why does it cost more to ship....
Summary: The discussion revolves around unusual pricing in shipping, where packages marked as weighing more than their actual weight often result in cheaper shipping costs. thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller shares confusion over this pricing strategy and questions on refunds for unused shipping labels. Several participants speculate that USPS may be encouraging usage over other carriers, but there are instances of sellers being charged extra if actual weights differ from stated ones. Others share experiences of adjusting package weights to benefit from lower rates, sometimes involving adding extra materials. There is also debate over whether additional charges for these practices are merely rumors or substantiated by reports on forums. Concern is expressed about the complexities and rising costs of shipping impacting online selling.
If i ship something that is 2 pounds, how is it possible that if i put 3 pounds or even 4 or 5 that it is cheaper ? Kinda odd i think. Oddly enough the set (automatically filled in by system) weight was 2 pounds, meaning it is over charging if you dont edit the data. It was only a $2.00 difference but with everyone complaining about price hikes, this would more than cover that .
And if i dont cancel a shipping label in time, 30 days, does fedex keep the money or ebay ?
I just figured if a label was never used it would automatically be refunded by the shipping provider after a certain amount of days.
Asking for a friend so my account wont get penalized.
bbcardzman
·1 week agoI am getting SO TIRED of these CRAZY SHIPPING PRICES. A one ounce small package is costing over $8 to ship!!!!
From now on if a buyer purchases from me and their shipping rate is OUTRAGEOUS then I will be forced to block more and more people from buying my merchandise. There are going to be a lot of people that stop selling online at all because of eBay and the USPS insane GREED!
krazzykats
·2 weeks ago · EditedThey made the prices, and maybe one day it will be a back charge, but I paid the listed price.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks agoAnd why cant i go back more than 90 days for shipping information ? If i need to reference something how do i even check it if its been over 90 days ?
stephenmorgan
·1 week ago · EditedWhat shipping information are you looking for? I can go back for all of last year with the Order Details and it shows the shipping service purchased from eBay and the Tracking Number.
From the Payments section I can go back 6 years and see the tracking number and open up the Order Details.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks ago · Editedwell i havent noticed this when shipping off of ebay and directly from Fedex.
Its just kinda fish that it this happens when using the auto settings that ebay provided and coincidentally the highest price if you dont change anything.
And im not complaining about the weight issue, i was just trying to pass on the information to others that are hurting bc of shipping as i thought this would help.
And when ive been putting the 5 pounds instead of the actual weight ive gotten refunds on each one of those as well. So another 1.25$ on average back after box is delivered.
If you're not changing your shipping information, you're losing money.
mr_lincoln
·2 weeks agoHi @thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
I saw on the news that people were putting water bottles, rocks and other weighted material in packages to raise them to the 3 lbs. shipping rate.
I think USPS made a mistake and will eventually walk that 3 LBS weight threshold error back.
Sellers could have a REAL shipping price advantage if eBay gave them the option to set the shipping costs that Buyers see at a % OVER Commercial rates instead of the current Discount % OFF Retail rates. Adding a % above Commercial rates would cover eBay fees and show the best possible shipping price to the Buyer. This would be for Sellers who view Shipping as more of a break even proposition instead of a profit center. We are in year two of having made this suggestion to eBay and I really hope they finally understand the math and give Sellers that option. I would LOVE for my west coast customers to see a shipping cost several dollars less that what they currently are and I already use a 20% discount OFF retail. I still have to refund shipping overages but if I go to 25% I lose money on certain distances, weights and package sizes. This past weekend I shipped 11 packages and refunded shipping overages on 7 of them. If I were able to set a % OVER Commercial rates I would not have had to refund any shipping with the exception of one 2 item order on auctions where the Buyer failed to Request an updated invoice so I could adjust their shipping cost before they paid.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks agoshow me that news article you speak of
mr_lincoln
·2 weeks ago@thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
It was on a news broadcast on TV ... not a written article ...
mr_lincoln
·2 weeks ago@thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
It was on a news broadcast on TV ... not a written article ...
mamacassidy
·2 weeks ago@mr_lincoln
I remember someone talking about this awhile back. I agree with you that being able to charge a percentage over would be an ideal solution.
In the meantime, what I do is charge the full retail rate, but at a pound less. So if the package weighs 2lbs and I only charge the buyer for 1lb retail rate, they are still paying less and I'm still getting a little extra to cover fees and packing materials.
I do this on all my items except Media Mail.
(If ebay decides to go to ebay managed shipments in the future, I'll have to go in and change all my listings, but we'll cross that bridge if/ when that time comes.)
mr_lincoln
·2 weeks ago · Edited@mamacassidy
There is a good chance it was me talking about a % over Commercial rates opposed to a discount OFF Retail.
I think it was like 2 years ago I was running numbers and at the time USPS had it's biggest cost jump from 1 to 2 lbs on coast to coast shipments. Buyers who were more local would see less than $ 10 for a 2 lbs shipment while west coast Buyers would see $ 15.70 to $ 16.70 but my commercial rates was $ 9.21. So west coast Buyers were paying a LOT more considering the Commercial rate was "dollars" below Retail. Somebody was making some serious cash on that. So at that time had I used 20% over Commercial my west coast customers would have seen prices around $ 11.05. That is MUCH more palatable and could have possibly brought in more sales with Buyers seeing a $ 4 to $ 5 lower shipping cost. My weight range is too broad to have one % down from Retail fit all scenarios.
Here's some data I was playing with from some recent sales.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks agothey have this option.
funfactorychannel
·2 weeks agoI never complain when I can save.. :)
My boxes just got heavier.
inhawaii
·2 weeks agoThis whole less weight costs more thing has got to go away.
It just makes no sense.
Can people (in charge of these things) really be that stupid?
inhawaii
·2 weeks ago"And if i dont cancel a shipping label in time, 30 days, does fedex keep the money or ebay ?"
Why do you need more than 30 days to cancel a shipping label?
I don't know about fedex but when you cancel a usps shipping label, you usually get refunded in 2-4 weeks.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks agoI CANT FIND the option on the app only on my laptop browser, which i rarely use . I just noticed i had a 2 that i had canceled the order but not the shipping.. My fault but figured since it never got used, it for sure should be refunded.
eastlaneave
·1 week agothief_in_the_night
Here's how to cancel (or void) an unused shipping label you purchased on eBay:
- Go to Manage shipping labels: https://www.ebay.com/ship/labels/my-ebay
- Find the item you'd like to cancel the shipping label for, then from the Actions column, select CANCEL.
- Choose your reason for canceling the label.
- Select Cancel shipping label.
You have 28 days to cancel a label. The refund will come about 21 days after you cancel.
-- Here is a help page where you can learn more:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/-/-/buying-printing-shipping-labels?id=4157#section3
arraus
·2 weeks agoWelcome to USPS's new crazy pricing. It astounds me as well.
I've heard they figured out reducing prices as that weight level is more competitive... however, I've never heard of USPS trying to compete with Private enterprises. Usually Federal sectors do the opposite, subsidize and support private companies.
In any case, I up the weight when I ship out. Haven't had any issues doing that yet... if nervous, add some heavy paper to add weight.
krazzykats
·2 weeks agoI have been doing it forever and USPS does not care.
It's a rumor about being back charged because you put more weight on a label than the package actually weighed. What would the post office backcharge? Maybe a credit, but a backcharge, for what?
I have been rounding up for years without any issues. I also do not use the actual dimensions but size up that as far as I can go, usually 12x12x12 even if its 3x3x3 but ships at the same price.
Rumor. No such thing being back charged for this...
krazzykats
·2 weeks agoAnd no, I don't think its cheating! I pay the price charged.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 weeks ago@krazzykats This lower rate for 3-5lbs is a new thing for certain zones and we're not talking about just the usual rounding up. We're talking about stating your package weighs 3 lbs + to get the lower rate when it actually weighs under 2lbs. And people ARE being back charged for paying the lower rate when it's more.
krazzykats
·2 weeks agoI disagree—it’s just a rumor. I don’t believe anyone is being back charged.
If something weighs 2 lbs., I’ll buy the label for 3 if it’s cheaper. I simply purchase what’s offered. I’ll wait to see if a back charge ever happens, but I still don’t believe it since it’s done thousands of times a day without a single back charge complaint on the boards.
oregon_bins
·1 week ago · EditedI've seen a few different people post proof with screenshots of them being charged for putting the higher weight when the actual weight is less.
However it doesn't seem to be too common and I am still taking the risk and putting 2.1 lbs on lighter packages when it is cheaper for me.
But they are definitely charging some people for doing this.
jonathanbrightlight
·2 weeks agoI've had credits before, and we've seen people confirming they were charged under the new rates. Not rumors.
krazzykats
·1 week agoI've had credits, not the same thing as being back charged.
dhbookds
·2 weeks agoRounding up is a whole different matter.......... 2#3oz to 3# is what it always has been, but going from 1# 3 oz to 3# is what we have seen people report being charged for since the 2# rate is more than the 3# rate........
krazzykats
·1 week agoExactly. But being back charged isn't happening.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 weeks agoIt is NOT a 'rumor'. There have been MANY member posts stating they 'just got charged by USPS via eBay for this EXACT same thing (over stating weight to get that 'special deal'.
theteamsetguy
·2 weeks ago@stainlessenginecovers ,
That's the way is should be. Putting additional items in the package is another story.
krazzykats
·1 week agoI have not seen this. And I have not experienced this. The only complaints of addional charges I have read about were FedEx or UPS and usually because of dimensional weight.
I play with all my weights and dimensions to finagle the best shipping price for the item. If 3lbs is cheaper than 1 or 2 lbs., I will continue to use it.
I will continue to say, its only Rumors.
oregon_bins
·1 week agoThe examples I saw with screenshots showing that they were charged for putting a higher weight than it actually was, was all on Reddit (but I've definitely seen the proof of it happening on there more than once)
bdmh-enterprises
·2 weeks agoUmmm
krazzykats
·1 week agoSo, you will be getting a credit for overpayment. That's a good thing!
bdmh-enterprises
·1 week agoNo. I got a debit for UNDERPAYMENT. Look at the screenshot...
dhbookds
·2 weeks agoNo "official" reason for the rates.......but speculation is that USPS is trying to entice sellers to use them instead of UPS/Fedex. Note that the retail rate has not decreased......it's the discount we are given that has increased.
One note.......there have been a couple of reports that if labels are increased to 3# while they are actually weigh less.....sellers are later being getting charged at the higher rate and thus will owe the difference.
No info on who keeps the money, but would guess that ebay passes it on to the shipper immediately since we have to wait for refunds of canceled labels. No auto refunds on unused labels that I know of.....but don't use Fedex.
broto_64
·2 weeks agoThat would not surprise me, and we really don't find out until our monthly statement comes in IF we review it.
bbcardzman
·2 weeks agoUSPS does not charge you extra if you buy a label that says the package is over 2 lbs. and it really isn't.
jonathanbrightlight
·2 weeks agoThere have been posts on these boards confirming that they do indeed charge you extra if you do that.
bbcardzman
·2 weeks agoGuess I'm just lucky then. But I don't see how they could charge you if you mistakenly weigh your item more than it actually is.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 weeks agoBecause the rate for 3-5lbs would be lower so it's cheating.
bbcardzman
·2 weeks agoI just hope my customers are not getting mad for me stuffing extra packing and weight to these shipments to make postage cheaper. Seems like were in the backwards world of postage now!
broto_64
·2 weeks agoTo be pretty safe I only use packaging materials and not things like rocks or nuts and bolts which might annoy the customer, double boxing works as well, with as much as we order in our household there is presently no shortage of cardboard.
theteamsetguy
·2 weeks ago@bbcardzman ,
Just tell them you got a deal on a bunch of pet rocks and out of generosity you decided to share some of them.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 weeks agoJust remember the lower rates for 3-5lbs only aplies to certain zones.
What I do if it's close to 2lbs now is add heavier cardboard as a 'liner'. Reinforces the box and legally takes it over the 2lbs.
broto_64
·2 weeks agoYou want to check your monthly statement, they do it this way for Fedex too, I don't see their "surcharges" until the end of the month when they quietly take it out of my available funds... And since I (shouldn't) "trust" ebay I don't normally check, but I have learned to look at my monthly statements to spot any "surprises."
bdmh-enterprises
·2 weeks agoI have had one adjustment out of 12 or so packages I have claimed 2.1lbs that were less. That is fine odds for me to continue doing it. I do use calculated shipping though so I don't lose anything if they do get adjusted back to what the buyer was charged..
dhbookds
·2 weeks ago · Editedyou claimed 2#? the adjustments goes from 3-5#
thriftyfiftyfifty
·2 weeks ago@dhbookds It says "2.1 lbs", which ships at the 3lb Rate.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks agowell last time i sent something i was charged $32.00 extra on a underpaid shipping charge. I took a suitcase to fedex and asked them if it would be cheaper to buy a box or send it as is with no box. They said send it as is and then got a $32.00 additonal charge ontop of the orignail $35.00 shipping rate.
I mean damn a suitcase is pretty easy to handle, just like any box and it wasnt big or an irregular size. just no box.
thief_in_the_night_100_rating_seller
OP2 weeks agoWhat your buyer paid
Subtotal
$129.29
Shipping
$32.40
Sales tax*
$11.32
Order total**
$173.01
What you earned
Order total
$173.01
eBay collected from buyer
Sales tax
-$11.32
Selling costs
-$24.51
Shipping label
-$71.82
$65.36