tomj888

Thanks for the info, it is very helpful. I also read some of the threads. Yes, it does sound like USPS is the way to go, esp the flat rate boxes.

I've had very mixed results with NG's fragrances in candles. Some of the really good ones: Peppermint, Sweet Orange Chili Pepper, Christmas Splendor, Chocolate Cherry, Dark Chocolate(but smells more like chocolate frosting), Chocolate Amber(no chocolate smell but very nice amber scent), Chocolate Cherries, Seduction(not sexy, but very nice gardenia type smell), Amaretto, Jamaican Vanilla Cafe. Some of the duds: Hippy Christmas: smells like medicine in soy wax. Texas Barrel Cactus: really gross soapy smell. Cabernet: smells like very sweet grape candy. Vanilla Champagne: overly sweet, smells like ginger ale or 7-Up. Chocolate Strawberries: smells like overly sweet candy to my friends, smells like coconut to me. Aphrodisiac: not sexy and not very strong, but an okay, sort of citrusy/honey type smell. Midnight Romance: if you like Old Spice, this is romantic. I"ve started buying more from BC and Peak as their scents seem stronger and more like what is described.

I have to say I ordered the Cannabis Rose and it was terrible, didn't live up to its name. Just smells like roses, which is fine, but not the exotic specialness promised by its description

Hi, I'm new on this board and also started a new candle business just this month. I thought shipping would be easy. My site builder has a place to just put in say, UPS or Fed Ex, etc. When I moved cross country a couple of years ago, I had shipped boxes of stuff at UPS and the rates were really good, better than at the post office and service was great. So I thought ok, UPS will be great. I had one of my first orders a couple of weeks ago but was waiting for supplies to come in. The client was very nice about it, I promised her I would ship it today. I packed it in a small box and put lots of packing peanuts all around it, the box was totally stuffed. It was not very heavy at all. I went to a UPS store in my neighborhood and the man running it had a freak out when I told him it contained glass and insisted it would break if I didn't let him re-pack it in a larger box. I honestly think it would have been fine but I was very tired and in a hurry so I said okay. He rang up ground shipping and told me it was $20!!! I just about fell out. He also charged me $7 for an old cardboard box he pulled out of his shipping room and extra peanuts. I felt very ripped off, but was so tired from my work week, etc, and just went ahead and did it. Had I been less tired and thinking more clearly, I would have told him to shove it and gone down the street to the post office that is open til 3 on Saturdays. I was really upset and angry over this. Obviously, a small biz owner can't make any money with these rates. For now, I have changed the shipping on my site to only USPS. A friend suggested this happened because I went to a private UPS store and not the actual UPS service. I don't know if this is true or not. How do you guys ship product and keep costs down? What is the best way to do this? I am also wondering the best places to get boxes and mailing labels? I would appreciate any advice. Thanks so much!

If your website has a shipping setup, you don't need to put in shipping on Paypal. I have a new business too and made the same mistake. I got an order this weekend and he was double billed for shipping, once on my site and once with paypal. Luckily, it was a friend and I just refunded him on Paypal.