Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Papaw on December 07, 2019, 11:40:27 AM

Title: Postage to Australia
Post by: Papaw on December 07, 2019, 11:40:27 AM
You would think I had shipped enough to Oz to know better, but NO!

I sold an Ampco Al/Br hammer head on Facebook Marketplace to a buyer in Australia. Knowing shipping is high, I let the buyer know, and calculated the best price, then sent a Paypal invoice.

When it was paid, I then packaged up the item and did the shipping through Paypal. Easy enough, but the shipping was more than I calculated.

Lost a couple dollars, but learned a lesson. The problem wasn't with Paypal or USPS, it was all my fault.
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: international3414 on December 07, 2019, 02:01:35 PM
I've priced shipping high,but them refunded the excess...also shipped 1st class (stuff for my wife),using a past ebay sale,just changed the ship to name/address....no problems
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: Papaw on December 07, 2019, 05:26:28 PM
If I had made the sale on Ebay, I wonder if it would ship cheaper. Weight was only 3# 1oz , but flat rate envelope was more expensive than International Small Flat rate box.
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: skipskip on December 07, 2019, 07:26:23 PM
that 1 oz was the killer
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: Papaw on December 07, 2019, 07:40:56 PM
According to USPS, the weight limit on Small Flat Rate boxes for International shipping is 4 Pounds.
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 08, 2019, 10:36:29 AM
Our post office has a scale in the lobby.  Whenever I've had a question about a heavy item, I'll put the item in the car and swing by the post office when I'm otherwise out (grocery run or the like) and check the weight.  I'll often bring along a suitable box and put that on the scale at the same time (that cardboard can add up!).  Because I save the bubble wrap that danged near everything comes in from Amazon and places like that, I don't usually worry much about the weight of the packing, but, if the weight is borderline, I'll toss a couple of ounces into my figure.

That may not be much helpful for folks who live in cities where the nearest post office is across town and "across town" is a half hour drive; but, if you live somewhere more intimate, it's something to remember.  If your post office doesn't have a scale in the lobby, you can probably get help from one of the window clerks to get a weight estimate (but maybe not this month...the lines are already noticeably longer at my post office - people with overseas friends and family, I guess).

And, yes, an ounce can trip you up on postage rates.
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: EVILDR235 on December 08, 2019, 09:09:03 PM
I sent a Priority Mail Flat Rate box full of wrenches to the planet Mars about 3 years ago and it still not gotten there. I will wait one more year, then I am calling the post office. I think they have had more than enough time. I will go with Fedex next time.

EvilDr235
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 08, 2019, 09:42:20 PM
I sent a Priority Mail Flat Rate box full of wrenches to the planet Mars about 3 tears ago and it still not gotten there.
How do you know?
Title: Re: Postage to Australia
Post by: EVILDR235 on December 09, 2019, 06:32:09 PM
Zandor, the Supreme leader of the General High Counsel said he would flash the street lights of the Angry Red Planet three times to signal that they have gotten the metric set of Planet Junior nickel plated wrenches. I have not seen the signal yet.

EvilDr235