So is this a lie from the USPS?
Summary: atlasesattic discusses the challenges faced with rural delivery charges through platforms like eBay, expressing frustration with losing money on sales due to these fees. They question why other platforms, like Mercari, do not impose similar charges. albertabrightalberta inquires about the source of the information. bdmh-enterprises clarifies that USPS retail rates do not include surcharges for rural areas, but some platforms remove negotiated discounts, effectively increasing costs for certain zip codes. They also note that some platforms subsidize shipping costs to remain competitive.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the only major online shipping service in the United States that does not charge extra fees, remote-area surcharges, or residential markups for rural deliveries. [1, 2]
Why USPS Works for Rural Shipping
Universal Service Obligation: USPS is legally required to deliver to every valid address in the country at the same uniform base rate, regardless of how remote or rural it is. [1, 2]
No Extra Surcharges: Unlike private carriers like UPS or FedEx, USPS does not add extended-area surcharges, rural delivery fees, or residential delivery surcharges. [1, 2]
PO Boxes & Military Mail: It is the only carrier that delivers directly to PO Boxes and APO/FPO/DPO military addresses without extra handoff fees. [1]
4 times this week I have lost money on sales, because of these damn rural charges, 8.50 for 3 oz? why doesn't Mercari charge for rural? like Ebay does? and why doesn't ebay do the same thing as Meracri does? on depop the buyers pay 1.99 to have something shipped, so why isn't ebay doing the same? does anyone use another online shipping place that doesn't charge the rural charges like this? would really appreciate if you would share that information.
thriftyfiftyfifty
·1 week agoThe Rural Zipcode cost difference only affects the Commercial Pricing YOU get for a Label as a Shipper...has nothing to do with the average Joe paying the Retail Rates on a daily basis which is what those paragraphs/sentences are reflecting. As many have said before in these forums, the USPS Click N Ship "Business Rate" Account will give you cheaper rates and regardless of Zipcode.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 week agoThat information refers to USPS's retail rates. There is no price difference based on zip codes when you purchase postage at the PO counter.
The so called 'rural surcharge' isn't really that either, but rather a removal of the negotiated discount for those zip codes. This started in Sep 2024 with the ounce tier discounts being removed this year. So there's no actual "surcharge", sellers just pay what everyone else pays when shipping to those zip codes.
Other platforms subsidize shipping in an effort to compete. Those platforms also completely take control of the shipping process and pricing away from the seller in return.
albertabrightalberta
·1 week agoHow old is the post you found and copied?