USPS Priority Boxes

Question

When I am listing an item and I am establishing shipping, I do not see an option to declare I am using a USPS Priority Mail Official Box.
Shipping method: Standard Shipping: Small to Medium Items --> Weight, Dimensions, etc... Domestic Shipping: Primary Shipping: USPS Priority Mail.
And that's it. I do not see anywhere to disclose that it will be INSIDE a USPS Priority Mail box.
Why does this matter? Because the shipping is apparently NOT correct and I am getting charged extra after the fact.
This item: Heroclix Legacy set 1-84 Complete - Pre Cards | eBay

disneyshopper · Accepted Answer

When you select Priority Mail Package, you are charged by weight/distance from you to the buyer. Priority Medium Flat Rate has a specific charge regardless of weight/distance to the buyer. I find that priority flat rate boxes only work if shipping heavy items to zip codes far away. Since you stated the buyer lives close to you, Ground Advantage would be a lot less expensive, but you do have to provide your own box.

simply-the-best-for-you · Answer

After you choose the " Shipping method: Standard Shipping: Small to Medium Items --> Weight, Dimensions, etc." then choose your Cost TYpe of either Calculated or Flat (I'm assuming you're using Calculated to let eBay calculate it for you), then just below that you'll see PRIMARY SERVICE, click on the 3 dots to the right, then Click Change Service & choose whatever you want it to be! You can repeat that with your ADDITIONAL SERVICE if you wish to offer multiple services.

When you click to change your service, you will see every carrier & every pkg type under the sun. If you use a FLAT RATE PRIORITY PKG, you MUST select the appropriate pkg. Those are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from regular PM packaging!!! Regular PM packaging goes by weight & distance. FLAT RATE PM's go by their Flat Rate. So, if you shipped in a Flat Rate pkg, that's why you were charged for that!

eBay is NOT stealing your money, first off that money from the APV (USPS Automated Package Verification) goes to the USPS, not eBay. Secondly, if you used Flat Rate packaging & did not pay the Flat Rate, that's on you. Of course they charged you the extra. Even though it was unintentional, you were shorting the system.

I would suggest you familiarize yourself with the various ratess which you can find at USPS.com , it is almost never worth it to pay for Flat Rate services, as those have become VERY expensive. Is there a particular reason you want to use Flat Rate packaging? A 2lb package will almost always be cheaper using regular PM or even GA, which is what most buyers prefer. The PM Flat Rate boxes tend only to be cost effective if your item is very heavy. I don't understand why you're using a Flat Rate box to ship a 2lb pkg? But it is rarely cost effective.

autumnoffear · Answer

Thanks, but that did not answer my question.