Difference in estimated/actual shipping costs...why?
Summary: suziebear70 expressed concern about discrepancies between the shipping costs charged to buyers and the amounts they are billed when printing shipping labels, leading to a loss of about $3 per transaction. Several participants noted that the issue might be due to accidentally setting listings to 'flat rate' shipping instead of 'calculated' shipping. suziebear70 realized this might have occurred when using the 'sell similar item' feature, which may have copied another seller's flat rate settings. Participants advised checking listings to ensure they are set correctly, considering frequent USPS rate changes. suziebear70 appreciated the advice and planned to verify their listings.
When posting items, I enter the package size and weight of the package. Several times, when an items sells, the "discounted" shipping cost that I am paying is several dollars more than what the buyer is paying me. For instance, an item sold today and the buyer was charged $5.68 for shipping based on the size and weight of the package. However, when I go to print the label (same carrier/service as buyer selected as well as same size/weight) I am being charged $8.27 ( at a supposed 49% discount). This results in a loss of almost $3 due to the difference. This has happened several times (but no on every transaction), and I've ate the loss but can't keep doing that. Why is this happening?
caldreamer
路3 weeks agoWhen you list you items you need to show correct "weights & measurements" of BOXED item.
If you set listed to "calculated shipping" and have correct "weight & measurements' for BOXED items USPS will charge you and your customer the "exact same rate".
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoThank you for your response. I calculated everything correctly for the PACKAGED item. I鈥檓 not sure how but the shipping was set to a flat rate. I never choose flat rate for shipping. 馃
fern*wood
路3 weeks agoI just looked at three of your items and two of them were set for flat rate.
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoThanks for pointing that out. I think I may have posted some "sell similar item" from other listings and it automatically set it to flat rate based on the other seller's listing. Lesson learned. I'll check my listings now. Thanks for your help! :)
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoAny chance you could tell me which of my listings you saw this on. I've just clicked through several, and the shipping option on every listing is USPS Ground Advantage with a range for calculated prices. TBH, I don't even see where there's an option when listing to click on Flat Rate if I wanted to (which I don't". This is where my confusion lies because the pants I originally posted about were shipped with USPS Ground Advantage and a calculated range. I'm very confused.
fern*wood
路3 weeks agoI see flat rate on the HBY Miami black hat, Adidas Grand Court sneakers white, Gap mens jeans 36x32 and I looked at about 5 or 6 listings. The spot to switch from calculated to flat when you list is right below the Domestic Shipping heading under cost type.
suziebear70
OP2 weeks agoThank you so much! This was incredibly helpful, and I see what needs to be fixed on many of my listings. :)
dhbookds
路3 weeks ago@suziebear70
If you go to Seller Hub Active listings......you can see the type of shipping on each item. I'm not sure if that is the default view, but you can add it, by clicking on the customize link.
caldreamer
路3 weeks agoYes, flat rate is not good but USPS prices are always going up.
cityslickercreations2004
路3 weeks agoI think some of your items are being shipped to a rural address. I had a few a packages hit with the higher rate. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell in advance.
If you are going to use flat rate, increase your price. They are too low.
USPS rates are increasing October 4 - Jan. 27, 2027 for the holidays.
from Stamps.com
"USPS changes going into effect July 15, 2026
To align with new USPS commercial pricing standards, USPS implemented rate adjustments on July 15th that affect Rural Ground Advantage shipments:
Sub-1 lb Rural Rate: All Ground Advantage packages under 1 lb shipped to specific rural ZIP codes will now be charged the flat 15.99 oz rate (e.g., a 2 oz package will cost the same as a 15.99 oz package)."
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoThank you for your response and pointing out the flat rate shipping. I calculated everything correctly for the packaged item. I鈥檓 not sure how the shipping was set to a flat rate. I never choose flat rate for shipping. 馃
albertabrightalberta
路3 weeks ago 路 Edited@suziebear70
The price you're being charged for the shipping label is correct for the measurements , weight and destination when buying the label.
The discrepancy is a result of user error. Your flat rate shipping charge isn't high enough.
The fix is that you need to raise your flat rate charge or opt to use calculated shipping based on the buyer's zip code.
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoThank you for your response and pointing out the flat rate shipping. I calculated everything correctly for the packaged item. I鈥檓 not sure how the shipping was set to a flat rate. I never choose flat rate for shipping. 馃
mam98031
路3 weeks agoIt can only happen from what YOU enter into the listing. It is possible you just made a mistake. We all do from time to time.
Since so many are seeing the same thing, instead of being insistent that you didn't do it, go and start checking your active listings and make sure there are no other accidental mistakes made that is going to cost you real money.
Keeping in mind that USPS just raised some rates last week, the month before that and the month before that. Still we have yet another increase coming the first week of October. Make sure you are aware of them all.
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoNo need to be so rude. Sure, I make mistakes all the time. The only way it was set to "flat rate" is if it was automatically set that way, and I overlooked it. I've sold many items and never even click on the shipping option because it's always automatically defaulted to calculated shipping. This is the first time I've ever encountered an issue. The only reason I can come up with for this happening is I may have done a "sell similar item" from another listing and that individual had it set to "flat rate". Lesson learned, and I'll be sure to check moving forward. Thank you so much for your "kind" response. Have a blessed evening!
mam98031
路2 weeks agoI am sorry you took what I posted in a way not intended. As I stated, WE ALL make mistakes.
Setting Flat Rate shipping is a choice, it is Not "automatically set", unless you are relisting or sell similar from one of your listings or you have created a template and filled in the information. When initially setting up a listing, the seller can choose Flat Rate Shipping or Calculated shipping.
It is very good to learn from our mistakes. Making a mistake does NOT make you somehow bad, it only means you are human and we all make them from time to time. What defines us is how we work out of the mistake.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
路3 weeks ago@dhbookds answered this correctly. You had a Flat shipping rate on those items. If you want buyers to pay based on location you need to set it up for calculated shipping.
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoThank you for your response and pointing out the flat rate shipping. I calculated everything correctly for the packaged item. I鈥檓 not sure how the shipping was set to a flat rate. I never choose flat rate for shipping. 馃
dhbookds
路3 weeks agoThe two prs of pants you just sold are both at a flat rate.......5.68.......no matter what zip code is entered.........
suziebear70
OP3 weeks agoThank you for your response and pointing out the flat rate shipping. I calculated everything correctly for the packaged item. I鈥檓 not sure how the shipping was set to a flat rate. I never choose flat rate for shipping. 馃