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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jooks1184 on Thu, 23 February 2012, 23:46:50

Title: Questions about shipping for a sale
Post by: jooks1184 on Thu, 23 February 2012, 23:46:50
Hello everyone,

  I'm thinking about selling my Leopold full-size cherry blue keyboard in the classifieds. I was wondering about shipping. Do you calculate shipping costs at the usps website or how do you determine shipping costs. Thanks in advance.
Title: Questions about shipping for a sale
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Fri, 24 February 2012, 03:26:37
You can either incorporate the shipping into the price and say something like "$90 shipped" for the leopold, or "$75 + shipping", in which case the shipping will be calculated based on location. Shipping cost is estimated on USPS, Fedex, or UPS website based on weight and location.

Just to help you out a little bit, a TKL weighs 35 ounces, the retail box and accessories weighs 12 ounces, and your packaging should weigh roughly 11 ounces. But since you have a full size keyboard, it's just a tad more. Last time I shipped a full size Filco, It was over 3.5lbs, but under 4.0lbs.
Title: Questions about shipping for a sale
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 24 February 2012, 08:45:12
Calculators are notoriously inaccurate. The shippers use an arcane voodoo of dimensions and weight to determine shipping. UPS and FedEx will usually ship a full-size and weight keyboard for $12-14 to nearby states, and $15-18 across country. UPS is a little cheaper and FedEx has MUCH better tracking.

The US Post Office will ship Parcel Post for $10 or less to nearby states, but it goes up sharply. If you can get Priority Mail flat rate "game board" boxes it is $15 to anywhere in the US and $58 international and you don't have to think about it.

A small light keyboard in an appropriate box (my Leopold cherry blue came in a very small and efficient box) will go cheaper than the flat rate, if it is a beast like a Model M/F the flat rate is probably a better choice.