2019 Postal Rates and The Postal Regulatory Commission

[postype]

I would like to know what eBay has done regarding the latest 2019 USPS rate increase, which is the largest increase I have ever seen. When the cost of postage exceeds the cost of the item being shipped then we have a problem.

Has eBay sent letters to The Postal Regulatory Commission? What is the conversation between eBay executives and The Postal Regulatory Commission? I would like to know the details on this within the past year.

Rates have gone amuck beyond belief. The USPS as an independent branch of the Federal Government, yet still part of the Federal Government. With all the sellers on eBay, something larger needs to be done regarding the radical increase. This all happened a number of years ago especially on international rates, where most shipments overseas costs more than the item being shipped, as I have found this true at least with my shipments.

There used to be government subsidies for the Postal Service, I don't think that is the case anymore. But when the postal service spends millions of dollars rebuilding some of its facilities then that is an issue as the rate payer has to pay for it. The cost of media mail has also increased to a point where it no longer serves its original purpose which was to encourage the flow of educational materials through the mail. Now, again it sometimes costs more to ship via media mail that the item you are shipping.

What are the efforts going on to keep the cost of shipping down to sensible rates, instead of non-stop yearly increases?

[dontelmywife]

You conveniently left off the cost of your high pensions...

[dontelmywife]

And how are we supposed to know what to charge for packages under 1 pound if we don't know the eventual buyer's location/zone? If you don't know where the item will be going, you only have 2 choices: charge everyone the highest amount based on the farthest zone (and lose sales) or charge a rate that in the middle zone costing (and lose money on 50% of your sales. EBay needs to treat all listings the same way it does for items over 1 pond, calculate the rate when the potential buyer reviews the listing.

[buyselljack2016]

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@dontelmywife wrote:
And how are we supposed to know what to charge for packages under 1 pound if we don't know the eventual buyer's location/zone? If you don't know where the item will be going, you only have 2 choices: charge everyone the highest amount based on the farthest zone (and lose sales) or charge a rate that in the middle zone costing (and lose money on 50% of your sales. EBay needs to treat all listings the same way it does for items over 1 pond, calculate the rate when the potential buyer reviews the listing.

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Calculated shipping is an available option.

[oak3196]

Ebay sellers are screwed ! 5-8 oz one price 9-12 and 12-15 So 9oz 3.85 12oz 3.85 or 4.43 in CA . Thanks USPS they should give bigger discount to Walmart and other big businesses screw the little guy. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@dontelmywife wrote:
And how are we supposed to know what to charge for packages under 1 pound if we don't know the eventual buyer's location/zone? ...  EBay needs to treat all listings the same way it does for items over 1 pond, calculate the rate when the potential buyer reviews the listing.

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Yes, sellers now need to set up  calculated postage in their First Class package listings , just as they have been doing for years for Priority  Mail. Many sellers have also been using calculated postage for First Class all along; they didn't need to do anything to their listings to accommodate the recent changes.

[richardwilson1]

The other big problem is that the cheapest I can send a 3oz package across town is $2.78 . But for some reason stuff on eBay from China can be sold for 99cents with free shipping and the China seller is making money somehow. Now try shipping a package to China and see how how our post office charges you. It is not a fair playing field. If the post office is losing money it is because of the deal they have to deliver mail from China for free or almost free. 

[usjs.llc]

Someone has to make up for the ridiculous discounts USPS gives walmart, Ama and all the other big retailers who pay low shipping rates.  Just another swipe at small businesses.  The rate increase is insane.  over 10% for many packages!!

[discodecadencetoys]

Also has anyone else noticed the "eBay discount" (which I know from reading posts isn't really a discount) no longer shows up when purchasing postage? Just wanted to make sure it wasn't just me.

[johnrj1226]

eBay sellers  has always received the USPS commercial  rate or Commercial Rate Plus  discount (for TRS sellers).  These represent a  discount off the standard RETAIL rate.  Over  the past  few years the USPS has  increased  the retail prices and  slowly and quietly reduced the discounted for  both the commercial rate and commercial rate plus.  All three prices levels are published  by the USPS.

eBay  overstated their influence on the USPS discounted commercial  and commercial rate plus rates -  that is  called Marketing Blustery in some  circles.

One person stated that when ever you buy labels on on line you get the  commercial rate.  Well  that is not entirely true.  Once upon a time when you bought postage via the USPS website you used to  get an on line rate (aka commercial rate).  But today when you buy Postage (shipping labels) thru USPS.com you pay the standard RETAIL (aka counter rate) rate.   Recently I  stated  in a post that when you buy a label thru USPS.com you get  the commercial  rate - well I got my butt kicked by some folks that were more up to date than I - but I am a smarter person  today than I was back then - live & learn - or as  Gomer Pyle used to say - "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise".  I will  now  buy  my  personal shipping  labels thru PayPal - USPS.com  lost  my business - "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise"