Problems with Postage fees

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

Hello,

First off, I am a very small eBay seller but sell a lot online on different websites, so I am very familiar with shipping items in regards to size and weight.

Just recently, I sold a skirt here on eBay - packaged it, weight it (it was approximately 8 oz), paid and printed the shipping directly from eBay. The charge was $7.43 for first class USPS with signature confirmation.

About a week later, I get an email from eBay for "cost adjustments for shipping" and they charged me an extra $7.62 and listed the cause as "service on label did match service used."

I have no idea why this was - but I called eBay customer support and inquired because this felt like a double charge for shipping as the item is not heavy and it was domestic shipping.

The eBay customer service agent said this was due to a weight issue and then stated I should have been refunded for the first payment - and that's what they did. 

I was fine with that, I figured it was probably a scale issue - for roughly 20 cents I wasn't going to stress over it.

Then today I get an unhappy email from the buyer stating she had to pay $4.50 due to underpaid postage. She sent me proof of the payment as well.

I, of course, refunded her the $4.50 and contacted eBay customer support. The agent stated that should not have happen especially since there was already an adjustment for shipping. She said I need to address it with the local post master to get a credit for the $4.50.

This is a head scratcher for me. Has anyone ever experienced anything similar? For starters, I've never know the post office to be petty over an ounce or two (which is what I was told was the difference), plus the additional fee the buyer had to paid made the total shipping over $12 for an item that didn't weigh a pound and that wasn't express shipped. I'm confused how this happened.

Any insight would be much appreciated. I'm strongly considering to stop shipping via USPS on eBay or maybe I should just stop buying shipping directly from eBay.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

Correct. It was not flat. It was in a generic white bubble envelope.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

Yep!

[sam9876]

If it was less than 3/4" thick, it was upgraded to Priority and you have to pay the extra.

[partial*eclipse · Accepted solution]

Even when an envelope is under 3/4 inch thick, it can't be a flat if there's a variation in thickness more than 1/4 inch.  Also, even an empty bubble envelope is already half way to 3/4 inch thick.  But as you said above, USPS employees have been known to have their own interpretations of the DMM.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

Good point. I think it must have been just a scale difference as the weights were pretty close. I might just go back to taking the items directly to the post office for eBay sales. Its better then something like this happening again.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

Only I mailed it in a generic white bubble envelope. Not USPS priority. It must just be a weight problem, but this all seems excessive for two ounces.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

No. It was a bubble envelope that I buy in bulk. Nothing special and plain white.

[mg152]

It must be 3/4” thick OR rigid. When I packed my dust bag, I put 2 pieces of cardboard & a sandwich bag with several packing peanuts inside it. That way it’s thick enough & rigid & the PO better not try anything.

[mg152]

I also round up a couple ozs.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

I think this was probably it. I recall the package being close to 2 inches, but if the package got beat up enough maybe it flatten some in transport. Wouldn't be the first time the post office wasn't so kind to a package I sent.

[sam9876]

What was the exact weight of the package?

[chicboutique31]

Something appears "off" on this. I sell clothing, skirts included and if I have a skirt packged in a bubble mailer weighing 8 ounces and i am printing my labels through Ebay sending first class USPS, the cost should be around $3.50. Anything over 1 pound can be shipped 2 day Priority mail in a flat rate bubble mailer for around $7.30 So this is very confusing...

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

When I weighed it on my postal scale it was 8 ounces.  I ship out on average close to 20 packages a week and this is the first time I've ever had something come up wrong with weight.

[wilso3483.x35qg4]

I agree. I did add a signature confirmation and insurance - but that is just because I am overly cautious regarding shipping.  I really don't understand the $4.50 fee either - that seems extreme.  The best explanation so far is it got upgraded to Priority because somewhere along the line, some decided it was too thin for first class. But even with that - what gives with the $4.50?

[sam9876]

You wasted your money on Signature Confirmation and insurance.