Another USPS rate increase coming - Holiday surcharge
Summary: simply_toyz expressed frustration over USPS announcing new holiday surcharges, highlighting the impact on shipping costs, especially for rural areas. monroe67 made a sarcastic comment, while tsme35 criticized the recurring rate increases and mentioned reduced package volumes. 1786davycrockett and others discussed how these rises affect their business strategies, considering alternatives like UPS and FedEx, despite longer delivery times. Participants noted broader industry price increases and the challenge for small sellers, with some suggesting changes in eBay鈥檚 handling of rural surcharge calculations.
I thought maybe we'd get a reprieve this year due to the fact they already have had so many increases and a fuel surcharge. It seems not with the new rates coming
It's also different from all other years as it is weight and zone based not just a straight across the board per shipment increase.
Just complicates things more as if you do not used calculated shipping.
I already increased my postage to create a buffer for when I receive a rural area order. Now the buffer I created will all be eaten up and then some with these holiday surcharges.
Just means that a rural or non continental zip code is going to cost almost $9 to send a 0-16oz package which is crazy.
Not to mention all the regular zipcodes going to cost over $6 now.
I only just learned about this today and although we've gotten holiday surcharges almost every year, I guess I expected either a smaller rate increase or no surcharge at all.
I still have just as many issues with USPS regardless of the surcharge, so don't see how it helps make their service better during the holiday rush.
Just more money lost under the guise of a better service.
jawz*milw
路2 weeks ago 路 EditedEbay you are not handling this additional $1.50 rural surcharge correctly. You expect us to eat the $1.50 if going to a rural area or else pad our shipping rates to every customer just in case they are considered rural. We will lose customers that DON'T live in "those rural areas" and they think our shipping charges are ridiculous. Get the affected "rural zip codes" into your rate calculator so both parties have no surprises. Of course you want us to pad the rates since you take 9% fee of the shipping rate. First you take the PO discount from sellers and give it to the buyer. Your cutting off the hands that feed you. So PO is screwing us with these ridiculous increases, so you will too? BOHICA
shire123
路3 weeks agoTo illustrate the newest price increase. Had a sale this AM (9/18), if I shipped the 1 pound 4 oz 9x9x5 box the USPS Ground Advantage was 8.07. As the mail carrier had already gone through I decided to ship tomorrow (9/19). Ground Advantage went up 10 cents. For this package Fed/Ex UPS economy shipping was about 75 cents more.
gurlcat
路3 weeks ago 路 Edited@shire123 EDIT: Never mind, I just saw the other post, about the Sept 19th increases.
I'm slightly confused. The 10 cents more for USPS -are you saying that difference is between today and tomorrow? I can't understand why that would be the case, since the holiday season increase doesn't start until Oct. 4 (according to the link^).shire123
路3 weeks agoWe all hate to see these price increases. But we are seeing price increases across the board in many, many areas. As always, we do have to adjust our business models to take into account these changes.
For the things I sell I am seeing the FedEx/UPS economy shipping are almost always cheaper than USPS. One of the drawbacks for using those methods is the longer transit time. In some cases we could be looking at 10 days to deliver an item. Will our buyers accept that?
That does mean that in many ways it can no longer be business as usual. Many, many small time sellers are going to be priced out of the market.
mcdougle4248
路3 weeks agoAnother USPS rate increase announcement this morning
https://community.ebay.com/forum/announcements-57928/topic/usps-rate-update-effective-september-19-2026-481580/
tsme35
路3 weeks agoWTH, #6 rate increase, USPS needs to just put a sign "please don't use us"
gurlcat
路Sep 18, 2026 at 8:02 AM 路 EditedThank you for the heads up. I can't believe you got a couple of personal insult replies for it. 馃槅 Kind of like people hating the weather man for "making" rain come to ruin weekend plans.
I'm curious if FedEx and UPS do holiday season increases. I know their rates have risen for fuel costs (because duh fuel is crazy high now). It always puzzles me when I see people dissing the USPS, without mentioning the 2 other options. -I personally want nothing to do with either of those, but what's everyone else's excuse, if USPS are such wretched scumbags? Why not use one of those guys instead?
tsme35
路3 weeks agoDon't know about fedex but UPS increase Oct 25 is 25% until Jan. 16th
gurlcat
路3 weeks agoYIKES, 25% across the board, all sizes/destinations? That has to be more than the USPS one.
tools*
路Sep 18, 2026 at 6:03 AMMy target listing price on eBay is $250 and my default shipping service is UPS Ground. It just isn't worth selling inexpensive things that have to be shipped, unless you sell thousands or millions of units in a year.
gurlcat
路Sep 18, 2026 at 8:09 AMeBay really is going to stop being the place to sell few-dollar things, and the sooner those sellers realize how non-viable it is, the better. Anyone still sourcing such items .... yeesh. And any stock still on hand, will probably be best to lot/bundle up.
mcdougle4248
路3 weeks agoYep, this is me and my items. Kinda sad about it.
gurlcat
路3 weeks agoSad is better than angry, because anger means blame and whoever might be blamed probably doesn't care and won't fix the problem. What we do have is each other, and I know that sounds sappy, but I am talking about this place having the opportunity to epitomize the definition of "community." And by that I mean a precious resource for advice if you need it.
You know your inventory better than anyone, but that doesn't mean others have no insights on potential ways to get the most out of it. For example if you consider creating 'lot' listings like I suggested, but aren't sure what types or numbers of items to put together, start a post about it!
mcdougle4248
路3 weeks agoThank you for the kind words.
I have tried lot listings in the past without much success. I may need to revisit that idea to sell what I have left after Christmas.
1786davycrockett
路Sep 18, 2026 at 4:51 AMI've lost track of all the increases to Ground Advantage and Priority this past year.
I think I've finally reached the point where it simply is not worth the trouble to list any more items at those rates.
If eBay is actually making a significant profit on the sales we are providing them, perhaps eBay should consider subsidizing about 50% of the shipping fees on Ground Advantage and Priority -- otherwise many of us will be going out of business in 2027.
gurlcat
路Sep 18, 2026 at 7:53 AMIt sure would be nice if they'd do that. Wouldn't hold my breath though. 馃様
chubbycatcollectibles
路Sep 18, 2026 at 4:00 AMAs if $9 for a 3oz envelope isn't enough. We so need a new option. The USPS is quickly becoming obsolete
gurlcat
路Sep 18, 2026 at 7:53 AMThere are 2 other carriers.
inhawaii
路Sep 18, 2026 at 1:58 AMhartungcards
路Sep 18, 2026 at 1:07 AMYou lost me at, "I thought maybe we'd get a reprieve this year."
lawnmowerpartsstore2
路Sep 18, 2026 at 1:02 AMWell isn't that Special :(
tsme35
路Sep 17, 2026 at 11:21 PMNo, just as greedy as ever even with the huge rate increase in July, not sure why they need a rate increase for the holiday season, mail lady already running earlier each day. She said because online package volume has dropped alot in the last month.
monroe67
路Sep 17, 2026 at 11:16 PMYou are just a bright ray of sunshine . . . . . . . . . . .
simply_toyz
OPSep 18, 2026 at 1:03 AMAnd your reply is SO much better 馃檮