Need to know what size box to use to ship that widget in?

[southern*sweet*tea]

Just let Ebay help you!

https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2018/ebay-shipping-feature-augmented-reality/

"But with so much discussion surrounding the efficiencies of speed and price, surprisingly few are talking about the potential efficiencies that could be achieved with regard to packaging and size.

That’s the angle eBay has taken with its new augmented reality (AR) feature for Android ARCore devices (a version for iOS and ARKit is in the works).

The feature, according to Retail Dive, helps selling customers decide which U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Flat Rate Box is the best size for shipping their items, with plans to offer similar sizing assistance for other package carriers and mail systems in other countries. It was originally conceived during the company’s annual Hack Week in July 2017.

eBay explained on its blog that the AR experience leverages motion tracking and environmental understanding to show sellers how their sold item will fit inside any standard USPS Flat Rate Box. All sellers have to do is hold up their phone to a real item to try on virtual boxes for a fit.

Sellers can move the boxes around to see a full view of the item inside. By looking from the top, front, and sides, sellers can determine whether the item will fit (and how much room will be left for padding) before they even acquire the box or attempt to package the item – a process which eBay acknowledges can be time-consuming, and presents a hassle at the point of shipping if sellers wait until they arrive at the post office to figure it out.

The technology also provides real-time calculation of shipping costs based on the chosen size."

well alrighty then   I actually find this kind of pathetic that someone would need an app to do this. What ever happened to thinking?

(Do some sellers really wait until they get to the PO to figure out how to mail something? I find that hard to believe)

[kensgiftshop]

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@southern*sweet*teawrote:
well alrighty then   I actually find this kind of pathetic that someone would need an app to do this. What ever happened to thinking?

(Do some sellers really wait until they get to the PO to figure out how to mail something? I find that hard to believe)

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Thats crazy.

Next they will have an app explaining how to get the package from your location to the post office.

[lookng2015]

Hmm...augmented reality - when the reality is - not everything needs to be shipped in a FLAT RATE box. Sheesh

[nawlinsron2]

If it weren't so late, I'd open the front door and scream like a banshee...

Is an app on using a tape measure next?

[gopetersen]

I wrote an app to do that about 8 years ago and integrated it with the database I use to keep track of orders. I've been using it ever since. It also tells me within a couple of ounces or so what the packed package will weigh.

Experienced sellers don't need it so much. They know in their heads which box and class of service will work for any given item, but it's something that would be useful to newer sellers.

Kind of ridiculous that eBay, the billion-dollar company, took this long to figure out that such a utility might be a good idea.

[partial*eclipse]

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@southern*sweet*teawrote: ... well alrighty then   I actually find this kind of pathetic that someone would need an app to do this. What ever happened to thinking?

I can't figure out what is more pathetic: (1) Needing an app to figure out which of 5 flat-rate boxes your item would fit in; (2) the notion that an ebay seller would wait until they got to the PO to choose a box; (3) ignoring the fact that a flat-rate box is usually not the most cost-effective choice; or (4) boasting about real-time pricing, when there are only 3 prices.

[fern*wood]

I need a virtual reality app to show me where my widgets are hiding before I even look for a box.

[thenobletuckylife]

Morning,

People without experience have a tendency to be unhelpful when they try to help, especially when they want to be in control of things.

Mr C

[d-k_treasures]

Think it will handle the regional FR boxes?

[partial*eclipse]

No, because the Regional boxes are not flat rate.  

[dhbookds]

So.......you wouldn't use it......  Some will..........and if and when ebay cancels it for low use, they will be here screaming they can't live without it.......

Too much of the "I" in some of this.......  Ebay has millions of sellers and some need/want what others wouldn't be caught dead using.....  So what?

[mr_lincoln]

@southern*sweet*tea  Nice post ... actually there are many people who do not think in 3 dimensions and this kind of software could benefit them.   Some people simply can not visualize the box size required for an item sitting in front of them and through no fault of thier own, their minds just don't work that way.  As an analogy, I can sing songs I hear on the radio but if you put a piece of sheet music in front of me I'm clueless, even though I had music classes growing up, my mind just does not work that way.

I created a thread or two on box making ... some folks replied that they can not make boxes, no problem, I get that, its not for everyone.  But if one can alter a box size slightly with scissors, tape and or glue then they can reduce the amount of packaging material required and thus save $$.   The total package weight can be reduced as well when sizing a box ... and some times, shaving off that one extra ounce gets the package weight DOWN to the next weight level and again, equates to $$.