Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Okay, I just shipped two auctions that I just ended. Usuaully a box the size I shipped would of been $10, not anymore... it's $30... so beware, if you're going to ship a banana corm, or anything else priority, plan to pay a lot extra! I didn't ask my buyers to give me the extra money, but told them that it would be appreciated if they did as I cannot afford paying $20 for each of them to receive their plants.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Where did you ship to?

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Yes, I haven't noticed an major increase. I know it did go up some.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Yeah, it's gone up about $3 for priority mail it seems. I think the overnight packages really went up.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

i know that here everytime you take a box to the p.o. they measure it now. and it cost me 15.00 to send a box that did only cost 8.95 to ship before. i think its the gas prices etc...

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

That happened to me the last time I mailed a box as well. They took out a tape measure and measured it. I have sent many boxes that size before, that weighed a lot more than that one, and they were much cheaper. Seems now they are adding a "surcharge" for boxes over a certain dimension, regardless of weight.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

these were large box's... I'd sent out some like this before (only a few months ago) and it only cost like $10-12. Yeah, took out that tape measure and started measuring, I couldn't believe it. Well guess I'm out of $40 and just gave away $20 to each of the people that bought from me. One just e-mailed me back and said sorry, you lost out (Thanks). Now makes me wish I hadn't thrown in a little extra in the box for that person.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

It was domestic. One from here in FL to IN, one to MN, and one to OR, but the price increase was much higher for MN and OR.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Will banana corms survive ground shipping that could take 7-14 days? I've always been scared of ground shipping. The post man told me it would of been MUCH cheaper to have shipped it ground... but since I was already there, spent hours packing, and it was in the ad that it was coming priority I felt I hadn't any other choice.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

The best thing to do is not to mail too far out of state. I know that sounds unfeasible when people who answer your ad are from other states, but, shipping within the state of FLorida and to close by states like GA, AL, MS is much cheaper than going out of the 'close zone'. If you are doing this just as a sideline and not as an actual business, I myself would just stop doing it. I use UPS a lot instate, its not only cheaper than the USPS but you get next day delivery in almost all cases.

I don't sell plants, because here in Florida where we both live, you are supposed to be licensed and inspected in order to sell plants. You are also supposed to be registered to collect and remit sales and use tax, which is a big headache. You are supposed to report ALL your sales, even the ones that are "exempt" that you didn't actually collect any tax on (ie mailed out of state). I held a nursery license at one time and did run a small mail order business. But the rising cost of fuel to heat the greenhouse, shipping, and the ever increasing burden of trying to meet all the regulations and stay current on the Agricultural laws impacting every state were just too much for the small amount of money I was getting. Not to mention having to file those pesky sales and use tax returns. The state is VERY finicky about their cut of the cash. If you are selling stuff and not remitting tax returns, I hope you don't get caught. They take this stuff seriously. So I let my license go and closed my business. Now I only trade, and try to only trade with people who live very close to me geographically.

The only reason to do it for me is to increase the unusual and more rare things in my collection.I can buy just about anything common that I want locally. I like to trade for what I consider "the good stuff". Depending on how good itis, that makes the high postage worth it or not.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

oh josh that is terrible!!!!dont you love the ethics of some people?? the least they could do is offer a refund on the part that wasnt covered or send you some plants. im sorry for that josh, some people are !@#$ holes!

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Yeah, I know... but oh well... I gave it as an option, and not a request. I know had that been me, I would of at least offered to cover some of it even though I might not have purchased it knowing the shipping would of been that high, or request ground. Oh well, lesson learned, from now on, shipping ground or priority is their option, but it's actual cost of shipping...

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Thanks for the info Gina, but how could that really get regulated in a online atmostphere such as here or e-bay. Even e-bay is yet to be really regulated. I'm actually amazed it hasn't been yet by the IRS.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Josh, you can go to usps.com and enter your box dimensions and weights to get an exact cost quote. I did this when I mailed a package last week and it turned out to be the exact price. That will save you the shock at the counter. I was surprised when the rates went up as well when the postman told me my total!

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Would it had fit into a flat rate box? I know they have asked me that at the post office.

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

That is a drastic change!

You may want to look into priority flat rate boxes.
If your shipment fits into a large flat rate box (12" x 12" x 5.5") and weighs no more than 70 pounds then it costs $12.95 shipped anywhere in the U.S. The box itself is free.

They have two different smaller flat rate boxes that ship anywhere in the U.S. for $9.80. They are sized at 11" x 8.5" x 5.5" and 13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375".

USPS - Priority Mail Flat Rate Shipping Supplies


You can also calculate postage online:
Postage Price Calculator

I calculate, buy and print my postage online for my shipments. No surprises that way:
https://sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

Thanks Austin, yeah I knew about going there... but never figured prices would of been hiked up so much so I didn't feel a need to. NOW, that's different... LOL

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

It was a 2'+ banana corm (WAS 3'). Had I made it a 1' corm it would have fit!

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

I think you'd be surprised.
When I was in business, the rep from the USDA who came around to do my plant inspections told me that they have people in place who monitor eBay and other online sale venues to be certain that no one is selling or buying citrus out of state that isn't inspected. There was also a case a while ago reported on one of the forums by a person who sold a rare cactus on eBay that is classified as endangered (its a FL Keys Native plant). He claimed he grew the plant from seed and did not harvest it from the wild, but a few days after the sale "plant police" showed up at both his door and the door of the buyer and confiscated the plant. eBay maintains its records of everything you do on there, even if you close your account and stop selling, pretty much forever, and if legal authorities ask to see it, they freely divulge it. This is basically to protect themselves from liability or prosecution as the "venue" by putting anything you did squarely back on your shoulders. Its kind of a "you're supposed to know better" kinda thing. All I am saying is just be careful. As the government hurts for dollars more and more they often find ways of enforcing laws that you'd never think they could have the time or manpower to do, and because th einternet is probably outpacing "in person" shopping now or will in the future, they will certainly come up with some type of system to monitor it and be certain they get their cut of everything.

We were in CA last month and bought a case of wine at a vineyard we visited for a tasting and had it shipped. Of course they didn;t charge us tax because it was shipped out of state, but our purchase arrived with a "tax information sheet" saying that the sale had been reported to the FL Dept of Revenue and that they would be sending us a tax return to file shortly. And they did, and we had to pay tax on that purchase. I guess it was better to pay FL tax at 6% that CA tax at 8,5%. But they will find you if they want to,

Re: Shipping prices changed DRASTICALLY!
 

As fuel prices go up, the importance of local suppliers will increase, along with the construction of electric rail and solar arrays in the southwest. Kyocera is currently proposing gigawatt arrays in traditionally neglected areas of the southwest deserts. The better locations also have deposits of certain salts that can be melted in aqueous solution by concentrators during the day and then generate electricity at night as they cool. :lurk: