Yum Yum Ship Smart

Using a Shipping Service to save $$

Wouldn’t you like to “Save up to 89% off USPS® & UPS® rates with our free shipping software”? I know I would and I HAVE saved a ton on shipping since I switched to a shipping service in March of this year.

So I asked around and was told about these two online companies:
Shippo: https://goshippo.com/
Pirate Ship: https://ship.pirateship.com/

I have settled on Pirate Ship (recommended by Mercedes who ships a TON for CPCRN and my sister who works in a retail/online store and ships a ton as well). So far (according to Pirate Ship) I have saved almost $400 this year. Here is a good overview of how it works:
https://www.pirateship.com/features

It’s free to sign up and all you need is a scale (https://tinyurl.com/bd9buzac – to search Amazon) and boxes. The last part has been tricky for me but I discovered Staples (staples.com) has pretty good prices for boxes especially if you create an account with them (again no charge). But if you only have a few items to mail, whatever you have for boxes (NOT USPS – you can only use those for priority mail) will work.

Try it once and see if it will work for you and save you $$ and time – it’s so easy to just walk into the UPS Store or the USPS and put your item, already weighed and labelled, on the counter and walk back out (you can get a receipt at UPS but sometimes I don’t bother). Especially around the holidays when the lines can be out the doors.

Thanks for all you do by volunteering and I hope this helps! Feel free to ask me any questions about this and I will try to answer. Also, if you want reimbursement for your postage scale, I’m sure CPCRN will be glad to reimburse you. Check the box on the Volunteer Form and we’ll send you the standard reimbursement form or write us at: yumyums@cairnrescue.com

Priority & Flat Rate from USPS

If you need to send your Yum Yum via USPS Priority or Flat Rate Mail, did you know that you can get FREE shipping boxes from the USPS (Post Office)? AND have them delivered right to your door? Who knew the government actually used our tax dollars for something worthwhile!!??? Check out the link below for details:

USPS Shipping Supplies

Be sure and view all the options to see all the various sizes and figure out what will work best for your Yum Yum as it is packaged. As noted below, if you can send items Parcel Post or First Class Mail, that will save money as well. However you will have to supply your own boxes for Parcel Post.

So if you have decided on your packaging for your Yum Yum (and remember you do NOT have to do any fancy packaging – that is completely up to you), measure it against the various Priority Mail or Flat Rate boxes and place your order TODAY! Sometimes the boxes take a little longer to get to you so you want to be prepared. But you’ll come home one day and find the best boxes delivered right to your door. You just have to fill them and send them out. See the link below on Helpful information on sending packaging via USPS.

USPS Sending Packages

Estimating Shipping Rates

One thing you might try doing before you order your boxes is to get a sample of your Yum Yum all boxed up and get an accurate weight on it – if you don’t have a postage scale at home, go to your neighborhood post office and ask them to weigh it for you (but NOT send it yet)! They are usually more than happy to do this.

Once you have the weight, you can start figuring out if you would be better off using the FLAT RATE boxes if your item is heavy or is going a long distance. This is a GREAT calculator to figure out relative prices.

USPS Postal Calculator

In general, if your item is less than 3 lbs, its better to use standard priority. If it is more than 3 lbs, use flat rate.

Prepping for Orders

Remember, your package is priced ONLY on weight and distance – not the size (unless it is highly unusual but then that’s the beauty of using the Post Office supplied boxes – you know they are “kosher.”

Here are some sample zip codes to play with:
Vermont: 05452
New Mexico: 88101
Florida: 33908
Oregon: 97200

You never know until the orders are in, where you will need to ship, but this will give you something to judge by. I know in the past I have had better luck using a flat rate box to send something from Vermont to California just based on the distance! Of course if you can go with the less expensive PRIORITY shipping that is always a help.

Also note that you CAN do your labels, etc. online and you get a small discount on each shipment. Also once you contact your buyers, if they are in no hurry, Parcel Post might work out fine and save some dollars on your end.

Don’t hesitate to write if you have questions!