Is there a way to make sure you've switched all your First Class packages to Ground Advantage

[gurlcat]

....that DOESN'T involve opening each listing one-by-one and scrolling down to the shipping and clicking See Details?  

[gurlcat]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

You know by now that I always "teach a man to fish"

 Yes!   I had to double check it was really you doing this uncharacteristically cryptic parlor trick. 😆

but in this case there's a specific reason why I didn't.

I used shipscript's scanner that's still in the development phase. As far as I know, ship hasn't made it available to the public yet. I have permission to use the tool to help others which is what I did here.

Okay so not a parlor trick.  Straight up wizard magic scepter stuff.  
Well extra thanks then for waving it over me.  

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[gurlcat]

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@ampgroup2021 wrote:

Well, I didn't do anything, and only thought about it this morning, all of my 650 listings are Ground Advantage (other than media and UPS ground), I didn't change anything, and assumed that it was an ebay controlled update.

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I don't know how that could have happened.  I know it sure didn't with mine, in fact I just caught one of mine this morning that was still First Class, when I thought I had changed them all.  Also, there's this straight from the horse's mouth:
 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@ampgroup2021 wrote:

Well, I didn't do anything, and only thought about it this morning, all of my 650 listings are Ground Advantage (other than media and UPS ground), I didn't change anything, and assumed that it was an ebay controlled update.

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@ampgroup2021  RU talking about how they print or how they show on your listings?  They will PRINT correctly without you doing anything.  It's on the listing that they don't show right. 

I haven't changed anything either & while mine PRINT correctly, they still show as FC in the listings. 

[duffy4444]

   eBay only automated the change from Parcel Select (PS) to Ground Advantage (GA).

   The reason why eBay didn't automate the change of FC to GA is because FC  can still be used for letters & large envelopes that meet the weight and dimensions requirements.

   So, unless a seller has their policies properly set up, one does have to go thru them individually and change them. Bulk Edit helps a lot. I don't use Business Policies because of so many variations and I've gotten quite adept at using Bulk Edit. I had almost 1,000 listings to go thru using Bulk Edit, about 600 didn't need any FC to GA changes, and I got used to changing about 400 rather quickly. The whole process took me one 6-hour day for nearly 1,000 listings. Not bad, as at the same time I updated some of them because they were due to be checked and updated anyhow.

   Don't sweat having to go thru only 60 or so listings. Once you get rolling, you'll probably find it's not that time-consuming. Again, using Bulk Edit helps a lot.

Cheers, Duffy

[gurlcat]

I don't know what you mean by "Use bulk edit" (I'm guessing there are steps??) but thanks anyway.  

[duffy4444]

   In your Seller Hub, go to Listings, click on the ones you want to edit (or all of them if you want), and click on "Edit". Your Revise Listings Tool will automatically show up. Select the items you want to revise, click on Bulk Edit, select Domestic Shipping (later you can select International Shipping if applicable), and go thru them one by one. Not difficult, but you may want to experiment with a couple of them to get used to the process.

   Bulk Edit is my friend when eBay, or in this case the USPS, comes up with necessary changes that affect my listings in such a manner.

Cheers, Duffy

[duffy4444]

   Remember, it's only FC Package  listings that need to be manually changed to GA. Regular FC letter and Large Envelope don't have to be. Your McCall's and Simplicity listings, if their shipping thickness is under 3/4", could still go by FC large envelope and save you substantially in shipping costs.

   I currently have a few hundred quilt and needlecraft patterns that go by FC Large Envelope. The only drawback is that the USPS doesn't add a tracking number, but in almost a thousand of such shipments over the years I've only had two INR claims, and I believe were legitimately not received.

Cheers, Duffy

[duffy4444]

   Well, I just looked at a couple of your listings, and under your Shipping, Returns and Payments tab, it appears that you are using "Standard Shipping". It seems those listings have already been changed to Ground Advantage... Looks like I arrived late to the party...

 - Duffy

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I STILL don't buy that as the reason as there's a difference between FC MAIL and FC PACKAGE.

They still could have just changed all the FCP to GA and left the FC MAIL alone.

I guess one way to find out which ones you haven't changed to GA is when they hit the deadline date and refuse to renew?

[shipscript]

@simply-the-best-for-you 

@gurlcat 

@wastingtime101 

@ampgroup2021

@duffy4444 

The tool is available to the public. 

https://isdntek.com/ebaytools/BulkShippingScanner.htm

I'm so sorry that I have not posted an update (been totally tied up with other issues). 😕

I was originally concerned that the tool had a limitation on usage (like 5000 listings per day), but eBay apparently solved that for me a few years back and I didn't realize it (gobsmacked here) and I found out a few weeks ago that the tool is allowed to process 1.5 million listings per day. So we are good to go on that point.

Griff announced it on his podcast a few weeks back and provided the same link as above.

The tool will scan your active listings (up to around 6000 items) and will generate a report of all of your domestic and international shipping types. There are ways to get around that ~6000 limitation, like splitting the job across categories.

The tool can create a  File Exchange revision spreadsheet, but the part I have not yet dealt with is the full ramification of bulk uploading that spreadsheet to Seller Hub. I've only performed a few bulk upload tests, which has shown that all shipping details for an item must be in that spreadsheet upload.  The tool can pull in the domestic and international shipping options, but can not pull in shipping discounts or rate tables. If those are in use, the seller will need to deal with them separately because the spreadsheet doesn't have that data.

Additionally, eBay was not returning the FedEx shipping option for items destined to the authenticators, so the tool reports "unspecified" for older listings, although on newer listings, I'm seeing something like "eBay shipping to authenticator, then to you".

Aside from resolving spreadsheet issues, the tool is certainly a viable option for checking whether listings have been converted to Ground Advantage. So please feel free to make the most of it.  😃

[shipscript]

@toomuchstuffagain35 

Please tell me the difference between FCP and FCM on eBay listings. 

I am trying to define a method for a seller to split the two (dimensions are not available).

I've considered the following conditions:

FCM may be flat rate.

FCM may be under $2 (or may be free).

Calculated shipping is probably FCP, but not necessarily.

Shipping over $4-$5 is most probably FCP.

Free shipping can be either.

What tests would you suggest for splitting your FCP and FCM?

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Honestly, since they've changed it, I don't see any choice for FC Mail. Selecting shipping service in a listing now it just has First Class. No choice of large envelope or Package anymore.

[shipscript]

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@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:

No choice of large envelope or Package anymore.

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There is no more first class "package" on the listing form, as the packages should now be listed with Ground Advantage. So FC mail for new listings should only be letter class mail (letter of flat) which is not zone-based.  When I tested yesterday, I found that choosing a Flat rate or Calculated shipping option of "First Class" displayed a "package" cost on the listing form. Nonetheless, the encoding on the listing form shows that it is USPS First Class and not Ground Advantage, so the suggested cost is still based on the package range rather than the letter range, but the selection is encoded as First Class Mail. 

I assume this selection is meant to extend the seller options all the way to the USPS deadline.

And since eBay does not print labels for letter class mail, I'm not sure how this selection will play out after a sale. But if Flat rate shipping is selected, then at least the correct future shipping would be collected from the buyer for a letter or flat.

But, back your original statement "they still could have just changed all the FCP to GA and left the FC MAIL alone". What criteria would you suggest should be used for a tool to decide which is FCM and which is FCP, since the package dimensions are not available?

[duffy4444]

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@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:

Honestly, since they've changed it, I don't see any choice for FC Mail. Selecting shipping service in a listing now it just has First Class. No choice of large envelope or Package anymore.

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@toomuchstuffagain35:

   My guess is that the USPS First Class designation at eBay is for USPS First Class Large Envelope/Flat, now that the old First Class Package has been automatically changed for everyone to USPS Ground Advantage.

   The reason why is say this is that at Stamps.com (my shipping service that is running very smoothly), the only two options under USPS First Class are now Letter and Large Envelope/Flat. The old USPS First Class Package is gone and USPS Ground Advantage has been added in its place. Don't quote me, but I believe it's the same with eBay.

Cheers, Duffy

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Thank you @shipscript  I thought it was public knowledge, but I was afraid I had goofed.  Glad to hear the limitation is gone too.  

Just a comment in regards to what you & @toomuchstuffagain35  are discussing.  Perhaps it's relevant, perhaps not.  But I got called out in another thread earlier for referring to FC flats.  Just be aware that a lot of people may well still be using those. 

I have NOT made any changes to my listings in regards to GA & I also use listing software & I STILL DO have an option for FC Package vs letter or flat envelope or whatever it's called, I can look it up if you need me to.  I have not yet upgraded to the version of Sixbit that supports the change, so perhaps those options will go away in that release, but as of right now, I can still choose those options.  That said, they are not options I tend to use, so not sure if I did choose them, whether they'd go through or not.  I can certainly test it if you want.  I will  be out most of Tues, but PM me or page me here if you want me to test anything & I can do it on Wed.