Bare shipping shop question
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
No, it just means they cover the postage required to ship for their weight requirements between those zones. You can ship further (zones 1-8) and heavier (over 1.2lbs), but you won't be reimbursed for the total cost of postage, only up to the amount stated in the guidelines.
There are tons of threads on doing the postal shops. Just use the forum search function and put in any combination of words, search all dates and you'll find them. You can also just flip back several pages and find some. Also search the Mystery shopping discussion thread. There are some great tips out there!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2014 06:10PM by eveb.
There are tons of threads on doing the postal shops. Just use the forum search function and put in any combination of words, search all dates and you'll find them. You can also just flip back several pages and find some. Also search the Mystery shopping discussion thread. There are some great tips out there!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2014 06:10PM by eveb.
They're really easy but scenario C Dim weight shops are a PITA in my opinion, one false step with them and you're out $40+ of postage costs.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
Their shops have a minimum of 1.2 pounds. I believe it is a 2 pound max, but I would have to check. If you go over and you need to ship anyway, it makes a nice discount.
Yes, the shop will reimburse in full for packages up to 2 lbs (1lb 2oz is the minimum required weight for the shop) for A and B shops that are shipped to zones 1-4. You are allowed to ship heavier and farther but will not receive full reimbursement. You are not allowed to go under the 18 oz minimum weight. The C shops are different.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
Shelly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their shops have a minimum of 1.2 pounds. I
> believe it is a 2 pound max, but I would have to
> check. If you go over and you need to ship
> anyway, it makes a nice discount.
I don't think so - I have shipped many items over 2 lbs.
Liz
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their shops have a minimum of 1.2 pounds. I
> believe it is a 2 pound max, but I would have to
> check. If you go over and you need to ship
> anyway, it makes a nice discount.
I don't think so - I have shipped many items over 2 lbs.
Liz
Even if it IS just a discount, it's worth it to me to send my "cheer up"" gifts to people. Still cheaper than if I had to foot the whole cost.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
Traveliz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shelly Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Their shops have a minimum of 1.2 pounds. I
> > believe it is a 2 pound max, but I would have
> to
> > check. If you go over and you need to ship
> > anyway, it makes a nice discount.
>
>
> I don't think so - I have shipped many items over
> 2 lbs.
>
> Liz
Me too. I don't do the C shops, maybe they have the 2lb cap? I've done all the other alphabet scenarios and shipped items over 2lbs without a problem. Since my kids live out of state I can mail stuff all the time time with little or no cost to me.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shelly Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Their shops have a minimum of 1.2 pounds. I
> > believe it is a 2 pound max, but I would have
> to
> > check. If you go over and you need to ship
> > anyway, it makes a nice discount.
>
>
> I don't think so - I have shipped many items over
> 2 lbs.
>
> Liz
Me too. I don't do the C shops, maybe they have the 2lb cap? I've done all the other alphabet scenarios and shipped items over 2lbs without a problem. Since my kids live out of state I can mail stuff all the time time with little or no cost to me.
eveb Wrote:
I don't do the C shops, maybe they have
> the 2lb cap?
Negative, There are no versions of this shop for this client that have a 2 lb weight cap.
The "C" shops require between 2.5 lbs and 5 lbs - no exceptions! They are different in that they require a food item(s) in that weight range in an over-sized box of specified dimensions to be shipped to a food bank address that is provided by the MSP. The shipping charges will be in the $30-$35 range and reimbursed.
PS: May I make a suggestions for those who perform these shops but do only one or two variations? Download instructions for all three versions. To do this, when you do your next shop you will be allowed to download instructions for all three versions A, B and C. Open and download to your computer all three versions. You can later peruse the instructions for the other version(s) without any commitment.
I don't do the C shops, maybe they have
> the 2lb cap?
Negative, There are no versions of this shop for this client that have a 2 lb weight cap.
The "C" shops require between 2.5 lbs and 5 lbs - no exceptions! They are different in that they require a food item(s) in that weight range in an over-sized box of specified dimensions to be shipped to a food bank address that is provided by the MSP. The shipping charges will be in the $30-$35 range and reimbursed.
PS: May I make a suggestions for those who perform these shops but do only one or two variations? Download instructions for all three versions. To do this, when you do your next shop you will be allowed to download instructions for all three versions A, B and C. Open and download to your computer all three versions. You can later peruse the instructions for the other version(s) without any commitment.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
Sorry, I misspoke. They reimburse for up to two pounds. You can definitely ship more and I often do just that. I was actually trying to refer back to an earlier post which said 1 lb 2 oz was the max. That is actually the minimum and if you ship under that, it is likely that you won't be paid.
Thanks for the replies and helpful suggestions. I decided to sign up for a B shop. My first one. I need to ship some things cross country so it would be nice to get a discount on the shipping.
Don't count on it being a discount. Depending on how much you are sending, it could be cheaper out of pocket to use a flat rate box. Figure it up both ways, with you paying the postage yourself for the cheapest way you can send it, and then by you paying only part of the postage for the method designated by the shop instructions. Sometimes you'll save and sometimes you won't.
Usually you'll do okay within 4 zones, but outside of that the rates go up by distance, whereas flat rate boxes are the same price no matter where you send them.
Usually you'll do okay within 4 zones, but outside of that the rates go up by distance, whereas flat rate boxes are the same price no matter where you send them.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
I use these shops to return stuff that was broken or defective on ebay. The seller must have done a double take when I paid $10.00 to ship back a $2.00 item.
I did a shop C. I bought the size box listed but did go over by a pound. Approximately an hour after I shipped the box I got an email stating I sent it to the wrong address and would I like to try again. I sent it to the food bank in my comments section of my shopper log. Also how would she know that because the report and receipt only have the zip code on them.
What really makes me question this job is if this job benefits the food bank for people in need why would it matter that the box was a pound over but cost was still $20 under reimbursement allowance? Also why should we ship 3 cans of corn in a big box? It seems very wasteful of materials and less efficient for postal service using oversized boxes. Some months I get my good from the food bank. I am not in a position to lose out on $25 and food I received.
And lastly why would I be offered the chance to do it again? Something just doesn't add up with the weight C shops. I was even assigned 4 more which I canceled.
What really makes me question this job is if this job benefits the food bank for people in need why would it matter that the box was a pound over but cost was still $20 under reimbursement allowance? Also why should we ship 3 cans of corn in a big box? It seems very wasteful of materials and less efficient for postal service using oversized boxes. Some months I get my good from the food bank. I am not in a position to lose out on $25 and food I received.
And lastly why would I be offered the chance to do it again? Something just doesn't add up with the weight C shops. I was even assigned 4 more which I canceled.
Sounds like a few things could have gone wrong...
The address of the Food Bank that we're supposed to send it to comes in an email after the job is assigned. I'm not sure where you may have seen it in the comments section.
The extra weight may have determined the lower shipping cost (if the clerk had done the job right, you should definitely not have come in under $20). Effectively, this shop is checking for a surcharge that is supposed to be applied to light oversized packages. If your package was heavy enough, it may not have warranted that surcharge, hence the lower shipping cost than what should have been, and the DQ of your assignment.
And yes, it is wasteful of material and less efficient for shipping, hence the surcharge.
Why would you be offered the chance to do it again? Perhaps you have a good track record with them, or perhaps they're just gracious and would like to give you the opportunity to recoup some of your loss.
The address of the Food Bank that we're supposed to send it to comes in an email after the job is assigned. I'm not sure where you may have seen it in the comments section.
The extra weight may have determined the lower shipping cost (if the clerk had done the job right, you should definitely not have come in under $20). Effectively, this shop is checking for a surcharge that is supposed to be applied to light oversized packages. If your package was heavy enough, it may not have warranted that surcharge, hence the lower shipping cost than what should have been, and the DQ of your assignment.
And yes, it is wasteful of material and less efficient for shipping, hence the surcharge.
Why would you be offered the chance to do it again? Perhaps you have a good track record with them, or perhaps they're just gracious and would like to give you the opportunity to recoup some of your loss.
Thank you for giving me a different way of looking at it. I was just angry and deactivated my account with BARE. Then I found this Forum and started reading about BARE and I was like maybe it was just me so thanks again for looking at their offers in a positive light. I think I will try again 
I'm a bit puzzled here. I've done several of these shops. I have never shipped to a food bank. I asked my scheduler if I could send something I actually needed to mail and he said I could as long as it was at least zone 5 or more and the right weight.
I don't remember if I've done any in 2014 though. Did they change the rules? Or was the address you used not at least zone 5 or more from your address? (Maybe the clerk transposed digits on the zip code on the receipt?)
I don't remember if I've done any in 2014 though. Did they change the rules? Or was the address you used not at least zone 5 or more from your address? (Maybe the clerk transposed digits on the zip code on the receipt?)
Time to build a bigger bridge.
dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I asked my scheduler if I could send something I
> actually needed to mail and he said I could as
> long as it was at least zone 5 or more and the
> right weight.
That's correct - but you won't find that in writing anywhere (except on this Forum.)
> Did they change the rules?
No.
> Or was the address you
> used not at least zone 5 or more from your
> address?
Sounds like it may have been from the OP's description
>(Maybe the clerk transposed digits on
> the zip code on the receipt?)
Interesting possibility, but still wouldn't save the shop due to the weight.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I asked my scheduler if I could send something I
> actually needed to mail and he said I could as
> long as it was at least zone 5 or more and the
> right weight.
That's correct - but you won't find that in writing anywhere (except on this Forum.)
> Did they change the rules?
No.
> Or was the address you
> used not at least zone 5 or more from your
> address?
Sounds like it may have been from the OP's description
>(Maybe the clerk transposed digits on
> the zip code on the receipt?)
Interesting possibility, but still wouldn't save the shop due to the weight.
Is not the tracking code on the receipt? They can just plug in the number and find out the info of where it is going.
I usually see my food bank location on the comments as well.
The surcharge for C is based on the following:
re priority:
"Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 1-4 (including local)
that weigh less than 20 pounds but measure more than 84
inches in combined length and girth (but not more than 108
inches) are charged for a 20-pound parcel (balloon price)
based on the applicable zone.
3. Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 5-9 that exceed one
cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) are charged based on the
actual weight or the dimensional weight, whichever is greater."
I usually see my food bank location on the comments as well.
The surcharge for C is based on the following:
re priority:
"Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 1-4 (including local)
that weigh less than 20 pounds but measure more than 84
inches in combined length and girth (but not more than 108
inches) are charged for a 20-pound parcel (balloon price)
based on the applicable zone.
3. Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 5-9 that exceed one
cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) are charged based on the
actual weight or the dimensional weight, whichever is greater."
Actually, where it shows up is on the shop description where you apply for the shop. It starts out saying you will send stuff to a food bank but further down in the paragraph it says if you want to send the parcel somewhere else it has to be zone 5 or further. Unfortunately, you can't see that unless there's an unclaimed C shop. So I can't confirm it still says that. That's why I was asking if the rules might have changed this year. My last C shop was in November.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
I use Scenario B/E to ship stuff (including stuff for my etsy business!). My friends have always been gracious about receiving two 1.5lb care packages instead of one 3lb one and a couple have even signed up for the shops in their areas to send things back!
The address for the food bank used to be in the comments. Sometime this year, it changed and the address is now emailed to me. I have never seen an option to ship a "C" package anywhere but to the food bank. I assume that they must have an arrangement with the food bank since there must be truck loads of packages arriving everyday, just to the one I am told to ship to. I assume that there are other food banks for other parts of the country.
I am surprised how often the clerk does not measure the package dimensions and undercharges me. That is what the client is trying to find out. I use the smallest (in terms of cubic volume) box that is permitted in order to make it easier to carry the box and to minimize the upcharge. I pack the rest of the box (aside from 3 boxes of pasta) with plastic grocery bags or "sealed air" bags I get when I order things online.
I am surprised how often the clerk does not measure the package dimensions and undercharges me. That is what the client is trying to find out. I use the smallest (in terms of cubic volume) box that is permitted in order to make it easier to carry the box and to minimize the upcharge. I pack the rest of the box (aside from 3 boxes of pasta) with plastic grocery bags or "sealed air" bags I get when I order things online.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I did the C shop in December, I think, and it was for the food bank and it was emailed to me.
Mostly I do other shops. My parents got a lot of Easter Candy this year! Their address is the only one I know off the top of my head.
Mostly I do other shops. My parents got a lot of Easter Candy this year! Their address is the only one I know off the top of my head.
I just wish I could ship more food to the food pantry but the box cannot weigh over 5 pounds. I buy the 14 x 14 inch box from Walmart for 72 cents and can only put in two cans of veggies with bubble wrap so they do not bounce around. My cousin loves the other scenes. I mail her cans of veggies and coupons from the Sunday paper.
vlade5394 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, the shop will reimburse in full for packages
> up to 2 lbs (1lb 2oz is the minimum required
> weight for the shop) for A and B shops that are
> shipped to zones 1-4.
I just signed up for this company and see just a few shops left around here. I see I can send more than the reimbursed weight and distance at my own cost but I am wondering if there is a limit on the box size for scenerio A and B. D seems available now.
Also, does anyone know how difficult it is for a newly signed up shopper to get one of these jobs? I don't want to sign up for 10 in the hopes of getting only 1 or 2 and then end up with 10 of them. I also do not want to limit my chances of getting 1 job by only asking for 1 location. Any tips on the best way to land just 1 job (as a tryout for me).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2014 11:40PM by sandyf.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, the shop will reimburse in full for packages
> up to 2 lbs (1lb 2oz is the minimum required
> weight for the shop) for A and B shops that are
> shipped to zones 1-4.
I just signed up for this company and see just a few shops left around here. I see I can send more than the reimbursed weight and distance at my own cost but I am wondering if there is a limit on the box size for scenerio A and B. D seems available now.
Also, does anyone know how difficult it is for a newly signed up shopper to get one of these jobs? I don't want to sign up for 10 in the hopes of getting only 1 or 2 and then end up with 10 of them. I also do not want to limit my chances of getting 1 job by only asking for 1 location. Any tips on the best way to land just 1 job (as a tryout for me).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2014 11:40PM by sandyf.
You would have to stay under the dimensions for a dim weight box, which I think is 12x12. However with a larger or heavier item it may be better to send flat rate or another way. USPS does have a postage calculator on their website to compare.
I have done about 30 of these over the years and have been approved for everyone I applied for.
I have done about 30 of these over the years and have been approved for everyone I applied for.
My box is just about 12 " at its largest dimension but I have already tried to figure out how to send it cheaply and I would need the largest flatrate box for that which would cost a lot more than using my own box under 12" as the box is only about 4 lbs. So this seems best...What is "dim" weight? Does dim refer to the dimensions limit? Is dim weight only for the C shops? I have to get accepted first to see the entire rules. The job is due today thru Saturday. I applied hours ago and have not yet heard back but it is still in my applications...I was hoping I would be accepted so I could do it today so I am worried they might be waiting for someone they have used before.
And are you allowed to add insurance at your own cost too?
Thanks so much.
And are you allowed to add insurance at your own cost too?
Thanks so much.
The dim weight is 12 in all three dimensions. That is what the C shops are. You just want to make sure you don't trigger that.
I just went through the last bunch of my accepted emails and they were all sent between 6 and 8 am.
I have never tried to add extra insurance, so not sure about that.
I just went through the last bunch of my accepted emails and they were all sent between 6 and 8 am.
I have never tried to add extra insurance, so not sure about that.
You can check the shipping service's website to find out if it will trigger the dim weight charge. Enter the dimensions, weight and to/from zip codes.
I don't think extra insurance is allowed, but it comes with $50 free insurance.
I don't think extra insurance is allowed, but it comes with $50 free insurance.
Thanks Shelly, so I will wait and see what happens early tomorrow morning. This is a D shop but it sounds like a C shop might work to send to my 2 kids. No one lives in zone 1-4 for me and if I can get a bunch of 12x12x12 boxes it would be the best route...other than the box size and getting permission to send elsewhere than the food bank. After I do my first C or A or B I will see if I feel confident to go on to a C. Maybe by then the scheduler will answer my questions. lol
I live in a big city so there are many, many post offices nearby to choose from.
I live in a big city so there are many, many post offices nearby to choose from.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.