eBay

busybeea2z · ‎10-02-2022

Does eBay enforce the rules for shipping perfume via USPS First Class and Priority Mail? In researching comparable items I want to sell on eBay, I found that most sellers ship perfume first class mail. There are 100s of listings that do this, yet I can find nothing eBay publishes that says it is okay. Ebay resources state it must be shipped ground Parcel Post. I had a long conversation with USPS representative and she said (I have the transcript) that it can be shipped by first class mail. Will someone from eBay contact me?

johnrj1226 · ‎10-02-2022

perfume is considered a Class 3 flammable liquid and needs to go via ground service.. Every time I present a package at counter for scanning I am asked the same questions every time - dose this package contain any thing that is perishable, flammable, liquid, etc ,etc and now I have to answer yes or no by hitting a button before the counter person will accept the package. Think the USPS is serious about it.

Read what the USPS say about them in their shipping restrictions - I think USPS policy would trump some unknowing eBay representative all day long

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52apxd.htm

"I have the right to remain silent but I didn't have the ability." Ron White, Fritch, Texas
"Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution." A. Einstein
"The Devil made me do it!" - Flip Wilson
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lepke1979 · ‎10-02-2022

Supposedly Retail Ground and Parcel Select will be getting phased out next year. And First Class Package will do the work of all three.

So can just do Parcel Select for a few more months and switch over to First Class when that finally happens.

Although, it's weird that Pirate Ship started offering Parcel Select cubic if it will be going away.

buyselljack2016 · ‎10-02-2022

Supposedly Retail Ground and Parcel Select will be getting phased out next year. And First Class Package will do the work of all three.

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@lepke1979

I would like to read more about this. Do not want to discuss here. Don't want to take the OP's thread off track. Any links? Discussions? Are you suggesting that USPS is being revamped?

simply-the-best-for-you · ‎10-02-2022

@busybeea2z wrote:
I spoke with an eBay representative. She said if it is listed as an option when you are setting up shipping, you can use it. Good enough for me. Thank you.

That should NOT be good enough for you. They are wrong & they are wrong all the time. I realize you may not care, but let me put it to you this way...do you want your buyer inconvenienced b/c it got sent back to you?

BTW, I got a shipping label screen the other day where not only did I have a choice of Media Mail, but it was the defaulted selection. My items can't go MM. eBay was totally wrong & this was on the screen, as a choice. I could be in big trouble using MM. You could be in big trouble if you don't ship it properly. BTW, the USPS does not care what eBay told you.

This one goes to Eleven - Nigel Tufnel

Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay Seller since 1996

simply-the-best-for-you · ‎10-02-2022

@busybeea2z wrote:
I spoke with an eBay representative. She said if it is listed as an option when you are setting up shipping, you can use it. Good enough for me. Thank you. I read your listing on the smash and grab again. I live in a great area with low crime. This has happened to the local ULTA twice. I buy from estates and local auctions. But like you, I see things listed all the time and think it was probably stolen from ULTA! You can blame eBay. How are they to know?

devon@ebay Please see this response as to why it's so IMPORTANT that the shipping screen be fixed! Also, please share this w/the Shipping Dept so they can read what garbage is being told to sellers who call in. This isn't even remotely close to true & can get the seller in a lot of trouble with both the USPS & the buyer & I KNOW eBay wouldn't want to inconvenience a buyer.

This one goes to Eleven - Nigel Tufnel

Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay Seller since 1996

allen1853 · ‎10-02-2022

Ebay is violating USPS requirements. To ship perfume using USPS it MUST go ground. This is why you cannot ship perfume to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico even though they are part of the USA. Even if eBay allows you to print a First Class label, you can be in trouble with USPS if they discover the violation. Do you realy want to cause a fire on an airplane and have the FBI and Postal Inspectors at your door, even if eBay allows it?

lepke1979 · ‎10-02-2022

@allen1853 wrote:
Ebay is violating USPS requirements. To ship perfume using USPS it MUST go ground. This is why you cannot ship perfume to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico even though they are part of the USA. Even if eBay allows you to print a First Class label, you can be in trouble with USPS if they discover the violation. Do you realy want to cause a fire on an airplane and have the FBI and Postal Inspectors at your door, even if eBay allows it?

I think it can still go ground to Hawaii and whatnot. It just takes longer because the car has trouble driving under water.

Seriously though. I think it goes by boat or something in that cases.

chapeau-noir · ‎10-02-2022

@lepke1979 wrote:
@allen1853 wrote:
Ebay is violating USPS requirements. To ship perfume using USPS it MUST go ground. This is why you cannot ship perfume to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico even though they are part of the USA. Even if eBay allows you to print a First Class label, you can be in trouble with USPS if they discover the violation. Do you realy want to cause a fire on an airplane and have the FBI and Postal Inspectors at your door, even if eBay allows it?

I think it can still go ground to Hawaii and whatnot. It just takes longer because the car has trouble driving under water.
Seriously though. I think it goes by boat or something in that cases.

Yes - has to go by sea. I found this out when I was shipping bicycle wheels - my customer in Hawaii said his arrived almost two months later by sea (they have to fill the cargo hold before standing). It was years ago and I didn't know then. 😒 Urk.

_______________________
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moondogblues · ‎10-03-2022

"I spoke with an eBay representative. She said if it is listed as an option when you are setting up shipping, you can use it. Good enough for me. Thank you."

So if you are shipping a pair of shoes and one of the options is Media Mail, you are going to do that?

devon@ebay · ‎10-03-2022

@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:

@busybeea2z wrote:

I spoke with an eBay representative. She said if it is listed as an option when you are setting up shipping, you can use it. Good enough for me. Thank you. I read your listing on the smash and grab again. I live in a great area with low crime. This has happened to the local ULTA twice. I buy from estates and local auctions. But like you, I see things listed all the time and think it was probably stolen from ULTA! You can blame eBay. How are they to know?

devon@ebay Please see this response as to why it's so IMPORTANT that the shipping screen be fixed! Also, please share this w/the Shipping Dept so they can read what garbage is being told to sellers who call in. This isn't even remotely close to true & can get the seller in a lot of trouble with both the USPS & the buyer & I KNOW eBay wouldn't want to inconvenience a buyer.

Hey @simply-the-best-for-you! Thank you for tagging me on this. I will be sure to share this additional information with the Shipping Team and if they are needing more examples I will be sure to reach back out.

Devon,

johnrj1226 · ‎10-08-2022

Keyword "Supposedly" = that is what rumors are made from.

Always best to deal with the facts vs conjecture from a friend of friend of a friend aka SWAG

"I have the right to remain silent but I didn't have the ability." Ron White, Fritch, Texas
"Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution." A. Einstein
"The Devil made me do it!" - Flip Wilson
"If the band can only play loud - they ain't no good - peps too!" J.R. Johnson

fab_finds4u · ‎10-08-2022

Go to Google and search Perfume USPS Shipping restrictions-what can you send in the mail?

Results quoted from USPS:

"Perfume containing alcohol may not be shipped internationally or mailed domestically using air transportation. Perfume containing alcohol, however may be shipped within the United States by ground transportation."

"It is a domestically restricted item."

The PostalReporter (postal news, postal information, postal employees and more) simply says:

"When sent domestically, Perfume also cannot be mailed using Express Mail, Priority Mail or First Class Mail."

It has to be packaged properly and bear a DOT Limited quanity surface mark designating surface mail only on the address side of the outer container.

greatstuff80 · ‎10-08-2022

Yes, ebay lets you use it but that doesn't make it legal. In the long run, it is the person who ships it who is responsible. ebay does nothing about sellers shipping matchbooks via USPS first class, priority and international mail and that is ILLEGAL. There are literally dozens of sellers doing it every day. Hazardous material must go ground and be labeled properly as such. So anyone not following that risks a federal offense. The rules for packaging are very clear on the USPS website. You can input your particular item and find the proper shipping requirements. Ebay is not where you should get shipping advice from.

greatstuff80 · ‎10-08-2022

They do care. A LOT of first class packages still go air. I just shipped some matchbooks via USPS and the rules are quite clear on hazardous materials. Sticking a ground only sticker on first class or priority hazardous mail can end you up in a lot of trouble. I do not understand people willing to risk a federal offense.

busybeea2z · ‎10-08-2022

This is a chat transcript with an eBay representative.

Escalation from eBay Helpbot 2022 - 09 - 16 08:09:52 UTC

Hi, my name is Khiana, please allow me a few moments to catch up on your conversation so far.
May I have your first and last name?

DW - DW
Hi D, I see you open this account 13 years ago, thank you for the loyalty.

K-If I understand you correctly your concern is about if first class package service allow to ship a perfume, right?

K-If I may ask, what is the weight of the perfume?

DW-Most of what I intend to sell is small amounts 5 ml or less.

K-Thank you so much for letting me know. How about the bottle? Is it a glass or a plastic bottle?

DW- Very small 2" tall at the most. Glass

K- Oh I see, do you have an idea what is the weight of the bottle?

DW- Less than one ounce

K-The reason why I'm asking you this is because there's a limit weight when it comes to USPS Frist- Class

DW- 4 to 10 grams
K- I mean First- Class Package. Upon checking here the package weight for USPS First- Class is less than 15.99 oz.

DW- correct

K- Oh that's great, seems like you item was eligible to ship using the USPS First- Class Package.

DW- It is not the weight. It is the contents. Does ebay allow perfume to be mailed by First Class Mail.

K- Upon checking here yes, It's allow to ship a perfume using the First Class Package.

DW- Can you please send me the USPS code section that allows it? I can not find it.

K- Are you trying to list the item now?

DW- No. I am totally confused. I have read the USPS code 10 times and it says that perfume can not be mailed by USPS First Class Mail, yet all the selllers do it. USPS First Class Mail may travel by air and perfume is considered to be volatile.

K-Let me check on that. I will be needing a little more time to double check and investigate on this one. Please bare with me.

DW- ok

K- Thank you. I appreciate your pa·tience.

DW- no problem

K-Thank you so much for patiently waiting. Upon checking here you can use what ever shipping option that is available.

DW- So if First Class is available, I can use it?

K-On the shipping service that you have mentioned yes, the First class is not allowing perfume however seller using it because seller can see that it depends on the buyer's address.

DW-I don't understand. USPS codes say that you can not mail perfume USPS First Class Mail. Does eBay abide by USPS Regulations?

K-Could escalate this to a representative that is familiar with postal codes? I recognize the frustration this has caused you and can understand how speaking with a someone might feel like the best option. However, I am confident we can work toward a resolution together.

DW-ok

K-So here's the thing. You have mentioned that in USPS codes using the First class when shipping a perfume is not allowing it.

DW-And this is my point, you tell me I can ship USPS First Class Mail and the USPS says perfume can not be mailed by First Class Mail. Who is right?

K-The reason of that USPS is not allowing it is because the perfume contains liquid that easily evaporate. But some seller still using it is because they know that they are just sending the item domestically.

Dw-Ebay's blogger on the subject says not to mail first class but literally everyone one does it. Domestic First Class Mail travels by air. It is not all ground travel.

K-Yes I understand you point, I know that you don't want to violate any regulation of USPS.

DW-Could I speak to someone who knows the US postal codes?

K-I understand that.

DW-I can not compete with other sellers. I ship USPS Parcel Select Ground which is twice as expensive.

K-Is that's the case use the Parcel Select Ground.

DW-Ok. I do. But what about the hundreds of sellers who offer USPS First Class? USPS Parcel Select Ground is twice as expensive. Buyers choose the cheaper option. So you are saying that eBay knows sellers are shipping illegally and that is alright with them?

K-What I have mentioned you can still use the First class but that is not illegal.

DW-Please give me the code reference where it says it is legal. I would appreciate that.

K-Seller using the First class and ricking their product to have a cheap service, but if there's something happen on their product, it's their lost.

DW-You are missing something. Their loss? Perfume can ignite at high altitudes.That is not the seller's loss. Apparently you can not put me in touch with a person who knows USPS codes. So I will end the chat and please allow a transcript for my records. 09:00:02 Chat ended by rabbittales2022