eBay

skeletonstore · ‎08-25-2023

Does this mean the US post office said I weighed the package wrong? I can't even see the label on ebay to see what I weighed it as. I do not think I was off by $1.53 which i guess would be the next zone. I always weigh the package before printing the label. I do not even see how this is possible unless someone at the post office was leaning on the scale. Ebay provides no info and contacting them or talking to them is like talking to a brick wall.

simba6 · ‎08-25-2023

Your lucky it was for a low amount. Some have received such bill for serious sums of money.

dbfolks166mt · ‎08-25-2023

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
You are the second person in as many weeks to report USPS unilateral charges coming back through eBay shipping. I am used to seeing those for UPS and FedEx but USPS is a new one. ... I am not sure if there may be something amiss with eBay shipping label process since I don't use eBay to purchase my labels....

USPS has had an Automated Package Verification (APV) system in place since about 2017: At sorting centers, the equipment checks the package weight and dimensions against what was entered for the label purchase. It also scans barcodes for flat-rate boxes. Then any underpayment is charged to the sender's account -- and overpayments are credited.

https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs....

If there was any systematic issue with eBay's label programming or with USPS, I think we'd be seeing more than two posts in two weeks. To me, this seems to be the APV system working as intended. It occasionally makes errors, especially when two items are accidentally on the scale at once or if two items get stuck together.

Agree that it is more likely that it is somewhere in the shipping/scanning process but interesting with even 2 posts in two weeks, possible a lot of sellers never even notice. One reason I use Pirate Ship is they have shipper protections in place that prevent unilateral charges provided the package weight and dims are correct when you create the label and it is validated by the carrier when you drop it off. If there is a variance the carrier should collect it at that point and the Pirate Ship protection covers the shipper.

Not sure how OP is going to plead their case to eBay or the USPS but given the amount and how long it takes to work things out with USPS and eBay it may be more trouble than it's worth.

dhbookds · ‎08-25-2023

provided the package weight and dims are correct when you create the label and it is validated by the carrier when you drop it off. If there is a variance the carrier should collect it at that point

Don't know how a carrier could validate weight if picked up at a house?

simply-the-best-for-you · ‎08-25-2023

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
@dbfolks166mt wrote:
You are the second person in as many weeks to report USPS unilateral charges coming back through eBay shipping. I am used to seeing those for UPS and FedEx but USPS is a new one. ... I am not sure if there may be something amiss with eBay shipping label process since I don't use eBay to purchase my labels....
USPS has had an Automated Package Verification (APV) system in place since about 2017: At sorting centers, the equipment checks the package weight and dimensions against what was entered for the label purchase. It also scans barcodes for flat-rate boxes. Then any underpayment is charged to the sender's account -- and overpayments are credited.

https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs....

If there was any systematic issue with eBay's label programming or with USPS, I think we'd be seeing more than two posts in two weeks. To me, this seems to be the APV system working as intended. It occasionally makes errors, especially when two items are accidentally on the scale at once or if two items get stuck together.

Agree that it is more likely that it is somewhere in the shipping/scanning process but interesting with even 2 posts in two weeks, possible a lot of sellers never even notice. One reason I use Pirate Ship is they have shipper protections in place that prevent unilateral charges provided the package weight and dims are correct when you create the label and it is validated by the carrier when you drop it off. If there is a variance the carrier should collect it at that point and the Pirate Ship protection covers the shipper.
Not sure how OP is going to plead their case to eBay or the USPS but given the amount and how long it takes to work things out with USPS and eBay it may be more trouble than it's worth.

@dbfolks166mt Very easily, as I posted upthread, there is a link at the bottom of these emails to dispute it. I double checked one of mine to be sure it's there & it is. All they need to do is follow the instructions in the email. OP should double check first that they aren't getting a credit. 99% of mine are for a CREDIT, not a shortage.

This one goes to Eleven - Nigel Tufnel

Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay Seller since 1996

richard1rst · ‎08-25-2023

@skeletonstore wrote:
Does this mean the US post office said I weighed the package wrong? I can't even see the label on ebay to see what I weighed it as. I do not think I was off by $1.53 which i guess would be the next zone. I always weigh the package before printing the label. I do not even see how this is possible unless someone at the post office was leaning on the scale. Ebay provides no info and contacting them or talking to them is like talking to a brick wall.

In every notice I have ever received, both from eBay and Pirateship, the error is always detailed. Look at it more closely or look for a separate email. It will tell you the size and weight you entered, and the size and weight they registered. Sometimes they make a mistake and I have been successful in challenging the upcharge and had them reversed.

BUT you respond through USPS (not eBay) by clicking the appeal button they provide in the notice.

The government consists of a gang of people whose principal device is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can not get, and to promise to give it to them. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advanced auction on stolen goods.
H L Mencken

tsme35 · ‎08-25-2023

In my experience its the USPS system that's wrong, I've had them say a 2 oz package weight 14 oz and a 12 oz package weight 2 oz, I know for a fact it was a fishing reel that weighted 12 oz. So far I'm ahead a little, but only had 5 in the last year or so.

"Overpaid adjustment: $1.06 (Credited)

Reason: Package weight different from specified

Original weight: 0 lb 12 oz

Actual weight: 0 lb 2 oz"

I'm not sure how their system works, maybe scanned mine but weighted another but I know for a fact it was 12 oz.

I had 2 last fall and filed with USPS, they dragged it for over 2 months then said it was too late to refund. It wasn't worth the time to get a couple bucks back.

diecastorbust · ‎08-26-2023

he is absolutely right it’s all eBay. Inthe last year ebay has charged me over 1400.00 in underpayment of shipping not one single kver charge. I switch to pirateship o another less fee hungry platforms in 400 shipments not one has come back underpaid. Come back here sell a few items that diddnt sell over there o. The past week three more underpaid shipments for eBay zero fro pirate ship. I haven’t charged

a thing in the way o shop same scale boxes packing zero different except eBay is taking money.

jbbowers12012 · ‎08-26-2023

Since my change over to ground advantage from shipping mostly 1st. class, when printing ebay labels there is a notice reminding you to make sure that your entered dimensions are correct. Not sure that it was there when printing 1st. class.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-26-2023

It wasn't there because it didn't apply. The surcharge for length wouldn't apply because online First Class package postage had a length limit of 22 inches. And the chances of having a package that was over 1 cubic foot yet not over 16 ounces is pretty low, so there was no rule that FC packages had to pay a dimensional rate.

thriftedflip · ‎03-11-2024

I am having this problem with FedEx, only they are then charging me double what the original cost was. Sometimes when they send the breakdown it does not measure or weigh more than what I originally put in, but they are overcharging me anyway. Do Not Ship FEDEX. There is clearly something wrong with their calculations. I purchased a label for a larger item for $32 and once FedEx shipped it they then charged me an underpayment fee of an additional $36 item. I should have just shipped with UPS at that point. Needless to say, I lost money selling that item on Ebay and Ebay is doing nothing to help me out. There is clearly something wrong here.

mam98031 · ‎03-11-2024

Actually USPS has a program the last few years where they randomly check to make sure everyone using electronic labels are paying the right amount. Ebay has nothing to do with it, it is all USPS.

I've had a couple of them over the last couple of years. I've never tried to fight them as they were not of an amount that was worth the battle I'd have to be prepared to do with USPS.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Automated-Package-Verification-Program

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

kh-shakhib · ‎03-12-2024

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.