eBay

rustylockersports · ‎08-22-2024

Has anyone been hit recently with additional shipping charges because you've dropped a package outside of your home zip code? I often drop at the PO 6 miles away as our small PO has shortened/limited hours. Recently I was charged by Ebay for additional shipping charges. USPS says this has always been a 'thing'. My 2 PO's had no idea what I was talking about....

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-22-2024

If you are on the east coast and your buyer is on the west coast, you could go hundreds of miles north or south and the postage would stay the same.

stumcneil · ‎08-22-2024

I have not…YET….and, the first three digits of our address/the city’s p.o. are not the same. I am using Pirate ship, selling elsewhere currently. Our home address zip is 446, and our post office that delivers to us is 15+ minutes away. Our “city’s” post office is a close 5 minute trip, begins with 442, and delivers for none of the 27k residents. It is odd. I HAVE been reprimanded by one employee so watch discussion on this topic. I have tried to locate the “ship from a different address” on PirateShip like they have here, but am too clueless to find it.

a_c_green · ‎08-22-2024

@rustylockersports wrote:
Has anyone been hit recently with additional shipping charges because you've dropped a package outside of your home zip code? I often drop at the PO 6 miles away as our small PO has shortened/limited hours. Recently I was charged by Ebay for additional shipping charges.

@rustylockersports : Okay, let's get specific, please: what was the ZIP Code showing as your Ship From ZIP location on that label, and what was the ZIP Code of the PO from which you shipped it? (I don't think the destination ZIP will enter into this, but feel free to provide that as well.)

Did the additional charges clearly state that this was the issue? It wasn't an overweight/underpaid package, or excess dimensions, etc.; is that right?

erikstuff · ‎08-22-2024

I had it happen in May and got stuck for an additional $1.22 for "Zone Adjustment." I mailed it at the Post Office 5.1 miles away. Apparently this is only a Ground Advantage situation... and not all destinations are effected. I can mail to NYC, LA, or Atlanta and the rates don't change whether I mail from home or Post Office. Mail to Chicago or Colorado is higher if I drop it off at the Post Office. I usually use the PO when I have a number of items to mail and I wan't to make sure they get scanned. This hasn't been necessary for a while now.

luckythewinner · ‎08-22-2024

@robbie31415 wrote:
Cool story but changing zip codes doesn't always change zones.

I am in 03281 in New Hampshire. I have mailed many 03281 packages from 03301, 03242, and 03103 without being charged.

For what it is worth, I asked if this was okay at each of these other POs and they all said that it was fine as long as the first TWO digits were the same.

I have nothing to back this up except that it is a cool story.

robbie31415 · ‎08-22-2024

You aren't understanding how it works.

I listed a link that explains it.

I don't understand why this is so complicated.

The first 3 numbers of the zip will always have the same distance. The calculation is based on distance of your your zip code and the customers.

Example: Zone 1 is (1-50 miles) from zip code to zip code.

If you live 1 mile alway, you could literally drop the package off to a location that is 49 miles alway and not have the billing change.

However if the distance is 50 miles from customer then going 1 mile in the opposite direction could move you to Zone 2 charge. However if you go 1 mile towards the customer then it would be 49 miles and would stay the same rate.

This whole 'I've never been charged' is just a matter of not being on the border where a Zone shift would happen.

But you know what if im wrong I'm wrong. I'll defer to the person I have most respect for when it comes to shipping @wastingtime101 Please correct me kind sir.

luckythewinner · ‎08-22-2024

@robbie31415 wrote:
You aren't understanding how it works.
I listed a link that explains it.
I don't understand why this is so complicated.

I never said I understood how works. nor did I claim to.

I did not read your link, nor did I claim to.

I simply stated my experience, and stated what I was told by USPS employees.

I even stated that I have nothing to back it up.

I don't understand why that is so complicated for YOU.

wastingtime101 · ‎08-23-2024

@robbie31415 wrote:
You aren't understanding how it works.

I listed a link that explains it.

I don't understand why this is so complicated.

The first 3 numbers of the zip will always have the same distance. The calculation is based on distance of your your zip code and the customers.

Example: Zone 1 is (1-50 miles) from zip code to zip code.

If you live 1 mile alway, you could literally drop the package off to a location that is 49 miles alway and not have the billing change.

However if the distance is 50 miles from customer then going 1 mile in the opposite direction could move you to Zone 2 charge. However if you go 1 mile towards the customer then it would be 49 miles and would stay the same rate.

This whole 'I've never been charged' is just a matter of not being on the border where a Zone shift would happen.

But you know what if im wrong I'm wrong. I'll defer to the person I have most respect for when it comes to shipping @wastingtime101 Please correct me kind sir.

There's nothing to correct. Your posts are accurate.

Zones operate based on the first 3 digits. If the next town over has different digits, even if it's 5 min away, it could (but will not always) affect the cost.

I think it was nobodys-perfect up above that described it as a bullseye. Three-digit zip is in the middle of the bullseye and the radius extends outward.

See the USPS Zone Chart if there is ever a question about shipping from one zip to another and how it affects the zone:

https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart

I have a print out of that zone chart with my zip as the base so I always have a quick reference guide to see where the buyer falls.

On occasions I've had to ship from a different 3-digit zip, all I have to do is run that new zip in the link above and see where the buyer lands. Do they stay in Zone 4 or do they move to Zone 3 or Zone 5 for a lower or higher ship cost? So easy to run a quick check.

GLORIOUS!

rustylockersports · ‎08-23-2024

Weight/size was fine. My understanding now is that the first 3 numbers of the zip code need to be the same, otherwise it is in a different 'zone'. The funny thing is, when putting shipping info in with exact same details EXCEPT different PO, shipping cost for label is still the same, but USPS charged $1.70 more.

rustylockersports · ‎08-23-2024

My question didn't have to do so much with understanding as it did with never having had this happen in over 20 years, and talking with 2 of my local post offices who didn't know anything about it. Also, when I put in the shipping info using my zip or changing the zip to the other post office, the cost was the same so wasn't clear on why the added charge.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-23-2024

@rustylockersports wrote: .... My understanding now is that the first 3 numbers of the zip code need to be the same, otherwise it is in a different 'zone'.

If the first 3 digits are not the same, it MIGHT be in a different Zone.

rustylockersports · ‎08-23-2024

The takeaway that I get from my phone calls to USPS, my in person talks with the post office employees, and the comments here is that there IS a policy in place but isn't enforced/caught all the time and it's all pretty loosy-goosy...😂