eBay will destroy your top-rated status if you ship first-class

[diamondsprings]

eBay will destroy your top-rated status if you sell a small item and ship it first-class in a regular envelope. The reason for this is that eBay doesn't make any money on the shipping. They force you to spend $4-$5 to ship an item that should cost you less than $1.00 to ship. 

[johnrj1226]

Live in a semi rural area.   have a mail box by a road.  Got to know the post carrier and  got a verbal agreement  to pick up and scan my eBay packages in as a carrier pick up (had a weather proof   box next to the  mail box - would show my appreciation  throughout the year.  You  can do the  same on line with USPS   or get a  USPS pick up box from your P.O. -    never thought it as stupid but was rather a bit creative  had zero issues.

[buyselljack2016]

eBay is destroying nothing by the process.

The guidelines for top rated are clear.

If the total cost of the item does not warrant tracking and one chooses to save $ for themselves and buyers by not using tracking thus not maintaining top rated, that is a choice made by the seller. 

Some choose to have a separate account dedicated just to selling items where 1st Class would be the method of choice to maintain TR on their "important" account.