How does this Seller Ship 6 lbs via USPS Priority Mail at this Buyer's Shipping Price?

[mangorunner]

I have spent a long time scratching my head over this listing.  The listing has ended.  I have an identical item that I would love to ship at the same price but I don't see how it is possible.  I have reached out to the Seller, who was very kind and tried to help me see what they did, but I still don't see how it is possible. 

Here is a link to the sold listing.

The Seller told me that the package was 6 lbs shipped.  The I am a zone 4 zip code Buyer to that Seller.  The eBay completed listing screen shows $9.12 to ship to my zip code.  The Seller confirmed that even recalculating today, he is showing the same price (9.12) to ship a  6 lb box via USPS Priority Mail to my zip code.  I don't see how that could be.  I see $9.12 to ship via USPS Parcel Select Ground.  But then, wouldn't the eBay shipping screen show "Economy shipping" and Parcel Select Ground rather than "USPS Priority Mail"?  And wouldn't there be a difference between Seller Cost and Buyer Price for USPS Priority Mail?  The seller says he uses calculated shipping - he is not entering manual, same cost to all prices.  How did the Seller get this combo of rate and price?  I can't figure it out.  Please see attached screenshots.

Thanks, folks!!!

[wastingtime101]

$9.12 is the online rate for a 5lb priority package to zone 4 - $9.22 is the 6lb rate.

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

[divwido]

It's possible.  If you shipped both of them in a 10x10x4, it could work.

[3eyedfishcatcher]

They probably used a priority mail flat rate envelope shipping label instead of the proper priority mail label that would be needed to ship in the box they used. While they could have used a flat rate shipping box for those plates it would have required a larger box with a higher price in shipping.  Some sellers do this thinking they will save money on the shipping cost but when the item is checked in at the post office they check the label and if it is incorrect the seller will be charged the proper price to their paypal account. Even if you drop a item in a drop box it still will get check and they will be charged.

While activities like this makes it look like honest sellers are over charging on shipping it is better not to do the same as you will just get more fees at a later time. Entering the correct information about the packaged used and selecting the correct shipping label when setting up the listing will mean when it sells you will receive the correct amount for the shipping. 

While these sellers are getting a lower priced label up front they will end up being charged the difference and as their buyer already paid for the shipping they will actually lose money.

[tracdea1]

I want to say this has something to do with the selection for the shipping method on the listing.  Also, Priority Mail by Weight varies depending on the shipper-to-receiver zip codes.

If your buyer or seller is in the same zone, it will be a whole lot cheaper than if there are three zones in between, so that price will change according to the buyer's location in relation to the seller's location.

[nobody*s_perfect]

That listing is showing calculated shipping via Priority Mail for a 5-pound package.  As noted in an earlier post, the cost for 6 pounds is only 10 cents more when shipping to Zone 4.

[mysalonsavings]

No, not true. A flat rate envelope is 6.85 😋

[escuintla]

The shipping calculator sometimes throws surprises at you. 

I sold a lot of shoes, the package that got lost for almost 10 days. I was nervous about the price to ship them because it was kind of heavy, 12 pounds or so. I thought about Fedex, but when I was looking at what method to use, it gave me a good deal on it, $13 plus $9 for insurance via priority mail. 

I was like...…..what the H? But who can complain? 

[inhawaii]

The other seller may have over charged or may have under charged for shipping. I would list yours at whatever shipping price YOU were comfortable with REGARDLESS of what the other guy charged.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

@mangorunner 

That seller set up the eBay shipping calculator preferences to pass on their online shipping discount to buyers. Assuming your preferences are to not pass on that discount, you will never achieve the same rate using the calculator since it will show the buyers non-discounted retail rates instead.

[berserkerplanet]

Possibly a Regional B Box.

Seller is using the 5 lb calculated rates and forgoing the 28¢ difference between that and Reg B actual cost

(starting 1/27/19 when Reg A and 2 lb rates and Reg B and 5 lb PM rates were no longer identical I started adding a 30¢ handling charge for Reg A and 40¢ for Reg B to correct for that on average)

Reg B can weigh up to 20lb. Reg B side loader is 16¼ x 14½ x 3 and Reg B top loader is 12¼ x 10½ x 5½