USPS Cost discrepancies
Summary: xann0302 observed that shipping label costs have increased, making FedEx with USPS final delivery sometimes cheaper than direct USPS rates. They questioned whether eBay still provides USPS discounts and were advised by other participants that while eBay offers some discounts, they aren't as deep due to USPS rate changes. jonathanbrightlight explained that fees depend on what the buyer pays. Several participants shared negative experiences with FedEx and UPS, emphasizing delivery issues and unreliable tracking. caldreamer noted that USPS rates are a result of overall shipping cost increases.
When I returned to Tops Seller last month, after one month out as Top Seller, I noticed the shipping label costs have gone up. Now Fedex is cheaper in many cases with USPS still making final delivery.
Two things going on;
1) When I compare the eBay discounted USPS cost, it was the same as through my personal USPS account. Should I just ignore eBay and go direct to USPS and not get hit with eBay fee on postage?
2) How can it be cheaper to go through eBay postage, pick FedEx because it costs less than direct USPS rate - and the ship to is 20 miles from my house?
ARE we getting USPS DISCOUNT from eBay/USPS?
mam98031
·1 month agoIt is SO important for ALL sellers to follow any Price Increases that a Carrier has implemented. It has nothing to do with being a TRS. Ebay sends out announcements. If you haven't joined the Announcement board, you should do that right away so that you get all the emails when there are price increases. You can find a quick link to the Announcement board in the left rail at the bottom.
shado-x
·1 month agoNot in my case, the USPS didn't even bother to show up for the final leg using FedEx Smart Post. I had to file an insurance claim; in and of itself, a tedious process to find the form and guidance on FedEx's site. eBay had better guidance under Paid and Shipped, Find Item, click "File a Claim". But I did it. They owe me the dough, refunded the buyer. This is all because the USPS is gauging Americans and appear to be unstoppable.
ruby_c_took
·1 month agoAlthough I know UPS uses USPS last mile, I wasn't aware FedEx did as well. I know they do residential delivery but charge a hefty fee for it, so if their rate is lower than USPS then it likely does use the post office last mile. I wouldn't offer it regardless, as I said in another comment, at least with UPS using USPS for final delivery, the shipping speed is slower with worse tracking and not likely worth the price difference unless it's significant.
We are getting a discount, though, and eBay negotiated to retain tiered ounce pricing below a pound for GA for most addresses so that's one potential benefit, although I assume other services may have negotiated something similar.
inhawaii
·1 month agoThe cost of shipping labels has gone up because the cost of shipping has gone up.
gurlcat
·1 month agoWell that's just ridiculous. They should modify their vehicles to run on positive energy. Or good vibes (for the diesel ones, obviously).
gurlcat
·1 month agoAs for that FedEx-to-USPS crap, don't believe it. Not saying it never works that way, but it hasn't with any of the items I've bought (eBay and elsewhere) where it was supposed to. Maybe depends on location, I don't know.
What I do know is FedEx has worked very hard to earn its horrible reputation. If you buy labels from them, don't be surprised when you get a notice that you were charged more later, because they will outright lie, claiming your package was bigger or heavier than you stated. Also they are slow as molasses. Also an 'Out for delivery' scan doesn't mean the package will actually deliver that day (it has literaly NE-VER been the same day for me). Also they can't legally put packages in mailboxes, so the driver may put them any-ole-where, including where they're easy to see and steal. And don't count on him sitting the package down, when throwing it is easier.
Oh and since they may deliver as late as 10PM, if your buyer has an Out for delivery scan, they could spend all day and night staying home and listening for that truck, so they can get their item before someone steals it ... and then do the same thing the next day.
So in short, don't be surprised if you have a harder time selling things if buyers see FedUp as your carrier.
ruby_c_took
·1 month agoI've also had horrible experiences with UPS that uses USPS as final delivery. I know why it costs less (although not usually by much)--they're significantly slower than the post office, and I refuse to offer it as an option since I don't want complaints about shipping speed. The tracking is also worse than the USPS tracking.
I worked for a company that used FedEx to deliver certain orders and I too have a laundry list of horror stories and that's even with the fact the company had a business account with them which often improves the experience.
gurlcat
·1 month agoIt's not clear what you think being (or not being) a Top Rated Seller does, but it definitely doesn't mean cheaper shipping labels. All eBay sellers get the same rates.
caldreamer
·1 month agoEBAY will still charge "selling fees" on the total amount the customer paid (purchase price + shipping + sales tax). It does not matter where you print the label.
thriftyfiftyfifty
·1 month ago · EditedUp to you how you want to do it, but yes you are still getting a Discount via eBay Labels, just not as deep all the way around as previously because USPS eliminated the Commercial Ground Advantage Ounce Tier Rates in July. So eBay doesn't provide the Ounce Tier "deeper" discounts anymore to Rural Zip-codes and other "Exceptions"...e.g., Alaska, Hawaii, APOs, US Territories, etc. Some online shippers still provide a better discount nearly all around like the USPS "Business Rate" on Click N Ship.
jonathanbrightlight
·1 month agoThe USPS rates on eBay are discounted, but the same discounts are often available other ways.
There is no fee savings by purchasing your labels elsewhere, because the fees you are charged are based on what the buyer pays, not what you pay for the label.