The post office also has the 5x10" padded envelopes. They call them Cushion Mailers. They kind of look like a small priority mail shipping box, but as a envelope. I had some one use one of them and sent an N scale box car in a hard case from NC for $3.31. This included delivery confirmation. I do not know if it was insured though.
N Scale Collector/Enthusiast ships out individual Micro-Trains cars, bubble-wrapped, inside a corrugated box similar in size to the USPS small flat-rate box, but sturdier. Such boxes, available from office supply stores, cost about $1. Postage on a recent shipment was just over $2. Keep in mind that the Priority Mail postage rate for the small flat-rate box is based upon a weight of up to 4 lbs., whereas a shipment like that from NSC/NSE typically weighs well under 1/2 lb.
You can buy a case (50), of those little white boxes and even with shipping, the cost of a small box is way less than $1.00. If your are going to insure the package you don't need delivery confirmation, the USPS now keeps track of all insured packages, and knows if it was delivered.
That's how we will get burned though. If you don't receive your item, we will have only two choices; send you another or give money back. If all of the cars are sold/spoken for, we would have no choice but to refund money. If there is no insurance, we would lose money. Not only would we lose your order, but the cost of the item to us would be lost. We need to be able to know that something was really delivered and that it arrived safely. Having shipped a lot of things for my wife's business, I am not a fan of envelopes of any kind. Plus, (and I don't know if this was a regional thing here in Maine or not), the post office will no longer accept envelopes that bulge. We used to ship orders of small products in envelopes and I took one to the post office one day and they refused it because it "bulged." So, I had to drive by a smaller post office on the way home and I stopped by there and tried again. Same thing. So, I asked this friend that I mentioned above that is the postmaster of a small post office a few miles from our home. She said that they had been given a directive that said that mailing envelopes could no longer "bulge" and that if they did, they were to be rejected. I don't claim to know anything about the post office and I'm not going to go around and around about that but that's what they said so that was the end of us using envelopes. I will look on Quill for these boxes unless someone can point me to another supplier. At under $1.00, this could be a doable solution. Thanks folks, Charlie
I'll take a look. We usually buy from Quill but for this purpose, we can pass along lower costs by comparing prices. Thanks, Charlie
Ahhh, I did have the cushion type envelope in mind, sometimes fingers outrun the brain ..LOL Did not know about the bulge rule though... OOPS.....Mike
They may be referring to non-cushion envelopes that "bulge". I've just sent items in bubble wrap envelopes that certainly weren't uniform, i.e. they "bulged". I've even sent an item in a small bubble wrap envelope (which I couldn't use directly) which was then placed in a bigger bubble envelope. Bubble wrap envelopes that are more than a certain thickness are classified as "packages" which result in a minimum of $1.64 base postage if using Paypal shipping and (I think) $1.75 if over the counter or through the Automated Postal Center kiosk at the Post Office. Having said that... a box seems to be the better option. As noted, that's what the NSE uses for their membership cars. I think this is a good compromise. If the total weight is under 14 ounces the First Class postage should not vary in the "continental 48".
The Priority Flat rate is the way to go. 1) the "SFRB" box size avail for the "small" is great for multiple cars (2-3) for same shipping price, are sturdy boxes, and are quick and easy to pack with tab/slot buildup, peel and stick closure design 2) they are free 3) the P.O. will ship the boxes to you for free, just order what you need from website, with click and ship print postage options, plus free pickup from post office, you never have to leave home 4) these boxes will ship "down under" or to europe for around $13.00, international flat rate, and arrive in about a week, a real plus for boarders outside cont U.S.
I missed out on the first pole and thread. For what's it's worth here's how I would have voted; I might buy one but the railroad represented and car style would have to appeal to me And any type of rolling stock with the "Southern Railroad" name on it. Shipping @ 9$ is a little hight but it's OK with me. See ya Ron
I just got back from 10 day Vac - not sure if someone said this - BUT if you use USPS.com to login and print your shipping labels (all Priority types only) then delivery conf is FREE, and the online prices to all Priority Mail are always lower than the PO prices. (the small FR box is $5.15) You dont need anything special to do that, other than a credit card online. With N Scale - many times a regular box can be used (small, plain) and up to 13 ounces is $3.65 no matter where in the US it goes, PO delivery conf is .85 - thats $4.50 - then INS is same price anywhere. I say this, more to assist many who ship, and just don't think about the First Class option. I think that if one is selling direct, w/o EBAY, then you have the right to include an 'ADD INSURANCE - Y/N' choice to the buyer, and the cost, with the statement that if one chooses not to add insurance, then they choose to not holler if it gets lost, etc - thats the way ebay USED to be, and still should be. If one does use First Class thru Ebay/Paypal, then even the Delivery Conf is free now (used to be like .15)
It’s just very disturbing to me how many of you are willing to pay the higher price. I for one will not pay the higher price and I think we should have the option of how its shipped.
I don't know. This, to me, appears to be turning into a can of worms. $9 is a bit high but I'm thinking along the lines that this is more of a donation to TrainBoard. So I'll go with whatever the final shipping figure is. I want protection and coverage for the delivery. UPS just drops off the packages (seen those Vids on TV?) no matter if sig asked for. But My USPS driver always rings the bell and won't leave it. See ya Ron
I could be behind the power curve but what was exactly decided on this Special Run Car? Is there going to be one or not and if so what is shipping going to be? Thanks for taking the time to respond to my inquiry.
I have come to the conclusion that the shipping cost is like the points, it does not matter. If it is a car I want I will buy it.
Sadly, about the time we get this shipping thing settled...it will...increase. I will pay shipping whatever it costs. Assuredly it will cost me less then the gas, to go round trip, Big Bear Lake to San Bernardino, CA. So, what train cars are we talking about. Any pictures?
