Source for quote: USPS.com, using a 10-lb box at maximum dimensions. Media Mail quote was $10, anywhere in the country. The next cheapest option was $134 from coast to coast, but that's still nowhere near the $141 and change I've been asked to pay. I know that they include packaging and handling in the quote, and I know how balloon fees can become outrageous when shipping multiple stuffed animals, but I think the problem with their domestic quote lies elsewhere.
Now, the cutoff for Media Mail should be 4 lbs, but a set of all of the books should be no more than 4 lbs with packaging. Multiple sets should go for $10 per set, plus packaging and handling.
Stuffed animals complicate things, if you send them with a bunch of other stuff in a giant box, because large, light boxes trigger a "balloon surcharge" that can add significantly to the cost of mailing a package.
The international shipping costs sound correct for USPS, but as another poster mentioned, a drop-shipper would cut those down significantly.
I was an interim postmaster for two years, and am still familiar with the intricacies of shipping. However, I ran into this same issue with Backerkit in 2016 with the Zappa Vault rewards fulfillment, and it came from calculating everything separately instead of as a single package. That total was $160 until I spoke to Backerkit about how they were calculating the cost, and it came down to $40.
Engaged with this project 20+ times 🌟
Source for quote: USPS.com, using a 10-lb box at maximum dimensions. Media Mail quote was $10, anywhere in the country. The next cheapest option was $134 from coast to coast, but that's still nowhere near the $141 and change I've been asked to pay. I know that they include packaging and handling in the quote, and I know how balloon fees can become outrageous when shipping multiple stuffed animals, but I think the problem with their domestic quote lies elsewhere. Now, the cutoff for Media Mail should be 4 lbs, but a set of all of the books should be no more than 4 lbs with packaging. Multiple sets should go for $10 per set, plus packaging and handling. Stuffed animals complicate things, if you send them with a bunch of other stuff in a giant box, because large, light boxes trigger a "balloon surcharge" that can add significantly to the cost of mailing a package. The international shipping costs sound correct for USPS, but as another poster mentioned, a drop-shipper would cut those down significantly. I was an interim postmaster for two years, and am still familiar with the intricacies of shipping. However, I ran into this same issue with Backerkit in 2016 with the Zappa Vault rewards fulfillment, and it came from calculating everything separately instead of as a single package. That total was $160 until I spoke to Backerkit about how they were calculating the cost, and it came down to $40.