FedEx Smartpost Clarity

[Andrew]

I’ve heard talk on the podcast about FedEx Smartpost being a good option for cheap shipping, so I spent some time looking into it. But, I feel as though there is a lot of conflicting information as to whether or not USPS will accept smartpost, and more importantly for me, pick it up from my home.

So does anyone have USPS pick up their smartpost packages? And what is your experience with the service in general. I mentioned it to a friend and they sort of moaned and said how slow it was.

I’d like to be able to add it as an option for some of my items, but being picked up is a must for me at the moment.

[Sharyn]

I’ll try to summarize what I know from my experience and what I’ve heard on the forum here.

Technically, Smartpost packages are to be dropped off at FedEx only, not the USPS. However, certain local post offices will accept it as R&J and some other folks on this forum have stated.

You can schedule a USPS pick up only if you have at least one priority mail package. I would assume that if your post office will accept Smartpost, then they will pick it up, but only if you have that minimum one priority package. You will need call your local post office to confirm any of what I have just said. I happen to have a FedEx store in my town, so I’ve personally never bothered to ask my PO; I’m just repeating what I’ve heard.

I’m pretty sure that FedEx won’t schedule a pickup for Smartpost. Maybe if you have other FedEx ground packages in addition to Smartpost? You would have to call to find out.

Smartpost is absolutely the CHEAPEST way to ship packages over a few pounds assuming what you are shipping doesn’t fit in a USPS flat rate box. If your item happens to fit in a flat rate box, a good option would be to offer Smartpost, but then upgrade to priority if that ends up being the cheapest option.

At a certain point, maybe 10 pounds or so, it is better to ship via the regular FedEx ground option.

A disadvantage of Smartpost is the insurance. If your item breaks in transit despite your excellent packing skills, FedEx will only pay up if the carrier marked the package as having been damaged in transit. Otherwise they will point to the USPS and the USPS will point back to them and you get nothing. So, for pricey items, you could either not use Smartpost or you could buy insurance through eBay from Ship Cover. Personally, I have stopped offering Smartpost as an option on breakable items such as glass, china, etc.

For speed, Smartpost is about as slow as Parcel Select, maybe slower. I recently had a seller specifically ask me to add Smartpost as an option because he wasn’t in an hurry, but wanted to save money. When a buyer looks as the shipping options, eBay will give a delivery window. Not every buyer is that attentive, so you might have to field complaints. You can just point them to the tracking information and explain that they opted for an economy service.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Sharyn.

[Ryanne]

USPS takes all my SmartPost boxes, they don’t care, they want the volume/credit. it gets scanned the same amount as any USPS item. it can be slow going far from your location, but it’s the same speed as parcel. sometimes it’s as fast as Priority, it’s random. but your customers should know that it will be slower (and cheaper), so you can give them a choice of SmartPost or Priority. my customers 99% of the time choose Smartpost for the cheapest rate.

as far as insurance is concerned, i just insure anything that needs it through Shipsaver, which is an app you can activate through ebay
https://apps.ebay.com/selling?appId=insurance.inkfrog.com

[Sharyn]

oops – I said “ship cover”, but it is called “ship saver”. My mistake!

[Andrew]

Awesome. Thank you both for the info. I guess I will give it a try on a few upcoming items.

[Avillegas]

Hi, does ShipSaver charge the USPS rate of $0.79 per $100.00 or the FedEx rate of $0.60 per $100.00 on SmartPost shipments?

Just curious as I will begin to insure either way as I was told by FedEx that they are not liable for damages on a package once it has been accepted by USPS.

[Ryanne]

i believe it is 79 cents per $100 for any service (besides FedEx or UPS ground), what does it say when you attempt to insure an item shipped with SmartPost? you can check without actually insuring it.

[So Cal Joe]

If you are a Top Rated Seller, Priority Mail insures for free up to $100.. otherwise just $50.

If I’m at all concerned or it’s a high dollar item, I generally ship it Priority Mail and insure it directly through the Post Office.

I recently shipped two separate items, each about $200 in value. Even though they paid Smart Post, I sent them Priority Mail fully insured. It cost me a few dollars extra, but was worth it to me.

Better safe than sorry.

[Avillegas]

Thank you, I will check and see what the ShipSaver SmartPost rate is (I am having some issues setting up a ShipSaver account which their tech support is trying to resolve).

Also, I am not sure if everyone is aware, but Walgreens will accept your SmartPost packages (they provide full FedEx drop off and pick up services).

[So Cal Joe]

Anyone know of Smartpost has been fixed?

Thanks

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