Proper way to input usps shipping weights

[DEXTERITY]

I have a dumb question. If you want to input the weight of a product as 2.6 ounces or 1.0 ounce, what is the proper way to format it in Miva. Under weight do you put .26 or 2.6?

thanks in advance.

[Synergee]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

No such thing as a dumb question. USPS reads the weight in MIVA as pounds. I've never entered information for an item that weighs less than a pound but I do enter 1.5 for 1 1/2 pounds or (1lb 8oz.). You can test using decimal values like .5 in the weight field for 8 ounces and verifying it works.

[DEXTERITY]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

thanks, appreciate the kind response and info. I am forever tweaking my weights because when I Get to the post office the amount I am charged never matches up correctly. maybe the new usps shipping mod I just purchashed will be better then the way miva does things.. thanks again

[aarcmedia]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

You can put weights in like 0.25 for 1/4 pound. We've done it in the past with other clients and it works fine.

[Synergee]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

What I did from the beginning was ordered the 10lb scale from USPS and I print my postage prior to going to the Post Office. You avoid the lines and you get free delivery confirmation that way as well when using priority mail. You can also schedule pickups so you don't have to make the trip to the post office. I actually use Paypal Website Payments Pro for processing credit card transactions so for most of my orders I can print the USPS postage from Paypal and it already contains shipping information for the customer. You can do the same directly on USPS.com but you have to enter the ship to information manually. The rate for anything 9oz to 1lb is the same, 1lb 1oz to 2lbs the same, 2lb 1oz to 3lbs, etc. Therefore you do not need to be 100% accurate. The way I enter my weight for products the pricing is usually accurate except when the customer orders many items. In that case the customer might be charged a little more than actual shipping costs. As I offer free return shipping on exchanges the overages balance out with the costs I pay to ship an exchanged item to the customer. I've put a link to the scale below:

http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stor...1049&langId=-1

[dsisaacs]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

Miva accepts weight entries to the hundredth of a pound. ie. .01
If you sell small items, you should include a factor for the weight of your typical package/packing materials in your handling charge. If you sell larger items you should add the package weight to the item. Sometimes it makes sense to do both, if you sell small and larger items.

I typically sell small light weight items using a small bubble pack envelope, I pay about $0.25 for an envelope that weighs 1 ounce. I add a $1.50 handling charge this covers the extra costs and keeps my shipping charges low for my customers.
To convert ounces to pounds in excel the formula is =roundup(ounces/16,2)
To convert grams to pounds the formula is =roundup(grams*0.002205,2)

[DEXTERITY]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

thanks for all the great info. that helps a lot. I sell smaller items as well so sometimes it comes out correctly, other times I see it doesn't charge enough. the new post office guidlines aren't helping either (if a jiffy envelope is too thick it cost more).. guess I have to tweak a few things. I'm definitely going to look into an account. I have a UPS act (wholesale customers use this more) and I hate standing in lines at the post office (customers choose this more).

[dsisaacs]

Re: Proper way to input usps shipping weights

Sorry I forgot, Miva appears to assume that you are shipping a thick envelope or package. The USPS calculated first class shipping charge for an item weighing less than 1 ounce is $1.13 plus whatever handling you have specified.

I use stamps.com and print out all my first class postage on my printer on avery 5163 or equivalent labels (2 x 4") I do buy the larger labels from them for priority. They charge a 10% surcharge for all postage printed. But if I do take it to the post office I can just walk right up and hand it to the clerk without waiting in line. I live in a very rural area and am allowed to just put my packages out at the mail box for the carrier.
One other thing...I use a simple postal spring scale and I have the zero set at just below 1/2 ounce. I never have a problem with the postage being incorrect. I may pay a few cents extra on some packages but at least they don't come back for more postage.