How to Send Many Packages Best Way or Method of Practice

AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 12:12

So I know this is definitely the best place to ask but believe it or not I have no idea how to send a package only been on the recipient side.

Finally decided I should use my ozbargain skills to maybe start flipping and buying and selling tech products since I did some thinking yesterday and decided that that was my current best skills in life (finding deals and buying and selling).

Unfortunately because I am so lazy and didn't want to start this endeavor without being too sure i have never visited a post office to send something besides a bill.

So self proclaimed professional ozbargainers or sellers on here what's the best method or way to send a package.

Will be sending items from desktop towers to monitors to possibly cpu's so really need knowledge on everything. Also bonus points if you know to bulk send or get the post service to come to you (not couriers unless they are price competitive).

The idea of carrying a desktop to the post office every single time I need to sell an item is unimaginable unfortunately as it is up hill and a few kms from me and I have no car (also main reason for doing this) so will need some other way.. Is it possible.. By my estimates I could probably do a few items a day as a start maybe less than 5 to 10 a week then scaling up somehow once I get the hang of it.. So this is my official throw into the ring of flipping and maybe even a potential platform to a future storefront business of some sort or kind (who knows might end up starting something like Andie or that chick who dates Steve Carrell in 40 year old Virgin haha lol)

Tl;Dr want to start buying and selling flippable products on the side as a side income.. Anyone have any knowledge or experience on the postage side of things?

General Discussion

Comments

  • Melb69 on 26/06/2018 - 12:19

    I know some OZB may cringe, but maybe try Couriers Please couriers. When I have received goods it has been reasonably reliable. As a user believe the rates are good if you get a booklet of say 10 tickets. You have the tracking, but the buyer will likely have to pay extra as courier service is interstate. Only reason I say courier is because they pick up from new so you don't have to go to post office.

    If posting probably the easiest way is express post pages. For your larger items then just send as parcel package. Still wont be cheap cost and Aussie post take forever. Just some ideas off the top of my head. I'm sure others will have better ideas. Good luck with side business.

    • AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 13:06

      Thanks yeah.. Using the cheapest available method would help this business grow otherwise costly couriers might cut into the margin.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2018 - 12:25

    Fastway; buy prepaid labels, buy packaging materials, call your local fastways franchisee to arrange pickups

    • AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 13:07

      I'll keep them in mind.

    • Ocker on 26/06/2018 - 13:11
      +2

      Avoid Fastway like the plague - they have an absolutely terrible reputation for reliability and in fact may buyers on EBay will not buy an item if the nominated carrier is Fastway.
      Think I am exaggerating?, then check them out here:
      https://www.productreview.com.au/p/fastway.html

      • AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 13:23

        Ok noted. I thought some bells were ringing when I heard the name.

        Any good alternatives or competitors?

        • Ocker on 26/06/2018 - 14:06

          We use E-Go (the online arm of Hunter Express)as our courier service. We ship 4-5 packages a week and find them extremely reliable. Their point of difference is their drivers are employees, and not the franchise owners such as Fastway, CouriersPlease, etc.
          For deliveries to capital cities and suburbs they are very cost competitive. For deliveries to areas we resort to AusPost

        • websterp on 26/06/2018 - 14:33

          @Ocker: I second this. Have never sent through them but have received multiple packages via e-go and I have nothing but praise for their speed of delivery. The last one I received was shipped from a seller in NSW and received in suburban Melbourne the following day.

          On the other hand Fastway; Don't just get me started. Took 2 weeks to deliver a package between buyer and seller who were literary 1.5km apart.

        • Geoff897 on 26/06/2018 - 14:53

          @websterp:

          I have had quite a bit damaged with E-go just make sure you pay the lowest minimum insurance. They usually payout fine.
          Over the years e-go has been increasing their price but still cheap.

          I use Transdirect now.
          Often can get a $130 toll parcel sent for $40 still using toll just by booking through trans-direct. Plus they offer 30% with a free account.

        • Innately Incognito on 26/06/2018 - 21:10
          +1

          @Geoff897: Was about to mention this. E-Go (aka. Hunter Express) are pretty terrible in terms of safety of deliveries (but they're improving). I used to add 4-5 layers of bubble wrap via most couriers, but I'd go 10-12 via e-Go and they'd still damage it often enough.

        • Ocker on 27/06/2018 - 16:46

          Very odd because of all the packages we send we have never had a single shipment damaged by E-Go, and we do send many fragile items

        • Geoff897 on 27/06/2018 - 17:10

          @Ocker:

          I have sent 100's of items with them and most turn out well, Just need to put the $1.90 insurance on everything.

          It was a number of years ago now, I had car wheels damaged by them, They dropped them from the truck bed onto the road in front of the customers house. That's how they knew the courier was out the front from the noise of alloy hitting the pavement.

          Another was a steel pipe bent and perspex cracked. For a precision cutter which went to the bin

          A Car diff in a PVC Crate Like a milk crate was totally smashed

          But over all from all the transactions they have been great and cheap just need to ensure you put their warning signs on (Handel like eggs ;) )

  • Rhubarb Jones on 26/06/2018 - 13:21

    Go 3PL I reckon.

  • Innately Incognito on 26/06/2018 - 13:22

    Fastway or Sendle are your best bets. Officeworks Mailman if it’s remote.

    AusPost would be great but unless your volumes increase the rates will be mediocre and they won’t collect below a particular volume.

    • AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 13:24

      Any idea what that volume might be for another business idea maybe.

      • Ocker on 26/06/2018 - 14:08

        In simple terms,using MyPost Business for 6-9 packages a week you get a 10% discount and for 10+ it's a 12.5% discount. They will collect packages (next day) for $1 a package.

        • AlienC on 27/06/2018 - 11:21

          How much does it cost for then to collect a package for one item or two? Do they even come out for one item to send / deliver?

          I have a medium satchel sized package now 15 x 16 x 7 cm around 1kg to send now. Those are the dimensions of the item itself. I can either go to the office and pay 13.80 for regular post with medium satchel or 29.65 for express post or 19.30 if I use my own packaging. 13.80 is the best choice but any way to get that without going to the post office and somehow when they collect or is collect mainly only for self packaging or pre bought satchel and letters?

          Basically trying to avoid going to the po or know how to do this better in future to save time.

      • Innately Incognito on 26/06/2018 - 21:13

        Unsure, but I doubt they'll offer you anything reasonable until you hit 5,000 parcels per year. One downside to the three I mentioned (Fastway, Sendle, AusPost) are that their rates tend to be per-item.

        E-Go and Transdirect mentioned above will charge you per consignment (combined weight) so they tend to be better.

        Temando's another option that aggregates providers. Actually decently cheap at times.

    • Broke-Ken on 26/06/2018 - 14:18

      I would also recommend Sendle for AlienC's situation.

      Sendle is the Uber of sending packages.
      https://www.sendle.com/
      https://www.smh.com.au/technology/memo-to-australia-post-sen…

    • D C on 26/06/2018 - 14:39

      Officeworks Mailman

      They use Fastway.

      • Innately Incognito on 26/06/2018 - 21:08

        Sure, but their rate table is different. It's more expensive than bulk rates within metropolitan areas but far cheaper for remote areas. Mailman is almost Australia-wide (save for some remote islands/territories) but Fastway goes by zones. Grey/White tend to be cheaper via Mailman.

        • D C on 26/06/2018 - 21:52

          but their rate table is different.

          I'm sure the appalling delivery service is exactly the same.

  • foxmulder on 26/06/2018 - 14:47

    I always thought desktop and those computer parts are very competitive price in nature?

    If you can send 20 parcel per week you can singn up to asupost epaecel and have them come to you on regular schedule. Rate is ok I guess. Personally will avoid fastway on how they like to leave parcel unsign without permission.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2018 - 15:07

    I think your eventual hourly rate flipping pc / tech gear will be very low but I like your enthusiasm. Will you be reselling on Gumtree /ebay / own website? All the best with the idea.

    • AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 15:48
      +1

      It's only a side income so if it means I can treat myself with the extra cash every once in awhile it will have paid off its worth. No way I could one man a full on store but a few items a day or per week is definitely manageable..

      Just thinking I should be increasing my side income a bit more and well buying low and selling high is one of the easiest things I know and am actually good at.

      • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2018 - 15:55
        +1

        BTW what did your job consultant say when you asked her out?

        • AlienC on 26/06/2018 - 18:08

          Haven't asked her out yet might just keep the relationship professional.. I ended up slightly confessing my feelings for another girl though haha lol.. She hasn't replied and stopped replying back so this might have not been good.. Yeah.. There's a cute delivery driver girl now in my neighborhood haha lol but I will definitely not say anything about that

        • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2018 - 18:15

          Maybe she can drop off and pick up your parcels. Good ice breaker to ask her about your query.

        • follow on 26/06/2018 - 22:25
          +1

          @TightBottom: I got a package for you later tonight

        • AlienC on 27/06/2018 - 22:16

          @TightBottom: funny you said that I bumped into her today after dropping off a parcel on the way to get some groceries.. was a bit awkward as when she said hi I somehow got embarrassed about going to the same supermarket as her and so I said I was going for a walk.. haha lol.. she is super fit omg.. like perfect body perfect face perfect voice well for me at least.. she is super fit she could be a gymnast or uh adult "performer" maybe I should suggest we do some webcam action as a side income hahaha lol that way I fulfil my centrelink mutual job obligation requirements for the week and have some fun LOL

          She is really thin

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