Hi,

Sorry if this isn't appropriate for this forum, I didn't know where else to ask.

I am trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to ship DVDs from my house (i.e. print the postage myself and let the postman take them). I know some people on here have discussed this but I can't find any threads in my searches. Apparently there are several companies that are affiliated with the USPS for this kind of thing (from what I can tell the USPS themselves don't do Media Mail from home). If any of you can give me some advice, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

huh?

http://www.stamps.com/

$16 a month is a little more than I want to pay. I'm not making enough shipments to justify that.

Are there several DVDs in one package, or is it individual DVDs that you are mailing? If individual DVDs, Media Mail is generally NOT the cheapest. A single regular DVD is usually either $1.06 or $1.29 for 1st Class, as opposed to a minimum $1.42 for Media Mail.

It just depends, you know. Trading and selling DVDs can be one-for-one but it's often multiples.

Just use USPS, and go First Class Parcel. It is indeed cheaper, and I've been doing it for years.

I shipped DVDs all the time from the post office. A single DVD cost: $1.29 for first class mail, two - three, DVDs automatically shipped Priority Mail at $3.85. I always use delivery confirmation tracking for personal verification of delivery, which cost an extra $0.55. The more DVDs you shipped, the more it's going to cost you. And also take into consideration the type of DVDs your shipping such as: 2-discs DVDS, box sets, etc.

Shipping your own DVDs or any other items from home, appears to be complicated, if your not familar with the online process. It's much easier just to go the USPS direct, and let the postal workers do the work for you, because the least little error you make when endeavor to ship your item (s) from home, your package (s) may not be delivered properly, and reach it's destination. You definitely do not want any of your packages lost, or stolen during transit, due to incorrect information, or mailing procedures.

After you get it, you can call to cancel and say it is too expensive and they will put you on a plan that has limits on postage printing - pretty high limits so its nothing to fear - and it is only 7.95 a month.

When I was trading heavily, it was worth it to me.

The post office told me I could print media mail off their site, but damned if I can figure out how. I will probably get another stamps.com account sometime in the future, but I just was not using it enough right now. I got down to 2-3 shipments per month and I can deal with the lines at the post office for that many - or just stamp them up and send them first class.

If anyone out there has a Mac (or has a PC, and hates Stamps.com because you have to use their proprietary labels), try Endicia.com. I ship 100+ packages a week through them. Great customer service.