Calculate: Cost Varies by Buyer Location not working?

[sminatl]

I am using the Calculate: Cost Varies by Buyer Location feature, but am getting killed at the Post Office with huge shipping discrepancies.

I've had eBay charge buyers anywhere from $13-$17 for shipping on my items, then when I get to the Post Office, the lowest shipping option (e.g., to California) is $31-$66 dollars. 

I'm including the box dimensions and weight when I set up the item for sale.

How do I ensure that when a bidder looks at my item, he/she sees the specific USPS shipping rate for his/her area, and that this shipping rate is the one the USPS will charge me?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[lintbrush*]

You're charging your customers Parcel Select Ground - which is not a counter rate.  It's an online rate.  

It sounds like the PO is selling you Priority - which incurs dimensional weight charges for Zones 5+ (over 1 cu ft).  They aren't offering you Retail Ground (which is still a wee bit more than Parcel Select Ground, but it's negligible).  Retail Ground wouldn't incur the dimensional weight charges either.  

If you're going to be shipping Priority, then charge Priority Rates.  Also, Priority comes with up to $50 insurance.  That's a plus.  Also, it's faster - another plus.

(Lots of sellers charge Priority Retail rates on their listing - get the online Commercial discount rates - and use that difference towards handling expenses)

[nobody*s_perfect]

I agree with @lintbrush* :  To solve your problem, just list with Priority Mail rather than Retail Ground or Parcel Select.

[sminatl]

**bleep**, **bleep**, **bleep**! Every time I go to the Post Office, I ask, "What's the cheapest way to send this?" and they tell me Priority is the cheapest.

I'll go back and ask again. This just doesn't seem right.

Thanks for your answer

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@sminatl wrote:

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 ... Every time I go to the Post Office, I ask, "What's the cheapest way to send this?" and they tell me Priority is the cheapest....

Priority is the cheapest, unless you are shipping a package that's (1) over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) and which is also  (2) going to USPS Zone 5 - 9. Well, other exceptions include packages that are eligible for Media Mail or for First Class package shipping.

I sometimes suspect that PO clerks don't know as much about the rules as they think, and rely too much on the numbers that pop up on the screen in front of them.

If you have been charging buyers the Parcel Select rate, then anything you can get at the PO will cost more than that.  As noted in the other post, Parcel Select is an online-only rate.  Some of your other listings offer Retail Ground, which is available at the PO but which costs the same as Priority Mail with the exception of the surcharge mentioned above.   Both Parcel Select and Retail Ground used to be known as Parcel Post.

You can save yourself a lot of money and aggravation if you learn a bit about USPS shipping options and also if you print your postage online through eBay.

[buyselljack2016]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@sminatl wrote:

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 ... Every time I go to the Post Office, I ask, "What's the cheapest way to send this?" and they tell me Priority is the cheapest....

Priority is the cheapest, unless you are shipping a package that's (1) over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) and which is also  (2) going to USPS Zone 5 - 9. Well, other exceptions include packages that are eligible for Media Mail or for First Class package shipping.

I sometimes suspect that PO clerks don't know as much about the rules as they think, and rely too much on the numbers that pop up on the screen in front of them.

If you have been charging buyers the Parcel Select rate, then anything you can get at the PO will cost more than that.  As noted in the other post, Parcel Select is an online-only rate.  Some of your other listings offer Retail Ground, which is available at the PO but which costs the same as Priority Mail with the exception of the surcharge mentioned above.   Both Parcel Select and Retail Ground used to be known as Parcel Post.

You can save yourself a lot of money and aggravation if you learn a bit about USPS shipping options and also if you print your postage online through eBay.

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In the past,  clerks were trained (verbally instructed) to quote the customer the higher price(Priority), and to even ask if they would like to upgrade the service to Priority Mail Express to get it there even faster.  They were instructed not offer any lower priced services unless specifically asked by the customer.

@sminatl

You can check any shipping cost, and compare services before you go by checking the prices with this:

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/notice123.htm

Shows online pricing, and retail counter prices.  As others have pointed out, watch for the price changes by size after zone 4.