Can't list Priority & First class options at same time. Ebays says it's on purpose?

[cheri--b]

I added listings the last few days... and priority shipping doesn't show in the listing for most zip codes, if 1st class is offered. Remove 1st class, and priority shows up again.

Called & rep said ebay's limiting priority offerings to some (most) zips because of post office delays.

Anyone else seeing this? Have a solution? Have a better explanation than this answer, that if true is a batty policy.

[cheri--b]

No one else has noticed this?

Viewing one of my listings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184587621719?&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId

Put in zip 12409 and only 1st class & expedited show up.

Put in zip 20886 and 1st class, priority flat rate, and expedited show up.

[nobody*s_perfect]

This is an official eBay policy -- to show a more expensive shipping option only if their estimated delivery time is faster.

[cheri--b]

That's what this is about?

But priority always has some potential to be faster than 1st class on USPS calculator. This is depending on Ebay's estimates that are often off by a day or two...

The rep said it's sometime new, due to post office slowness. I've never noticed  this before when I've checked if shipping was posting okay.

[stephenmorgan]

I have noticed this same thing from months and months ago.  Seems like it started about the same time Managed Payments started with me.

I called eBay and they looked at two of my items and said they see both Shipping Options I offered.  After the phone call I looked at the two items we discussed and they showed First Class and Priority, however other items only show First Class even though Priority is also offered.  I suspect something to do with them looking at the two items caused both options to now be displayed to me.

[stephenmorgan]

"This is an official eBay policy -- to show a more expensive shipping option only if their estimated delivery time is faster."

That is a flawed policy. 

It makes little sense to be allowed to offer different shipping options if eBay is actually the one to decide the option the buyer will have to use.

For many of my Items I see First Class being less that half the cost of Priority Mail because First Class does not include insurance. 

I specify that Priority Mail has Insurance and that First Class is not insured.  Many months ago when multiple options were allowed, most people would choose the more expensive Priority Mail option because of the insurance.

Sometimes a person may want the more expensive option of UPS or FedX because that works better for delivery to them.

[cheri--b]

stephen - It's zip codes. It will show for some zips, especially in california where they company is. But not for most other zips.

Glad I'm not the only one seeing it!

[cheri--b]

Exactly, why limit options that don't hurt anyone? And can help.

The rep said because of post office slow down. But with the slow down both are slower, so removing the faster of the slow makes even less sense.

[stephenmorgan]

This one listing I asked eBay to look at.  Before they looked at it only the First Class Option was available even though I selected two Shipping Options.  After they looked at it, it now displays both shipping options that I offered.

I used my Zip Code (88310) and New York (10001) to compare.  It does not matter, eBay fixed the error when I asked them to look at it and now First Class and Priority are bot offered.

[stephenmorgan]

This item is the same exact weight as the first example I posted (8 ounces).  The difference in this listing is I have not asked eBay to look at it.  This listing shows the Shipping Option as First Class only to both Zip Codes, 88310 (mine) and 10001 (New York).  Scroll down to the third image and you will see that I did select both Shipping Options.

This leads me to believe that there is a switch that is turned on and off at the will of eBay.

[stephenmorgan]

This third example is for International Shipping.  It is the same as the Domestic Shipping. You can offer all the options you want but eBay will default to only one offering and it has nothing to do with selecting the cheaper option.  In fact it is the more expensive Option that is offered.

This listing is 8 ounces and I selected the Global Shipping Program and eBay International Standard Delivery as seen in the first picture.

As you see in the second picture to Australia, only the Global Shipping Program is offered in the listing for a cost of $21.76.  However if you look at the third picture for eBay International Standard Delivery Rates, the cost for 8 ounces to the rest of the world is only $13.00.

This makes things very difficult for the buyer not to see both options.  One options is more expensive but will arrive to most place in less than a month.  The other option is cheaper but can take 45 days or longer to arrive.  Some people want to save money and some people want their item as soon as possible.

I have noticed with the International Shipping that the Global Shipping Program will override the eBay International Standard Delivery.  What I have to do if someone wants eBay International Standard Delivery is to relist the item with that option alone and turn off Global Shipping Program.

[cheri--b]

I'll try that tomorrow. Call again and see if after I talk to them, it fixes. The person last night gave her answer and supposedly put in a customer unhappy with it. But wouldn't put it in while I was on the phone, said had to be off call before she could.

[cheri--b]

It is crazy. This doesn't help ebay. Yet they aren't telling either of us it's a bug. No one else answered to my post. So it's not broadly getting noticed. I think sellers aren't looking at their listings as though they are buyers.

So frustrating.

You've laid out examples exactly as I've seen. I hadn't noticed on international.

Maybe I'll add a blurb to all listings to buy and dm me if they want a different shipping, and I'll send an invoice and ebay's got a bug right now.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@cheri--b wrote:

No one else has noticed this?

Viewing one of my listings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184587621719?&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId

Put in zip 12409 and only 1st class & expedited show up.

Put in zip 20886 and 1st class, priority flat rate, and expedited show up.

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This is what I see to me in zip 38868

[buyselljack2016]

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@cheri--b wrote:

I'll try that tomorrow. Call again and see if after I talk to them, it fixes. The person last night gave her answer and supposedly put in a customer unhappy with it. But wouldn't put it in while I was on the phone, said had to be off call before she could.

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As nobody*s posted. eBay policy.

This has been happening for over a year.

eBay may have tweaked it a bit more now, or the EED's may be doing it by Zip without any changes.

I would not expect any "fix", as it is functioning as designed by eBay.