Why does eBay want sellers to lie?
Summary: juicydrupes voiced frustration about a shipping calculator issue where reducing package weight resulted in higher shipping costs. They questioned whether they should declare incorrect weights to obtain better rates. Others, including participatrophy and fm2000, suggested adding weight to packages legally to benefit from discounts given by USPS to compete with other carriers. stainlessenginecovers clarified that no dishonesty is encouraged and that the pricing scheme is an intentional USPS tactic. There were suggestions to contact congressional representatives and discussions about USPS rate changes possibly resolving the issue.
It seems like we haven't resolved the shipping calculator issue.
I just adjusted my weight from 3 pounds to 1 pound 2 ounces - and it now costs me 2 dollars more to ship.
Did not change dimensions.
Am I just supposed to be dishonest and leave it at 3 pounds to get the cheaper rate - and not screw myself out of 2 dollars???
I guess lying is the way of the world now.
fm2000
·2 weeks agoThis is intentional, as complete and total moonbattery as it is. 2-5lb is cheaper than one pound due to some kind of crazy desire to compete with UPS and Fedex and somehow that desire magically makes delivering a 2.2 pound package cheaper for them to handle and deliver than a 1.1 pound package. I can't explain it either.
Weigh your packages down to get the discount. Don't lie about the weight. Extra cardboard on the sides, top and bottom can help nudge the weight up and help reinforce the package and protect the item inside too.
It is important to remember this special discount does not apply to special "rural" zip codes, of course... because people in those zips are terrible people or something. So much for the "universal service" mandate.
They have already adjusted this special discount three times in the last month (they just adjusted these discount again TODAY, it is absolutely nuts.) Write your Congressmen.
stephenmorgan
·2 weeks ago · EditedI think there was a temporary error in the USPS calculations. This may be fixed on August 22nd with the new decrease rates for 2 pound packages across Zones 1–8.
Have to wait and see how the new rates are adjusted.
fern*wood
·3 weeks agoI pay the cost that shows for my package weight. It's a bonus to me if my package happens to costs less, but being upset about that didn't occur to me. I guess if we throw a fit, they might raise it back to cost more. There is an announcement today that states some rates for 2 pounds will be going down, so maybe that will help even things out.
The bigger problem for me is the rural zip codes and under a pound items.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks agoThere is NO 'calculated' issue to be resolved.
You are NOT suppose to lie and ebay does NOT want you to. Nobody said that.
You are being DISCOUNTED for that larger weight, NOT paying 'more' for the lesser weight. It's a deal that USPS made with Ebay to push out the larger weights (competing against Amazon, Fedex, UPS etc.)
juicydrupes
OP3 weeks agoIt might appear that way from eBays perspective - but on the user side - We are PAYING MORE for lesser weights. Its a pain in the ass and needlessly complicates shipping. How are we supposed to handle the situation I described in the OP?
shire123
·3 weeks agoIt's not eBay. It's the. Usps
juicydrupes
OP3 weeks agoI gather that...as I said I will inform elected officials with oversight of USPS.
shire123
·2 weeks ago@juicydrupes But your title states "ebay wants us to lie" . That implies that ebay is causing this.
dirtcrasher
·2 weeks agoRight, because if you consider the amount of sales made per day and their profit, they aren't being greedy in the least...
shire123
·2 weeks agoWhy is it that an entity (ebay) that makes a profit is "greedy"? Isn't that the capitalistic, American way? This is not communist Rusia.
juicydrupes
OP3 weeks agoI am writing to my Congressional Representative and our Senators about this issue. I will not commit fraud or lie for ebay.
juicydrupes
OP3 weeks agoHow can this even be legal in an era where we are supposed to be cutting down on waste FRUAD, and abuse???
participatrophy
·3 weeks agoPut the packed 1lb 2oz box into another box. Add more cardboard such that at the end you can shake the whole thing without the contents shifting around inside. Repeat until you hit the 2lb mark.
juicydrupes
OP3 weeks agoWhy are we being forced to screw around like this - and gin up fake numbers?
participatrophy
·3 weeks ago · EditedBecause despite infrastructure spanning a continent and experience spanning centuries, the USPS has decided they want to disincentivize lightweight small stuff in order to compete with UPS and FedEx.
Entering figures that don't reflect the actual measurements would be ginning up fake numbers. Slapping on redundant layers of cardboard is giving them exactly what they're wanting to encourage: more weight.
fm2000
·2 weeks agoBecause the postmaster has lost his mind. It makes as much sense as selling large eggs for 99 cents and medium eggs for $2.99, assuming people who don't need large eggs will pay a huge premium for less and ignoring people can discard what they don't need (or make a package weigh more, as the case may be.)
Just weigh your packages down to clear 2.01lbs and get the discount. It is insane, and it is legal.
juicydrupes
OP3 weeks agoIf I use the 3 pounds - when it goes through USPS will they try to collect the extra 2 dollars after the fact, when they find out I have the wrong weight?
kensgiftshop
·3 weeks agoYes, they could.
fm2000
·2 weeks ago · EditedThey absolutely can and have.