What to do when I enter shipping correctly and then get charged more for the label?

[danizen]

Welp despite entering the correct measurements and weight of the box, I was charged $10 more for the label.  The buyer paid, so what to do?  Ebay says to cancel the auction and resend the invoice, but the first invoice was correct so what would that change?  Plus that's a hassle for the buyer that I'd like to avoid.

In these cases - the shipping estimates are wrong.  No matter how many of you say I did something wrong, I didn't.  I dealt with this by asking the buyers to PP me the difference but I'm sick of that.  I want a real solution.

This has happened four or five times in 40 auctions.  I know for a fact I filled out each shipping form correctly.  I have no idea why this happens on some orders and not others.

[wastingtime101]

@danizen 

There's no reason to send an invoice unless you have to make an adjustment, for example combined shipping costs or adding another shipping method the buyer requested.

eBay sends out payment reminders to buyers automatically. Sending invoices is a duplication of efforts and clogs the buyer's inbox.

Sending an invoice locks in the shipping cost. That could have a big financial impact on someone that uses calculated shipping. The shipping price gets locked in based on the buyer's default location, but if they change the address at checkout to have that item shipped to Uncle Bob across the country, that shipping cost can change by leaps and bounds and seller is out the $$.

Finally, sending an invoice resets the clock on when an order can be cancelled for non-payment when sellers handle UPIs manually. The automated system will cancel based on the seller's settings regardless of sending an invoice, but when you use the manual process and an invoice is sent it resets the clock, giving the buyer an additional 4 days before the system will let the seller cancel.

[dbfolks166mt]

     I took a look at your last 5 sold items and the only shipping option on those was Priority Mail or Ground Advantage. I also looked at several of your active listings and do not see Media Mail as a shipping option. 

[ckimodog]

@danizen 

I told you there are some great, helpful people here...glad you got it all figured out.  

Happy Selling (and Shipping) 😁

[danizen]

Well it's not really solved yet!  I wish it were.  In this case, I'm talking about two different estimates for USPS Ground Advantage.  So I think this whole service listing issue doesn't apply here.  It was a combined order that I got an estimate for, but the label was $10 more.  With the same details.

I'm assuming these are true:

If I only put one service in the auction and the buyer pays for it, then that's the only way it can possibly be shipped.

If the buyer does not pay, I can send an invoice for whatever service I want.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@danizen wrote: ...  click USPS First Class, USPS Ground Advantage, and USPS Media Mail.  ...

Stop offering First Class package. It doesn't exist any more; it was merged into Ground Advantage in July.  If a listing manages to offer both, it should be showing identical prices.  Also, there's no need to send an invoice unless there is a special situation such as combined shipping or a buyer request for a more expensive shipping service.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@danizen wrote: ... The box is 26 pounds, 18x13x9

Traveling via USPS Ground Advantage from New Orleans, LA 70119-6343 to Valley Village, CA 91607-4105.  "Package" was selected.

The shipping estimate was $31.31

The label cost $41.41

...

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$31.31 is the eBay label cost to mail a 21-pound package to Zone 7 via Ground Advantage.

$41.41 is the eBay label cost to mail a 23-pound package to Zone 7 via Ground Advantage.

Seems like the eBay gremlins are messing with your weights. If the package actually weighs 26 pounds, you might be in for an additional charge if the APV system detects underpaid postage due to the 3-pound weight difference.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@danizen wrote: ... If I only put one service in the auction and the buyer pays for it, then that's the only way it can possibly be shipped....

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Once you're on the shipping label page, you can choose any service.  Sellers sometimes find that eBay's Priority Mail rates are lower than Ground Advantage, and treat the buyer to an upgrade.

[inhawaii]

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@danizen wrote:

Welp despite entering the correct measurements and weight of the box, I was charged $10 more for the label.

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$10 more than what?

[iamalwaysright]

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@danizen wrote:

Welp despite entering the correct measurements and weight of the box, I was charged $10 more for the label.  The buyer paid, so what to do?  If you didn't ship yet, get second and third opinions from other shipping label companies. Also check the package info again despite how confident I am on the accuracy.

In these cases - the shipping estimates are wrong...

This has happened four or five times in 40 auctions.  I know for a fact I filled out each shipping form correctly.  I have no idea why this happens on some orders and not others.

If you already experienced multiple times that it's been wrong, why do you continue to use it? Manually create your own estimates if you don't trust theirs. That's what I've been doing to decades. I have no comment on the accuracy of ebay estimates as I've never actually used or paid attention to them.

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[fern*wood]

I don't understand what you mean when you say the shipping estimates are wrong.  Where are you getting estimates.  If you use USPS and enter the correct dims/weights, then the postage will be correct.  How are you figuring the shipping on your combined item invoices? 

[onefootflipper1]

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@dhbookds wrote:

@whorunbartertown          if you don't list a book in the categories for books, ebay will not allow "media" mail labels.......

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Media mail is actually wide open to print labels from in the majority of ebay categories, they seemingly have only blocked it off in non-book categories that frequently contain books.  Craft gourds? Toys? Kitchen appliances? Shows up as an option every time.

[johnrj1226]

You may  have run into a dimensional weight rate  issue where there an up charge when your package exceed 1 cubic ft (aka 1728 cu. in.  - your  package was 2106 cu, in.

Read this -

https://www.stamps.com/usps/dimensional-weight/

[dbfolks166mt]

Well it's not really solved yet!  I wish it were.  In this case, I'm talking about two different estimates for USPS Ground Advantage.  So I think this whole service listing issue doesn't apply here.  It was a combined order that I got an estimate for, but the label was $10 more.  With the same details.

I'm assuming these are true:

If I only put one service in the auction and the buyer pays for it, then that's the only way it can possibly be shipped.

     Somewhat accurate. When I list an item I am limited to the postage class options that eBay offers generally I use USPS Ground Advantage as the default but offer Priority Mail as an option. I don't purchase my labels off of eBay but utilize Pirate Ship. I have often had buyers pay for Ground Advantage or Priority but when I went to ship the item I shipped Ground Advantage Cubic or Priority Mail Cubic which does not impact the class of postage just the rates. I have also used/changed to priority mail flat rate envelopes and/or boxes which is still priority mail but based on what the buyer purchased and their location is cheaper in some cases.  Nothing wrong with this as long as you don't change the class from something like priority to ground advantage without checking with the buyer. 

If the buyer does not pay, I can send an invoice for whatever service I want.

[steady2304]

@danizen You have to be doing something wrong.

Using the eBay shipping calculator for a 26 lb. package that is 18 x 13 x 9 from 70119 to 91607 the calculator shows rates of:

USPS Ground Advantage: eBay Rate $67.83 Retail rate $74.15

USPS Priority Mail: eBay rate $76.85 Retail rate $88.45

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

You may  have run into a dimensional weight rate  issue where there an up charge when your package exceed 1 cubic ft (aka 1728 cu. in.  - your  package was 2106 cu, in.

Read this -

https://www.stamps.com/usps/dimensional-weight/

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The formula for dimensional weight is weight (in cubic inches) divided by 166. So the dimensional weight of this package is 13 pounds. That is lower than the actual package weight, so the postage charged will be based on the actual package weight.