paypal and shipping

[Dutch]

I (hopefully) will be soon getting ready to do a groupbuy and wanted some advise before I set it up. Some of you have been down this road so any knowledge would be appreciated.

I plan on using paypal for the majority of the sales. Do they have any charges that will add to the cost. I think there is something about when the purchaser is using a creditcard there is a $5 charge, but I don't know if that is fact or fiction. I have a PP account but I only use it for purchases. I use a creditcard to feed that account. If I recieve $ will it go towards my creditcard.

The item i will be shipping will be just over an ounce so I was planning on using a padded envelope. It seem to me that I would have to have everyones address before I know what to charge for shipping. That seems like a pain. I could just charge a little extra and donate the surplus to HF.

Any input would be great

[Ramblinrev]

I have never seen the $5 charge unless they have changed things within the last few days. There are charges... $0.30 + variable percent of the value. (I think 1-3% depending on value.) Much like a merchant account with a bank. Depending on how many you think you will be shipping the invoice printing wizard for paypal links you right to the USPS or UPS wizards to do the printing and postage purchasing all at once. It automatically figures the shipping rate for the weight to the zipcod of the purchaser. I would suggest a flat rate shipping based on what you would expect the average weight of the order to be. Get four of your suspension clips (I'm guessing here) put them in an envelope and weigh them. Priority mail envelope is like $4.80 (on line price) anywhere in the country for any weight as long as the envelope closes normally.

Remember whatever you add for shipping is subject to the fee structure as the total value. Priority mailing supplies like envelopes are free. First class or other potentially cheaper services cost for the supplies. Something to consider in your decision about how to ship.

Good luck and I usually add a little bit for supplies, gas and time for getting things ready to ship. I don;t think that is unreasonable.

[ricegravy]

What are you going to buy Dutch?
I buy things all the time that I don't need, so I might be in on this one. What ever it is.

-Sir Gravy

[Mrprez]

If you use a personal account, there are no charges unless someone wants to use a credit card. Then it gets really expensive, like 5% of the total plus a fixed amount.

The business account takes 2.9% of the total amount including shipping plus 30 cents per transaction.

The PayPal shipping will not work with First Class Mail. First Class Mail is the same regardless of where the package is going.

[jeffjenn]

Dutch,
See if there is any info that may help in this thread of mine.

[headchange4u]

You can use a Paypal calculator to figure the fees down to the penny. PP does not charge extra for CC purchases.

If it's a fairly small item you could use the USPS Flat Rate Priority mail envelope or box. Only cost $4.95 and 2-3 day delivery. The box is a little larger than a VHS tape and the envelope is the standard size cardboard envelope. You can get the boxes and/or envelope free at any post office. Paypal also integrates well with USPS shipping. You can pay for and print label directly from your PP account. Let me know if you have any questions.

[Dutch]

Thank you everybody for your responses.

[jeffjenn]

For items this light I really thing First Class is, well, first class.

[HappyCamper]

Use first class if it's for those little gizmos that replace biners on the webbing setup! But I wouldn't mind a simple set rate with extra going to you simply for the hassle factor or to Hammock Forums.

[Mrprez]

PP does not charge extra for CC purchases.

They do if you are using a PP Personal Account. Not with the business account, but they charge for ALL transactions even balance transfers. Those are free for a personal account.