eBay

binderzz · ‎06-23-2018

I received an email and a refund for postage settling a "dispute" I never opened.

Is this normal? Some kind of automatic thing? Something the delivering postman or buyer initiated?

I'm confused.

berserkerplanet · ‎06-24-2018

Almost everything I ship has an actual ship weight of x.85 - x.95 oz like 3.85oz or 7.95oz or is similar to my most recent Priority shipment at 12lb 15.75 oz paid at 13lb.

I package to my shipping safety standards, cut corners where I can, and then add extra armor when there is still half an ounce to be utilized ("I'm paying for 6.00 oz and gonna use it all, dadgummit") and push most right to the limit ("Hey, I made 13¢ by shipping at 5oz instead of 6oz and it only cost me an extra half hour"

)

Never had USPS postage due, been hit by USPS APV, or had FedEx say it was a pound underpaid.

Good scales are a must. (most of the following are cheap(ish) scales, but they agree with each other, the calibration weights, and USPS and FedEx)
150lb +/- 0.2lb Salter Brecknell platform
75lb +/- 0.1-0.5oz My Weigh
10lb +/- 0.05oz Soehnle
550gm +/- 0.1gm My Weigh
and a set of calibration weights.

Unfortunately, I'm never going to get a "rebate" from the USPS APV program operating this way.

jonathankirkland · ‎06-24-2018

hillbillymedia · ‎06-24-2018

@buyselljack2016 wrote:
@binderzz wrote:
I was the seller. The item was "free shipping" with postage paid by me. There's nothing in the Resolution Center about anything going on, past or present.

I mailed a 10-oz item with 1-lb First Class Package postage. I always round up. I didn't figure there was much difference anyhow.

If I can keep the package under 1-lb that means it goes First Class instead of Priority which save $3-4 which is all I was interested in.

Interesting.
Rounding up is only needed for pounds. 1 pound anything is 2 pounds.

Rounding up an ounce on the lighter items may be a good idea if your scale is not accurate, or you are very close say like 9.9, or right on 10 , as my understanding of the PV system is that when it is short paid, they charge the "retail" difference. Quite a bite in the wallet if the error if made at 13, or 14 ounce, as the charge would be made as "Priority retail."

Way back when I started printing labels my postmaster gave me a tip to round up at .5, and down for anything less. I took her advise and have never had a problem(knock wood). I always weigh twice just to make sure. Most of my items are shipped 1st class.

"There`s always barber college" - Dalton - Road House

nobody*s_perfect · ‎06-24-2018

@hillbillymedia wrote:
... my postmaster gave me a tip to round up at .5, and down for anything less. I took her advise and have never had a problem(knock wood). I always weigh twice just to make sure. Most of my items are shipped 1st class.

That is correct for package dimensions, but NOT for weight. A package that weighs 1 pound 1 ounce or even 1 pound plus .4 ounce ships at the 2-pound rate.

ersatz_sobriquet · ‎06-24-2018

@berserkerplanet wrote: ("Hey, I made 13¢ by shipping at 5oz instead of 6oz and it only cost me an extra half hour" )

Funny guy. I just love it when I get the package all boxed up padded perfectly and it is 3lbs 1 oz on my scale. I don't unpack it, I just swear, and then pay the postage.

hillbillymedia · ‎06-24-2018

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
@hillbillymedia wrote:
... my postmaster gave me a tip to round up at .5, and down for anything less. I took her advise and have never had a problem(knock wood). I always weigh twice just to make sure. Most of my items are shipped 1st class.
That is correct for package dimensions, but NOT for weight. A package that weighs 1 pound 1 ounce or even 1 pound plus .4 ounce ships at the 2-pound rate.

I was speaking for online comm. based 1st class. I believe the max weight limit for online 1st class is 15.99 oz. ? I should have made that a little clearer.

"There`s always barber college" - Dalton - Road House

nobody*s_perfect · ‎06-24-2018

It's the same principle whether the pricing is per ounce or per pound. Weights are rounded UP, not rounded OFF. Here is what USPS says:

Weigh your item and round up

USPS® rounds up to either the next pound (lb) or ounce (oz). For example, if your package weighs 3 lbs 5 oz, it would be charged at the 4 lb-rate. If you have an item for shipping by First-Class Package® service that weighs 7.3 oz, it must be charged at the 8 oz-rate. This applies to all mail classes—domestic and international.

https://www.usps.com/business/verify-postage.htm

buyselljack2016 · ‎06-24-2018

@hillbillymedia wrote:
buyselljack2016 wrote:
binderzz wrote:
I was the seller. The item was "free shipping" with postage paid by me. There's nothing in the Resolution Center about anything going on, past or present.

I mailed a 10-oz item with 1-lb First Class Package postage. I always round up. I didn't figure there was much difference anyhow.

If I can keep the package under 1-lb that means it goes First Class instead of Priority which save $3-4 which is all I was interested in.

Interesting.
Rounding up is only needed for pounds. 1 pound anything is 2 pounds.

Rounding up an ounce on the lighter items may be a good idea if your scale is not accurate, or you are very close say like 9.9, or right on 10 , as my understanding of the PV system is that when it is short paid, they charge the "retail" difference. Quite a bite in the wallet if the error if made at 13, or 14 ounce, as the charge would be made as "Priority retail."
Way back when I started printing labels my postmaster gave me a tip to round up at .5, and down for anything less. I took her advise and have never had a problem(knock wood). I always weigh twice just to make sure. Most of my items are shipped 1st class.

The actual round up when you are talking ounces (under 15.99) happens as another poster has stated. What your Postmaster should have told you (if talking ounces) is to round up with anything over .05 not point 5.

Postal scales see 6.05 ounces as 6.1 ounces which means 7 ounces shipping. 6.04 ounces is seen as 6 ounces. When I am that close I am not taking the chance of the APV sirens going off, and billing me for the retail difference in what they belive to be the correct wheight, and what I believe to be the correct weight.