What's the best way for cheap postage (small parcels)
Discussion
Hi,
I'm trying to get a little home business set up for my wife, mainly selling baby clothes etc.
This isn't some sort of money making exercise as such, more for something to do when my son goes to nursery. Whilst it would be nice for her to make some money, the sort of levels i'm talking would probably be £1 profit per item at a low turnover....
She sold 6 items on eBay yesterday and i've just gone to the post office and it's £2.80/item for 2nd class. (small parcels, just a top and trousers for a baby).
From a business POV this is too much for each item so are there any other routes???
As I said, I haven't exactly done a business plan or even looked into costs massively but was not expecting that sort of price for something so small and light.
I'm trying to get a little home business set up for my wife, mainly selling baby clothes etc.
This isn't some sort of money making exercise as such, more for something to do when my son goes to nursery. Whilst it would be nice for her to make some money, the sort of levels i'm talking would probably be £1 profit per item at a low turnover....
She sold 6 items on eBay yesterday and i've just gone to the post office and it's £2.80/item for 2nd class. (small parcels, just a top and trousers for a baby).
From a business POV this is too much for each item so are there any other routes???
As I said, I haven't exactly done a business plan or even looked into costs massively but was not expecting that sort of price for something so small and light.
For the volume you're looking at, it's not going to get any cheaper than that. You really need to be sending around 5,000 things a year to start looking at lower postage rates. If the items are smaller they'll go via the large letter service which should cost around £1.10-1.20 per item.
Simpo Two said:
The PO must have made a fortune when they introduced size as well as weight, and those bloody perspex things with slots in.
yep, our postage costs multiplied by around two or three when they did that in 2013. We reduced that by switching to the large letter service in some instances and down-grading some services to 2nd class though. It was good when you could send really light items just a bit bigger than the large letter service would allow for the same price but I guess RM wanted to put a premium on items that wouldn't fit through the average letter box.Best bet is to make sure you squish things into large letter size, which should be possible with baby clothes - you can get large letter sized cardboard boxes that might help.
Also if they are being really picky about stuff grazing the side of the test slot, then find a different Post Office, or print your own labels at home and stick them in a letter box.
Also if they are being really picky about stuff grazing the side of the test slot, then find a different Post Office, or print your own labels at home and stick them in a letter box.
Edited by mr_fibuli on Tuesday 15th September 13:09
Simpo Two said:
The PO must have made a fortune when they introduced size as well as weight, and those bloody perspex things with slots in.
It really is a scam. I have been a few times and even if the bag with air inside it touches the pespex its like "Oh" small parcel now. You go to other post offices and they try and squeeze the thing in for you, and you go to some and they just estimate it.
mr_fibuli said:
Best bet is to make sure you squish things into large letter size, which should be possible with baby clothes - you can get large letter sized cardboard boxes that might help.
Also if they are being really picky about stuff grazing the side of the test slot, then find a different Post Office, or print your own labels at home and stick them in a letter box.
Plus one to this advise. I used to do this: Also if they are being really picky about stuff grazing the side of the test slot, then find a different Post Office, or print your own labels at home and stick them in a letter box.
Edited by mr_fibuli on Tuesday 15th September 13:09
Buy something like this "pip box" and use the online postage generator on royal mail site or ebay/amazon and send as large letter.
Pop into postbox
At £2.80 you dropped into the small parcel category, with those boxes mentioned above you should fall into the large letter provided you are below 750g and cost you £2.01 maximum.
One of my local helpful post office people were putting borderline large letter post into the small parcel category, when I eventually questioned them I was told they were ensuring it didn't get snagged further down the sorting office.... I smelt bulls
t and used services elsewhere!
One of my local helpful post office people were putting borderline large letter post into the small parcel category, when I eventually questioned them I was told they were ensuring it didn't get snagged further down the sorting office.... I smelt bulls
t and used services elsewhere! rich12 said:
Where did you get £2.01 from??
My error, £2.05 for a class 2 large letter 501g to 750g.Vacuum sealing storage bags are too expensive as an option too.
Can I further hijack and expand the question about postage and the options for mass postage over 5000 items a year? Just how does it work? Do you set up your account, print off a load of postage labels and stick on the package and await collection from royal mail/courier?
pharmvrs said:
My error, £2.05 for a class 2 large letter 501g to 750g.
Vacuum sealing storage bags are too expensive as an option too.
Can I further hijack and expand the question about postage and the options for mass postage over 5000 items a year? Just how does it work? Do you set up your account, print off a load of postage labels and stick on the package and await collection from Royal Mail/courier?
At 5k items RM will consider giving you an online business account (OBA). You need to spend £15k+ p.a. for them to consider collecting it from you.Vacuum sealing storage bags are too expensive as an option too.
Can I further hijack and expand the question about postage and the options for mass postage over 5000 items a year? Just how does it work? Do you set up your account, print off a load of postage labels and stick on the package and await collection from Royal Mail/courier?
With the OBA you put PPI labels (class of post with your unique RM code on them) on your items. When you are getting them ready to be sent at the end of the day you count how many you have of each class of post, weigh everything and work out your average weight per class.
2nd class parcels weighing under a kilo cost around £2.50 with OBA but if you send 20+ they'll give you a discount which brings this down to £2.38 (those prices include the VAT). Further discounts come at 100 and 250 of each class for parcels. The amounts are higher for large letters.
rich12 said:
So those boxes work out at 36.5p each (If I buy 100 of them). The postage (2nd class) cost me £1.51.
Can I just use a large stamp on them to save on the £1.51 charge?
Think you are going to have to become a bit more business savvy than taking the first price you come across: Can I just use a large stamp on them to save on the £1.51 charge?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C4-A4-Large-Letter-Cardb...
Buy 100 comes out at 25.8p
Also regarding the postage label. buy from ebay or royal mail online, plenty of how to videos to show you how to do this. print off label, selotape on box
Buy a small scale from ebay at 5 pounds and weight each box after packaged up with item and print off label with appropriate weight.
Very easy
IATM said:
Think you are going to have to become a bit more business savvy than taking the first price you come across:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C4-A4-Large-Letter-Cardb...
Buy 100 comes out at 25.8p
Also regarding the postage label. buy from ebay or royal mail online, plenty of how to videos to show you how to do this. print off label, selotape on box
Buy a small scale from ebay at 5 pounds and weight each box after packaged up with item and print off label with appropriate weight.
Very easy
I know. I bought the ones on ebay. I just quoted the previous post as they were the first ones that popped up.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C4-A4-Large-Letter-Cardb...
Buy 100 comes out at 25.8p
Also regarding the postage label. buy from ebay or royal mail online, plenty of how to videos to show you how to do this. print off label, selotape on box
Buy a small scale from ebay at 5 pounds and weight each box after packaged up with item and print off label with appropriate weight.
Very easy
Thanks for the advice!! Will be looking into the other aspects..
ModernAndy said:
At 5k items RM will consider giving you an online business account (OBA). You need to spend £15k+ p.a. for them to consider collecting it from you.
With the OBA you put PPI labels (class of post with your unique RM code on them) on your items. When you are getting them ready to be sent at the end of the day you count how many you have of each class of post, weigh everything and work out your average weight per class.
2nd class parcels weighing under a kilo cost around £2.50 with OBA but if you send 20+ they'll give you a discount which brings this down to £2.38 (those prices include the VAT). Further discounts come at 100 and 250 of each class for parcels. The amounts are higher for large letters.
RM will collect irrespective of your spend, it will cost you £944.40 inc VAT, it's free if the spend is over £15k PA.With the OBA you put PPI labels (class of post with your unique RM code on them) on your items. When you are getting them ready to be sent at the end of the day you count how many you have of each class of post, weigh everything and work out your average weight per class.
2nd class parcels weighing under a kilo cost around £2.50 with OBA but if you send 20+ they'll give you a discount which brings this down to £2.38 (those prices include the VAT). Further discounts come at 100 and 250 of each class for parcels. The amounts are higher for large letters.
I don't understand why the OP isn't simply factoring in postage costs in the business model.
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