Shipping charge changed after the sale

[clinke]

I created a listing in the usual way. I entered the package type, dimensions and weight, used the shipping calculator, which said shipping would cost $1.20 USPS First Class. I entered a handling fee of $1.00, so when the buyer won the item, he was charged $2.20 for shipping. Pretty straightforward so far.

However, after the sale, when I went to purchase the label, I was charged $3.03, $1.83 more than what I was promised when I created the listing. Nothing changed. Package type, dimensions, weight and shipping service were exactly as they were when I first made the listing.

I just got off a painful chat in which the agent kept typing nonsense about the courier charging the mysterious extra fee because of weight and dimension differences (which didn't exist), and telling me to make sure I enter accurate information when listing (which I did). That last bit is patently absurd, since I can put wildly inaccurate information at listing time and the cost should still be the same then as it is after the sale.

Has anyone had this happen? I know it's only $1.83, but how can I ever have confidence in the shipping calculator if it can't tell me what shipping will cost?

[disneyshopper · Accepted solution]

It sounds like the listing charged the first class LETTER rate, but ebay shipping doesn't print labels for first class letter.  They only print labels that include tracking, so you were charged for a first class PACKAGE.  If you want to ship first class letter, you can affix postage stamps onto your envelope, or take the envelope to the post office counter and pay for postage there.

In the future, when creating the listing, select thick envelope/package as the package type, and you will be charging the first class package rate for a package weighing up to 15.99 ounces (vs 13 ounces at the post office).  Make sure your envelope is at least 3/4 inches thick, or the post office will upgrade to Priority rate.

[clinke]

So essentially, eBay makes a promise at listing time that it can't keep after the sale. That's kind of infuriating.

I just tested your idea on a practice listing, changing the parameters back and forth between envelope and package, and the numbers behaved in a manner consistent with what you say. So you were able to explain to me briefly and succinctly what the problem is, something someone paid and trained by eBay was utterly incapable of doing. I thank you.

I will keep this in mind going forward. But with the bajillions eBay gets from us, I shouldn't have to resort to a hack. Thanks again.

[disneyshopper]

@clinke 

 But with the bajillions eBay gets from us, I shouldn't have to resort to a hack. 

This isn't a "hack".  Many sellers sell light weight items that can ship in a plain white envelope, so they use first class envelope as their shipping method.  There is no tracking, so doing this will affect their seller metrics when sellers are evaluated every 20th of the month.

I have another account in which I ship items weighing a few ounces.  I will use first class package, because I want tracking on each of those packages.  Without tracking, buyers can file an Item Not Received case, and I will end up losing, and having to refund.