SHIPPING charges are assigned by the computed weight. This figure includes the device plus all of the necessary packing materials and the shippers added dimensional weight up-charge, or DIM. The DIM is added because the external box for shipping a Beta VCR in almost all cases will be 24x24x12 inches in size. Added to the weight it determines the total charge for shipping.
HANDLING charges are added to the subtotal. These cover the cost of two cardboard cartons and the packing materials. Specifically every full size Beta VCR will be protected in the following manner. The internal container will be a 20x20x8 inch single wall box (220 pound test) or the original shipping carton (that was provided by the manufacturer). The VCR will be cushioned in suitable padding. In most cases this will be packing peanuts or bubble wrap. The internal box will be placed inside an external carton that will be a single walled 24x24x12 box (200 pound test) for units up to a forty pounds. Over forty pounds a double walled external carton (275 pound test) will be used. The internal carton with the VCR will be surrounded inside the external box by two inches of suitable padding. Because the size of the external box is larger than 12 inches on two sides it requires the higher DIM weight calculation, called the balloon rate. It will be more than for the gross weight. The computed handling cost to be added to the subtotal is determined in the following manner. Prices are for April of 2023. The 20x20x8 internal box currently costs $3.13 each. The 24x24x12 single walled external box is $3.44 each and the four cubic feet of peanuts used are $2.00 per foot for a total of $8.00. This bring the amount to $14.57. Freight to ship these boxes to me adds $2.42 for both boxes. When added together it comes to $16.99 for packing materials. This charge is rounded down to $15.00 to make it easier to add to the handling charges to the balance. If a double walled external box is needed for weights over forty pounds it costs $9.00 each. The total then becomes $22.55 which is rounded down to $20.00 for simplicity. PayPal fees are not included in the shipping or handling, they are separate.