13% rate increase on Tuesday for Ground Advantage ??
Not sure whats going on but I been checking on rate increase for new rate on Sunday. Last 2 days, when I pack an order, I click on postage for Tuesday to see how much more it would cost, some are showing a 13% rate increase. I've found 3 with a rate increase of $.60+ above today's rate, $5 today-$5.68 on Tuesdays, another one this morning $4.69-$5.30 on Tuesday. Other packages are running 7%
USPS posted it would be a 7.8% increase AFTER the seasonal 3.8% increase is dropped Sunday. I'm not great at math but should only be a 4% increase on Sunday, NOT 13%.
I don't know if the postage calculator is not updating or if that's the new increase. Oh and this is for a 4oz padded envelope going ground advantage, nothing over size or big
23 comments
declutterpros
·8 months agoI have shipped countless packages that are usually an average of $4.47 to $5.26 in 2025
Now since the increase I find it very hard to believe that Ebay isn't making money from this.
The USPS states that it is a 7.8% increase
But why are my current packages that I generate the labels for with the same weights costing $5.50 to $6.25
That is well above a 7.8% increase.
kibble-net
·8 months agoA 20x12x12 15 pound package now costs me 3 dollars LESS to ship than it did last week. I know some folks are upset about this change, but I'm OK with this.
As always, if USPS is too expensive for your liking, feel free to use a different shipper or start your own 🙂 Transportation costs money.
tsme35
OP8 months ago12-15 oz only went up a couple cents, 17-18% is outrageous increase esp. when they raise rates 3 times a year. After 8 yrs of 2-3 rate increases per year and increase per zone, their just running themselves and small sellers out of business. Every year the volume is dropping for the PO, I sell half of the inventory I did 5 yrs ago and alot are using other shippers. I never use UPS but the last 2 yrs, their getting more and more.
declutterpros
·8 months agoYour reply is literally the most useless response to a comment I have ever seen.
valueaddedresource
·8 months ago@tsme35 you're on the right track - since USPS brought in the zip code based rate changes in 2024, zip codes that are on "the list" see rates set at the standard published commercial rates (like in the chart above) while zip codes that are not on the list still receive the deeper discounted rates eBay has negotiated with USPS.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/USPS-Rate-Increase-Sept-16-2024-based-on-zip-codes-not-zones/m-p/34680780/highlight/true#M488187
@mcdougle4248 the destination zip code in your screenshot is not on the list, so that shipment would be eligible for the discounted rate. Unfortunately, eBay doesn't publish charts of those rates anywhere that I'm aware of.
valueaddedresource
·8 months ago@mcdougle4248 I haven't looked too deeply into it, but the chart shows commercial rates from USPS so I would assume what you are seeing when purchasing the label reflects eBay's discounted rate they are passing on to sellers.
mcdougle4248
·8 months agoThank you! I don't guess that eBay puts out its own chart showing the eBay discounts?
tsme35
OP8 months agoI think it has something to do with zip codes too, a few years ago USPS adjusted shipping for zip codes that were say like out in the boonies. Don't quote me on that though lol
dbjewelry
·8 months agoYes because of the ebay discount contract, the Ebay rates are always a little cheaper than what the USPS rate chart shows.
But even with the Ebay discount, these increases on under 4oz packages really suck. With how many small packages we ship, we are looking at an immediate 10% profit loss unless we go in and adjust prices.
valueaddedresource
·8 months ago@dbjewelry not always - see my previous post.
In 2024, USPS instituted zip code based pricing that causes rates to some zip codes (mostly rural) to be higher than for other zip codes for weight-based and cubic packages up to 20 lbs. shipped with Priority Mail, Priority Mail Flat Rate, and Ground Advantage service.
More details here: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/USPS-Rate-Increase-Sept-16-2024-based-on-zip-codes-not-zones/m-p/34661109/highlight/true#M487174
Since that time, if you are shipping to one of the zip codes on the list, the rate will be whatever the published USPS Commercial rate is (the chart referenced above) - no extra discounts.
Shipments to zip codes that are not on the list will still see discounted rates when purchasing labels through eBay.
dbjewelry
·8 months agoThank you. I did not know about the zip code exclusions.
shire123
·8 months agoI think a lot depends on size and where it is shipped to. I have a 4#7oz package that if I shipped today would be 32.68. If I ship on Tuesday it would be 33.69. That is only a 3% increase
tsme35
OP8 months agoThis is for a 4 oz package and to the same address, I didn't change any thing but the shipping date. But if change the weight, 12-15 oz only goes up .03 cents between today and Tuesday.
mcdougle4248
·8 months ago@tsme35
I am seeing the same kind of increases for smaller GA packages. I believe the 7.8% noted is an average, not what your actual cost increase may be. It is a bummer for those of us who sell lightweight, low-priced items. This may help:
tsme35
OP8 months agothanks for the chart, pretty much wiped out my small items, so all packages under 8oz got a 13-14% rate increase. Not sure why the USPS thinks they're going to see a revenue increase when they get less packages. Now I have to change my whole business plan, have to figure if I'm going to raise shipping and lose sales, or not and lose money.
yeswayrecords
·8 months agoPlease try not to get discouraged.
You may find that the adjustments that you are now forced to make will streamline your business and increase your revenue.
tsme35
OP8 months agoYears ago, 17% was high but would have only been less the $.20 for the whole year, in the last 7 yrs its been twice a year then 3 times adds up year after year. I started stream lining 2 yrs ago when the PO started 3 times a year, usually it was putting 2-3 lures together. Before I get busy with yard sales in March, I'll be putting 4-6 lures together, been rolling with the punches for 19 yrs and I'm sore. These high rate increase aren't going to help the PO, their volume will keep going down, instead of having 4-6 packages, they only get one.
Worse part is with everything going up, so is inventory. People are asking more for the stuff I buy, most is more then I can sell them for, so less I can find to sell.
It's all good, this is my last year, I'll hit the 20 yr mark and file for Disability
toomuchstuffagain35
·8 months agoWowza. $5.89 for a 4oz to zone 8?
mcdougle4248
·8 months agoWowza is right! Most of my shipments are 4 oz or less. I have this terrible feeling...I guess I will be finding out soon enough.
tsme35
OP8 months agoThat's more then half of all of last years increase, PO last week put in another rate increase for July, no rates were posted yet on that one.
tsme35
OP8 months agoActually, it's higher then 14%, take off the seasonal rate that ended and then add the new rate, it was more like 18% increase.
meme6253
·8 months agoThanks for the chart, I'm glad I mainly ship smaller lightweight items!, These increases on just about everything are getting out of control.
mcdougle4248
·8 months agoI just want to update this with my experience this morning. I prepared an order for GA shipping this morning, weight 2 oz, dimensions of the bubble mailer 10" X 7" X 2", going to Zone 5.
The chart I shared indicates a label cost of $5.40. The eBay label that I just purchased cost $5.07.
I am not sure why there is a discrepancy between the chart and the actual eBay label cost.
I do not sell much at this time of year, so it could be another week (or more) until I have another order to use for comparison.
Any ideas? @valueaddedresource I see that you have a similar chart on your site.