As a shipping company employee, here’s a little insider information: the smaller the item, the cheaper it is to send via USPS. The larger the item, UPS or FedEx is cheaper depending on the service level you choose. Also, due to COVID, it doesn’t matter who you ship through right now; all shipping guarantees are RELAXED, meaning there’s no guarantees at the moment. Best advice otherwise, ship EARLY! Thanks for your videos, you’re definitely rocking it!
Thank you for what you do! Your service keeps my small business alive and functioning. I can never thank postal workers enough! Hope you're getting some rest after the crazed holiday shipping!
I ship anywhere from 10-60 pkgs via USPS per week. Great video! A few more domestic tips (sending within US) ... Anything over 16 oz has to go priority, first class is not allowed for 16 oz+. Padded flat rate envelope is always my go to for I think it's 9.00 now (the padded priority envelope are a couple dollars more than the plain priority envelope, but they are much, much more sturdy!) ... all priority packages automatically come with 50.00 Insurance, you can add more. They also include tracking and you can add a signature release. ALWAYS TAPE THE EDGES OF ENVELOPES, THEY WILL NOT ALWAYS TAPE IT FOR YOU AND IF IT GETS CAUGHT IN THE MACHINE AND TEARS OPEN, YOUR PKG WILL GO INTO LOST MAIL.... Also first class packages do come with tracking as well, at no extra cost. First class does not come with insurance, but you can add it for an extra fee. And finally if you're shipping internationally, you can actually go up to I believe it's 3lbs now, before having to go priority. Priority international gets pricey quickly! USPS has proven the most reliable and affordable for me so far, with handling packages up to 70lbs! They do make stickers you can get on the USPS website that say heavy, they will send them to your house for free and are a great way to help out your USPS workers by giving a forewarning before they go to lift the pkg. Happy shipping, and a huge thank you to all postal workers!
USPS employee here. Great video. One thing I wanted to mention just for clarification and in case you may need to mail anything to a destination west of the US west coast (to areas like Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan): be sure your item is being sent by air transportation (Express [technically called Priority Express], Priority, or First Class). If it is sent via any of our ground shipping services (Parcel Post, Retail Ground, SAM, Media Mail, Standard Mail), your item will take a minimum of 3 weeks to arrive and be delivered since your package will travel by boat from the US mainland to points in the Pacific basin. If you have the option of air vs. ground, take air; it’s worth the extra cost to not have to wait weeks for your package to arrive. If you mail to points like Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam etc from the US mainland and your receipt says your item has a scheduled delivery date of 10-14 days out, that info is *incorrect.* Those delivery timeframes are accurate if you mail something from a US mainland origin to a US mainland destination. Hope this helps. Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)!
Hi Chris, I really need your help. Do you know anyone from the Kaimuki Post Office?? I have been going around in circles with the customer service I 've been getting with my packages from a move. 😢😢
I’ve always avoided shipping stuff because I’ve found it to be intimidating. This video has taught me so much, and I now feel a bit confident! Thank you, Kallie!!!!!
Thank you for this video! As a USPS employee I appreciate you explaining this to your followers. Also to anyone who is going to comment on slow delivery, this year has been the largest shipping and delivery year! Please remember that we are also still in the middle of a pandemic and extra cleaning measures have to be taken within all facilities to ensure everyone is safe. Every postal employee I know takes their job seriously and they are doing their very best to see that you get your package in a timely manner. 💚
THANK YOU!!! USPS is keeping me sane in 2020!!!❤ Letters & cards!! My shopping addiction to etsy!! You guys are my Essential Pandemic Heroes!!🦸🏾♂️🦸🏼♀️🦸
Thanks go to you and to all your colleagues. You are keeping so many of us afloat! I've been waiting 6 weeks for a package that's stuck in Atlanta to make it to Virginia but I'm not even mad because I can't imagine the hours all of you are working and the stress you're under these days.
A second into this video and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your promptness and accuracy explaining everything possible. Can't wait to hear the rest.
Our postal worker in my town was very helpful in explaining the various shipping options to me, so ask, and if the workers are like ours, they will bend over backwards to help you select the best option for you, too. Great video!!
Thank you so much for including the time stamps!!! I've watched this video 2 times to become familiar with the process. But then weeks later when I actually had to ship an item, the time stamp for "How to Make a Flat Rate envelope into a Box" was soooo helpful and time efficient. Blessings!
Also we did a “hack” where we bought things online and we sent it to the person from the online store and just changed the billing address and marked the box saying it was a gift so the receipt wouldn’t be in there! We also added messages saying merry Christmas and if you want you can always still send a card stating to watch out for the mail something special is coming for you :) 😍❤️
a lil confused lol would u care to explain it better for me i think i get the gist i think just not sure like you send to the sender but in reality its you or? just as u see im obviously trying to find a cheaper better way lol
On my 9th shipping for dummies video and this is by far the best one yet. Thank you for putting me up on game while on this new road to shipping and handling my items.
If you're not using the Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes, Priority Mail also depends on the size and dimensions of the box, not just the weight... so when using the online calculator you need to know your box size and weight to get an accurate price.
Hi from Colorado. I recently learned about USPS book rate. President George Washington was the first postmaster. He created the book rate because he wanted everyone to be able to afford getting books. Go George! God bless.
USPS “measures” your boxes as well, which can jack the price up. I used the shipping calculator online with weights entered for each box, so I would have an idea of what my shipping costs would be. When I went to USPS my shipping cost for a box that weighed under 4lbs was $35. I asked the postal worker why there was a jump in price and she said they enter not only the weight and region my box was going to, but the measurements of the box as well. Which explained why she was measuring the dimensions of my box.
Wow! This was amazing!!! I love this type of info and the best part was your instructional technique. You were very clear and concise. You stated what we would learn.p, you taught the info giving visual examples, and then you reviewed what we had learned. Excellent teaching! (Can you tell I’m a retired teacher of 30+ years? ). I copied the link for the info and pasted it in my Notes app. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are the BEST!
barbara, teachers NEVER retire... their wisdom and kindness stays, lifelong, inside their students, and as such is the gift that keeps on giving. thank you for being a teacher, and happy holidays to you!
One thing few people know about is that if your box measures more the 36" Length/Height/Width you will be charged an additional $30 by USPS because its considered "Oversized" when they measure they round up also. I have found in this case FedEx is cheaper.
True. I try to use the self help postage machine at my local post office as much as possible. . Shipping at a UPS Store can be helpful, but the cost is outrageous.
Omgosh where has this video been, the hack with the flat rate envelope is going to be life changing! My daughter has lived out-of-state for 6 yrs and I have seen the prices on the flat rate packages increase each year......next box I mail her will be in a flat rate envelope!!!
I was told at my local shipping company that it's cheaper to send in an envelope, so I send that what whenever possible. It also depends on WHERE you ship. I'm in Texas so shipping to the west or east coast will cost more.
Your videos are so informative and so helpful!! You're one of my favorite channels and the longest one I've been following since a few years back! Thank you for all that you do and the good content you share. Please have a restful holiday!
This video was so helpful. I plan to sell some small items through Mercari, eBay, etc. and I was intimidated about shipping because I rarely ever send packages that aren’t prepaid. I love the tips re: the flat rate envelope. Super useful! 👏🏼
I know your video is more toward people who dont do a lot of shipping, but it would have been good to have mentioned Pirate ship. Its a way to get discounted shipping w/out going through USPS. Also, this is also a thing call Box in a Bag. You can ship a box in a bag (as long as its loose in the bag) for the bag rate.
This was really helpful information. I'm in Canada but from what I can tell a lot of the hacks and pricing (though not the prices) works pretty much the same for Canada Post.
I'm fairly certain that the library rate is only available for educational institutions. In other words, I couldn't mail from my home address using library mail. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, this is just the impression I get from the USPS website.
I almost didn't watch this one because I thought I was fairly familiar with shipping options. Of course, you didn't disappoint. I came away with some valuable nuggets. Thnnk you!
Thank you. You just clarified a few things for me. I am shipping this week several things as you are, family we are not going to be able to see. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas 🎄
What a great video idea. This information is so valuable at this time of year but anytime, really. The postal clerks always give me a funny look if I ask for help or don't know all the jargon you just presented., or don't know what is the best way to mail a package. Thank you so very much for this and Merry Christmas! Blessings - Judith 🎭🎵
I actually had to send out a gift today and was about to go to the UPS store. I did the shipping calculator on both (didn't know they were a thing......I don't ship things ever lol) and USPS was way cheaper so thank you 😊
These hacks were genius!! Thank you soooo much! I hate all the different prizes! As a faux wedd6 flower designer who sends products worldwide, I have learned a few tricks as well. If a box is shaped le a cube, it will cost much more to send because it doesn't play nice with usps mailing equipment. Also, if a product gas one side bigger than 18" in length, there is a bug upcharge as well, regardless of it being lightweight! ) : So, I gave learned to mail weddings in multiple boxes to avoid extra shipping cost upgrades and also never buy/use cube boxes apparently! ) : I try to keep my Boxes below 16", so they never bring out the dreaded measuring tape (the bain of my mailing experience...it was brings on higher prices ugh!)! ) : Great video, as always! I usually do priority to get my. Products to my customers as quickly as possible! But, now I know, I am likely getting better bang for my buck too versus sending first class! Yayyyyyy! Almost all my boxes are over 1 lb! ( : Happy holidays! ( : ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Tracy ( :
As always I thoroughly enjoyed your video, Kallie! TY for doing the hard work, i.e. research, of shipping at this time of year. My favorite hacks are the first two, the origami trick and the Scotch flex and seal. Making a box out of the flat rate envelope is truly genius! I have never heard of the flex and seal product but I intend to find out about it. My craft/artistry is making altered hardback journals. Yes, I begin with a hardback book and use 10 to 12 sheets of 12 x 12“ cardstock, cut to the size of the book pages. The cardstock is then glued down and some excess book pages are torn out. I add pockets, other tuck spots, and journaling cards, ephemera, recipes, pics, paper dolls, flip-outs/flip-ups, etc, along with lace on the edge of each page. The exterior of most books is covered with fabric and other items to make it prettier. One postal person told me I could ship it as a book. But when I went in to do so, I got a different person who said no. So if you could come up with a creative help to help me, I would be one happy creative person and permanently indebted to you! Merry Christmas and a blessed, safe and healthy, and more SANE 2021🎄
Well, I flew First Class once. But I weigh more than a pound so it was expensive. I will say THEY WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE. No, I do not want another snack or beverage! You don't even get to enjoy that lay-flat seat!! In this case: fly priority, and enjoy the flat-laying rate! 🤗
Back in the olden days of e-commerce, before the '00s, I used to get bulk orders of USPS boxes, labels and even tape for free (all their Priority Mail products). When my buyers did not want to pay for priority, I would turn the boxes, envelopes, etc. inside out and repurpose them (brown cardboard facing out) and then either ship medial mail or 1st class (whichever was cheaper). I guess too many of us abused that, and soon the USPS was printing all of their boxes and materials with either PRIORITY or USPS on the insides. That is one of the reasons they now upcharge you for altering any of their flat-rate mailers.
The only thing with Medea mail is that it can be very slow!! I live on Hawaii Island and ordered a book in early October and it did not get to me until late November! Just something to keep in mind!!
That is very true. When we were stationed near Anchorage, I shipped Christmas cookbooks to my new address on Dec 1 & after assuming they were a lost cause, the box arrived on Good Friday! Media mail can also take up to 4-6wks anywhere in the contiguous US also.
@@jennawildah6514 I am still waiting after months and months. Missing Mail claims expired, Consumer Affairs? Nope. My brother hopefully will visit the Hawaii Post Office where we sent them from soon
This Grandmother sends a lot of packages and I learned such valuable info thru your video. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas! Take care and stay safe.
I worked as a letter carrier for almost 10 years and as an SSDA for almost as long (in mgmt now), including as an SSDA OJI. Much of her information was accurate, so I appreciate that; wish she had mentioned our 70lb weight limit.
@@ChrisStargazer She did have it on the screen when she was talking about the priority flat rate (right around the 3 min mark). That may not be clear that that weight applies to all shipping (does it?) but it was on the screen. 😊
Thanks for the tips and hacks! Pretty sure I watched this when you put it out and just watched it again because I definitely need them right now. Thanks!
Quality video, thank you! I've gone twice to USPS this year and there's no clear instructions on what is the best and budget option to ship. I did't even know I had to write my own shipping label as I'm used to UPS printing that out for me. The black employee lady was extremely rude too. So this video really helps out a lot.
Omg, I thought I was an idiot for not understanding the aspects of shipping USPS. What really bothers me is when I ship something almost identical in weight and size and one will come out as 2-Day Priority while the other ends up 3-Day Priority. I assumed it had something to do with distance, but a couple times I did that the packages were going to the same address. Also, sometimes it seems like heavier packages are cheaper to ship than lighter ones. It's a mystery.
Thank you so much for this video! I have always found the USPS classes and flat rate boxes confusing and would rather not go into the post office if I don't have to. I wasn't sure if the flat rate boxes were free or if you paid for them up front...thank you for clarifying!!! Hope you are feeling as well as you can at this stage of your pregnancy!
Thanks for the great tips. You’re not taught this stuff in school haha. I probably would’ve never figured this stuff out by the book if not for this video 😂 hope you and your family are happy and healthy ❤️
I sometimes see people at the post office use a medium flat rate box to ship something that will easily fit into a standard priority mail box…sometimes it’s a postal clerk who gives them the flat rate box, instead of providing them with a cheaper option…..
If its below 13oz use a regular package if its over use a flat rate. If your in the USA shipping to just uSA ask for the table that shows you how to use zip codes to look up cost of a package, get a scale, and you'll know cost of your package :D
Just a few things to clarify. The weight cutoff between 1st Class and Priority is 13oz, not 1lb. It's 16oz if you are printing your postage online. Our shipping services are, from top to bottom, Priority Express, Priority, 1st Class and Ground service. We don't use 2nd, 3rd and 4th Class terms anymore since they all fall under the Ground Service banner. Media Mail, Library Mail, Mail For the Blind, etc all fall under the Ground Service banner and all travel at the same speed. As far as the Flat Rate Envelope hack goes, we don't care how much you stick in there, as long as it closes properly without the need for tape to keep it closed. Flat rate boxes are priced to ship at the dimension of the box. If you over pack the box to where it bulges and exceeds the marked dimensions of the box, it can either be shipped by the flat rate price or the price of the package by weight, which ever is higher. "If it fits, it ships" means if it fits properly. ALL packages come with a tracking number. The only things that don't automatically come with tracking are 1st Class letters and 1st Class Large Flat envelopes, but you can get tracking by Certifying them. Large packages usually get charged what is called DIM Weight. You may be shipping a box of feathers, but you may be charged for 20lbs of weight because your box takes up so much space in an airplane cargo hold. So don't make your boxes any bigger than they need to be, or cut them down if you have to. It can save you a lot of money. If you bring in a package that has Priority Mail stickers or tape on them, or you're reusing an old Priority Mail box, it still has to be shipped Priority Mail. If you use one of the free Priority Mail labels available at the Post Office, even if you cut off or mark out the parts of it that say Priority Mail, it's still going Priority Mail. We know what our labels look like. The labels and Priority tape are free only if you use the Priority service. Media mail does NOT include comic books, magazines, catalogs or anything else that contains advertising. It does include books, audio tapes, video cassettes, DVD's, CD's and such. It does include DVD game for systems like the Play Station and X Box or home computers, but it does not include game cartridges like for the old Nintendo and Atari games. (That shows my age) If you are dropping off a load of packages at the counter, please have a manifest, also known as a SACN sheet available, so that all your packages can be scanned into the system with just one barcode to scan. I guess that's more than a few things. I'm just trying to think of the more common mistakes I see daily as a postal window clerk.
Your advice is great for this time of year!!!🎄🎄🎄 You are very informative and easy to listen to... directions are always clear and easy to follow.. Just what I needed tonight...🎄🎄🦌⛄❣️🥰
Liked your hacks and tips. The "origami" shaping of the main flat-rate envelop was not something I ever thought about... I usually put the item in and then shape it around my item. :-) I use tape on my priority mail envelopes and boxes to make sure they stay closed. Not sure I trust the USPS glue, but it does work really well when creating the boxes for shipping. Have you ever tried to send one with tape? I really like the bubble stuff that seals itself tip... I think that might be great for media mail items... books, at least. It looks expensive, but I will try to check it out. It's March 2022 now, but the info is still pretty good. Prices change but the tips seem to last. :-)
Ok this is a honest question from someone still learning, Can you use the “free usps priority shipping boxes” for ground advantage? And if not just bc it says “priority” can you just tape over it?
As a shipping company employee, here’s a little insider information: the smaller the item, the cheaper it is to send via USPS. The larger the item, UPS or FedEx is cheaper depending on the service level you choose. Also, due to COVID, it doesn’t matter who you ship through right now; all shipping guarantees are RELAXED, meaning there’s no guarantees at the moment. Best advice otherwise, ship EARLY! Thanks for your videos, you’re definitely rocking it!
Fedex doesn't charge extra for oversized anymore. They still go by weight but size as long as it isn't over the maximum size doesn't get surcharge
But UPS and FedEx often take your money then ship it through USPS.
Gold Info
I always ship next day because it never gets there in time and I get a refund.
Cant put a flat rate box inside another, its illegal.
I work for USPS, thank you for supporting us!!☺️ it’s crazy for us. Please remember many of us are working 50-60+ hrs a week rn doing our best
Thank you for what you do! Your service keeps my small business alive and functioning. I can never thank postal workers enough! Hope you're getting some rest after the crazed holiday shipping!
Thank you for everything you guys do. And by the way you're pretty :)
You’re making money for yourself. So be grateful
I hope it has cooled off a bit
Thank you for your service. If you dont mind me asking, do you get paid overtime? salary? what is your wage like? Thanks!
I ship anywhere from 10-60 pkgs via USPS per week. Great video! A few more domestic tips (sending within US) ... Anything over 16 oz has to go priority, first class is not allowed for 16 oz+. Padded flat rate envelope is always my go to for I think it's 9.00 now (the padded priority envelope are a couple dollars more than the plain priority envelope, but they are much, much more sturdy!) ... all priority packages automatically come with 50.00 Insurance, you can add more. They also include tracking and you can add a signature release. ALWAYS TAPE THE EDGES OF ENVELOPES, THEY WILL NOT ALWAYS TAPE IT FOR YOU AND IF IT GETS CAUGHT IN THE MACHINE AND TEARS OPEN, YOUR PKG WILL GO INTO LOST MAIL.... Also first class packages do come with tracking as well, at no extra cost. First class does not come with insurance, but you can add it for an extra fee. And finally if you're shipping internationally, you can actually go up to I believe it's 3lbs now, before having to go priority. Priority international gets pricey quickly! USPS has proven the most reliable and affordable for me so far, with handling packages up to 70lbs! They do make stickers you can get on the USPS website that say heavy, they will send them to your house for free and are a great way to help out your USPS workers by giving a forewarning before they go to lift the pkg. Happy shipping, and a huge thank you to all postal workers!
USPS employee here. Great video. One thing I wanted to mention just for clarification and in case you may need to mail anything to a destination west of the US west coast (to areas like Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan): be sure your item is being sent by air transportation (Express [technically called Priority Express], Priority, or First Class). If it is sent via any of our ground shipping services (Parcel Post, Retail Ground, SAM, Media Mail, Standard Mail), your item will take a minimum of 3 weeks to arrive and be delivered since your package will travel by boat from the US mainland to points in the Pacific basin. If you have the option of air vs. ground, take air; it’s worth the extra cost to not have to wait weeks for your package to arrive. If you mail to points like Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam etc from the US mainland and your receipt says your item has a scheduled delivery date of 10-14 days out, that info is *incorrect.*
Those delivery timeframes are accurate if you mail something from a US mainland origin to a US mainland destination. Hope this helps. Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)!
Hi Chris, I really need your help. Do you know anyone from the Kaimuki Post Office?? I have been going around in circles with the customer service I 've been getting with my packages from a move. 😢😢
I’ve always avoided shipping stuff because I’ve found it to be intimidating. This video has taught me so much, and I now feel a bit confident! Thank you, Kallie!!!!!
Thank you for this video! As a USPS employee I appreciate you explaining this to your followers. Also to anyone who is going to comment on slow delivery, this year has been the largest shipping and delivery year! Please remember that we are also still in the middle of a pandemic and extra cleaning measures have to be taken within all facilities to ensure everyone is safe. Every postal employee I know takes their job seriously and they are doing their very best to see that you get your package in a timely manner. 💚
A big HUGE thank you to you and all your fellow USPS colleagues! My family appreciates all your efforts!!
Mahalo a nui loa! My ohana is in Hawaii so I thank you so so much for getting my packages there from
the Midwest. I appreciate you!
Thank for all the hard work I you do! Stay safe!
THANK YOU!!! USPS is keeping me sane in 2020!!!❤ Letters & cards!! My shopping addiction to etsy!! You guys are my Essential Pandemic Heroes!!🦸🏾♂️🦸🏼♀️🦸
Thanks go to you and to all your colleagues. You are keeping so many of us afloat! I've been waiting 6 weeks for a package that's stuck in Atlanta to make it to Virginia but I'm not even mad because I can't imagine the hours all of you are working and the stress you're under these days.
A second into this video and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your promptness and accuracy explaining everything possible. Can't wait to hear the rest.
Our postal worker in my town was very helpful in explaining the various shipping options to me, so ask, and if the workers are like ours, they will bend over backwards to help you select the best option for you, too. Great video!!
Thank you so much for including the time stamps!!! I've watched this video 2 times to become familiar with the process. But then weeks later when I actually had to ship an item, the time stamp for "How to Make a Flat Rate envelope into a Box" was soooo helpful and time efficient. Blessings!
Also we did a “hack” where we bought things online and we sent it to the person from the online store and just changed the billing address and marked the box saying it was a gift so the receipt wouldn’t be in there! We also added messages saying merry Christmas and if you want you can always still send a card stating to watch out for the mail something special is coming for you :) 😍❤️
yep do this so much!!
I do this too
This is what I do for gifts, too.
a lil confused lol would u care to explain it better for me i think i get the gist i think just not sure like you send to the sender but in reality its you or? just as u see im obviously trying to find a cheaper better way lol
this is called drop shipping
That was so nice of you to do all the research for us! Thanks 😊 Callie
The priority flat rate envelope hack is fabulous!!! I'll be using it for sure!!
On my 9th shipping for dummies video and this is by far the best one yet. Thank you for putting me up on game while on this new road to shipping and handling my items.
If you're not using the Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes, Priority Mail also depends on the size and dimensions of the box, not just the weight... so when using the online calculator you need to know your box size and weight to get an accurate price.
Hi from Colorado. I recently learned about USPS book rate. President George Washington was the first postmaster. He created the book rate because he wanted everyone to be able to afford getting books. Go George! God bless.
USPS “measures” your boxes as well, which can jack the price up. I used the shipping calculator online with weights entered for each box, so I would have an idea of what my shipping costs would be. When I went to USPS my shipping cost for a box that weighed under 4lbs was $35. I asked the postal worker why there was a jump in price and she said they enter not only the weight and region my box was going to, but the measurements of the box as well. Which explained why she was measuring the dimensions of my box.
Love the priority mail hack! I used to just shove stuff in them hope for the best, but this is much better.
Perfect timing. Needing to ship something this week
Me, too!
Me too! Wanted to send my grandma something and the online quote was $53 for a dollar tree DIY I made her 😩
I randomly have anxiety about shipping things, and I need to this year. Thank you!
Great idea about using the flat envelope and making it into a box. Brilliant. Thank you
I need a small box to ship today but have only Priority envelopes, so your envelope hack is so very timely! Thank You!
Wow! This was amazing!!! I love this type of info and the best part was your instructional technique. You were very clear and concise. You stated what we would learn.p, you taught the info giving visual examples, and then you reviewed what we had learned. Excellent teaching! (Can you tell I’m a retired teacher of 30+ years? ). I copied the link for the info and pasted it in my Notes app. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are the BEST!
barbara, teachers NEVER retire... their wisdom and kindness stays, lifelong, inside their students, and as such is the gift that keeps on giving. thank you for being a teacher, and happy holidays to you!
That envelope into a box is genius! Thanks for this video
Shipping is the worse!!! So glad you did this video. I sell small decor items on ebay and shipping is outrageous.
This video was definitely posted at the right time! Thank you so much for your videos!
One thing few people know about is that if your box measures more the 36" Length/Height/Width you will be charged an additional $30 by USPS because its considered "Oversized" when they measure they round up also. I have found in this case FedEx is cheaper.
True. I try to use the self help postage machine at my local post office as much as possible. . Shipping at a UPS Store can be helpful, but the cost is outrageous.
Thank you sooo much for that priority item hack that involves changing an envelop to a box.Yass!
Omgosh where has this video been, the hack with the flat rate envelope is going to be life changing! My daughter has lived out-of-state for 6 yrs and I have seen the prices on the flat rate packages increase each year......next box I mail her will be in a flat rate envelope!!!
Send like the Scotch Flex and Seal would make wrapping odd shapes presents a lot easier too
Thank you for this! You were so much more helpful than the person who actually works at my post office 😫
I was told at my local shipping company that it's cheaper to send in an envelope, so I send that what whenever possible. It also depends on WHERE you ship. I'm in Texas so shipping to the west or east coast will cost more.
Your videos are so informative and so helpful!! You're one of my favorite channels and the longest one I've been following since a few years back! Thank you for all that you do and the good content you share. Please have a restful holiday!
Just to find out about that bubble wrapping stuff made this video worth the watch!!
I love your origami hack!🥰...but... I can already imagine The Look my one post office guy would give me if I walked up with that "envelope-box" 😳🤣🤣🤣
This video was so helpful. I plan to sell some small items through Mercari, eBay, etc. and I was intimidated about shipping because I rarely ever send packages that aren’t prepaid. I love the tips re: the flat rate envelope. Super useful! 👏🏼
OMG I'm not even in the US and I am going to use the flate rate envelope hack!! Awesome ty!
Loved the flat rate envelope hack!
Seriously THE BEST hacks!!! I saved this video bc I knew I would need these hacks one day...today was that day! 🎉
I know your video is more toward people who dont do a lot of shipping, but it would have been good to have mentioned Pirate ship. Its a way to get discounted shipping w/out going through USPS. Also, this is also a thing call Box in a Bag. You can ship a box in a bag (as long as its loose in the bag) for the bag rate.
This was really helpful information. I'm in Canada but from what I can tell a lot of the hacks and pricing (though not the prices) works pretty much the same for Canada Post.
As a librarian who works with shipping books all over the country you can also send books “library rate” via USPS which is way cheaper then other ways
I'm fairly certain that the library rate is only available for educational institutions. In other words, I couldn't mail from my home address using library mail. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, this is just the impression I get from the USPS website.
Great stuff thank you so much A lot of it I knew however I love love love the flat rate envelope hack
Wonderful advice! Thank you so much! I'm a beginner and have been searching for good advice on shipping for weeks. Yours is the best!
I almost didn't watch this one because I thought I was fairly familiar with shipping options. Of course, you didn't disappoint. I came away with some valuable nuggets. Thnnk you!
Thank you. You just clarified a few things for me. I am shipping this week several things as you are, family we are not going to be able to see. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas 🎄
What a great video idea. This information is so valuable at this time of year but anytime, really. The postal clerks always give me a funny look if I ask for help or don't know all the jargon you just presented., or don't know what is the best way to mail a package. Thank you so very much for this and Merry Christmas! Blessings - Judith 🎭🎵
I seriously gain SO much knowledge when watching your videos. Definitely the most informative channel I follow. Thank you for being so awesome! 💕
I am doing shipping internationally and you just helped me! Thank you so much for your time on making this video!
The USPS Postage Calculator: @t is so nice to have! Thank you so much Kallie!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄 ~ Maria
I actually had to send out a gift today and was about to go to the UPS store. I did the shipping calculator on both (didn't know they were a thing......I don't ship things ever lol) and USPS was way cheaper so thank you 😊
These hacks were genius!! Thank you soooo much! I hate all the different prizes! As a faux wedd6 flower designer who sends products worldwide, I have learned a few tricks as well. If a box is shaped le a cube, it will cost much more to send because it doesn't play nice with usps mailing equipment. Also, if a product gas one side bigger than 18" in length, there is a bug upcharge as well, regardless of it being lightweight! ) : So, I gave learned to mail weddings in multiple boxes to avoid extra shipping cost upgrades and also never buy/use cube boxes apparently! ) : I try to keep my
Boxes below 16", so they never bring out the dreaded measuring tape (the bain of my mailing experience...it was brings on higher prices ugh!)! ) :
Great video, as always! I usually do priority to get my. Products to my customers as quickly as possible! But, now I know, I am likely getting better bang for my buck too versus sending first class! Yayyyyyy! Almost all my boxes are over 1 lb! ( :
Happy holidays! ( : ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Tracy ( :
As always I thoroughly enjoyed your video, Kallie! TY for doing the hard work, i.e. research, of shipping at this time of year. My favorite hacks are the first two, the origami trick and the Scotch flex and seal. Making a box out of the flat rate envelope is truly genius! I have never heard of the flex and seal product but I intend to find out about it.
My craft/artistry is making altered hardback journals. Yes, I begin with a hardback book and use 10 to 12 sheets of 12 x 12“ cardstock, cut to the size of the book pages. The cardstock is then glued down and some excess book pages are torn out. I add pockets, other tuck spots, and journaling cards, ephemera, recipes, pics, paper dolls, flip-outs/flip-ups, etc, along with lace on the edge of each page. The exterior of most books is covered with fabric and other items to make it prettier. One postal person told me I could ship it as a book. But when I went in to do so, I got a different person who said no. So if you could come up with a creative help to help me, I would be one happy creative person and permanently indebted to you!
Merry Christmas and a blessed, safe and healthy, and more SANE 2021🎄
I would definitely ship it media mail. It fits the definition of a book, just altered! Did you ever find a better option?
Pirate ship has saved me a lot of money too!!
Same
This video was so very helpful, especially the self stick bubble wrap material. Thank you!
What great info. I will send everything to my daughter in flat rates boxes in the future. It's a fortune to send stuff across the country otherwise.
I always leave your videos having learned something new!
Well, I flew First Class once. But I weigh more than a pound so it was expensive. I will say THEY WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE. No, I do not want another snack or beverage! You don't even get to enjoy that lay-flat seat!! In this case: fly priority, and enjoy the flat-laying rate! 🤗
Genius hacks, Kallie! TYFS!!
I just sent two of those flat rate boxes!! Oh how I wish I knew this! Genius!
Hands down the best video on shipping
Loved this video. It’s hard to find any videos explaining shipping in depth.
Thank you so so much. Just found out I have to mail my daughter's gifts. Cleared up alot for me
Back in the olden days of e-commerce, before the '00s, I used to get bulk orders of USPS boxes, labels and even tape for free (all their Priority Mail products). When my buyers did not want to pay for priority, I would turn the boxes, envelopes, etc. inside out and repurpose them (brown cardboard facing out) and then either ship medial mail or 1st class (whichever was cheaper). I guess too many of us abused that, and soon the USPS was printing all of their boxes and materials with either PRIORITY or USPS on the insides. That is one of the reasons they now upcharge you for altering any of their flat-rate mailers.
The only thing with Medea mail is that it can be very slow!! I live on Hawaii Island and ordered a book in early October and it did not get to me until late November! Just something to keep in mind!!
That is very true. When we were stationed near Anchorage, I shipped Christmas cookbooks to my new address on Dec 1 & after assuming they were a lost cause, the box arrived on Good Friday! Media mail can also take up to 4-6wks anywhere in the contiguous US also.
@@jennawildah6514 I am still waiting after months and months. Missing Mail claims expired, Consumer Affairs? Nope. My brother hopefully will visit the Hawaii Post Office where we sent them from soon
Yes! I sent an item media mail to Hawaii and it never reached the buyer, even after I opened an inquiry with their local postmaster :/
that scotch flex n seal...OMG. Thank you!!
WOW, amazing! Thank you sooooo much! Also thanks for all the helpful "comments". I'm in awe!
This Grandmother sends a lot of packages and I learned such valuable info thru your video. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas! Take care and stay safe.
i can't believe I just wached almost 15 minutes on shipping packages....but i did! And it's the mailman from the Kitboga videos!!!!
Great video! For my Etsy shop I often use Pirateship.com. They have cheaper rates than USPS.
Oh wow I’ve never seen that scotch flex and seal! Great info!
o my God where i was last 20 years i been doing online business the way she explain i could save 1 half of milon
Thanks for the great information. It is so confusing and you have explained it much better.
So helpful!! I was always a little intimidated going to the post office, not anymore!
Commenting before I watch: USPS clerk here...let’s see what you got...
I worked as a letter carrier for almost 10 years and as an SSDA for almost as long (in mgmt now), including as an SSDA OJI. Much of her information was accurate, so I appreciate that; wish she had mentioned our 70lb weight limit.
@@ChrisStargazer She did have it on the screen when she was talking about the priority flat rate (right around the 3 min mark). That may not be clear that that weight applies to all shipping (does it?) but it was on the screen. 😊
@@kimberlynewsom9876 anything 70 lbs or above is UNmailable at USPS.
@@ChrisStargazer I made a comment above this after I watched.
How do we go about shipping media mail? Is there a certain box/package? Do we say ship it 4th class? Thank you!
Thanks for the tips and hacks! Pretty sure I watched this when you put it out and just watched it again because I definitely need them right now. Thanks!
The first video that you did was called “ How to wrap it the right way.” I think that’s whats it’s called.
Quality video, thank you! I've gone twice to USPS this year and there's no clear instructions on what is the best and budget option to ship. I did't even know I had to write my own shipping label as I'm used to UPS printing that out for me. The black employee lady was extremely rude too. So this video really helps out a lot.
Thank you. I'm so happy I can't across your video. I'm shipping something in the usps envelope.
Perfect timing! Thank you for explaining it all.
Omg, I thought I was an idiot for not understanding the aspects of shipping USPS. What really bothers me is when I ship something almost identical in weight and size and one will come out as 2-Day Priority while the other ends up 3-Day Priority. I assumed it had something to do with distance, but a couple times I did that the packages were going to the same address.
Also, sometimes it seems like heavier packages are cheaper to ship than lighter ones. It's a mystery.
You deserve a Ph.D. in Shipology. Excellent information. Merry Christmas!
Wow ! This helped me understand usps even better ! I always had trouble understanding the difference ! Thank you so much !!
Thank you so much for this video! I have always found the USPS classes and flat rate boxes confusing and would rather not go into the post office if I don't have to. I wasn't sure if the flat rate boxes were free or if you paid for them up front...thank you for clarifying!!! Hope you are feeling as well as you can at this stage of your pregnancy!
Did I read right???? "flat rate packaging are free...?
You have sincerely saved my Christmas! Have to ship to 3 dear friends; thank you, thank you, thank you! Merry Christmas to you & yours!!!! 🎄🙏🏻🎁😊
What a great video! This is not the most exciting topic, but holy cow is this information invaluable. Thanks for this!
This was fantastic and informative. Thank you so much for sharing ✨ Many blessings to you!
Ughhhh I literally shipped 5 boxes this morning. I guess I’ll use your advice for next year! 😂🤣😂🤣💀💀😂😂🤣😂
So comprehensive and simplified!!!👏🏻
Thanks for the great tips. You’re not taught this stuff in school haha. I probably would’ve never figured this stuff out by the book if not for this video 😂 hope you and your family are happy and healthy ❤️
My main holiday anxiety this year has been shipping! 🥴 I needed this video, thank you!
I sometimes see people at the post office use a medium flat rate box to ship something that will easily fit into a standard priority mail box…sometimes it’s a postal clerk who gives them the flat rate box, instead of providing them with a cheaper option…..
I have never seen anyone do a video from this perspective! Thanks for the great tips!
If its below 13oz use a regular package if its over use a flat rate. If your in the USA shipping to just uSA ask for the table that shows you how to use zip codes to look up cost of a package, get a scale, and you'll know cost of your package :D
Just a few things to clarify. The weight cutoff between 1st Class and Priority is 13oz, not 1lb. It's 16oz if you are printing your postage online. Our shipping services are, from top to bottom, Priority Express, Priority, 1st Class and Ground service. We don't use 2nd, 3rd and 4th Class terms anymore since they all fall under the Ground Service banner. Media Mail, Library Mail, Mail For the Blind, etc all fall under the Ground Service banner and all travel at the same speed. As far as the Flat Rate Envelope hack goes, we don't care how much you stick in there, as long as it closes properly without the need for tape to keep it closed. Flat rate boxes are priced to ship at the dimension of the box. If you over pack the box to where it bulges and exceeds the marked dimensions of the box, it can either be shipped by the flat rate price or the price of the package by weight, which ever is higher. "If it fits, it ships" means if it fits properly. ALL packages come with a tracking number. The only things that don't automatically come with tracking are 1st Class letters and 1st Class Large Flat envelopes, but you can get tracking by Certifying them. Large packages usually get charged what is called DIM Weight. You may be shipping a box of feathers, but you may be charged for 20lbs of weight because your box takes up so much space in an airplane cargo hold. So don't make your boxes any bigger than they need to be, or cut them down if you have to. It can save you a lot of money. If you bring in a package that has Priority Mail stickers or tape on them, or you're reusing an old Priority Mail box, it still has to be shipped Priority Mail. If you use one of the free Priority Mail labels available at the Post Office, even if you cut off or mark out the parts of it that say Priority Mail, it's still going Priority Mail. We know what our labels look like. The labels and Priority tape are free only if you use the Priority service. Media mail does NOT include comic books, magazines, catalogs or anything else that contains advertising. It does include books, audio tapes, video cassettes, DVD's, CD's and such. It does include DVD game for systems like the Play Station and X Box or home computers, but it does not include game cartridges like for the old Nintendo and Atari games. (That shows my age) If you are dropping off a load of packages at the counter, please have a manifest, also known as a SACN sheet available, so that all your packages can be scanned into the system with just one barcode to scan. I guess that's more than a few things. I'm just trying to think of the more common mistakes I see daily as a postal window clerk.
It’s 13oz.
Of course I am. Like I said, the cut off is at 13oz. 16oz (or 1lb) if you’re printing your postage online.
thank you🙏
Your advice is great for this time of year!!!🎄🎄🎄 You are very informative and easy to listen to... directions are always clear and easy to follow.. Just what I needed tonight...🎄🎄🦌⛄❣️🥰
Great video and tips. You took something that is so complicated and helped so many understand. Thank you.
Liked your hacks and tips. The "origami" shaping of the main flat-rate envelop was not something I ever thought about... I usually put the item in and then shape it around my item. :-) I use tape on my priority mail envelopes and boxes to make sure they stay closed. Not sure I trust the USPS glue, but it does work really well when creating the boxes for shipping. Have you ever tried to send one with tape? I really like the bubble stuff that seals itself tip... I think that might be great for media mail items... books, at least. It looks expensive, but I will try to check it out. It's March 2022 now, but the info is still pretty good. Prices change but the tips seem to last. :-)
Ok this is a honest question from someone still learning, Can you use the “free usps priority shipping boxes” for ground advantage? And if not just bc it says “priority” can you just tape over it?
Great video and tips!! And so needed, even more this year. 👍🙌