eBay

midtownloft · ‎01-02-2023

Just wondering - purchased postage for a 14oz first class package for $6.51 and there was a notation that I had saved $5.40 and the actual first class postage (without eBay discount) would have been 11.91. So, went on USPS site and they quoted $5.74 for the postage and Pirate Ship quoted $5.41. I may be mistaken, however, it appears that the FVF for postage is already included in the postage cost and then we pay FVF on the increased amount. Please tell me it ain't so.

caracy · ‎01-02-2023

14 ounces doesn't exist as a first class package retail rate. At retail, 14 ounces is priority mail. So the comparison is for a 14 ounce commercial first class package versus a retail priority package that is under a pound.

sapphire_studio · ‎01-02-2023

Pirate ship is going to be cheap because it gives you commercial rates just like eBay. USPS shouldn't be quoting you that low on 14 oz retail like the previous poster said they don't even let you buy first class at that weight in retail.

You pay the final value fee on everything you collect from the buyer. So if that buyer is paying you retail prices for shipping then yes you're going to pay the final value fee on that, but you get to pocket the difference of what you save by using commercial prices instead of retail.

I offer free shipping so my shipping cost is built into my price so you could say I'm not paying a final value on any shipping but I am because my price is raised to cover shipping.

We also pay a final value fee on all the sales tax that eBay collects from the buyer for us (that we never see).

So you could sell at item for $20 with $10 shipping, $25 with $5 Shipping, or $30 with free shipping.... It doesn't matter what you actually pay eBay or usps pr pirateship for shipping to send the item... you're still going to pay the same final value fees (on $30 plus tax)

Anonymous · ‎01-02-2023

I experienced less cost by going USPS in person than inside the Great Label Gauntlet.

sapphire_studio · ‎01-02-2023

If you're going into a USPS and paying retail then you're always going to be paying more than if you buy the label through eBay or pirate ship or other places that offer commercial rates.

buyselljack2016 · ‎01-02-2023

@midtownloft

USPS $5.74 was the online rate for Zone 1-2. $6.51 is the rate to zone 7 for your 14 oz. package.

as caracy posted 14 oz. Retail is at the Priority rate as 1st stops at 13 oz. at the Post Office, so yes $5.40 saved online.

Your FVF is based on what the buyer pays. Matters not how much you pay to ship.

ebooksdiva · ‎01-02-2023

@Anonymous wrote:
I experienced less cost by going USPS in person than inside the Great Label Gauntlet.

So you would rather pay retail prices instead of commercial?

a_c_green · ‎01-02-2023

@Anonymous wrote:
I experienced less cost by going USPS in person than inside the Great Label Gauntlet.

That seems unlikely. What were the relevant details for the package you were shipping?

onefootflipper · ‎01-02-2023

@a_c_green wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I experienced less cost by going USPS in person than inside the Great Label Gauntlet.
That seems unlikely. What were the relevant details for the package you were shipping?

There isn't a single thing you can ship cheaper at the counter at the post office than you can ship from online. The whole reason it is cheaper online is that they don't want you going to the counter.

If I went to the counter I would spend an extra $5000 a year at least, not to mention a good 500 hours extra in labor for the year. It would be a disastrous business choice.

midtownloft · ‎01-02-2023

Thanks to all.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-02-2023

@midtownloft wrote:
Just wondering - purchased postage for a 14oz first class package for $6.51 ... went on USPS site and they quoted $5.74 for the postage ...

As noted in other posts, $6.51 is the Zone 7 price and $5.74 is the Zone 1&2 price for online First Class package postage weighing 14 ounces.

The final value fee on postage is a percentage of whatever the buyer pays to you for shipping and handling; it's not connected to where you purchase your postage or how much you pay for it.

Purchasing postage online for a 14-ounce package will be cheaper than purchasing the postage at the Post Office, because the weight limit for a First Class package is 13 ounces when shipping retail but 15.99 ounces when purchasing postage online. So postage for the 14-ounce package will cost $5.74 - $6.68 for an eBay label but $9.00 - $12.60 at the Post Office counter where you'd be purchasing Priority Mail postage at the retail rate.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-02-2023

@sapphire_studio wrote:
If you're going into a USPS and paying retail then you're always going to be paying more than if you buy the label through eBay or pirate ship or other places that offer commercial rates.

There is one quirky exception to this. The size limit for First Class packages is a length-plus-girth under 108 inches if you're shipping retail, but if you're purchasing postage online there are separate dimensional limits: the package cannot exceed 22 inches in length, or 18 inches in width, or 15 inches in thickness.

Retail, see 6.4.d: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#ep1002718

Online, see 8.3.2.d: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097220

Thus, if you're shipping a package that is longer than 22 inches but not more than 13 ounces, you can purchase postage cheaper at the PO counter (i.e., retail postage for a First Class package) than online (i.e., online rate for Priority Mail). Whichever service you use, there will also be a $4 surcharge for a length over 22 inches. (and $15 if over 30 inches).

onefootflipper · ‎01-02-2023

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
@sapphire_studio wrote:
If you're going into a USPS and paying retail then you're always going to be paying more than if you buy the label through eBay or pirate ship or other places that offer commercial rates.
There is one quirky exception to this. The size limit for First Class packages is a length-plus-girth under 108 inches if you're shipping retail, but if you're purchasing postage online there are separate dimensional limits: the package cannot exceed 22 inches in length, or 18 inches in width, or 15 inches in thickness.

Retail, see 6.4.d: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#ep1002718

Online, see 8.3.2.d: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097220

Thus, if you're shipping a package that is longer than 22 inches but not more than 13 ounces, you can purchase postage cheaper at the PO counter (i.e., retail postage for a First Class package) than online (i.e., online rate for Priority Mail). Whichever service you use, there will also be a $4 surcharge for a length over 22 inches. (and $15 if over 30 inches).

And at that point I just ship that poster UPS instead as then don't have to go inside and it will end up cheaper than first class retail plus the surcharge.

anjofak · ‎01-02-2023

Shipping has been wonky on here sine the last increase, buyers have contacted us about Shipping costs not making since on a few items, also had a few refunds for max calculated Shipping being charged then having the actual price differ in the 10-20$ range..

Also had a charge for under paying for a priority box zone A, the package was actually a flat rate Padded according to the label copy on file..still we live.