postage

[siberbunny]

I was told that first class is not the same price all over the united states by someone at the post office .The farther it goes the more it costs. I can not deal with the people in the postal service. That is why I am asking the ebay community. Will first class change to priority &does anyone know the price increases oct 2nd.

[greatstuff80]

The clerk was correct. PO used to do first class same price no matter where it went. They changed first class packages to regional rate pricing some time ago. You can easily check pricing and other upcoming changes on the USPS website. 

[lamber9347]

@siberbunny It's the wording they used. First class shipping is based on weight and dimensions. Shipping the same item to someone in a nearby state will cost the same as someone within your state. Shipping the same item to the opposite coast will increase slightly. You just use calculated in your listings and as long as the item is less than one pound the calculation for your buyer will come out correctly. It remains first class and doesn't switch to priority. You can always do a price check on the usps.com website or use Pirateship.com, which offers a discount. Best of luck to you.... 

[lepke1979]

Post Office is correct. Go here and play with numbers and zip codes.

https://www.pirateship.com/rates

First Class package is a tiered rate. 0.1-4, 4.1-8, 8.1-12, and 12.1-15.99 ounces.

Over 13 ounces the rate jumps up to Priority. So if you don't do free shipping and charge retail rate, the buyer will see a higher price at 13.1 ounces. If item is between 12 and 16 ounces I'll usually just set the value to 13 because of that.

[monica-sells]

If you use ebay shipping label option, you can go up to 16 ounces

at the post office itis only 13 ounces i believe

If you use calculated shipping with the proper weight and dimensions, it will calculate the price for you based on the recipients location.

It is almost advantageous to go Priority Flat Rate when you do coast-to-coast shipping....

The upcoming holiday pricing is not as severe as was anticipated.

I received this from the shipping service I use on occasion-(pirateship)

USPS is increasing rates for domestic services from October 2nd to January 22nd.

The good news is there will NOT be any holiday increases on Pirate Ship for most Priority Mail shipments within the lower 48 states, including:

• All Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes & Boxes
• Most Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes up to Zone 6
• Most Priority Mail Cubic & Weight-Based shipments up to Zone 6, 10 lb

For all other shipments, the price increase depends on the service, weight, and zone you're shipping to:

[richard1rst]

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@siberbunny wrote:

I was told that first class is not the same price all over the united states by someone at the post office .The farther it goes the more it costs. I can not deal with the people in the postal service. That is why I am asking the ebay community. Will first class change to priority &does anyone know the price increases oct 2nd.

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Actually it never made sense to me that a first class item cost the same to mail to the next town over as it cost to mail across the country. Back in my youth when I could mail a letter for 3 cents and a postcard for a penny it was no big deal. Buy in today's prices it makes perfect sense for there to be a sliding price range.

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS has 3 types of First Class mail: letters, flats (AKA Large envelopes) and packages.  The clerk was correct if he was referring to First Class packages: price goes according to weight and Zone.  Here are the current rates:

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

Here are the rates that will go into effect on October 2:

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/October%202022%20Price%20Change%20-%20Notice123.pdf

As far as First Class changing to Priority: If a package is too heavy to go as a First Class package, then the clerk will upgrade it to Priority. The weight limit is 13 ounces if you're shipping at the Post Office ("Retail") and 15.99 ounces if you purchase postage online ("Commercial").

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@richard1rst wrote: ... it never made sense to me that a first class item cost the same to mail to the next town over as it cost to mail across the country. Back in my youth when I could mail a letter for 3 cents and a postcard for a penny it was no big deal. Buy in today's prices it makes perfect sense for there to be a sliding price range.

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Prices for letters and postcards are still the same to any ZIP Code.  Only packages have zoned pricing.

[lesegouts]

Use them occassionally for work - saves a bundle.

[monroe67]

"I was told that first class is not the same price all over the united states by someone at the post office. The farther it goes the more it costs. I can not deal with the people in the postal service. That is why I am asking the ebay community. Will first class change to priority &does anyone know the price increases oct 2nd."

First Class Letters cost the same price to send anywhere in the USA and territories (such as Puerto Rico). 
You can send greetings to your entire Holiday Card list for one Forever stamp on each of them, as long as the cards, sealed in envelopes, weigh one ounce or less.  

Packages are a different story.  I see, in your listings, that you are in the state of Virginia.  Think of trying to deliver your packaged sales personally.  Don't you think it would cost more to drive a package to California than to Ohio?  Yes, it certainly would.  

A First Class package is always a First Class package regardless of what it costs to mail it.  In other words, a package that you send from Virginia to me in California does not magically become "Priority" just because it costs more than one you send from Virginia to Ohio.  

You might find the website of the US Postal Service helpful.   It is usps.com. 

Remember that when you buy postage on eBay, the prices are lower than if you buy postage at your local post office.  Another poster gave you a link to PirateShip, which also offers lower postage prices.