When you’re ready to ship your eBay item, Federal Express is an option. FedEx Ground service has competitive prices and carries all the best features of FedEx. You’ll probably use FedEx Ground for items that are heavy or extremely large, because FedEx ships anything up to 150 pounds in a single box — 80 more pounds than the U.S. Postal Service takes. FedEx also delivers on Saturdays — which UPS won’t — but charges $4.00 to pick up items from shippers who ship less than $60.00 in weekly package charges.
When choosing your shipper, consider how FedEx stacks up against the others. The FedEx Ground Home Delivery service is a major competitor for UPS. The rates are competitive, and FedEx offers a money-back guarantee (if it misses the delivery window) for residential ground delivery. Some other facts to note:
For residential delivery, FedEx charges an additional $2.30 to $2.40 per package. A 2-pound package going from Los Angeles to a residence in New York City takes five days and costs $8.71 including the Home Delivery fee. FedEx includes online package tracking and insurance up to $100.00 in this price.
You have to be a business to use home delivery — but plenty of home businesses exist.
When compared with FedEx Ground Home Delivery, the same 2-pound U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail package with $100.00 insurance and a delivery confirmation costs you $11.50. (Insurance can cost much less with private package insurance!)
With USPS, the package is supposed to arrive within two to three days. But FedEx Ground guarantees a five-day delivery, and occasionally Priority Mail packages take up to a week.
FedEx Ground won’t supply boxes for you, so you’re on your own there.
FedEx offers other services besides FedEx Ground. You can use FedEx Express Air for rush business, but Express seems rather expensive for eBay shipping. However, if the buyer wants it fast and is willing to pay, send it by FedEx overnight.
At the FedEx home page, the link for rates is conveniently located at the top of the page.