eBay

bgt_masters_of_tiki_d · ‎11-27-2024

I've mentioned it before but ebay needs to do something about their calculated shipping calculator. I ship many packages out in the 24x23x22 range give or take an inch and about 1 in 15 of them are wrong (just a guess but likely higher). The exact dimensions/weight are entered into my listing prior to sale but when I go to print the label it is almost always $13 off. Ebay used to just give me a refund on the spot when I contacted them but no longer.

Last time it happened a month or so ago I was told by an ebay rep on facebook they would put in for it and credit me in around 10 business days. That never happened. It just happened to me again and I was told to change my preferences to where my customer doesn't get my discounted rate. If that were the case I would never sell the item because my shipping cost would be over $200 when it should be $90.

Is there a way to @ someone who will actually look into the issue or it something they are never going top fix since its not costing them any money?

For the item it just happened to since ebay keeps 15% of the shipping cost paid by my customer and they undercharged my customer by $13 for shipping I am out $26 every time it happens. I'm always told they'll look into it but nothing is ever done about it. Its been an issue for years.

dbfolks166mt · ‎11-27-2024

It's probably not high on eBay's list of technical issues to look at or fix given the infrequency of the issue and the endless list of variables when it comes to shipping. That being the case it may be something you have to see if you can rectify on your side.

As long as you have been selling I will assume your dim's and weight are correct. Are you seeing the variance with a certain carrier? I notice you use several. Can you tie this to one particular shipping class with a particular carrier? Are you actually purchasing the labels through eBay or are you using another label service provider like Pirate Ship?

What was the last item this happened on? What were the dims and weight of the item and what was the zip code of the buyers address? In all the time I have been selling on eBay I have never encountered this situation.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎11-27-2024

That size (even using 15 oz as weight) is price driven by 'cubic feet' and that is a hair OVER 7 cubic ft;

USPS from West Coast to Far East Coast is $240, but is also $90 using UPS Ground so......

I assume you have too many choices and/or buyers are having to choose and choose wrong.

If I were you, I would pick 1 carrier (the cheapest) with that size and you will not have that issue.

For example, the Whirlpool Spin Basket (guessing it is close to that size you are referring to) shows from you in New York to me In Nevada, for $58 via Fedex. I don't believe that you have the correct size and that is not the correct price.

yuzuha · ‎11-27-2024

@dbfolks166mt wrote:
What was the last item this happened on? What were the dims and weight of the item and what was the zip code of the buyers address? In all the time I have been selling on eBay I have never encountered this situation.

I have never encountered it either. The only times I've had calculated shipping be wrong was when I had entered the wrong weight for the item, meaning that the error was on my end rather than eBay's.

bgt_masters_of_tiki_d · ‎11-27-2024

I got passed from one ebay rep on facebook to another who is handling it. They did admit there seems to be an issue and they are trying to figure out what exactly is causing it. We were brainstorming going through my listings and right now this is what we've found.

Its only happening to larger packages 22x22x22 and larger, they are going to California and they appear to Fed Ex Ground. I use strictly ebay shipping. What we think might be happening is if it is a business address Fed Ex is charging me a higher price (Fed Ex Ground) but when the buyer purchases the item and pays the calculated shipping its charging them is as a residential address (Home Delivery). We haven't confirmed this but its just a theory right now. Ebay lumps both of these services together even though they are not the same.

For example. I sold an item today and had the weight and dimensions already listed in my listing for calculated shipping as 20 lbs 23x22x22 the buyer was charged $83. When I go to print the label (without changing any of the dimensions or weight or anything it says its $96. The time before when this happened a month or so ago buyer was charged $88 and I had to pay $105.

They do finally admit there is an issue and are actually attempting to figure it out, at least that's what it seems. This isn't user error or anything I'm doing wrong on my end but a system error on their end. And if I had to guess I would say we are on the right track with the residential address vs business address when shipping larger packages.

Zip code is

Rancho Cordova CA 95742-6886

bgt_masters_of_tiki_d · ‎11-27-2024

Let me know the item number and I will see. I don't often make errors with the dimensions of my items. I don't offer choices when it comes to my larger packages. Its Fed Ex only. I have already confirmed with ebay what I knew, it has nothing to do with what I am doing. Ebay's system isn't differentiating the difference between Residential and Commercial addresses when charging the buyers its treating them all as residential. Yet when I go to print the label it is. Fed Ex Home Delivery which is cheaper, is not offered for commercial addresses only Fed Ex Ground which costs more. I am almost certain that is the issue and the ebay rep seemed to think so as well.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎11-27-2024

@bgt_masters_of_tiki_d most any of the 'spin baskets' are all showing about $58 (give or take a buck)- at least 30 of them alone, all the basic same price (and all do show Fedex)

I'm sure you know or have been doing this for months/years, but Fedex/UPS have been notorious for coming back later and hitting sellers (they hit ebay first who passes it on since both those carriers are ebays' accounts) with large extra amounts for things like 'home delivery' 'oversize package' etc. Sometimes they charge $25 for shipping and come back with $200 more.

bgt_masters_of_tiki_d · ‎11-27-2024

Those are called cost adjustments and are different than what I am dealing with and I am quite familiar with them. This isn't a charge after the fact but a charge during the process of printing the label. I can assure you with 100% confidence if you give me the item number of my item that you looked at of mine the dimensions and weight I entered are correct. They are going to be 22x22x22 or an inch or two from that. As far as weight goes it matters very little with Fed Ex once you get the dimensions sizes of things like spin baskets since Fed Ex uses dimensional weight. As long as you keep it under 50 lbs there is normally not much of a difference in price from 25 or 45 lbs.

I already mentioned what the issue is after discussing it with a rep who was as curious as I was to what was going on. This has nothing to do with cost adjustments after the fact, nothing to do with me changing dimensions or weight afterwards or them Fed EX changing it later on, nothing to do with me changing the shipping method. This is a glitch in ebay's shipping calculator. I've easily shipped over 100 of these sized items over the years and know exactly what I am doing and talking about. Shipping such as item to you would be in the $55-$75 range depending on your proximity you live to a Fed Ex location/larger city.

I'll repeat what I already said. Fed Ex Home Delivery and Fed Ex Ground ebay lumps together but are actually two separate services with two separate pricing brackets. When a buyer get a pricing quote at the time of purchase from ebay its based on you being a residential address (Fed Ex Home Delivery) but when I go to print the label the system will change the price if you live at a commercial location (Fed Ex Ground) because Fed Ex Home Delivery is not offered for commercial addresses. This is an ebay shipping calculator glitch and its being looked into and has finally been recognized as such by ebay.

dbfolks166mt · ‎11-28-2024

I got passed from one ebay rep on facebook to another who is handling it. They did admit there seems to be an issue and they are trying to figure out what exactly is causing it. We were brainstorming going through my listings and right now this is what we've found.

Its only happening to larger packages 22x22x22 and larger, they are going to California and they appear to Fed Ex Ground. I use strictly ebay shipping. What we think might be happening is if it is a business address Fed Ex is charging me a higher price (Fed Ex Ground) but when the buyer purchases the item and pays the calculated shipping its charging them is as a residential address (Home Delivery). We haven't confirmed this but its just a theory right now. Ebay lumps both of these services together even though they are not the same.

Given the surcharges FedEx has, and it's a long list, this would not surprise me since prior to creating the label you would have no idea of the actual shipping address but it is something I would think the buyer would see as the shipping rate since there is a shipping address associated with their account. If the issue is consistently with the FedEx labels you may want to consider not using FedEx, at least for the larger packages until they can get the issue fixed.

For example. I sold an item today and had the weight and dimensions already listed in my listing for calculated shipping as 20 lbs 23x22x22 the buyer was charged $83. When I go to print the label (without changing any of the dimensions or weight or anything it says its $96. The time before when this happened a month or so ago buyer was charged $88 and I had to pay $105.

Until they are able to diagnose the FedEx issue if that is what it truly is you may want to consider using USPS or UPS as an alternative. I don't use eBay to purchase my labels but use Pirate Ship but they don't offer FedEx due to all the carrier complexities. I took a look at the other options for shipping the item you described above and you could ship this UPS Ground Saver for $99.67 which is a few dollars more than FedEx but may not have the issues.

They do finally admit there is an issue and are actually attempting to figure it out, at least that's what it seems. This isn't user error or anything I'm doing wrong on my end but a system error on their end. And if I had to guess I would say we are on the right track with the residential address vs business address when shipping larger packages.

At least they are attempting to work with you on the issue. This may be a tough one since eBay is dependent on the API with the shipper to calculate the shipping cost that is presented to the buyer and again when you purchase the label. Wish you the best in getting the issue resolved.

Zip code is

Rancho Cordova CA 95742-6886

bgt_masters_of_tiki_d · ‎11-28-2024

USPS isn't an option given the size and weight of these items. UPS is no longer an option because I live in a small town and my only drop off location is a poorly run small business that routinely closes whenever they feel like, sometimes days and weeks on end without warning. I grew frustrated with having to run back home and reprint labels to Fed Ex to avoid getting dinged for late shipping when this happened so I no longer use them.

The Fed Ex issue only happens about once a month or so but like I mentioned I think the rep and I have it nailed down to what's causing it. I googled searched the addresses and they indeed are always a business location and its always Fed Ex Ground when normally its Fed Ex Home Delivery.

Now Fed Ex's cost adjustments are a whole different problem I'll have to tackle sooner or later. I still get hit with those maybe 3 times a month for no reason. Same weight/dimensions. I'm partially satisfied at least that now I know what's going on. Still no real way to fix it on my end as it will have to be fixed on ebay's side of things. I'm normally out $13-$20 so its not the end of the world since its fairly infrequent but it does add up over the course of the year along side those pesky Fed Ex cost adjustments.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎11-28-2024

@bgt_masters_of_tiki_d wrote:
Those are called cost adjustments and are different than what I am dealing with and I am quite familiar with them. This isn't a charge after the fact but a charge during the process of printing the label.

I obviously know that, you know, and that is why I said "I'm sure you know"- but was just pointing it out for anyone else that may stumble along.

But, what I said is accurate; Fedex is NOT going to deliver from NY to NV a box that size for $58.

Something is wrong!!

You should just look at Fedex website or go to the local store, figure the correct price and charge and flat rate and NOT USE a calculated, for the REASON that I gave as well as the issues you are having.

You came here to get some insight and I am telling you- using Calc is NOT good for you.