NFR PSA: Shipping Labels

[mcswny]

If you’re like me and buy and sell a lot online you’ve noticed shipping has gotten expensive. Well a couple months ago someone from another forum gave me a heads up about pirateship.com. It’s some sort of aggregate to get the cheapest possible shipping short of selling through eBay. I honestly don’t know how it works and am in no way affiliated. I sold a 3 piece rod a month ago and insured it was only like $16 to ship it. I’ve been using it consistently and it’s been super easy to use.

 

[Evan B]

If you’re like me and buy and sell a lot online you’ve noticed shipping has gotten expensive. Well a couple months ago someone from another forum gave me a heads up about pirateship.com. It’s some sort of aggregate to get the cheapest possible shipping short of selling through eBay. I honestly don’t know how it works and am in no way affiliated. I sold a 3 piece rod a month ago and insured it was only like $16 to ship it. I’ve been using it consistently and it’s been super easy to use.

And while we're on the topic, because I deal with this just about every time I buy something online from a private party: Never, please... ship from a UPS Store or other mailbox store. Those are third party services that charge roughly double the actual rate.

 

[flybill]

You can get a deal even with UPS if you go online and print your own label.. I drop mine off at the actual UPS distribution center since it's located very close to me. Haven't had a problem yet! Plus I know a few UPS drivers so get the inside scoop most of the time.. but yes it's getting more expensive.

I was looking at a bottle from a wine/liquor store in Anacortes and the bottle was $30.. shipping was another $30.. hard pass!

 

[Phil K]

I'm in a band with a guy who has an active business buying and selling instruments. He always uses PirateShip and has had nary a problem, mateys.

 

[mcswny]

You can get a deal even with UPS if you go online and print your own label.. I drop mine off at the actual UPS distribution center since it's located very close to me. Haven't had a problem yet! Plus I know a few UPS drivers so get the inside scoop most of the time.. but yes it's getting more expensive.

I was looking at a bottle from a wine/liquor store in Anacortes and the bottle was $30.. shipping was another $30.. hard pass!

That’s essentially what pirateship is. You buy your usps/ups/fed ex labels online and then drop them off.

 

[mcswny]

And while we're on the topic, because I deal with this just about every time I buy something online from a private party: Never, please... ship from a UPS Store or other mailbox store. Those are third party services that charge roughly double the actual rate.

My god. I did a direct trade with a guy where we traded rods where we each paid for our own shipping. They were both 7’ 3 piece rods. My shipping was ~$17 and his was $70. Not sure what the hell he did.

 

[Evan B]

My god. I did a direct trade with a guy where we traded rods where we each paid for our own shipping. They were both 7’ 3 piece rods. My shipping was ~$17 and his was $70. Not sure what the hell he did.

Probably a UPS store or other mailbox store like I said. Though that's a bigger markup than I've personally seen. When I worked at ECHO, I'd have guys complain all the time it cost $40-50 to ship their rods in for warranty/repair (after I specifically told them to take it directly to the post office where it was $14).

 

[Roper]

If you’re like me and buy and sell a lot online you’ve noticed shipping has gotten expensive. Well a couple months ago someone from another forum gave me a heads up about pirateship.com. It’s some sort of aggregate to get the cheapest possible shipping short of selling through eBay. I honestly don’t know how it works and am in no way affiliated. I sold a 3 piece rod a month ago and insured it was only like $16 to ship it. I’ve been using it consistently and it’s been super easy to use.

My wife found Pirateship, we love it. Even sent a package to the UK.

 

[Josh]

Pirateship is solid for sure.

 

[Wetswinger]

If you ship things (rods) in a tube, there's a fee for that. Do they roll off the conveyerbelt ?.. I put my tubes in a homemade triangle box ..

 

[mcswny]

If you ship things (rods) in a tube, there's a fee for that. Do they roll off the conveyerbelt ?.. I put my tubes in a homemade triangle box ..

I just usually have a rectangular box on hand to ship rods. I tend to buy and sell used rods a lot. UPS via pirate ship tends to be the cheapest shipping option.

 

[fatbillybob]

Great find piraitship! I've been happy this holiday season shipping with USPS "enhanced click n'ship" FEDEX was 20 bucks and USPS was $6

 

[chief]

+1 for Pirateship.

 

[kmudgn]

I saw the posting yesterday and used it today to ship parts for my Davis Weather Station back to CA. It was not a ton of money cheaper than the rack rate from USPS, but the pre-printed label saved me at least 45-60 min in line at the USPS office this morning. Holiday shipping had the queue out the door with about 10 people waiting outside to get into the lobby. I was able to skip the line and drop the box at the pre-paid station and leave. Got dirty looks, but that was not my problem.

 

[RCF]

Time is money. So you saved alot.

 

[mcswny]

I saw the posting yesterday and used it today to ship parts for my Davis Weather Station back to CA. It was not a ton of money cheaper than the rack rate from USPS, but the pre-printed label saved me at least 45-60 min in line at the USPS office this morning. Holiday shipping had the queue out the door with about 10 people waiting outside to get into the lobby. I was able to skip the line and drop the box at the pre-paid station and leave. Got dirty looks, but that was not my problem.

Was it a small box? I’ve found the smaller boxes you save less than bigger ones. Fly rods for example you save a ton.

 

[Brian Miller]

a couple months ago someone from another forum gave me a heads up about pirateship.com.

Do I need a special "postal scale" to use pirateship.com?

 

[mcswny]

Do I need a special "postal scale" to use pirateship.com?

Nope! I use my baking scale!

 

[flybill]

Do I need a special "postal scale" to use pirateship.com?

Yes! You need a special "Jack Sparrow" scale or a Pirate Ship shaped scale! Duh!! LOL!!

 

[kmudgn]

Was it a small box? I’ve found the smaller boxes you save less than bigger ones. Fly rods for example you save a ton.

Yes, small box (equivalent to USPS "medium"). Less than 1lb.