Shipping Basics

[smjprod]

I'm very new to Web Payments Standard.  Thought I'd be able to enter some product info (weights, dimensions, etc.) and PayPal would automatically come up with exact amount for UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.  It seems more like I have to define the shipping cost per item, or by weight, after researching for myself what formula will always cover the actual costs.

If that's the case, any recommendations on how I determine the shipping costs for various quantities, weights, etc.?  Buy a scale?  Get Stamps.com?  Spend an hour at the post office getting quotes for various combinations of products?

I'm not impressed with documentation I've found on shipping.  But perhaps I'm missing something.  Thanks.

[lucciskorner]

I have set up my shipping to price purchased as to the shipping price. .01 to 4.99 shipping price 5.65 just an example. 

[smjprod]

Thanks for responding.  So have you done research to determine that $5.65 covers your shipping for your product(s) in that range, any where in the __________ (US?).  How do you determine the actual cost for you?  I don't want to take every package going out to the post office.  Interestinlgy I received a Stamps.com mailer with CD this very day.

[randrox]

I would advise you to buy a good scale, definitely.  Yes, you have to know how much your package weighs, and I often log on to the USPS website and calculate postage to see what I need to do to choose the best method, etc.  I purchased an electronic digital scale off of eBay, gosh, at least 6 years ago, and by carefully packing it when I moved, it has survived and seems to continue being very accurate according to the P.O. scales.  I think I paid around $40 for it then, haven't looked to see what they are going for now.