In case I’ve tempted you to have a stash sale on your own blog…
…something you should know…
All the packages have now been sent out from my stash sale the other week…and I spent over $200 in shipping costs. Yeah. I decided to include shipping in the price, thinking yarn is light and it wouldn’t be that big a deal to absorb that cost and it would be a nice thing to do as well as more convenient for me. What I failed to take into account is that yarn may be light, but it still costs to ship 30+ packages. And some of them weren’t all that light. And that’s regular parcel post. (Sorry folks, if I’d gone with priority mail I would have taken a complete loss on this endeavor. Your yarn is on its way. I swear.)
Sigh.
I discounted the yarn a lot because I didn’t want to be greedy. (And yet, how is it greedy to charge what something is worth? You see the conflict here? Socialists shouldn’t go into retail, I guess.) I probably shouldn’t have discounted it that much AND given free shipping. I’m a lousy capitalist. Clearly it’s a good thing that I’m not normally in the business of selling stuff. Think I’ll stick to the writing thing. Hey–I’ve got an MFA, not an MBA, you know.
But at least my stash is smaller, and there are people out there happy with their new yarn. So that’s a good thing…
But it’s something for you to keep in mind if you’re thinking of destashing this way.
Live and learn.
Added later: Eek!!! Everyone who bought from me, THANK YOU for your kind offers to contribute to the shipping costs, but that’s not necessary. Very sweet of you, but not necessary. I just wanted to share what I learned and what I would do differently next time with those who may be considering a stash sale.
Oy, I learned exactly this lesson when I sold some yarn and books through the blog last year. That shipping is really exorbitant, and you can also see how businesses are eating a lot of it when they charge a flat rate based on the sale amount and not on the weight. My sister loses a TON on shipping — that that’s only postage….there’s also the cost of the boxes and the packing materials and the tape, and on and on. It’s also funny to be working there during the heavy rush times and they’re a couple weeks behind on their shipping because they can’t produce the product fast enough, and some guy will call on, say, the day before Valentine’s Day and say, “Isn’t there any way, if I pay extra for shipping, that I can get it tomorrow?” Like they’re MAKING money on the shipping, and completely missing the point that they have hundreds of other people’s things to get out ahead of his. duh.
Posted by: Norma
So did you at least turn some profit in the end? I hope so!
Posted by: Carole
aw, that’s a bummer. I hear you, though. I tend to be too nice when it comes to anything money-related– you think it’s a socialist thing?
Posted by: carole
Oh dear. That’s not good. Let me know how much it cost to ship mine and we can split the cost.
Posted by: LaurieM
Live and learn, indeed. However, there are far, far worse things to be known for than being a “lousy capitalist”.
😉
Posted by: claudia
That is unfortunate. I always destash on eBay for that reason. That way, people pay what they think it is worth to them and the shipping charges are automatically calculated based on weight, location, etc. It is perfect for us non-business minded folk.
Posted by: Nicole
I was wondering about the shipping. My yarn arrived yesterday, and I love it 🙂
Posted by: Laura
I hear you on the shippping. That’s what happened to me too. So I had to send it parcel post. But everything arrived in a few days (Same as priority mail), so I have no complaints!
Posted by: Angela
D’oh! I think I forgot to let you know that my (lovely and oft-petted) yarn arrived, and quite speedily considering it was parcel post – thank you. And I got a kick out of the “Heights” postcard; I thought it an interesting film with some really solid performances.
Anyway, I would be more than happy to reimburse you the postage, seeing as the yarn came at such a discount.
Posted by: Tonia
Hey, send me a bill and I’ll split the cost for the postage. Can’t wait for mine to get here!
Posted by: Christy
Interesting. Very interesting. I can use that as a good reason to keep my stash.
Posted by: Cassie
Oy, I learned exactly this lesson when I sold some yarn and books through the blog last year. That shipping is really exorbitant, and you can also see how businesses are eating a lot of it when they charge a flat rate based on the sale amount and not on the weight. My sister loses a TON on shipping — that that’s only postage….there’s also the cost of the boxes and the packing materials and the tape, and on and on. It’s also funny to be working there during the heavy rush times and they’re a couple weeks behind on their shipping because they can’t produce the product fast enough, and some guy will call on, say, the day before Valentine’s Day and say, “Isn’t there any way, if I pay extra for shipping, that I can get it tomorrow?” Like they’re MAKING money on the shipping, and completely missing the point that they have hundreds of other people’s things to get out ahead of his. duh.
Posted by: Norma
So did you at least turn some profit in the end? I hope so!
Posted by: Carole
aw, that’s a bummer. I hear you, though. I tend to be too nice when it comes to anything money-related– you think it’s a socialist thing?
Posted by: carole
Oh dear. That’s not good. Let me know how much it cost to ship mine and we can split the cost.
Posted by: LaurieM
Live and learn, indeed. However, there are far, far worse things to be known for than being a “lousy capitalist”.
😉
Posted by: claudia
That is unfortunate. I always destash on eBay for that reason. That way, people pay what they think it is worth to them and the shipping charges are automatically calculated based on weight, location, etc. It is perfect for us non-business minded folk.
Posted by: Nicole
I was wondering about the shipping. My yarn arrived yesterday, and I love it 🙂
Posted by: Laura
I hear you on the shippping. That’s what happened to me too. So I had to send it parcel post. But everything arrived in a few days (Same as priority mail), so I have no complaints!
Posted by: Angela
D’oh! I think I forgot to let you know that my (lovely and oft-petted) yarn arrived, and quite speedily considering it was parcel post – thank you. And I got a kick out of the “Heights” postcard; I thought it an interesting film with some really solid performances.
Anyway, I would be more than happy to reimburse you the postage, seeing as the yarn came at such a discount.
Posted by: Tonia
Hey, send me a bill and I’ll split the cost for the postage. Can’t wait for mine to get here!
Posted by: Christy
Interesting. Very interesting. I can use that as a good reason to keep my stash.
Posted by: Cassie
Cari…let me know what it cost to ship the book I ordered at a SUPER DISCOUNTED price from you and I will gladly reimburse you, okay? It’s no fair that I got a good deal at your expense!
Posted by: Bad Hippie
This is why I destash on Ebay. That way I feel people pay what they feel the yarn is worth and the shipping is added on. Still, you did what you thought was right and at least you got the end result you wanted – less stash!
Posted by: Mary
I love your line “socialists shouldn’t go into retail.” So true! Despite this, I hope you are enjoying the space (both physical and mental) that de-stashing brings.
Posted by: Kathy
You can comfort yourself with the fact that Cassie appears to be an even worse capitalist than you. Or, at the very least, she’s wicked good at rationalisation.
Posted by: Lee Ann
I sell a lot of stuff (not yarn) on eBay, so I do a LOT of shipping. I have found that the packaging is often what ends up costing the money – a cardboard box is surprisingly heavy.
If you do it again, I recommend using bubble mailers (about $1 ea) or if you have a lot of things to sell, buy a box of Tyvek envelopes (about $35 for 50 envelopes). Yarn is squashable!
Packages can go First Class for up to 13 ounces, each 50 gram skein equals 1.8 ounces, which means that you should be able to get 6 skeins in a lightweight envelope under First Class mail rates (which max out at about $3.25).
Parcel Post isn’t as great a deal as they make it out to be. 🙁 Since Parcel Post goes by the pound, I have found that if I can take one box of stuff and ship it in two envelopes via First Class mail, which goes by the ounce, it can be substantially cheaper.
If your package weighs more than about 4lbs, you’re probably best off with Priority Flat Rate boxes. You can send anything anywhere in the U.S., as much as you can cram into a Flat Rate box, for $7.50. (Great way to ship books, which are also very heavy.)
If shipping just a book (no yarn), you can go Media Mail, which is super cheap.
Posted by: Erika
You know, by being generous on the price and the shipping, you’ve probably gotten good karma from folks who scooped up the deals, especially those who couldn’t afford the stuff retail.
Just a thought.
P.S. I love the dogs (I do pug rescue, myself), and I see we have some things in common: a sock yarn addiction, and Fiestaware dishes. Hooray!
Posted by: Andrea R
Cari…let me know what it cost to ship the book I ordered at a SUPER DISCOUNTED price from you and I will gladly reimburse you, okay? It’s no fair that I got a good deal at your expense!
Posted by: Bad Hippie
This is why I destash on Ebay. That way I feel people pay what they feel the yarn is worth and the shipping is added on. Still, you did what you thought was right and at least you got the end result you wanted – less stash!
Posted by: Mary
I love your line “socialists shouldn’t go into retail.” So true! Despite this, I hope you are enjoying the space (both physical and mental) that de-stashing brings.
Posted by: Kathy
You can comfort yourself with the fact that Cassie appears to be an even worse capitalist than you. Or, at the very least, she’s wicked good at rationalisation.
Posted by: Lee Ann
I sell a lot of stuff (not yarn) on eBay, so I do a LOT of shipping. I have found that the packaging is often what ends up costing the money – a cardboard box is surprisingly heavy.
If you do it again, I recommend using bubble mailers (about $1 ea) or if you have a lot of things to sell, buy a box of Tyvek envelopes (about $35 for 50 envelopes). Yarn is squashable!
Packages can go First Class for up to 13 ounces, each 50 gram skein equals 1.8 ounces, which means that you should be able to get 6 skeins in a lightweight envelope under First Class mail rates (which max out at about $3.25).
Parcel Post isn’t as great a deal as they make it out to be. 🙁 Since Parcel Post goes by the pound, I have found that if I can take one box of stuff and ship it in two envelopes via First Class mail, which goes by the ounce, it can be substantially cheaper.
If your package weighs more than about 4lbs, you’re probably best off with Priority Flat Rate boxes. You can send anything anywhere in the U.S., as much as you can cram into a Flat Rate box, for $7.50. (Great way to ship books, which are also very heavy.)
If shipping just a book (no yarn), you can go Media Mail, which is super cheap.
Posted by: Erika
You know, by being generous on the price and the shipping, you’ve probably gotten good karma from folks who scooped up the deals, especially those who couldn’t afford the stuff retail.
Just a thought.
P.S. I love the dogs (I do pug rescue, myself), and I see we have some things in common: a sock yarn addiction, and Fiestaware dishes. Hooray!
Posted by: Andrea R