eBay

wal3302 · ‎07-28-2022

I Am trying to find how to charge a flat rate for shipping an envelope that weighs less than one ounce without paying $3.00 plus when it will go with one .55 cent stamp.

Anonymous · ‎07-28-2022

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/ebay-labels-services/ebay-domestic-shipping-services/ebay...

heckofagame · ‎07-28-2022

Just a reminder that without tracking, you have no protections in the event that the buyer claims they did not receive it.

And you may be dinged for not uploading that tracking info.

onefootflipper · ‎07-28-2022

You have two basic choices. Use stamps and hope for the best. That actually always worked really well for me with sports cards in the past (hundreds of transactions, zero claims), but not so well with Pokemon cards (nearly 10 percent lost item claim rate).

Or, get a stack of trading card, post cards or old stamps sell the patches along with one of those things in a trading card/ post card / stamp category so you can generate the tracked standard envelope.

duffy4444 · ‎07-28-2022

As long as the item is:

- able to fit into a regular letter-size envelope,

- 3.5 ounces or less in weight

- a maximum of 1/4" thick,

- flexible and not rigid, and

- can be legally shipped in a first class letter envelope,

then you can add a 57-cent stamp (no longer 55-cents) or a forever stamp (or more depending on weight up to 3.5 oz).

The important thing to remember is you should notify your buyer that the USPS does not issue a tracking number for first class envelopes, but that they can expect to receive their purchase within a few days. Customers are generally unaware of tracking numbers not added for letters or larger envelopes/flats, and they will appreciate the heads up from you.

If you use it, you will have to click on "Mark As Shipped" for the item in your Seller Hub, and leave the tracking number blank. Then cross your fingers that the buyer doesn't pull a fast one on you by claiming Item Not Received, because you will then lose the item and your payment for it on a forced buyer refund due to no tracking number.

You will also get a very minor "ding" on your performance metrics for not uploading a tracking number, but the worst that can happen in that case is you could use a Top Rated Buyer status (if you were to have one). The lowest rating it could affect you would be an "Above Standard" rating, and not lower than that. The reason for this is that a lot of sellers use letter envelopes and a stamp or two for a lot of their sales shipments, and eBay does not penalize sellers for that below an "Above Standard" rating on that metric.

I use letter envelopes on smaller items that fit, like a few very thin skeins of DMC needlework floss. I've done this a few hundred times over the last 24+ years, and the only thing I occasionally lose is a Top Rated Status, which I think is over-rated and not a big deal anyhow. I've only had a couple INR cases out of hundreds of letter-sized envelopes shipped, which I do think were legitimate INR cases.

The overall money I save is a LOT by occasionally using a letter-size envelope and a forever stamp. I also occasionally use the less-expensive "Large Envelope/Flats" for flexible items up to 3/4" thick and without tracking as well, unless I want a tracking number added because of sending a higher-value item, or for the higher "First Class Package/Thick Envelope" cost that you're trying to avoid.

Cheers, Duffy

pjcdn2005 · ‎07-28-2022

On your listing choose ‘flat: same cost to all buyers’. For the service you can choose ‘economy shipping’. Then enter the price you want to charge.

You won’t need to print a label since you will be using stamps.

allen1853 · ‎07-28-2022

First, be aware eBay will punish you if you do not mail with tracking which is uploaded same day as mailing. The only option for mailing with "tracking" for less cost than First Class Package is an eBay product called Standard Shipping for Coins. It only applies to coins and stamps and some other collectibles. It is only for one to three ounces. There are size and thickness requirements. It comes with limited tracking and up to $20 insurance but eBays Ship Cover department is a nightmare for claimants. Good luck.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎07-28-2022

@duffy4444 wrote:
   As long as the item is:
   - able to fit into a regular letter-size envelope,
   - 3.5 ounces or less in weight
   - a maximum of 1/4" thick,
   - flexible and not rigid, and
   - can be legally shipped in a first class letter envelope,
then you can add a 57-cent stamp (no longer 55-cents) or a forever stamp (or more depending on weight up to 3.5 oz)....

First Class letters now cost 60 cents for the first ounce (if you forgot to stock up on Forever stamps) and 24 cents for each additional ounce, up to $1.32 for 3+ to 3.5 ounces. They can be rigid, but you'll have to pay a "nonmachinable surcharge" of 39 cents.

onefootflipper · ‎07-28-2022

Ebay's ship cover insurance has paid out every single claim I have ever filed. You just have to get the exact process down and wait for it to be 30 days for lost items. It can take some coaching to customers to get them to say the right thing though. I had one guy who I had to reply back and forth about 15 times telling him to "Please just say in a complete sentence that your item was damaged in shipping and attach a photo with that message", before he actually did it. The rest have always sent the right message and photo together after one or two times of me sending them the instructions.