Selling 1-4 bottles of ink can result in a large percentage of the total sale going to shipping. I usually use priority mail for pens, but ink is heavier and clunkier. I'd like to hear suggestions for getting the best value in shipping. Thanks.

Stephen

I use USPS Priority Mail, I've tried shipping via UPS a few times and found it to cost a significant amount more than USPS.

What I've done is to make a guesstimate on the shipping and ask the buyer to add that amount for shipping. I usually guess a bit low, but at least I've got something toward the shipping cost.

Best, Ann

Is it cheaper to use a padded envelope rather than a box? Some ink bottles, like Stipula, are just too big.

Stephen

I wouldn't recommend the padded envelope. I'm sure it's cheaper to mail, but I had a mishap happen that way (I was on the receiving end). I purchased 2 small bottles of ink that the seller had sealed and packed in a padded envelope. Both bottles leaked, one losing a significant amount. The seller had sealed the bottle caps with electrical tape and the bottles themselves were sealed in plastic. The plastic prevented the ink from leaking out into the envelope, but inside the plastic it was a wet mess--the electrical tape seals were wet and unsealed, and one of the labels was so wet that it peeled off. The seller graciously replaced the bottles and mailed them in a small box, and they arrived perfectly safe that time. Maybe my experience was a fluke, but I thought I should mention it.

No way would I use a padded envelope. I'd use a box. It's not worth the tragedy.

Well if I were to purchase ink from someone, I prefer they first load it into a bunch of Parker 51s and Vacumatics and then they can use padded envelopes or a box... I don't even care if they can't get all the ink into the pens, I would accept that..

But to be more helpful here...
Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are $8.95 to send and the boxes are free from the USPS..
Normal Priority Mail Box would be about $5.00 for a 2 pound weight and those boxes are also free at the USPS...

$4.60 - $7.50, depending upon zone.

I received a bottle of ink that had been packed to survive a nuclear winter. Sadly the seal on the bottle was damage and by the time the bottle got to me it there wasn't enough for a pen-full of ink left in the bottle. I am not sure that tape would have stopped the ink getting out.

Andy, that's one reason I try to remember to check all the bottle seals first!

You can get a decent size Priority Flat Rate Box (probably fit 4-6 bottles of ink). I'm not sure of the size but it's like 6"x8"x10" or something and it only costs $8.95

If it's only one bottle I send it in a small priority box and go by weight (this costs $4.60)