eBay

usa_biker_goods · ‎05-26-2025

I've been selling on ebay for about 2 years now and have been shipping my items USPS ground advantage. My items qualify for Ebay standard envelope and I am currently considering switching to that shipping method to save the seller shipping fees, save myself the shipping costs and overall lower my total price on all of my items.

My question to everyone that currently ships the majority of their items using ESE, what are the pros as well as the cons of using this service? Do you get a lot of INR claims? Does Ebay protect the sellers if items show shipped on time and delivered? From what I have read I see that items may show delivered up to 2 days before they are actually delivered. Is that an issue for any of you with customers contacting you saying it shows delivered but actually has not yet? I would just like everyone who is using ESE to chime in and give me a good honest assessment of how this service is working for you and how Ebay does or does not back you up as a seller. Thanks guys

1786davycrockett · ‎05-26-2025

@usa_biker_goods

Looks as if you are offering lots of sticker items for sale, and under $20.00, so you should be good to go, and won't have any of the significant issues with your items being to rigid -- they should fit nicely into a #6 envelope (or #10, if you have longer stickers for sale).

I've been lucky so far -- never a complaint from a buyer, and no INR cases -- my closest USPS Distribution Center is relatively close, so there seem to be fewer snafus.

The ESE acceptance scan (provided by USPS) is considered by eBay to be the equivalent of a regular USPS tracking scan -- so, as long as your ESE receives at least one of those along the way, you should be covered for your service metrics.

And your ESE shipments (with that USPS scan) are covered by eBay insurance, in case you receive any INR cases which do NOT show being delivered.

Most of the ESE horror stories seem to revolve around envelopes being too thick or too rigid; but that shouldn't be an issue with your stickers.

Good luck!

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wastingtime101 · ‎05-26-2025

I don't ship the majority of items with ESE, but I do use the service. I personally have had a lot of success with it.

My items are packed appropriately and I have a very high scan/delivery rate. Haven't had any buyers claim non-receipt yet, did have one buyer inquire about the premature delivered scan but they got their item within a day or two.

Here's a good overview - I suggest reviewing this and coming back if you have more questions.

eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) Overview

Review this page for packing requirements (size, flexibility, label placement, etc) and a downloadable list of eligible categories (qualifying items must be listed in a qualifying category):
Seller Center - eBay Standard Envelope

Read this page for more service details:
Policy Help Page - eBay Standard Envelope

Review this page for the fine print (like items over $20 don't qualify, for example):
Terms of Service - eBay Standard Envelope

If you don't see ESE on the listing form you may need to adjust package dimensions to 11x6.

If you cannot access ESE when purchasing a shipping label, it's possible:
- Your package dimensions/weight are above the service limits.
- Your item was listed in an ineligible category.
- Your item was above the $ limit. When you use auction format, if the auction goes over $20 and you offered ESE, the buyer can still choose it at checkout, but you will not be able to purchase an ESE label due to the item's value.
- Your buyer entered Puerto Rico in the country field. If that happens, let the buyer know ESE is a domestic service and it cannot be purchased when PR is entered in the country field. You can cancel the order using "problem with buyer's address" and advise them to repurchase with a revised address: they need to enter PR as the "state" and United States as the country.

If you find the tracking on eBay to be lacking, you can track the ESUS number on this site and sometimes find more info:
https://parcelsapp.com

Remember, this is a metered letter mail shipment so it does not receive traditional tracking scans and the clerk at the PO counter cannot scan it. Drop these envelopes in your PO's metered mail slot if they have one. The envelope will be scanned by sorting machinery at distribution centers along the way.

Common reasons ESE envelopes don't get scans include:
- Overpacking. Envelopes are too stiff. It's not recommended to use trading card top loaders or cardboard mailers.
- Using ineligible packing material such as a bubble envelope.
- Placement of label. Label should be placed in the upper right corner with approx 1/8"-1/4" clearance from edges. If it's placed too far from the corner (like in the middle of a long envelope) the machinery may not scan it.
- Placing items like coins in the center of the envelope. The center of the envelope needs to be the most flexible part.
- Printer ink is not dark enough, or label color is too bright (stick to white labels if you can).
- Regional issues with sorting machines, volume processing, picky USPS employees, etc.

With ESE, a 'delivered' scan generally occurs at the last sort facility before it gets to the buyer, so typically the buyer will receive their order a day or two after the delivered scan.

If a buyer files a not received claim, you do have insurance coverage and the claims process is outlined on this page.

GLORIOUS!

christworks · ‎05-26-2025

I shipped my first item ESE last week. I had some of the same questions you do, only I didn't come here in advance to ask. Instead, I went blind into the post office with the rest of my packages and the clerk acted as if I was trying to pull a fast one. She had never seen that type of label before. Long story short, don't give it to the clerk. Other chimed in on my post to just drop it in the drop box, metered mail if it is available. Clerks cannot scan the ESE label. The machines scan the label, but many here told me that does not happen a lot of the times.

My clerk told me that mine was non-machinable, though it was less than 1/4 thick. I had placed a piece of cardboard in the envelope to prevent the card I was sending from bending. I was concerned mine might come back to me or my buyer could be charged on the back end if it had to be handled by hand. However, the tracking number did update with scans, so it appears there are no issues.

I wish I could share more, but I'll be following this thread to see what others say so I can keep learning.

usa_biker_goods · ‎05-26-2025

I also ship on Amazon, but they do not offer the equivalent of ESE on their platform, but if items are under $10 I am exempt from having to have tracking and can ship in plain envelope with a stamp. I would never do that because Amazon is a cesspool of scammers who will take advantage of any possibility to make a claim to get free stuff, but If I want to I can ship on Amazon just like ESE, but it costs 18 cents extra on top of the stamp cost, but it tracks the envelopes. I sent out an empty test envelope to a family member using this shipping method and everything looked good and showed delivery, so I am considering using it on Amazon for my orders under $10. That would only be 2 items of mine, but it's still better than charging the customer $4+ and me paying the USPS $4+ per shipment for single and double item orders. Anything over 2 items would jump to USPS Ground Advantage. The good thing is if buyers on Amazon try to claim INR I can shoot them a copy of the tracking just like ESE has tracking, it's the same thing except through a 3rd party shipping company with the small fee on top of the postage to pay for tracking. I won't have any protections on Amazon shipping that way, but I think proof of tracking & delivery would deter a lot of buyers from trying to pull one over on me. There will be some bad apples of course, but I wouldn't be losing much for the ones that do lie to get refunds. And yeah the counter folks at the post offices don't know what to do when they see a preprinted meter mail item. You would think they would just see the meter marks and be like oh ok it's metered mail and be done with it, but it's like a foreign language to them. lol Drop box for all those because they will be scanned at the distribution centers. I also know to only use white envelopes or printer paper if you print, cut and tape the labels on the envelopes. Colored envelopes or paper will not scan most times on the way through the mail system.

What I am most curious about with ESE on Ebay is if Ebay actually has seller protections in place that they actually stand by when using that shipping method or if they deny claims regularly? I want people on here to chime in on that. I see Ebay says you are protected, but what they say and what they actually do can be two totally different things. Amazon is terrible like that. They rarely stand by their own policies, so wondering if Ebay is like Amazon or not in that respect.

wastingtime101 · ‎05-26-2025

@usa_biker_goods wrote:
What I am most curious about with ESE on Ebay is if Ebay actually has seller protections in place when using that shipping method?

In what respect?

If there's a delivered scan, you're covered the same as any other shipment with a delivered scan.

If there's no delivery scan you have to refund on an INR, however as mentioned towards the end of my post upthread, the service is insured so you won't be out the cost of the item - just the postage.