Special Rate Postage Clarification Help Needed

[t*jack]

Hi All, I need some help understanding the eBay special envelop rate for postcards, trading cards, coins, and stamps (hopefully I have that right). I recently listed vintage arcade cards in ‘movie postcards & collector cards’ and selected the special envelope rate as the shipping to keep postage costs down. HOWEVER, when I sold a couple of the cards, the option to purchase the special rate label was clouded over and it will not allow me to select the special rate envelope shipping though it is displayed. Am I doing something wrong/assuming incorrectly that I could use that postage or is this an eBay glitch? 

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

You assumed incorrectly (but logically) that the availability of that option in the listing setup implied that it would be available when you purchased postage for that item. Alas, eBay is often illogical and the listing form offers options even when they cannot be purchased through eBay.

This basic Help page explains which categories have access to that Standard envelope postage:

https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/shipping/ebay-standard-envelope.html

[t*jack]

Yes, somehow I thought an ‘arcade’ style card would still constitute as a ‘trade’ card type… I stand corrected. That is crazy that it’s an option to select the special envelope rate when listing but not once the item sells. (Eye Roll). Thanks so much for responding.