Help!!

[trita6]

So I just shipped a medium flat rate priority USPS box from illinios to cali. I paid the postage fee and slapped that label on the package. The item is a pair of jeans and the box weighs less than 2 pounds.  The buyer got a notice that he needs to pay $25 even though the item he bought was free shipping.  If you want me to explain some more just ask but what do I do?

[wastingtime101]

Contact the buyer's post office to find out what the problem is.

Did you maybe use an Express box instead of a Priority box?

[threshold.sales.group]

Did you purchase medium flat rate postage to go with the medium flat rate box? 

Did you purchase the postage online? If so, the USPS revenue recovery program should invoice the sender (you) for postage discrepancies instead of the local office and carrier trying to collect from the recipient. 

No matter what a $25 charge sounds really sketchy. 

[trita6]

I made sure not to use express but I'll try to talk to his post office but what would I even ask?

[wastingtime101]

Ask the post office if the $25 charge is accurate and why they are charging it.

[richard1rst]

---

@trita6 wrote:

So I just shipped a medium flat rate priority USPS box from illinios to cali.

---

Just asking - by "caIi" do you mean the state of California or the city of Cali in Columbia?

A 2 pound package even coast to coast should only cost around $12.00 so $25 additional clearly mean there is something major wrong. Even a large Flat Rate Box would only be around $20.00

Clearly there is information missing here.

If it is in fact going to Cali Columbia then the $25.00 would be an Import/Customs fee. Completely beyond your control.

[trita6]

The State California. Yea I'm gonna have to check with the post office about this. I'm taking this as learning experience so thanks for the response

[richard1rst]

Something is very strange here,.

You said you slapped a label on it. That suggests that you bought the postage on line. In that case is there was a problem with amount paid the post office would back charge you through eBay. They would NOT be trying to collect postage due on the other end.

Are you sure he is really being charged extra? Maybe it is just a scam?

[richard1rst]

If you bought the label on line you must have a tracking number, Bring up the POST OFFICE web site (not eBay's page) and see what you get. The PO site will probably show more info than eBay's page.

If they really are trying to collect postage due I suspect it should say so on the web site.

[a_c_green]

---

@richard1rst wrote:

If you bought the label on line you must have a tracking number, Bring up the POST OFFICE web site (not eBay's page) and see what you get. The PO site will probably show more info than eBay's page.

If they really are trying to collect postage due I suspect it should say so on the web site.

---

It might not show that on the website, but it will definitely show that on the USPS intranet, which your local post office can access for you. Go there in person with your tracking number and ask them to look up the current status of the package.

[mam98031]

---

@trita6 wrote:

The State California. Yea I'm gonna have to check with the post office about this. I'm taking this as learning experience so thanks for the response

---

Ask your buyer to give you the phone number for their local PO.  That is where you need to call so they can tell you why they flagged the package.

Did you purchase your postage through Ebay or did you buy it somewhere else?

[fern*wood]

---

@trita6 wrote:

   If you want me to explain some more just ask but what do I do?

---

Yes, what postage did you buy?

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, just for next time, often i can use a Priority padded flat rate mailer for clothing items and save on postage costs. You have to order the the free supply of padded flat rate mailers from USPS.com, they may not be available at the local PO.

The cost to ship would then be $7.55 or $8.00 as opposed to the medium flat rate box which is $12.80 or $14.35, depending on where you buy your postage. I trust you are buying your shipping labels thru eBay?

Below is a link to the various costs using Priority packages.

https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail.htm

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@trita6 wrote: ... box weighs less than 2 pounds.  The buyer got a notice that he needs to pay $25 ...

---

Has the buyer provided proof that he got this notice, such as an image of the form that the PO left at his house?

I share the skepticism of a couple of the above posters, since the only way that package could have incurred a $25 upcharge is if you used an Express Mail box. And even then, the USPS system would have gotten these funds through charging you, not by leaving a Postage Due notice for the recipient.

I agree with the above advice to check the package's progress at usps.com, and to call the buyer's local Post Office to find out whether they are holding the package and if so then why.  

To get the local direct phone for a PO (vs the 800 number): at usps.com under "Mail & ship" choose "Find a USPS location."  Choose "Local Post Offices from the drop-down menu and then enter the buyer's ZIP Code. Then on the list of search results, click on the blue name of the location, and the next screen will show their direct phone number. Remember the time zone difference; it's still too early to call them right now. Most PO's won't answer the phone before or after their regular retail hours.

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

Hi, just for next time, often i can use a Priority padded flat rate mailer for clothing items and save on postage costs. ...

---

Indeed, for a 2-pound package, the Medium flat-rate box will not only cost more than  a flat-rate envelope, but it will also cost more than shipping in the sender's own packaging via the regular Priority Mali rates that are based on weight and distance. The Zone 8 online price for 2 pounds is almost $2 less than the MedFRB.