open end. You've effectively created a 1 & 1/4 sized envelope, tape it up well and nobody has ever questioned me about it (or just use the automated machine, if that's an option in your town). Tyvek envelope sounds like it's 0.65c cheaper than the padded one, but I never see those in my local post, perhaps they'll mail those to your house for free as well? |
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Señor Arroz wrote: that just sounds like a hassle... |
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Christian Hesch wrote: FWIW, most climbing shoes (unless we're talking a pair of 36.0's!) will exceed any weight thresholds, so that padded flat rate envelope (the usps will send them in packs of 10 to your door, for free) is your best bet at $8. It's also workable for large sizes, as you squish the shoes (did this recently with a pair of 46.5 approach shoes) as small as possible, toe to heel, slide them inside one envelope to the end. They are now sticking out of the envelope by an inch or so. Take a second padded flat rate envelope (needs to look identical, so use same envelopes), and slide that over the open end. You've effectively created a 1 & 1/4 sized envelope, tape it up well and nobody has ever questioned me about it (or just use the automated machine, if that's an option in your town). That's a nice trick if USPS lets it slide. Nice you have a lenient post office. Our post office workers take the job and uniform a bit too seriously! |
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mountainhick wrote: they're everywhere.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hox-ni8geIw |
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curt86iroc wrote: Not if your personal assistant has to deal with the hassle. |