I just looked in the Zebra LP2844 and it costs $575. I'm sure it's a great investment for the long run but I just don't have that kind of money right now. Can anyone offer an alternative?
The Zebra LP2844 thermal printer is much less than that on eBay. If you search the forums, there are several links to good sellers to buy from.
eBay is a great place to buy shipping supplies (scales, printers, shipping bags). You can find links to sellers in the forums in other threads.
I got mine at Office Depot, i think i paid like 50 dollars for it, and make sure it has oucnes and grams,, well at least ouces, I also use mine to measure Mineral Makeup,, lol
__________________ Sandy Jo MMM www.rhinestonetemplates.com Life is a circle, What comes around Goes around!
Paypal shipping charges more for their first class packages. They charge extra for confirmation and you have to use it. Turns out to be about .20 per package. Maybe more! That adds up over a month. This is how they get you. Doesn't matter because its not insured so if gets delivered at wrong you are still out. I ship 600 first class packages a month and you can see how that would add up.
With Stamps.com you pay 15.00 per month for their service and don't have to pay that extra paypal is charging. I never realized it until I tried stamps.com and couldn't figure out why it was cheaper for example 10 ounce package when paypal was charging me more.
Man was I upset. I lost hundreds of dollars..
Paypal shipping charges more for their first class packages. They charge extra for confirmation and you have to use it. Turns out to be about .20 per package. Maybe more! That adds up over a month. This is how they get you. Doesn't matter because its not insured so if gets delivered at wrong you are still out. I ship 600 first class packages a month and you can see how that would add up.
With Stamps.com you pay 15.00 per month for their service and don't have to pay that extra paypal is charging. I never realized it until I tried stamps.com and couldn't figure out why it was cheaper for example 10 ounce package when paypal was charging me more.
Man was I upset. I lost hundreds of dollars..
PAYPAL argggggg..
Thanks for that info.
I plan on shipping Priority. Will the cost of $0.20/package be the same? If so, I might have to reconsider using a service like Stamps.com or Endicia.
I use USPS and UPS. If you ship certain amount of package a day, the UPS's rate can be negotiated.
Here are what I like these 2 carriers:
USPS: Free boxes, free pick up and no extra charge for Saturday delivery.
UPS: Easy to print lable if you use their thermal printer, great tracking system and $100 no cost insurance.
Here are what I don't like:
USPS: too many off holidays, poor tracking system specially for international shipment and
UPS: weekly fee for pick up, extra fee for Saturday delivery and higher fee for international shipment.
I use Stamps.com. I've been using it since I started. Because my real job is mortgages , and not rhinestone designs, I did not have time to go to the post office etc. and just signed up for a time saver. However, I like the fact that I can incorporate my logo into my shipping labels, I get delivery confirmation, I get monthly report usage e-mailed to me, I can set up various accounts to track my postage which helps during tax time (separate private from business), I can e-mail a customer when I ship their package, and you actually get an electronic postage discount (although not a whole lot). In addition, I can store my customer's addresses and import from other areas. I also noticed that postage is HIGHER when you use PayPal, so I'll stick with Stamps.
With Paypal and Priority I don't really know. Flat Rate envelopes Priority are not more money. But I bet weighed priority is.
USPS is faster from California to East Coast. Way faster than UPS. Ebay customers want their stuff fast so I ship USPS. Plus with T-Shirts its better with USPS because it's cheaper unless you sell a customer 15 or more shirts then better to ship UPS.
I will tell you this, watch Paypal's pricing they don't give you something for free that's not their business.
Great thread. I complain about shipping more than anything. I really do not like the way the USPS measures every thing not in one of their boxes so I use them as much as possible. Flat rate is the way to go to West Coast. FedEx is the pits. I read today they will be in chapter 11 in 2009. UPS and maybe DHL will weather the storm. Thanks and good luck!
I'm debating opening an endicia account today simply to save standing in line at the Post Office on the Saturday before Christmas. My only options from USPS and PayPal are Priority and Overnight, no first class or lower end options are available on either site. While I love International orders, if it's more than one shirt it means I go stand in line. That alone is worth signing up for endicia or stamps.com
I thought I'd also add a word about the USPS site that can be infuriating. On several occasions I've had trouble printing a label there. I return it to my cart, try to reprint and repeat the process until I succeed. In PayPal that would cost me nothing extra. With the USPS site, they will charge you for each label you tried to print and getting a refund can be a cumbersome process that can take weeks. Once it was an overnight package and I had $90 tied up for 3 weeks.
I worked for PAYPAL for some time, it was for european market, but all the same. my genuine advise would be to keep away for this system. you are very vulnerable if you have misfortune to face a dishonest buyer. say, somebody buys you t-shirt and when receives it, he doesn't like the color. then he opens a buyer complaint saying the t-shirt was ripped, dirty, used, or some other nonsence. in 99% of cases paypal will reverse the money back to him and you'll be robbed.
paypal is expensive and insecure for the sellers (although to work there was a good crack )
Re: USPS vs. Endicia vs. Stamps.com vs. Paypal 
MMM 
, and not rhinestone designs, I did not have time to go to the post office etc. and just signed up for a time saver. However, I like the fact that I can incorporate my logo into my shipping labels, I get delivery confirmation, I get monthly report usage e-mailed to me, I can set up various accounts to track my postage which helps during tax time (separate private from business), I can e-mail a customer when I ship their package, and you actually get an electronic postage discount (although not a whole lot). In addition, I can store my customer's addresses and import from other areas. I also noticed that postage is HIGHER when you use PayPal, so I'll stick with Stamps.
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