New USPS shipping rates 7/12/26
Summary: The discussion revolves around changes to USPS shipping rates, which have led to frustration among eBay sellers. Many participants are experiencing unexpected charges for lightweight packages, particularly due to rural zip code pricing. While eBay had indicated no rate increase for certain weight categories, sellers are finding discrepancies when comparing eBay label pricing with other shipping platforms like Pirate Ship, which some claim offer lower rates. Participants are considering changes to their shipping methods, moving towards calculated shipping, and expressing dissatisfaction with how these changes impact their small business profitability. There is a strong sentiment that eBay needs to address and resolve these issues to maintain seller satisfaction.
The below message is per Ebay in their messages. Yet today when printing ebay labels, for a 4 oz envelope, we are being charged as if it were 15 oz! So what is unchanged.
📦 Updates to USPS Mail & Shipping Service Pricing
Ground Advantage: although USPS is changing how it prices packages under 1 lb, the good news is eBay Labels will continue to offer the same four weight tiers with no rate increases at this time. Rates for packages over 1 lb are also unchanged.
trains23107
·1 week agoUSPS Post Office just dropped ounce pricing.
I just went to ship a package on eBay using USPS Ground Advantage and changed the weight from 12 to 4 because I realized I could use a bubble mailer instead of a box. Guess what? The price was the same. I changed it to 1 ounce just to see if it went down, and then tried 15 ounces. The price was still $7.86. I went to the USPS site and it said the same was also $7.86
I found this notice indicating that the Post Office has "discontinued ounce pricing". So the cost to mail a 1-ounce and a 15-ounce item to the same zip code is the same. That is CRAZY and making eBay selling even less attractive and less profitable. At 16 ounces, the price increased to $9.63 per additional ounce. Almost $2.00 difference for the added ounce.
To make matters worse, several years ago, eBay began charging and deducting seller fees from the total sale price, including "shipping". That is robbery, and it really hurts even more now. I've been selling on eBay for 23 years and used to make a nice profit. Nowadays, the Post Office makes the most on small items, and eBay is the second profiteer, with me making a very small amount compared to the two of them.
USPS Ground Advantage Rate Changes
Effective Date
USPS Ground Advantage rates changed on July 12, 2026.
Key Changes
Average Price Increase: Rates increased by an average of 11.8%.
Elimination of Ounce-Based Pricing: The 4-ounce and 8-ounce pricing tiers were removed, consolidating rates for packages under 1 pound.
Rounding of Dimensions: All package dimensions will now be rounded up to the next whole inch for postage calculations.
a_happyhoarder
·1 week agoDoes this mean I need to go change all my weights to 15 ounces?
baangell
·3 weeks agoIf eBay allowed First-Class Large Envelopes it would fix a lot of issues.
dudeboy777
·3 weeks agoIf you also check a three pound item cost less than a two pound. Dont ship it if under 2 and pay for three. They will hit you up for the difference. Send a package of rock samples in the box to get you to three pounds
a_happyhoarder
·1 week agoI saw some pretty nasty posts on Facebook about seller including rocks and other objects that the buyer didn't order and don't want to deal with. How can one be offended over a rock or two? lol
On person was using a box full of cut up cardboard to weigh down a large box for a tiny object!
dudeboy777
·3 weeks agoYep po got this one totally screwed up. Its killing all the small 4 to 5 ox shipments. Only the mailmen can bet them to change it. Im now sending 2 oz items in tge largest box i have that wrights 15 oz total. Mailman going to take up extra spacecand have to walk it to the door. No more small maibox size items
kewl_beans_3
·3 weeks agoHere’s one for you. Live in CA. Sold an item in CA. 3 oz weight. $7.30!!!! That’s freakin’ bananas.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks ago@kewl_beans_3 what zip to what zip?
definingstyle
·1 week agomine was to 93257. It is not on the rural list I have been provided by another seller. I think it's some kind of ebay glitch.
definingstyle
·1 week agosame here.
toyboyjake
·3 weeks agothis totally sucks hard...i sell small items for cheap and shipping is cheap too.....but now i keep getting hit with a $2 rural fee and it is decimating me....wth am i supposed to do?? email buyers and demand more money for shipping after they paid...Great ..just great...Ebay knew this was coming and could not adjust their program proper in time is Unacceptable.
As usual..it is us the Sellers that have to bear the brunt of Ebay's Foul Ups.
i am so disgusted with them but they are the only viable game in town.
GET YOUR CRAP TOGETHER EBAY AND FIX THIS!
a_happyhoarder
·1 week agoFor the past three years I have made more money selling small replacement toys for a few dollars each than anything else. Now the shipping is going to kill my little eBay store!
jimsstore
·3 weeks agoIt seems like these changes are tiring to push sellers away from eBay and to all these newer platforms, I have been a Top Rated Seller for years and I have to say that eBay is the worst I have ever seen it right now. Forcing returns "Seller Paid" on most items, these new algorithms pushing eBay Live and causing sales to be halved last month (See all over forum), having to pay extra fees to promote listings just to be seen (eBay already takes 10-15% on all sales) , not letting sellers leave negative feedback (Ridiculous on a peer biased review system) and automatically giving positive feedback. eBay does not push the volume to make these changes to compete with Amazon ( Most people sell on eBay so they don't have to worry about people returning things for no reason and having to eat the shipping and return costs), now shipping cost steadily going up ( Why even have us weight an item if you are just going to make up dimensional weight??) and its becoming difficult to make $ with these changes. I hope someone will read this who has the power to change something with eBay because I prefer eBay but see it going down a road to "Myspace" and the other sites are growing.
a_happyhoarder
·1 week agoI was wondering if the Live sales were affecting other sellers!
bolensparts-360
·3 weeks agoIts getting to the point where its just not economically feasible to sell on ebay , they are making more money in fees than I am on the smaller less than $30 item sales. The returns policy's are ridiculous as is the non ability of a seller to leave a buyer bad feedback. Its a nightmare to always have to edit all your listings every time a change takes effect , the ebay automated shipping calculator is useless and always over estimates to where you lose buyers so your stuck with manual rates you continually have to change and lose money on if you have thousands of items to edit. I'm better doing my own site and would still make more selling less not having the drama , fees and "no questions asked" free returns where buyers can literally steal items .
patternsaver
·3 weeks agoI adjusted almost all my listings to calculated rates. Unfortunately, if a buyer buys more than one item I cannot offer a discount ship rate for the second item but have to rely on the total weight calculation from eBay which will probably be wrong. If a buyer contacts me with their zip code, I can do an accurate quote but some do not do that but just do not buy.
Many buyers already complain about shipping costs and I would too. I think this will increase traffic in local stores/junk shops and the on-line sales will suffer.
Time to decrease my inventory and fade out of here slowly and only list those things unique and higher priced in the future.
We are double hit here since the eBay selling fee includes the postal cost the buyer pays so the shipping goes up, eBay takes more, sellers are left with little.
a_happyhoarder
·1 week ago · EditedI refund the difference based on retail price of the actual weight of the package if eBay over calculates the combined shipping weight.
BTW...I rarely if EVER get a thank you!
patternsaver
·1 week agoWhen I refund postage overcharge to a buyer, almost all of them neither acknowledges it or says thanks. I think it reflects the culture of today where manners are rare and it ia all about them. So sad.
c_robin
·3 weeks agoSo USPS eliminated their tier pricing for rural routes, and ebay followed. But for those of us where most of our items are under a pound, how are we remotely going to remain competitive? When it costs $8 (not even including grossing up for ebay's fees) to ship a 2 ounce package, who is going to purchase it? It's bad enough that most customers think you are ripping them off for high shipping costs because they are used to free shipping from places like Amazon (even though you are only charging the actual cost). But this? We have to raise the shipping fee to break even, but if we do we'll lose sales because the item will definitely become less attractive. So as sellers we are damned either way. And those living in rural locations are being punished for living in rural locations. Make it make sense!
thriftyfiftyfifty
·3 weeks agoUSPS eliminated their Ground Advantage Ounce Tiers for Commercial Pricing period. They didn't just arbitrarily do it for Rural Routes only.
c_robin
·3 weeks agoNo, in ebay there is still tier pricing for Ground Advantage, just not for rural routes. It depends on the zip code.
thriftyfiftyfifty
·3 weeks agoYes, but...that is because of NEGOTIATED RATES and what eBay Negotiated and Pirateship, and some others. But, those old pricing Tiers are no longer broken down by USPS. It is priced the same whether it is 1oz or 15.99oz and only varies by Zone. Nothing has changed for customers in Rural Zipcodes paying Retail Rates on eBay either, that has been the same since April.
c_robin
·3 weeks agoSince I literally just printed out 20+ labels over the last few days, I respectfully disagree. I have never charged my customers retail rates. That is not the issue for ebay purchased labels. I have always used the negotiated commercial rates and grossed up for ebay's fees. As of July 12, some rates have changed depending on the zipcode in ebay and now (as in today) in Pirate Ship. Some rates are still incremental based on the tiers, and some are the SAME for any weight from 1-15 ounces. Because NOW the same rate applies for 1-15 ounces for certain rural routes. It is a significant increase if you now have to charge a customer the same shipping fee for a 2 ounces item as you do for a 15 ounce item. What do you think everybody is commenting about?? What do you think this thread is about??
thriftyfiftyfifty
·3 weeks agoYes, YOUR pricing is all because of Negotiated Rates they worked out. It is not because of what you said..."So USPS eliminated their tier pricing for rural routes". USPS didn't do it that way. I am simply saying they eliminated them period regardless of the Zipcode.
c_robin
·3 weeks agoThank you so much for the distinction- because it is really helpful to the actual end result??? NOT. Yes, technically USPS eliminated the tiered rates for everyone (on July 12). And ebay negotiated to keep the tiered rates for non-rural locations. We are then left with the same pricing for all weights under a pound for rural locations. And I'm sure if ebay (and Etsy and Pirate Ship, and, and, and) could have negotiated to keep tiered pricing for rural zip codes with USPS they would have. Ultimately it was USPS that made that decision. So whether it was directly with retail rates or indirectly with ebay's negotiated rates. USPS is charging more for rural routes. The outcome is the same no matter which way you look at it. Sellers on ebay typically purchase ebay labels. Or they purchase from another source that provides commercial rates. They don't typically purchase directly from USPS at retail rates. The issue at hand is how to address the increase in rates for these specific zip codes. If a seller wants to cover their actual costs they are now going to have to raise their shipping fees dramatically to do so. And in turn will likely turn off buyers. And yes, I consider $8-9 to ship a 2 ounce item to be ridiculous. And so would a typical buyer. That is what this thread is addressing.
pensanthings
·3 weeks agoYes this has gone as high as I'm willing to go. The postage has gone up 2-3 times a year, but the service has gotten much worse. I am sick and tried of us sellers paying the prices for the poor quality shipping. Maybe they need to pay their workers less money for the crappy jobs they do. We should have to vote on if they should get a raise or not. It used to be years inbetween raises, not it's every time the sun shines. 3x a year. That's strictly BS!
qtrmoon73
·3 weeks agoAfter shipping more packages today, and checking on the USPS website I found that the click & ship rate is the same price for any package shipped Ground Advantage under 1 lb. Retail for up to 8 oz was $8.95, or $11.95 for 9-15.9 oz. But the click & ship rate was $7.86 (and also ebay's commercial rate) no matter whether the package weighted 1 oz or 15.9 oz.
So the retail rate for rural zip codes isn't increased for customers, only the commercial rate for us sellers.
As we know prices go up, but very rarely go down. I believe eBay has a few choices to help us sellers navigate this issue. At this time we can exclude some of the areas that are causing the increase (Hawaii, Alaska, APO/FPO, Puerto Rico, etc), so it's the Rural Zip codes that are the biggest issue right now. So if they could add that option into exclusions that would help a bit.
Or if instead of excluding those areas & rural locations, it would be nice if we could choose those areas for maybe a surcharge or whatever you want to call it to the shipping costs for those areas. That way all buyers regardless of where they are located can purchase our items with the adjusted shipping shown for them.
It's sad that it will affect them, but it's not really fair that it falls on the sellers shoulders either.
Hopefully eBay sees this and thinks about adding these options.
motorcyclelivin
OP3 weeks agoYou are absolutely correct!
capstang45
·3 weeks agoI just shipped a 8 oz 9"x9"x3" package from NH to NC, cost was 7.69. (my auction ship fee was $7.00) Before I bought label, I changed weight & size to 1 oz, 1"x1"x1" box. Same price 7.69. I changed weight to 15oz and 9"x9"x3" box-same price $7.69, What the hell, so the minimum shipping fee is $7.69 regardless of weight. Previously I charged shipping based on an estimated weight of item. Now it doesn't matter. Now I need to change all my auction shipping fees to reflect this madness.
motorcyclelivin
OP3 weeks agoAs usual, so much more work for the seller. How much money are we truly making?!
sassykzt
·3 weeks agoyour buyer has a rural zip code as per USPS. Even though the negotiated tiers still remain unchanged, they only remain unchanged for populated areas, but not for AK, HI, US territories, and all rural zip codes.
dudeboy777
·3 weeks agoYou are going to pay for 15 oz so send the biggest box you have that will weigh 15 oz so the mailman has to take it to the door. That will get this nonsense stopped
micka9154
·3 weeks agoEBAY LIED ABOUT NOT CHANGING THE SHIPPING PRICES....MY 8OZ. PACKAGE NOW COSTS $2 MORE....SHAME ON EBAY FOR LYING ABOUT THE PRICES. NOW CHINESE SELLERS WILL TAKE OVER EBAY SINCE THEY GET FREE SHIPPING BASICALLY. ANY ITEM SOLD UNDER $20 THE AMERICAN SELLER CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE CHINESE SELLER......ABSOLUTELY CRAZY
tenoem
·3 weeks agoVeeqo = 5% cash back on shipping for the first 2 months, then it falls off to 1% - 2% for the cheaper ground.
Chase Ink Business Preferred = 3% cash back on shipping purchases
= 8% cashback on all shipping labels for 2 months, then between 4%-5% for life. Gotta do whatever you can to help offset the rising postage costs.
tobaccocardyahoo
·3 weeks agoI was shown an outrageous GA rate in an order to a rural zip code across the country from me.
I bought postaga at a more reasonable price on Veeqo, an Amazon company.
Veeqo integrates with Ebay.
twilson8419
·3 weeks ago · EditedNot sure how many zip codes are in the US, but 17,867 zip codes are listed as Rural according to the list downloaded. Absolutely rediculous.
I had to decline 3 offers already because $8.40 for a 4 oz. package is too expensive.
motorcyclelivin
OP3 weeks agoSo it looks like PirateShip has jumped on the wagon also. Price is the same throught ebay as it is PirateShip. I guess we will do away with all flat rate shipping now. The folks with a rural zip code is in for a rude awakening!
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks agoSo NOW Pirateship is NOT changing 'less than 2 lb' orders to 2lbs plus and charging the lower amount. 1 lb 8oz NV to PA is $10.80 (GA) and on ebay it's $10.80.
So I guess all the people that got spanked with 'gimme more money' from USPS when PS was doing this- so now PS stopped??
And no- NOT 'rural'.
alpinesigns
·3 weeks agoSo i figured out that you will need to ship a trading card or a decal or anything that usually is under 1 pound . you will need to put in a box with rocks so it goes over 1 pound to get lower rates. Basically you are being penalize for shipping a under 1 pound item with tracking. If you ship with just a 82 cent stamp and no tracking then you have no protections under eBay policies.
dudeboy777
·3 weeks agoYep. Use large box so it takes up more room and has to be taken to the door. No more small packages
alpinesigns
·3 weeks agoI just went on my USPS account and the shipping on a 2 oz item came to $5.56 not $7.86 . I do hope eBay has to be having a glitch on this. Or they are doing something to us sellers? I sure hope not , Please eBay fix this issue
definingstyle
·1 week agoexactly my issue as well. Some are costing me around $5.50, some are around $8. In my cases, it does Not appear to be rural rate increases, because one of the zip codes was not on the list. Ebay please listen and explain!
alpinesigns
·3 weeks agoI am noticing the same as everyone here cost have gone up on eBay labels for ground AAdvantage on shipping a 2 oz. item in envelope?? What the heck is going on?? I shows cheaper to send ground fed ex?? HUH? its was appox $5.68 to send the same 2oz off eBay now it $7.86 some of it is $8.00 to ship in US?? This is not sustainable my customers wont purchase item when I have to increase my rates over 50% to just to break even? I surely hope this is a glitch in eBay system and they fix it quick. the email from eBay stated that there will be no increase at all?? submitting not happy at all
qtrmoon73
·3 weeks agoIf they allow us to make exceptions for shipping locations and exclude Hawaii, Alaska, APO, US protectorates. Then maybe they should allow us to also exclude Rural zip codes. As a seller we could always offer to create a special listing for any buyers in those areas, and put in a fixed shipping rate that won't bankrupt us. I use calculated shipping for the majority of my listings, and with the exception of game cards they are almost always a small 4 oz. box. I had to start using calculated shipping last year because I could keep up with all the rate increases.
With all of these changes, they're going to have to come up with some way we can separate these areas without taking a loss on shipping costs.
poolmamaskids
·3 weeks agoit is becoming almost impossible to do Ebay anymore . the shipping is hurting us all . i have been doing ebay for 16 yrs and now sales are almost non existent. i may leave at the end of the year and just have a big yard sale.. it is so discouraging
0769gjc
·3 weeks agoYou are correct. I've been selling on Ebay for 13 years. Shipping costs have gone through the roof. And Ebay gets a portion of the shipping increases. I'm planning to sell my inventory then close up shop.
gingerco
·3 weeks agoI agree. I'm retired, 79 years old and been selling on eBay for 27 years. This is the worst shipping problem I have ever found. How do I as an ignorant non Tech guy figure out a way to not lose money on my 4oz shipments?
eBay needs to step in and help us!
dudeboy777
·3 weeks agoDont forget the higher the shipping the higher fees ebay collects
steel-city-stitches2007
·3 weeks agoI paid less at USPS click and ship than EBay was charging for the same parcel. Something’s not right with the EBay shipping costs!
soccermom2456
·3 weeks agoI just sent out 2 pkgs fedex Ground Economy & 1 Priority thru USPS bc that was the cheapest way with eBay labels. After that I changed all my listings to calculated shipping. Not sure how this increase is going to affect sales.
fern*wood
·3 weeks agoEbay is going to need to do something about the exceptions to the tiered rate update. If Pirateship isn't charging more the rural zips, then ebay needs to do the same. There are a lot of rural zips out there, so this is really bad for light weight items.
mozartbach1971
·3 weeks agoAre you saying Pirate shipping could be a lot less than Ebay shipping or Stamps.com? I use Stamps.com and I'm seeing charges of $8 plus for 4 ounce ground advantage packages. Does Pirate also charge this same rate?
mozartbach1971
·3 weeks agoI just went to Pirate and put in a 4 ounce ground advantage package shipping from my location to Montana and it said it was $6. For Stamps.com it costs $7.86. So it looks like some shipments are cheaper with Pirate.
beautifuljewelrynyc
·3 weeks agoI did the same, 2 ounces ground advantage from my location to AL, on eBay is $7.69(before price change was $5.48, increase 40.3% to $7.69.), on Pirate is $5.83.
consign101
·3 weeks agoI am trying to ship a graded pokemon this am at the 40z weight and the charges are the same as a 15oz package are sportscardfs and gaming cards the same for shipping or are they different
gradeacoins
·3 weeks agoIt's rural and Pirate Ship is $2 cheaper per package. Whoever handled this at eBay clearly failed in comparison to competitors.. just go there instead.
western-supply
·3 weeks agoThey posted on Friday they wouldnt raise rates, or follow usps rates.
There was a glitch over the weekend where it was $8 for 1 oz, but if you put 8lbs, it was $5.73
But looks like ebay is going with USPS rates
steel-city-stitches2007
·3 weeks agoThe usps click and ship rates online are cheaper than EBay for some zip codes. That should not be…..but here we are.
malssports2015
·3 weeks agoThis is ridiculous. Another rate increase. WTF is going on? I know who to blame. Continually screwing over small businesses. I'm about done with this BS.
sammyboyandhenry
·3 weeks agoIt's the rural shipping that gets me. I can ship something rural 2 oz and almost $8. Meanwhile over 3 lbs to a city address and $5.83. I am still going to have to raise shipping prices to cover the loss in shipping cost. 2nd time in a few months to raise shipping cost.
kibble-net
·3 weeks agoYes, rural delivery costs more.
It's cheaper on a per-person basis to deliver mail when there are dozens of houses on a block instead of just one per square mile.
kibble-net
·3 weeks agoYou can use a different carrier.
You can pass on the cost to your buyers.
Or you can give up.
It's your business, do what's best for YOU.
motorcyclelivin
OP3 weeks agoSo after doing a lot of research, it looks as if I am going to start using Pirate Ship. A 3 oz package going to MS from NC cost me $7.46 through Ebay labels. Through Pirate Ship $5.72. Hear is another good one. That same 3 oz package shipped UPS through ebay is $22.39 but $10.79 through Pirate Ship. Ebay is doing NOTHING for the sellers!!!
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks ago@motorcyclelivin That $22+ cannot possibly be 3 oz using GA; you must be looking at one of the more expensive routes (sounds like Priority Express)
motorcyclelivin
OP3 weeks agoNope Ebay!
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks ago@motorcyclelivin not possible and not happening. There is NO way you are looking at GA 3oz in the Continental 48 is $22.
In fact, there is also NO way it was $10.79 Pirate Ship.
You are looking at, or writing 3 OUNCES when you mean 3 POUNDS
cncvending
·3 weeks agoHe is saying it's thru UPS.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks ago@cncvending OP started babbling about USPS and GA, and my comment was about GA and all the OP did was respond with 'Nope, Ebay'. Well, OP should have stated they were NOW talking about something completely different.
Geez...
glenvonnie
·3 weeks ago · EditedI labeled an envelope going from Northern Indiana to Kentucky, so I tried printing another label and played with the weights:
4 Ounces 5.28
8 Ounces 5.73
12 ounces 6.17
13 ounces 6.65
15 ounces 6.65
1 pound 6.69
2 pounds 6.69
3 pounds 5.73
4 pounds 5.73
5 pounds 5.73
6 pounds 6.69
that 6.69 didn't change until I got to 21 pounds when it went to 20.66
I paid 5.73 for 8 ounces.
The magic weight is 8 ounces or under, or between 3 and 5 pounds to get the lowest rate.
I've been shipping a lot of 3 to 5 pound packages, even from Indiana to Oregon, Idaho, and Utah, they're trying to take the 3 to 5# business away from UPS and FedEx.
valueaddedresource
·3 weeks agoThere was another updated posted in the Shipping section that clarified there are exceptions.
https://community.ebay.com/forum/shipping-57923/topic/ground-advantage-pricing-update-466350/
For eBay Labels Ground Advantage shipments under 1 lb to rural zip codes, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and military addresses, USPS will charge the same rate within each zone regardless of weight in ounces.
For the continental United States, the tiered-weight structure remains in place.
If you're not seeing the oz based tiers for a shipment within the continental US, it's likely because the zip code is considered "rural" but USPS.
tsme35
·3 weeks agoI just checked, from MO to AK or HI, rates jumped $2.50! Problem I have is HOW to handle the "rural zip codes" within the continental US. It would wipe out the profit on alot of my fishing lures or least enough it's not worth listing. Getting ready to block HI and AK here in a minute
jaina_solo
·3 weeks agoI originally just blocked Hawaii and Alaska but due to the rural zip code costs I decided to just get rid of free shipping, lower prices a few dollars per item, and change to buyer paid calculated shipping.
tsme35
·3 weeks agoI charge flat rate for under 1 lb, but looks like I'll have to figure out how to calculate shipping now for those.
bdmh-enterprises
·3 weeks ago"For eBay Labels Ground Advantage shipments under 1 lb to rural zip codes, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and military addresses, USPS will charge the same rate within each zone regardless of weight in ounces.
For the continental United States, the tiered-weight structure remains in place."
You missed the exceptions...
sammyboyandhenry
·3 weeks agoSomething is not right. I am getting charged almost $8 to ship 2 oz from Kentucky to Georgia.
thriftyfiftyfifty
·3 weeks agoIt is due to the Rate changes for Ounces implemented today. Your discount is Zipcode dependent (at least on eBay).