Ebay first class envelope

[fallgold4031]

I see that on my shipping options chart that there is a USPS first class letter box for use with items under 3 ounces.  I understand the Ebay standard envelope, but what exactly happens if I check this first-class letter box?  Do I then have to type my own label and use my own stamps?   And if I do that, how does Ebay know that I have mailed the item?  Also, I imagine Ebay marks me down for not using their label.  It would be nice to mail some lightweight paper items to a customer and not charge over four dollars to do so.  What advice do you have?

[caldreamer]

Only problem when you don't have tracking# customer can claim "did not receive item" and you would be forced to give them a refund.    You have to decide if that is a chance you are willing to take.

[buyselljack2016]

@fallgold4031 

If it qualifies for ESE you purchase/print an eBay label.

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If it does not qualify for ESE you send in an envelope with a typed or hand written address, and put your stamps on it , or have USPS put a 1st class shipping label on at the PO.

You manually tick the shipped box indicating that you shipped.

Not using tracking detracts from the %age of item shipped with tracking to qualify as TRS, but does not take you below "above standard".

ETA: as you likely already know.................. the item going "1st Class" has to meet the shipping characteristics to qualify to ship as a "1st Class letter" (or flat)

[fallgold4031]

very clear.  Thanks

[1786davycrockett]

@fallgold4031 

Not all your "lighweight paper items" may qualify for using the eBay Standard Envelope.

Here's the latest updated list --

Eligible categories

As of Nov 2023, four additional categories are now eligible to use eBay standard envelope, expanding the service to eight categories. See the full list of category paths.

• Patches
• Stickers & Decals
• Greeting Cards
• Seeds
• Trading Cards
• Coins & Currency
• Postcards
• Stamps

[onefootflipper1]

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@1786davycrockett wrote:

@fallgold4031 

Not all your "lighweight paper items" may qualify for using the eBay Standard Envelope.

Here's the latest updated list --

Eligible categories

As of Nov 2023, four additional categories are now eligible to use eBay standard envelope, expanding the service to eight categories. See the full list of category paths.

• Patches
• Stickers & Decals
• Greeting Cards
• Seeds
• Trading Cards
• Coins & Currency
• Postcards
• Stamps

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They added a ton of other categories in a completely unmentioned update several months ago. They are listed in that category paths link. 

[12345jamesstamps]

I give free shipping for domestic. shipping...I use a forever stamp and write the address on the envelope.

You just click shipped and that's it.

Something more expensive I will have tracking of course...around 30 bucks or someone with no feedback or brand new as a buyer.

For me, I am going on 2 years nothing lost in the USPS mail.

I have never had anyone complain 'why no tracking?'.

And without tracking item usually arrives 3-4 days cross country...plus these are the buyers who usually leave feedbacks for me.

And you can use a  4 1/8 X 9 1/2 envelope...for one forever stamp. A lot of you stuff will fit in these looking at your postal covers, post cards and such...make sure envelope is bendable and has no lumps in it under 1 /4 inch. I been lucky since day one of selling.

Good luck.

[fallgold4031]

Very useful.  How is using your own stamps with an Ebay label affected you Ebay seller ratings, if you don't mind me asking.

[fallgold4031]

That is very helpful.  I did not know they had added categories.

[12345jamesstamps]

I just can't become a top rated seller but it doesn't affect your rating.

I also buy my USA stamps for postage around 25-50% below face value from other USA sellers of postage stamps on eBay auctions.

So even if I was a top rated seller I wouldn't save as much money compared to using my own stamps.

I have a perfect rating on eBay except the tracking part.

[buyselljack2016]

To remain TRS tracking must be uploaded on time and validated for 95% of items.

Note (red oval) that there is no "penalty" below 95%. Just not in the TRS perk range.

Sellers that like being TRS with some of their items choose to have a separate account for non-tracked shipping items if the non-tracked would exceed the 5%. Separating may result in the TRS item categories not meeting the # of sales needed to remain TRS.  (to consider........for some .......TRS "perks" amount to very little)

 

[susanb1872]

I agree with what others have stated. Plus in the description I add: "Shipped USPS First Class Letter. NO tracking."   This alerts the buyer to not to expect tracking.

[1786davycrockett]

@fallgold4031 

"How is using your own stamps with an Ebay label affected you Ebay seller ratings, if you don't mind me asking."

If you are using your own postage stamps, you would not be printing out an eBay label, as that would mean paying twice the same amount of postage  (the eBay Standard Envelope shipping label currently costs 69 cents for the 1st ounce, or 97 cents for up to 2 ounces, or $1.25 for up to 3 ounces).  If you add your own postage stamps upon an ESE, you are throwing money away -- and I'm not sure that it would even get scanned, since the ESE is considered to be USPS contracted business metered mail, and adding postage stamps to an ESE would possibly void out the metered mail aspect, changing it to a regular USPS First Class letter.

If you're going to use your own stamps, you can't use the ESE, and you'll have to write the buyer's address (on your own) on a regular blank envelope.

In other words -- don't use postage stamps on the ESE -- the ESE already includes metered stamps.

[fallgold4031]

Very helpful  Thanks.

[fern*wood]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

I also buy my USA stamps for postage around 25-50% below face value from other

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I'm curious how to know the stamps aren't counterfeit.  I see cheap rolls of forever stamps and assume they aren't real.   I understand if they are really old stamps, but not the forever ones so I always pay full price from USPS.