First Class Postage eBay discount?

[fancyfindsandtreasures]

Where is the eBay discount on First Class Postage?  

Today, 1/18/16, USPS raised the first class postage to $2.60, but there is no discount from eBay for printing postage through eBay like there used to be.

Almost all of my items are 3 oz, which I used to pay $2.04 to ship; today (1/18) it is now $2.60 through eBay!!!  I know postage rates were increase but a jump of $0.56 per item is about 27%.  

I sell jewelry and some of my items will cost more to ship than the actual cost of the item...that's a sure way to put customers off and buy overseas where they can afford to offer free shipping.   Charging $2.60 for postage will put me out of business in a few months!

You'd think eBay would be on top of this postage hike and have the discount in place to implement when USPS raised their postage.  

I'll be researching other online shipping companies for a discounted rate.

Any suggestions on where to look for a discounted First Class Shipping rate?   

[partial*eclipse]

Here's a link to the official USPS rates publication, Notice 123.
http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@lynnster1952 wrote:
I am NOT charging letter rate! I'm selecting package/thick envelope. Furthermore, one of my items weighed 3 oz which no way ships First Class in ANY size envelope for $1.82. Do you work for the post office, paypal or ebay? If you could actually prove I did something wrong, I'd be happy and grateful, but that's not the case. Not a GIGO issue. Please try it yourself for a 3 oz large envelope. The Ebay rep did and he still came up with $2.61.

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You're right, it's not $1.82...it's $1.40 for 3 ounces.  I use stamps.com.

$2.61 for FC package

Paypal gives no option for printing letter rate mail.   You can see here:  paypal.com/shipnow    You have to log in to Paypal first before using the link, otherwise you'll be taken to the main page.

[ptosistheseus]

Why is a one ounce first class mail via Ebay cost $2.66 when I can just put a stamp on it for 50 cents? It's a single ounce. I realize that with Ebay there is tracking, but I'll forgo the tracking since Ebay mailing is costing more than what I am selling it for.

[partial*eclipse]

First Class pieces are categorized as letters, flats (AKA Large envelopes) or packages based on factors like dimensions (including thickness), flexibility, etc. The maximum allowed thickness for a letter is 1/4 inch.

50 cents is for a letter; $2.66 is for a package (any weight up to 4 ounces). A 1-ounce First Class package would cost you $3.50 if you mmailed it at the PO.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@ptosistheseuswrote:
Why is a one ounce first class mail via Ebay cost $2.66 when I can just put a stamp on it for 50 cents? It's a single ounce. I realize that with Ebay there is tracking, but I'll forgo the tracking since Ebay mailing is costing more than what I am selling it for.

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@ptosistheseus

(This is an old thread, but)

There are 2 different services:

First Class Mail that you can put a stamp on (Letter Mail). It can weigh up to 3.5 ounces, has to be machineable and does NOT have tracking. You can NOT buy FCM postage on eBay.

First Class Package Service can weigh 13 oz (Retail) or up to 15.999 ounces (Commercial), can be up to 12"x12"x12" and has tracking. You can print FCP labels on eBay for the Commercial Rate.

https://www.usps.com/ship/first-class-mail.htm

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c037

[partial*eclipse]

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@penguins_dont_flywrote:

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 ... First Class Mail that you can put a stamp on (Letter Mail). It can weigh up to 3.5 ounces, has to be machineable  ...

First Class Mail includes both letters and flats.  The weight limit for letters is 3.5 ounces, but they don't have to be flexible; you can pay the 21-cent "nonmachinable surcharge" if your piece is rigid or uneven.  Flats (AKA Large envelopes) must be flexible, but can weigh up to 13 ounces.

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@penguins_dont_flywrote:

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 ... First Class Package Service can weigh 13 oz (Retail) or up to 15.999 ounces (Commercial), can be up to 12"x12"x12" and has tracking. ...

I don't know where you got those dimensions, but the DMM says that First Class packages must "... not exceed 22 inches in length, or 18 inches in width, or 15 inches in thickness."

See section 8.3.2.d

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097318

[penguins_dont_fly]

You are correct partial ... not enough coffee ...

When I said  "machineable" I was referring to the OP's statement of "put a 50¢ Stamp on it".  I should have worded it better.

And the "1 cubic foot" was something in my head ... 

[lookng2015]

That's a lot of head space = )

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@lookng2015wrote:
That's a lot of head space = )

Yeah, yeah ... I've been accused of having a big head LOL.

Hence the need for copious amounts of caffeine to jump start it in the morning 🙂 

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[partial*eclipse]

We've all done "more caffeine, please" posts.   The only thing I can think of for the cubic foot is the Priority Mail threshold for dimensional weight. Or maybe the USPS.com shipping calculator that asks for dimensions if any are over 12 inches.

[ptosistheseus]

OK. The rigid package that is less than 1 oz = $2.66 on Ebay with tracking is still a great deal because over the counter@ USPS -  without tracking -  my rigid package of less than 1 oz  = $3.50