Re: First Class beat PRIORITY in this one itty bitty little TEST.

> My most recent test is First Class USPS
> snail mail vs. PRIORITY mail.

> Or another way of looking at it, 1.10 in
> postage vs 3.95.

Gordon,

It is my understanding that most First Class
mail travels on the same plane with the Priority
Mail. The big difference is the handling and
the "guaranteed (?)" delivery time.

I found that First Class arrived as fast as
Priority in most cases. But like you pointed
out, the cost is about triple for Priority over
First Class.

One "advantage" to Priority Mail is the free
packaging...free envelopes and boxes to use
for your products. Of course, if you use them
you pay the higher Priority Mail rate...

Unless you put the box in an envelope--

Then it can go for First Class.

I use this technique when selling small items
on eBay. The small Priority Mail box will fit
inside of a 10 x 13 envelope. I place the item
in the small PM box which protects it from abuse.
Then I put the box in the 10 x 13 envelope with
First class postage affixed. (For safety sake,
I put the shipping address on the PM box, as well
as the external envelope--just in case the envelope
gets ripped off of the box.)

You can save $2.00 or more depending on the weight
of your product. You pay 10¢ for a cover envelope
instead of $1.00 for a box. You pay $1-$2 for postage
instead of $3.95.

When the weight of the item causes the First Class
rate to approach the Priority Mail rate, then by
all means just use Priority Mail.

I started using this technique when selling low price
items on eBay. The PM shipping costs were
becoming a major expense for bidders. Who wants
to pay $3.95 to ship a $2 Hotwheel diecast car?

Gordon, keep us posted on all of your discoveries.

Be blessed,

JDB




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