Shipping Services

For most items, the U.S. post office will offer the lowest cost and often most convenient shipping services.

If you have very large, heavy, and/or odd-shaped items, it is advisable to check the services of other transit companies like UPS, FedEx, DLS and any regional services you can find. Make sure to verify the measurements, weight as packaged to ship, and if it is odd sized. There can be substantial surcharges if the item is a nonstandard shape or oversize. There are even surcharges for large items that do not meet a minimum weight. Try not to estimate the packaged weight. Underestimating can cause substantial differences in the shipping charged and the actual cost. You do not need to package it. Just weigh the item, and packaging material required, and add them together. Make sure the box is the correct size and sturdy enough for the weight and fragility of the item you are shipping. Consider if double boxing is required and what type of protection will be required to prevent damage from crushing or moving around in the box. Bubble wrap, peanuts, and air pillows reduce shipping costs but you usually need to purchase them. Sometimes it is a cost savings to use newspaper, tissue, or other supplies on hand and pay higher shipping fees rather than purchasing the materials.

For items you do not want to attempt shipping, then you can offer them for local pick-up only. Post them to other boards like craigslist.com. Yet, even if you have them listed on Craig’s list, you can still list the same item on eBay. Just make sure and note in the listing the item is for sale elsewhere and subject to possible sell before the item ends. If you do sell the item using a forum other than eBay, make sure and end your item on eBay. You do not want to sell something you no longer own. When using local pick-up only, I usually list the item in my store only. Due to the limited buyers within driving distance it usually does not justify the cost of sending it to auction
You can sell cars, machinery and other high-priced, large items on auction and offer pick-up only. It is advisable to use auction listings for items that the buyer is willing to drive a greater distance or pay a third party to arrange shipping. If you are selling your basketball hoop or dog kennel, then you might want to list it in your store inventory with local pick-up only. See paragraph above.