SecondMoonshot

When I initially started this business, I would do all my listing defaulting to USPS Priority Shipping for packages over 1lb and offer USPS Parcel Select Ground as an option at checkout. One of the main reasons was that the Priority mail was discounted and the discount would help offset the eBay fees. While it is a little faster, it often is maybe a day more typically, so the reality is the timing is not that important if you get it out the door in a timely manner. It is important to note that the Priority does come with $100 of included insurance, however, the claim process is so painful and it has never yielded a positive result and thus it has no value to me. So I don’t do claims and just refund and treat it as a cost of business. Now I list most everything as Parcel Select by default that would have been Priority. It allows my items to have a lower overall price and has helped increase sales, albeit not by that much. The downside is that it is not insured and that there is no eBay

This week I received a new Rollo Wireless Thermal printer specifically for shipping labels. I decided a review was not necessary since there are enough good ones out there. What I will say is…they are all right! This thing is a game changer in speed, efficiency and quality. Once unboxed, I needed to see if it supported Wi-Fi Direct (it does not) and since my warehouse is really a storage unit with power, the first thing I needed to do was to setup a Wi-Fi network. A few months ago, I picked up an electronics lot at auction which had an Apple AirPort Extreme which turned out to be a recent model, but more importantly IT WORKED (more rare than you might think). I don’t have internet broadband and just use my cell phone for all work in that location, so had to tweak the IP configuration on my iPhone to use the new router but not for internet (this was done by just going to Settings and edit the Wi-Fi connection IP Config to a Manual configuration, leaving the Router field blank and copyin

Figured I would start the year with a new YouTube video.  John

I am always looking for cardboard and while I can often find people giving away boxes for free, ideally I like to use large flat sheets to make large custom boxes and they work really well for picture boxes.  We started to get the cardboard sheets at Costco that they use to separate the layers of merchandise on the pallets. Usually getting a dozen was a good pull but today came up with 32. I think I will talk with the management and see if I can get on the list to take some off their hands on a regular basis. They don’t ever question me taking them and usually find a lot in the metal box bins so pretty sure they just throw them away.  Think I got 32 in this run. One of the staff chatted with me about them and said I was doing them a favor taking them.  Another 32 or so.  The little box is what we bought and even helped us acquire the sheets. I have to put excess in other storage unit. We are getting very efficient New record is now 58! Have a stash (like a squirrel).   John

I have been looking for a better safer and more professional looking DIY free book mailer I can make from available free cardboard boxes and stock. I worked out this method which I think came out well and offers lots of protection and can be used for albums, puzzles and anything that is generally ridges and square or rectangular. Hope you find this useful.  I have made a few changes to the design, primarily to not have the seam in the middle but have it cover the front (or back) completely, that way the tape goes on the edge and have an additional 1” which goes under the front flap. This makes it look much cleaner, easier to seal and a nice blank space for your shipping label. I used this design to ship a signed art print which I wanted to ship flat with the mat board. It worked better than any packing option I have used prior and super rigid. Once you get the hang of the dimension offsets, it looks truly professional. And a finished book ready to ship. John

My first YouTube video review… I had to return due to a defective battery which lost its charge after 5 minutes. New one is better but still only lasts for 30 minutes, I will get an extra battery at some point. A variety of different tips are also available. John

If you have been reading some of my blog entries regarding shipping, you will have recognized I am very cost conscious. Today, Z and I went to Costco for a few weekly groceries and I got heavily distracted by the large blank cardboard sheets between the product layers on the pallets. I ended up with 17 sheets only to realize that we had driven the Porsche 911 and had no way to get them home without folding. So folding we proceeded to do, and of course I had a great up front parking spot so attracted a few chuckles from the peanut crowdI’m sure. I will use these for backing boards and when I need a custom box, mat board backing sheets for the Logan cutter, or book backing blanks. Again, these were free. The Costco clerk told me as we approached the register they were $1 a piece…yeah, funny lady…she got me.  Ok, I kind of look homeless. Sorry, this is me, for better or for worse…currently for worse. An even more extreme example, fortunately we had the SUV this time, probably 20+ sheets.

I am going to use this to document damaged shipments going forward. I went back and found a few other damaged shipping items and added them to cover all of 2022 and 2023. Almost all damage is via UPS Ground. Considering moving to FedEx. Roughly my damage rate is 0.5% as I ship about 200 packages a month and have less than 1 damage a month. #7 - Mar 16, 2023 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic XIII Ice Figure Skating Poster 20” X 30” #SH This was a poster shipped USPS in a new shipping tube. Everything was done correctly relative to packaging and protection from a practical standpoint and just proves the point that there will always be damages on occasion and some things are out of the sellers control. Customer was refunded immediately, and I did not pursue a claim. A 3.5 month damage-free streak comes to an end. #6 - Nov 29, 2022 Vintage Rand McNally World Globe W/Imperial Edition Atlas, 1972 Almost 3 months with no damage. This went UPS Ground. This was a bit awkward to pack, lesson learn