How to charge postage for a CD?

Subject: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Jande
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:13 AM

I was just reading the Mudcatters CD's thread here and was thinking about adding my Demo CD (two original songs ~ Goddess In Me, and Circus --atm available as MP3s for download or streaming here)to it but then realised that I really don't know how to handle the postage for other countries.

What do other 'Catters do about this?

Send then out C.O.D?

Enquire at the Post Office what the cost would be to mail to various countries and post a list of varied "shipping & handling" charges for each country?

Or do you simply decide on a median s&h charge and hope it will all balance out in the end?

Or perhaps there are solutions I haven't thought of yet?

Can anyone out there in Mudland help me out here?

~ Jande (J. Seanna Rowe)

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 May 01 - 03:38 AM

I don't think there's a horrible problem with postage, Jande. If it's foreign postage for a single CD, it's going to be more-or-less the same all over the world (well, some locations are double that of others, but really not all that expensive). The big problem is how you get money from the person buying the CD - many banks charge a fee for foreign checks, if they'll accept them at all. That's when you find out our global economy isn't all that global at times.
I think I'd figure out how you're going to handle money first. Then, charge the highest postage rate you're likely to encounter. If you get a few that are higher, you can absorb them with what you make on the lower-rate nations.
Good luck.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: SeanM
Date: 11 May 01 - 03:39 AM

I may be entirely wrong here...

But there used to be 'international postage coupons' that could be purchased. If you're in the US, you should be able to either go to the local PO or call and they can give you an idea of prices to different countries (if in fact they are different).

Personally? I'd figure out how much profit you're looking to make off of each CD sale (sorry, not on MP3 so I don't know what the margins are), and figure how much you can afford to discount off of the median postal cost and make that a standard charge for "out of country" customers.

Remember also that if you ship them yourself, proper CD mailers cost a little bit, and you'll probably need some form of packing material as well (I used to use very stiff cardboard inserts - mainly to attempt to keep the shipping envelope from folding and damaging the case.)

M

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Jande
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:40 PM

Joe: Thanks! That's very helpful advice.

Canada Trust will accept foreign cheques and usually calls outside to get the rates, so there is a fee if the total is under a certain amount.

I think the Demo/Single CD is a good one to try all this out on. As far as the "how"... I see two choices:

1. On my own domain website, Jannart Digital Design & Animation I could put up pages that link to a secure Credit Card software company --the ones that take the money for you and send you the orders? Can't think of the names of any right now...

or

2. Ask for the whole price by cheque or International Money Order in Canadian or US dollars, or as SeanM mentions ask for the postage separately in International Postal Orders. Have these sent to my Postal Box in Orillia.

Or

I could do both, I guess, but the Credit Card route would cost more up front, though it would make it easier for people to purchase.

More research required I see.

Thanks again.

~ Jande

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Jande
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:45 PM

SeanM: Thanks for the suggestions. Your advice about the International Postage Coupons made me remember International Money Orders (see my reply to Joe).

As far as "profit" goes. I'd feel funny charging more than 6 or 7 dollars(US) for a CD with only two songs on it. I think the last batch of CDRs we bought (100 top of the line) cost a dollar each. The labeling costs around two dollars. The case is fifty cents. The packaging costs, I think, are two or three dollars.

CDR..............................$ 1.00
Jewelcase........................ .50
CD&J-case labelling.............. 2.00 (apprx.)
Mailing packaging................ 2.50 (apprx.)
Total CD-making costs............. 6.00
Subtract price charged............ 7.00 (?)

Profit..(?)....................... 1.00

[sigh...]

Help! Anybody got a better way of doing this?

I really feel I need to do this so that I have some incentive to get back to recording my songs. I've been trying to do this for over fifteen years and haven't succeeded yet. I refuse to give up entirely!

Thanks for your encouraging help.

~ Jande

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: harpmolly
Date: 11 May 01 - 01:37 PM

Re: payment...what about Paypal? That works terrifically well for ebay. :)

Can't help you with postage, though. *sigh*

M

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Jande
Date: 11 May 01 - 02:08 PM

Hi Molli...

I'll check that out... Maybe try that new FastSearch engine.

Thanks!

~ Jande

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: hesperis
Date: 11 May 01 - 04:09 PM

paypal looks pretty good at first glance

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Jande
Date: 11 May 01 - 06:23 PM

Molli, The more I look at PayPal, the more I like it! I could use money orders for people who don't have, or don't like to use C-cards online.

I wonder if anyone else is getting good stuff from this thread?

Hes: Thanks for the blue clicky!

~ Jande

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: harpmolly
Date: 11 May 01 - 07:42 PM

Yeah...I've only used Paypal as a buyer, not a seller, so I don't know what kind of commission they charge or whatever. But it seems to be a really simple way to transact money. They do all the hard work *grin*

One of these days I suppose I'll get rid of all those double-cd musical cast recordings I haven't listened to for ten years, and then I'm thinking Ebay will probably be my best bet. I'm looking to make it as convenient as possible. *g* But it'll be a while yet...they may be cheesy, but I'm not quite ready to let go of my teenage geekiness yet :D

M

Subject: RE: How to charge postage for a CD?
From: Jande
Date: 11 May 01 - 08:43 PM

Hey! I've hung on to mine for over thirty years, and that's without the recordings. =`)

Paypal seems to only charge the seller $.30 per transaction under $15.00 and 2.2% + $.30 per transaction over $15.00. There doesn't seem to be any monthly fee, or anything like that, that I can find....

I'm getting VERY excited about this!

Thanks again!

~ Jande