Adding zipcodes to shipping

[lindainteriordesign]

Hi friends,

I am getting stuck paying huge shipping amounts on flat rate priority shipping when my buyers are in, say WI, - I am near Buffalo/Rochester area in upstate New York.

I want to set up shipping using zip codes for exact amounts, but I cannot figure out how to do it.

Can anyone help me.? Yesterday, a buyer messaged me that her package was held up at the postoffice with 27.00 due. I am mailing her the 27.00.  I lost money.

Help! I am so discouraged I'm thinking of quitting.

Linda

[inhawaii · Accepted solution]

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@lindainteriordesign wrote:

Hi friends,

I am getting stuck paying huge shipping amounts on flat rate priority shipping when my buyers are in, say WI, - I am near Buffalo/Rochester area in upstate New York.

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Priority Mail flat rate is the same no matter what state it's going to.

Figure out what it's going cost you, then set your shipping charge accordingly.

For example, a small priority mail flat rate box costs $8.10 to ship anywhere.

Set your shipping at $10 (or whatever you want).

[lindainteriordesign]

Ok thank you.

Can you tell me  why I'm suddenly paying 18.00 for ebay label, when I'm used to paying 7.00.

Did the rate go up?

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS offers about 20 free boxes that can be used for shipping via Priority Mail.  Some of those are special "Flat rate" boxes, which ship for a fixed price regardless of destination.  The other boxes, and any boxes which you provide yourself, ship at rates that are based on their dimensions, weight, and distance.

I checked a few of your listings, and you seem to be setting them up to charge all buyers the same price for shipping, which is another way to use the term "flat". rate.

I suspect that your buyer who had to pay $27 in Postage Due received a package on which you had purchased a label for one of the special Priority flat-rate boxes but put that label on a regular, non-flat-rate box.

You can set up your listings so that buyers are automatically charged the calculated postage rate from your ZIP Code to theirs.  On the listing form, in the section called "Domestic shipping", under "Cost type", your listings are currently set up for the option called "Flat rate: Same cost regardless..." and you should switch to the other option, for "Calculated: Cost varies based on buyer location."

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@lindainteriordesign wrote:

Ok thank you.

Can you tell me  why I'm suddenly paying 18.00 for ebay label, when I'm used to paying 7.00.

Did the rate go up?

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The postage cost for an eBay label is $7.60 for a flat-rate envelope and $18.95 for a Large flat rate box. This reinforces my suspicion that you are purchasing labels for Priority Mail flat-rate boxes and putting them on regular packaging which is not eligible for flat rate postage.  If you are not using one of the special flat rate boxes then you must purchase a label that is based on the actual weight and dimensions of your package.

Here's a link to the page at usps.com where you can order the free Priority Mail supplies, including the flat rate boxes and envelopes and other boxes too.

https://store.usps.com/store/results/shipping-supplies/priority-mail/_/N-7d0v8vZ1dqlux5?_gl=1*11qaz6....

[lindainteriordesign]

OHHHH!

YOU ARE RIGHT

I AM SO MESSING UP

TYSM

[lindainteriordesign]

YOU REALLY FIGURED MY PROBLEM OUT OUT.

I WAS READY TO QUIT EBAY.

TYSM

CAN I MESSAGE YOU IF I HAVE ANYMORE QUESTIONS?

LINDA

[nobody*s_perfect]

If you have more questions, it would be best to post them on the discussion boards.

When you set up calculated shipping in your listings, it is important to enter accurate package dimensions if the package has a length greater than 22 inches or a volume greater than 1 cubic foot (i.e., 1728 cubic inches) because those will affect the postage cost.

[dhbookds]

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@lindainteriordesign wrote:

Ok thank you.

Can you tell me  why I'm suddenly paying 18.00 for ebay label, when I'm used to paying 7.00.

Did the rate go up?

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We need more info to figure it out.......what is the weight/dimensions, origin & destination zip codes....

Taking a wild guess it's the difference between mailing to a nearby location and to California....

However, I just looked at one of your items.......

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225755320547?hash=item349010d0e3:g:L4oAAOSwOrRk9ep6

You are in NY, I'm in PA and the listing is showing an $81 shipping (priority) charge......which is very high....

I know packing a doll is going to be difficult, but that one is 13" tall so shouldn't run into dimensional weights, can't weigh over 5# pounds, so I'm not sure why it would be so much? 

Just for information.......here's the ebay shipping calculator where it is easy to see the prices your buyer will pay and what you will pay.

https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

[lindainteriordesign]

That one is all porcelain, and antique, one of a kind, cannot be replaced-so by the time I wrap every part of it separately, and buble it it is about 17 inches long. Then I need to have two inches on either side for the popcorn so now it's 19 or 20 inches long.

Then I need increased depth ( greater than 6 inches for when they toss the box so it is buffered)

Now I'm out of a priority box and into a big one of my own.

That's how it got so high, I think.. I calculated it..

[lindainteriordesign]

Ok. I get it. But I want to note that your answers are specific and detailed

So, if I I multiply height times width times depth and the box is over 1728c inches- and I have a lot of big 30 inch dolls to mail coming up soon,- then what do I do??

[lindainteriordesign]

This was so incredibly helpful to me I put it on my bookmarks bar!

TYSM!

[lindainteriordesign]

Wow. that's so helpful.

TYVM

[lindainteriordesign]

Can I use a prioity flat rate box for calculated shipping, or would I incur a large fee for that, too?

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@lindainteriordesign wrote:

Can I use a prioity flat rate box for calculated shipping, or would I incur a large fee for that, too?

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If your listing is set up with calculated shipping, and if you offer a flat rate box, the listing will show the correct price for the flat rate box.  All of the flat-rate boxes, indeed all of the free Priority Mail boxes that are available through USPS, are under 22 inches and also under 1 cubic foot, so they do not incur any surcharges.

Sometimes it makes sense to offer two options in your listing: both regular Priority Mail and a flat-rate box, if your item fits, because there are many times when the flat-rate box is cheaper for buyers farther away, and regular rates based on weight are cheaper for closer buyers.