Shipping calculator not working. Buyer is undercharged.

[dauniquesllc]

I had a buyer pay $20.80 for shipping plus $5 handling. When I went to print the ebay shipping label, it charged me $23.85. I hadn't changed dimensions. I need to pay extra for insurance. Basically I should have been paid 23.85 plus $5 handling and I was screwed. This has happened 3 times ( that I have actually caught it).  Has anyone else had this issue?? Currently working with ebay again but they are telling me that their shipping calculator says  it came out to $20.85 so it must be right. Just be on the lookout that it isn't right and I'm sure more sellers are being ripped off. 

[dauniquesllc]

Also, is there a way to check or uncheck irregular package in the shipping label area?? I had this marked as an irregular package and wonder if something wonky is going on with that but it seems like that would add a shipping cost and not under-calculate it,. 

[rfmtm]

If you did not list it as irregular, but later checked the irregular box when creating the label, then that why you paid more than the buyer.

Ebay's USPS calculator is quite accurate as long as all the information input is accurate.

[wastingtime101]

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@dauniquesllc wrote:

Also, is there a way to check or uncheck irregular package in the shipping label area?? I had this marked as an irregular package and wonder if something wonky is going on with that but it seems like that would add a shipping cost and not under-calculate it,. 

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Was the irregular package box checked on the listing form? If yes, then you are the second poster I've seen this week saying that checking irregular package on the listing form meant the USPS nonstandard surcharges were not being applied when calculating shipping costs to charge buyers.

But ... I'm not sure if checking "irregular package" on the listing form is the problem here.

The package dimensions in your screenshot, 17x13x11, are over a cubic foot. Buyers should be charged based on dimensional weight of 15 lb even though the actual weight is 9 lb.

The rate charged to your buyer, $20.80, is the online discounted priority rate for a 12 pound package to zone 5.

If checking irregular was the problem then I'd think the buyer would have been charged $17.49 based on a 9 lb package.

What are the dimensions and weight you had entered on the listing form @dauniquesllc? If you're unsure, you can go to the listing and hit "sell similar" to get that info (then close out the draft without saving/publishing it). Would like to rule out a discrepancy in dimensions/weight on the listing form before attributing this to a potential "irregular package" error.

[dauniquesllc]

Nothing had changed. I clicked the bulk shipping label and the dimensions were just as I had added them to the listing. There is no option to click irregular package on shipping label so I know for sure that didn't change either. 

[donutking]

You may be experiencing the same problem I've had. I found the cause, and I would appreciate if anyone would test this out. The short answer is that when you create a new listing, the web page may be changing the amount you enter for the package weight.

First:
I'm using a Windows PC with a browser. (Not the mobile app.) I've tested this in Chrome and Firefox, and I've tested this on a PC at a different location. All with the same results.

I usually pack and weigh my items prior to listing - so I start with an accurate shipping weight. I always enter 'lbs.' and 'oz.', instead of rounding up to the nearest pound. This is important when someone purchases multiple listings, because the weights will be combined accurately.

Here are the steps to test this out:
1. Create a new listing. (You won't need to complete the listing so don't bother entering details.)
2. Scroll down to "Shipping", "Package weight".
3. Click once in the 'lbs.' box. Type in an amount.
4. Click once in the 'oz.' box. Type in an amount.
At this point, stop. Watch the screen. In approximately one full second, the amount you entered in the 'oz.' field will change.  End of test.

If this didn't work for you, you may have double-clicked or pressed 'Enter' after typing an amount. Or maybe you didn't start with the 'lbs.' box.  Refresh the web page and try again.

The simple work-around for this error is to wait for the glitch, then type in the correct amount for the 'oz.' box a second time. It should "stick".

And, here's a more accurate description of what's happening:  The amount you enter for the 'oz.' box is reverting to the prior value.
In the steps above, you're creating a new listing from scratch. The default values for 'Package Weight' are blank (or NULL). When you enter an amount value for 'oz.', it reverts to the prior value - which is NULL. And then, for example, if you 'Edit/Revise' one of your active listings, and follow the same steps above, you'll see that the new amount you enter for 'oz.' will revert to the prior value from your active listing.   (It would be useful to find an active listing with 'oz.'  that is greater than zero to prove the point.)

My experience: Months ago, I started getting notices from the Post Office charging me for underpayments. In each case, the printed weight on my label showed "0 ounces", while the correct ounces indicated by the Post Office was greater than zero. Then one day, as I was routinely listing an item, I noticed the behaviour described above.

Would love to hear feedback.   

[klhmdg]

@donutking  I have had the amount in the "oz" box be gone at listing. I had 2 sales that were under charged within a week.

I have also had the "irregular package" box checked. 

I know it is not me because I never list with a "0" in "oz" or have irregular packages.

I now double check every listing because that is the only way I can be sure the listing is correct and Im not going to have to pay extra to ship.

Im sure there is a glitch somewhere but ... for now I will check all my listing after listing them to be sure I dont get the short end of the stick.

[shipscript]

@donutking 

I tested this a few days ago and found I had to wait 2 full seconds for the refresh of ounces before entering a new value.

This "data refresh" is affecting more than just shipping. We're seeing forum reports of descriptions, titles, and various other fields disappearing.

[donutking]

Attention tech support:

[fatgrandmafinds]

This just happened to me this past week and who knows how many times before because I don't usually check. I barely made any profit on an item because a buyer paid $7.56 for shipping and I paid $13.95 for the stupid shipping label. I changed NOTHING and the weight and box size were correct when I listed the item and when I shipped it. I am NOT happy and this makes me wonder if the buyer may have somehow changed the shipping address during the payment process. When the customer purchased the item it took a bit before she paid and when I checked her phone number it was a Show Low, Arizona telephone number (same state I live in) but the address I shipped to is in North Carolina. I just went in and acted as if I were going to print another shipping label for this order and changed the buyer's address to an address in Show Low, AZ and the amount corrected to $7.56 which is what the buyer paid!

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@fatgrandmafinds wrote: ... this makes me wonder if the buyer may have somehow changed the shipping address during the payment process....

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Yes, the buyer might have changed their name and/or address during the checkout process; there's a "Change" link right on that page.  

Did you send an invoice? That locks in the shipping price.  If you haven't sent an invoice, then the buyer should have been charged the calculated shipping cost based on the new address that they entered.

[fatgrandmafinds]

I did send an invoice and realized that's what happened the day after posting here. The question is, why hasn't eBay fixed this obvious glitch? If the buyer changes the address, invoice, or not, the shipping should recalculate to the correct amount.

[rfmtm]

If you send an invoice, it is usually because you are making an adjustment.  When I do, I certainly wouldn't want ebay changing it, which would defeat the whole purpose of sending one.  However, a warning message of the fact the calculated price will be locked in would be a nice reminder.