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So apparently I can no longer afford to pin trade by mail - thanks USPS!

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So apparently I can no longer afford to pin trade by mail - thanks USPS!
Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky

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Not a rant, just a sad milestone realization...

Because my wants list is so small after all these years of collecting, I generally don't get to trade much anyway. Or at all except locally for whatever is current/recent. So I really haven't pin traded by mail in a while I guess because I just got back from the post office and to mail 2 pins from SoCal to Central California cost me almost $7!!! (Yes, tracking and insurance too - always have used that.)

I'm just stunned by that number. I used to be able to send two pin packages for that kind of money. And frankly, I just can't afford $7 in postage for anything going anywhere much less a pin trade (ironically I wasn't even trading for pins for my collection but just swapping out some of my traders and getting some pins for a friend).

It's a hard sad truth - but I can no longer afford to trade by mail. I guess that's just another step in the changes in the hobby since I started so many years ago. But it's still really sad. :(

I think it's time for me to really think about getting rid of my traders entirely... :(
 
Yikes, yeah, that burns... it really is not worth it when the cost of postage for a trade could amount to you simply purchasing a new pin (well, not a rare pin, obviously). I could still see doing it if the pins in question were indeed rare or expensive, though. But I am sorry to hear you are thinking of quitting the trade altogether.
 
The advantage I have living in SoCal is that I can still trade locally. But when I've had pins in my trade bag for 7 years+ in some cases and pins on my wants for longer than that that I still can't trade for, at this point, it's time to think about letting it go.

Not giving up on pins - I still love love love my pins and want to keep up my collection. But I add to my trade bag and then wonder: why did I do that when I can't trade them for what I want anyway? Time to stop doing that, I think. :/
 
We bought a scale (usps approved) on Amazon & have been creating shipping labels thru Paypal, that include tracking, at home. Costs about $1.93 to ship compared to almost $3 at the post office....just a thought. You could even weigh it at the post of & still created the label at home. You can use this for trades...doesn't have to involve a paypal transaction.
 
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GoofyinMadison said:
We bought a scale (usps approved) on Amazon & have been creating shipping labels thru Paypal, that include tracking, at home. Costs about $1.93 to ship compared to almost $3 at the post office....just a thought. You could even weigh it at the post of & still created the label at home. You can use this for trades...doesn't have to involve a paypal transaction.
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+1. Insurance is cheaper too through online shipping methods.
 
I know that PayPal shipping is cheaper but my post office won't acknowledge or guarantee packages using other shipping services like that. They won't promise accurate tracking, etc. To do what I have always done for almost a decade of trading by mail now costs twice what it used to. I just can't do it. :(

On top of that, my nearest post office just shortened their weekday hours so I can only go there on Saturdays and can't ship anything during the week.

Seriously, sometimes I think the USPS WANTS to lose business and shut down entirely. :(
 
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Jabberwocky said:
I know that PayPal shipping is cheaper but my post office won't acknowledge or guarantee packages using other shipping services like that. They won't promise accurate tracking, etc. To do what I have always done for almost a decade of trading by mail now costs twice what it used to. I just can't do it. :(
Click to expand...

That is the biggest load of malarkey I have ever heard. I take all my packages, that I print with either Stamps.com or PayPal Shipping, and mail them at my local PO without issue, and they are treated EXACTLY, and I really can not stress that word enough, as if I bought the postage right there. They scan the package right there, and I have never had an issue with "won't promise accurate tracking, etc". If they tell you that, ask them for the contact info for the local Postmaster and report them!
 
^ Honestly, I don't think our PO is long for the world. They've cut back the hours ridiculously, all the awesome, competent and I hate to say it - English-speaking - folks have retired or are about to and mail keeps taking longer and longer to arrive there. It was such a great place for so many years and now, it's just a barely-open mess with folks who don't care, don't speak English well if barely at all and make me stress over every package that leaves or arrives and keep trying to force extra services on me every time I go in. :(

There's no point in complaining because they don't understand what I'm saying and don't care anyway. :(

I miss our awesome postal folks who are long gone into retirement or the ones about to retire who I almost never see anymore because their hours are so cut back! :(

Ultimately, all I know is it all makes me not want to do business with the USPS!
 
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It seems there have been cut backs in many USPS locations. Was just talking to someone last night about theirs, and I know mine is very difficult to work with. I almost have a sigh of relief whenever I find out Fedex or UPS is involved with one of my orders now. That isn't about me shipping anything, but I've noticed strange problems happen the last few months with them and it makes me wonder what's up sometimes. It has only been the last few months that things have been strange. Never had problems before.
 
Ninpin said:
It has only been the last few months that things have been strange. Never had problems before.
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Yup - it's been maybe the last year or so that it's gotten bad. I understand there are cutbacks, but raising the prices for worse service is not a way to keep customers. :/

I was a big supporter of our postal service (and our local office) for a very long time, but the extra effort and time it now takes to get anything accomplished - when LESS people are using the USPS every year - is just a growing frustration. :(
 
Jabberwocky said:
Yup - it's been maybe the last year or so that it's gotten bad. I understand there are cutbacks, but raising the prices for worse service is not a way to keep customers. :/

I was a big supporter of our postal service (and our local office) for a very long time, but the extra effort and time it now takes to get anything accomplished - when LESS people are using the USPS every year - is just a growing frustration. :(
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That is the problem with our country, we are accepting poor service and not doing anything about it!!! This is unacceptable!!! First ask to speak to the supervisor. If that doesn't work ask to speak to the offices post master. If that doesn't work speak to the local post master and keep going until you get what you deserve from these jerks. The post office is loosing money because of the idiots they are hiring and expecting us to just accept their crappy treatment. Don't ever stand for poor service from anybody.
 
I also use Paypal shipping. You can ship two to three small pins for $1.93. Tracking is free. You print your own labels. No standing in line at post office. Go to paypal.com/shipnow.
 
Honestly, I don't trust that the package will be handled at all if I just drop it off without proof I paid for it there. As it is, I have repeatedly had to ask them to go searching for packages days after they should have been delivered to me. I can't afford to alienate them any more than I already do simply by asking them to do simple things like find a package in the back room. If it wasn't a pain to go to another office farther away, I'd stop using my local one entirely. The supervisor there doesn't care (and doesn't speak English well) and is in fact one of the most impossible to deal with there. I can only make an impact by not using their service. But in the long run that only will leave me without a local post office when this one inevitably shuts down. Having just cut another 2 hours per day out of their schedule, thus not allowing folks to take care of business before the work day starts, I really don't think they'll be open for the long run. I think cutting the hours is just the next step in the inevitable - like letting go of all the really competent people there and just hiring people who have bad attitudes and can't understand what you're saying anyway. :(

And the post offices near my work - are even worse.
 
Jabberwocky said:
I know that PayPal shipping is cheaper but my post office won't acknowledge or guarantee packages using other shipping services like that. They won't promise accurate tracking, etc. To do what I have always done for almost a decade of trading by mail now costs twice what it used to. I just can't do it. :(

On top of that, my nearest post office just shortened their weekday hours so I can only go there on Saturdays and can't ship anything during the week.

Seriously, sometimes I think the USPS WANTS to lose business and shut down entirely. :(
Click to expand...

Step one - get a digital scale from any of the Big Box office supply stores. They're relatively inexpensive and exceptionally accurate.

Step two - Utilize either Paypal or the USPS online shipping programs to purchase postage - this typically includes free tracking / insurance is extra. You also get an online discount from USPS and they will even pick up at your home upon request for FREE.

Step three - either print out to a label or paper and attach to your package.

And that's it.

To cut down on the costs, you may also want to review how you package / ship items. Bubble envelopes are preferred but unfortunately most pins are just thick enough with the post to be outside the standard width - generating a surcharge. If you use the pre packaged drink mixes - typically sold in oval tubes - they extremely strong, very light, crush resistant, and exactly the right size for shipping standard pins. They just need a little cushioning at the top and bottom. For larger - more valuable pins - take advantage of the Free boxes from USPS. Do utilize brown shipping paper to wrap the box otherwise you'll be paying for the Priority mail. If heavy enough you'll be using Priority mail anyway.

Time factor - in the US you do have the option of UPS for package delivery. But remember for normal mail the post office says they will get it across country in 3-5 days (on average/weather permitting). UPS may take "longer" for routine "truck" deliveries and not necessarily save you any money.

For international mail, there are few cheap options anymore. The other mail services FedEx / UPS will get it there but still charge an arm/leg for the privilege. You only think the Post Office is expensive until you see what the competition wants for the same time / type of service.
 
Yeah, about the hours, my post office has horrible hours for work schedules as well. When I need to sign for a package, and I have no idea when it's showing up (due to tracking never working for me), I wind up having to race to the post office every day after work to see if my package is there or not, since I don't have time to go home, check for a slip, and return to the post office before closing. They don't like it when you show up without a slip, but I don't like having to wait an extra day.

The man who works there looks like he should be a drill sergeant for the army, but I guess I prefer that to what you are dealing with with a language barrier.

EDIT: Great tips on shipping by the other posters, by the way! :3
 
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Gosh, I guess I live in a PO paradise. I use Stamps.com to do most of my packages and then just drop them in a nearby mailbox. Easier and cheaper. For international packages, I always go into the PO and the employees there are always helpful, patient and usually (but not always) friendly. I live within striking distance of three different offices and I have used them all. Never had a bad experience, other than long lines, at any of them. I have had issues with the service (lost packages, long delivery times, etc.) but not with the employees. Sorry you have had so many problems.
 
You can request a scan receipt when dropping off a package payed by PayPal. You will then be able to track no differently than if shipping was purchased at the PO, because it is entered into the system. You should not have the need to be concerned that your item will not properly find its way to the desired destination, especially if it can be tracked from the moment of drop-off. And if they do mishandle it, or outright refuse to take the package, that is grounds for discipline up to termination for that USPS employee. So don't be afraid to pursue any issues that may arise because an employee wants to create their own personal policy or mistreat your package.
 
JKrolak said:
For larger - more valuable pins - take advantage of the Free boxes from USPS. Do utilize brown shipping paper to wrap the box otherwise you'll be paying for the Priority mail. If heavy enough you'll be using Priority mail anyway.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you said except this one right here. Use a regular box, not one of the free priority mail boxes. There's a reason why USPS now stamps the inside of these free priority mail boxes with USPS/PRIORITY MAIL (because people were turning their boxes inside out and using them for regular shipping). You don't want to be the person whose trader got stuck with the extra postage because USPS found out about it (there's a small chance the would find out, especially if somehow the brown paper gets detached during their handling)

The tracking that USPS provides through PayPal or their own online USPS.com is the same as the tracking that you purchase at the post office (it's just free!)

I always ask for a pre-paid mail acceptance receipt at my post office so that I know they've scanned it into their system.
 
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