eBay

orangehound · ‎06-25-2019

I just finished talking with my local postmaster regarding shipping Retail Ground under the new price tables. As we've speculated from reading Publication 123 prior to the dimensional rate change (6/23/2019), the Retail Ground service is not subject to dimensional weights.

For example a 14x14x14 package weighing 3 pounds to zone 8 is 16.17 ... the same as 12x12x12. We went through a number of weight/size combinations and zones, and none of them had the dimensional weight adjustment.

So, this means ...

You can ship larger packages over 1 cubic foot to Zones 5-9 at prices according to actual weight (no surcharge for size unless you get into the sizes exceeding 84 length by girth dimensions) but you must purchase Retail Ground postage at the USPS counter to avoid the dimensional weights.
You can also ship Retail Ground according to actual weight to Zones 1-4, but the package must contain some hazardous material (maybe an isopropyl alcohol wipe) ... the package would need an ORM-D label on it and identification of the hazardous material.

ersatz_sobriquet · ‎06-26-2019

@dasarock wrote:
so list the slowest shipping first, re 'usps retail ground' (ebay says they will not remove the 1st shipping option). then list the others re priority etc. however if you change the retail dimension to 12x12x12 and they are smaller than the actual packge, you could wind up eating the loss with priority mail. (unless ebay puts a separate set of dimension for each shipping option, which i doubt will occur.)

Good catch...So don't offer priority mail?

dasarock · ‎06-26-2019

@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:
@dasarock wrote:
so list the slowest shipping first, re 'usps retail ground' (ebay says they will not remove the 1st shipping option). then list the others re priority etc. however if you change the retail dimension to 12x12x12 and they are smaller than the actual packge, you could wind up eating the loss with priority mail. (unless ebay puts a separate set of dimension for each shipping option, which i doubt will occur.)
Good catch...So don't offer priority mail?

i didn't on all the 'retail ground' i changed to... just changed the measurement 12x12x12. i do realize there will be shipping refunds on many of these. in my shipping policies on each listing page tab i put in that all usps retail ground packages will contain a few of the isopropyl alcohol swabs (pads). this should preclude mis-abuse of the retail ground for zones 1-4. i printed off a orm-d label and took to my post office who approved it, it lists isopropyl alcohol (70%) included. (set for thermal printer). maybe this will keep me out of hot water ...

dippitydoo · ‎06-26-2019

Hi dasarock....

Just curious, why would you want to use Retail Ground in zones 1-4 anyway when Priority is priced comparably anyhow in these zones?

Another question...was it you who said that even if you put Retail Ground on your listing, Ebay will charge the customer for parcel select? And if so, if the customer is paying the higher price without question, then why bother running it to the post office for a lower price?

What I want is for the customer to pay the lower Retail Ground and I am happy to take it to the post office. What I want is that they will not be shown exorbitant shipping costs when they are viewing the listing! But if what you say is true, that they will be shown DIM pricing, then shoot! If they buy it despite, then fine, will send it along parcel select DIM. sigh.

-Dippity

dasarock · ‎06-26-2019

@dippitydoo wrote:
Hi dasarock....

Just curious, why would you want to use Retail Ground in zones 1-4 anyway when Priority is priced comparably anyhow in these zones?

Another question...was it you who said that even if you put Retail Ground on your listing, Ebay will charge the customer for parcel select? And if so, if the customer is paying the higher price without question, then why bother running it to the post office for a lower price?

What I want is for the customer to pay the lower Retail Ground and I am happy to take it to the post office. What I want is that they will not be shown exorbitant shipping costs when they are viewing the listing! But if what you say is true, that they will be shown DIM pricing, then shoot! If they buy it despite, then fine, will send it along parcel select DIM. sigh.

-Dippity

Just curious, why would you want to use Retail Ground in zones 1-4 anyway when Priority is priced comparably anyhow in these zones?

... i want even farthest sellers to get the cheapest shipping cost. ebay can hide 2nd and subsequent shipping options. as far as substituting methods, i am not sure of ebays policy although it was mentioned earlier in thread for 'priority'.

Another question...was it you who said that even if you put Retail Ground on your listing, Ebay will charge the customer for parcel select? And if so, if the customer is paying the higher price without question, then why bother running it to the post office for a lower price?

... no it wasn't me who mentioned it. refund over charge for shipping is up to each seller's morals. again i want seller to spend as little as possible... they will remember when they need something else.

What I want is for the customer to pay the lower Retail Ground and I am happy to take it to the post office. What I want is that they will not be shown exorbitant shipping costs when they are viewing the listing! But if what you say is true, that they will be shown DIM pricing, then shoot! If they buy it despite, then fine, will send it along parcel select DIM. sigh.

... again, this goes back to morals. and if i buyer is willing to pay, doesn't mean they should. also they will appreciate the refund 🙂

mvls1 · ‎06-26-2019

Why don't you just list with a flat rate shipping cost that covers your cost to zone 8-9. Then you can choose whatever method of shipping will get to your buyer fastest within the cost you charged the buyer? Under promise, over deliver! Buyers will be pleasantly surprised. Never had an unhappy buyer yet.

dasarock · ‎06-26-2019

@mvls1 wrote:
Why don't you just list with a flat rate shipping cost that covers your cost to zone 8-9. Then you can choose whatever method of shipping will get to your buyer fastest within the cost you charged the buyer? Under promise, over deliver! Buyers will be pleasantly surprised. Never had an unhappy buyer yet.

i am not sure buyers in zones 1/2/3 etc want to pay zone 8/9 prices. no, i am sure they do not. and usps flat rate does not allow proper package dimensions for all packages.

i think you are talking about 'fixed rate' as ebay defines it .. one cost for all sellers. that does not do well with zone dim weight now.

maybe if i understood the shipping tables well enough i could build some. but they are extremly tiring to try and decipher... even then, if i could figure them out and create decent ones, i would still have to figure out how to implement. i do know that this setback is hampering me as is without the shipping tables and combine shipping. but most if not all of my sales are for a single item.

orangehound · ‎06-26-2019

@orangehound wrote:
@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:
Is retail ground even an option on the listing form? I haven't mailed anything that way in over a decade.
It is available, but it has an error in that it is showing dimensional charges for Retail Ground rates.

You can get around this by having the package 12x12x12 in the dimensions area.

Just updating ... the error I was seeing with Retail Ground charging dimensional weights is no longer there. Looks to be fixed.

dasarock · ‎06-26-2019

ty orange...

my_boston_baked_beans · ‎06-26-2019

Shipped a bulky item of clothing yesterday, and according to eBay's chart Parcel select was 26 cents more than Priority. I have experienced this a few times now, and have to be very careful not to click on the more expensive option by mistake. Check eBay as they try to use every advantage they can to make $$

dippitydoo · ‎06-26-2019

hi boston-baked-beans....love them! (both candy and actual b-beans!)

Gosh, if Priority is only .26 cents more, I'd go with it....parcel select is so slow and more handling, more chances of breakage on fragile items.

-Dip

dippitydoo · ‎06-26-2019

howdy mvis1......

you asked "why don't you just use a flat rate to cover zones 5-9" ....well, I don't want to put a high price on the listing and scare folks that live near my zones.

You also made a reference to morals regarding refunding overpostage....it would not be OVERpostage if they paid what Ebay asked them to pay, and I gave the corresponding shipping service. Yesssss, I could wait in line to get it cheaper for them, even though they already paid...but if DIM shipping fears are that we will not get sales because of it, then if we DO get sales despite, shouldn't we just send the package along with the service they paid for?

I'm not against refunding overpostage! But I am against having to continually have to log into Paypal and set up transaction refunds. Doesn't sound like something I want to be a regular part of my sales!

-Dippity