Should I go to the post office first

[dh-champy]

I've run into some financial troubles recently, and have decided to try and sell some life-sized busts I bought years ago.

The only problem is, I have never mailed ANYTHING ever, I don't think I've ever even set foot in a post office.

Do I need to go to my local post office, and have it properly weighed, measured, and packaged first (I have their original display boxes) before I list it, and get a rough estimite on shipping fees, or do I do that once the item has (hopefully) sold, and I have an address to send it too.

I ask because 1) Again I have no experience mailing or sending anything through the mail, and 2) As you can imagine life sized busts are rather large (76x45x45cm) and a proper shipping box may not be immediatly available at the post office

[msau4301]

You absolutely must go to the post office first with something this large, and probably fragile. The shipping costs may be higher than you think depending on weight also and where you are shipping to. You will need to include this important information in your listing so need to have it before you list.

If you have not sold here before I would also recommend only selling to Canada and the US, at thislarge size the cost will be high, and too risky to try mailing internationally. Also if these busts are fragile/breakable be sure you have them very well packed, bubble wrapped, etc.

I'm not sure where you are located but there often post offices inside of Shoppers Drug Mart (that's where I always go). They will be able to answer any questions there, I would actually bring one in so they can weigh it and give you options of shipping methods. Make note of the costs and bring it home with you for when you do up your listings. Good luck!

[dh-champy]

Well I know they weigh 19lb and 28lb respectively, and the dimensions of their art boxes as I mentioned above, and I still have the styrofoam casts they came in, so its really just a matter of buying packing foam and a shipping box for each, could I get an estimate for the shipping over the phone?

I mean I don't really understand how I can get an estimate before I know where it's headed, so if I don't use calculated shipping and instead set a flat shipping rate to something $100 and it's only $50 do I have to pay the buyer back or am I just screwing them over?

[marnotom!]

@dh-champy, if you're just wanting to get a sense of the shipping charges at this point and you have rough weights and measurements, you just need to go to the Canada Post website and look them up on the rate calculator.  If you have a Solutions for Small Business Card, you look up business rates, if you don't, you look up personal rates.

Re: Your other point, good sellers refund significant shipping overcharges.  Seeing as the fees eBay charges on sales are based on the entire transaction value (i.e. taxes and shipping as well as the item price), it's in your best interest to have your shipping charges as accurate as possible.