Shipping/postage questions (ebay)

NotMe

I'm thinking about selling stuff on ebay but I don't know how I'd go about posting the items. I haven't sent anything in the post in years. I think it was a 32p stamp for a letter the last time I sent one
Anyway I assume if I was selling a cd or something small I could just put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it and stick it in the post box. But what about larger items like books or a computer even. Would I have to use a courier service like DHL and which would be the best(cheapest) one to use?

Wez

I bought a phone of someone from Sligo, and it cost about a fiver for registered post and it was here the next day. If it's anything valuable you're best to send it registered.. The phone in question was near €200, so registered was the only way. I'm also getting a cd delivered frmo the same guy, so I'll post up when that comes with the cost of stamps on it..

Also, don't forget the for sale section here! Hover the mouse over 'shop' at the top right of the screen and a drop menu will come down. just select which ever one is most appropriate. Or there's www.buyandsell.ie..

Wertz

I use SDS for anything bigger than what a standard Jiffy bag will take. There is a full list of their rates on www.sds.ie which are fairly reasonable
Only used them cos it's handy (local post office pick-up)...wouldn't know where to start posting stuff via another courier company

NotMe

Alright, I was looking at the prices for national registered post and international . Am I right in thinking that the weight limit for international packages is 2kg but there is no limit for national?

Actually I just noticed that that section is for letters/packages and there is a different section for parcels with ems, priority and economy So what's the difference between a package and a parcel? (the weight?)


*edit*
Wertz I just saw your post there. SDS is the ems, priority and economy right? €46 for a 5kg parcel to Europe is a bit expensive I think.

Wertz

NotMe wrote:

Alright, I was looking at the prices for national registered post and international . Am I right in thinking that the weight limit for international packages is 2kg but there is no limit for national?

Actually I just noticed that that section is for letters/packages and there is a different section for parcels with ems, priority and economy So what's the difference between a package and a parcel? (the weight?)


*edit*
Wertz I just saw your post there. SDS is the ems, priority and economy right? €46 for a 5kg parcel to Europe is a bit expensive I think.

Yeah but since the buyer will be paying the carriage costs that shouldn't be a concern to you as a seller. I'd be fairly sure that those rates aren't that much different than any of the rest of the couriers. For the most part when I sell on eBay it's to the UK...SDS prices to there are better than Royal Mail prices to here as far as I've seen. Bear in mind too that those rates are for priority....economy is the way to go, and there are only a few destinations where it is not avaialble to.
If it still concerns you I'd limit my selling area to the UK and Ireland and maybe put in a note on the item description that you may be willing to post to other locations at cost; if people want your item they'll pay for the shipping...

[edit] BTW the difference between a package and a parcel is determined by dimension IIRC

NotMe

Cool thanks for the info. So I guess if I was sending something in a padded envelope then I'd send it by registered mail and if it was packaged in a box then I'd send it by economy or priority mail.

Bamboozled

Your local Post Office should have a small little leaflet folded into a booklet on all charges for posting anything including weight limitations and increases per pound/whichever.
Just go in an ask for a list of prices and they'll hand you over a little thing similar in size to a book of stamps.

Last year it cost me 92c to send a CD (in a paper envelope, in another addressed envelope) from Cork to Dublin. Cost was the same to Shannon/Clare.

Anything over a certain limit will be charged by weight so they will weigh a CD. I think the limit for a normal 48c stamp is about 6 A4 pages in an ordinary envelope (weight-wise). Anything heavier and its charged according to weight.

If you're working through ebay, then you will probably have to check out postal insurance as a lot of people as for it. The customer, not the seller (you) pays for all costs associated with sending the item. Just make sure you include it at the end of the info box, whether you'll be sending regular mail, etc as your charges will have to reflect that. If you over charge for postage you'll get negative feedback, if you undercharge for postage, you'll lose out at the Post Office counter.

Make sure to do your research in the Post Office. And I would suggest looking a 10 or so items on ebay to see how the postage is done and how its worded. You'll find it usually close to the bottom of the page of whatever is being sold.

Just consider this - regular postage may take over 2 weeks to get to whoever or it might not get there at all and you will either have to offer a replacement product thats the same, or you'll have to refund.

Make sure you include your method of payment also.

dudara

Make sure to state on your eBay auction page that you will offer differ postage options to the buyer. When they mail you, give them a list of options, ie registered, insured, unregistered, courier etc.

darkmaster2

I had to send a 3.5Kg parcel to France today,

37 EUROS it cost!! I thought that was a bit over the top for a pretty light little package. That was for Priority 3-4 days to France. There seems to be no economy rate to central Europe :mad:

Here are some of the rates from the SDS website for the 3.5KG Package.

UK Priority 33Euro
UK Economy 14.40Euro

France, Germany priority 37Euro
France, Germany Economy NOT AVAILABLE

USA Priority 51Euro
USA Economy 30Euro


So I can send my 3.5Kg parcel halfway around the world to LA for 30Euro and it costs 37Euro to send it to France or Germany, with no cheaper option available.

Whats that all about? :mad: :mad: :mad:

astec123

So I can send my 3.5Kg parcel halfway around the world to LA for 30Euro and it costs 37Euro to send it to France, with no cheaper option available.

Whats that all about?

An post pays a certain amount to the french postal service so the cost is based upon what they charge an post.

darkmaster2

They charge the same 37Euro to every other country in Europe apart from the UK. They used to have economy to Europe i`m sure.

Bamboozled

Thats quite steep. especially since its supposed to be "our" postal service. I dont know if there are other private companies that would do things for you, but have you tried googling for something like it?