Economy class shipping?

[buffalocards-coins]

I sold a large Pokémon trainer box and offered USPS economy shipping for $8.99. That was the same class and price other sellers were offering. It was one of the shipping options offered when I listed the item. But when I went to print the label both economy shipping and media mail were whited out. So I had to use the cheapest option they had which was parcel select which cost me $10.85 plus e-bays fees for a 2 pound box.

I dont mind loosing money if its my fault but e-bay should not offer it if they refuse to let sellers use it. Plus I see another seller stating here on the community site that he uses economy shipping when he prints labels? 

Any one else having this problem?

[simba6]

You can purchase it on paypal.  They still sell the lower rate services.  eBay stopped selling those labels but still offers that choice. Or you can take it to your post office and get it there.

[readabouthorses]

What shipping method were you wanting to use for that order? There is no shipping method called Economy as it covers various methods which you appear to not have chosen when you set the listing up. Parcel Select is one of the Economy shipping methods.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@buffalocards-coins wrote: ... offered USPS economy shipping for $8.99. That was the same class and price other sellers were offering. It was one of the shipping options offered when I listed the item. But when I went to print the label both economy shipping and media mail were whited out. So I had to use the cheapest option they had which was parcel select ...

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eBay groups all services into broad categories based mostly on expected delivery time: Economy, Standard, Expedited, and Express.  The term "Economy" shipping is just a category, it's not a specific service.    Which specific carrier and service did you expect to use? 

When you charge a flat price for a zoned service, you inevitably undercharge some buyers and/or overcharge others. At current prices, Parcel Select Ground postage for a 2-pound package costs $7.28 - $10.85 depending on Zone. Sellers who charge a flat price of $8.99 might be just picking a mid-point and hoping that it averages out.

[felix4451]

NEVER assume ANY shipping rate, NEVER offer Free shipping, and NEVER include shipping in cost of item..

Shipping has increased 4 to 6X in past 12 months, and is impossible to keep up with.

Economy shipping is typically Ground shipping, Parcel Select, and is available at most post offices, and is listed in the pull down menu when you click ship, USPS, under ebay shipping. You MUST weigh the item AND measure it. If the weight is over 4 ounces wrong you will be billed the difference. And if the size is over the standard size you can be billed up to $10-15 for oversize shipping.

Typically Ground USPS does NOT have insurance, or you have to pay extra for it, and generally for items $50-100 that isn't recommended. 

Might suggest USPS Flat Rate, as it is automatically insured for $100.00, and their are many box sized that work good. Most times delivery is 2 to 5 days anywhere in the country.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

Many eBay sellers find that "Free" shipping works well for them. Most of them add the postage cost into the price of their items.

USPS postage has changed 3 times in the past 12  months,   including the "change" when the holiday surcharge expired.

Parcel Select Ground is an online service only , and is not available at the Post Office. It is available through eBay postage only for Top Rated Sellers. For other sellers, eBay has decided to phase out access to Parcel Select postage.

The APV system will charge for underpaid postage even if the discrepancy is just one ounce.

The charge for Oversize packages is more than $10-$15.

"USPS Flat Rate" is a type of Priority Mail, in which you use specific boxes provided by USPS.  Like all other Priority Mail, packages using Flat Rate boxes are automatically insured for $50.  Top Rated Sellers get $100 of coverage when they purchase Priority Mail postage labels through eBay.

[buffalocards-coins]

I sold a Pokémon Elite training box which weighed close to 2 lbs. with the packaging. I was not sure what option to use for shipping due to the size and cost of the merchandise so I looked at what other sellers were charging and many were using economy shipping and charging $8.99. I looked for that option in the drop down menu when I listed it and it was available so I picked it. I normally would use Priority Region A  boxes because they are cheaper than the Priority medium size box and I can fit three 400 count boxes inside but not that Pokémon Trainer box. So now I know to use Parcel select instead and use the calculated shipping instead. I just do not understand why e-bay still offers that option right next to media mail in the drop down menu, it just confuses people.

[buffalocards-coins]

Thank you for that helpful information. I have not used pay pal shipping since I received a message last year stating that they switched to a 3rd party vendor and we had to download that shipping vendors software. I remember them having First class shipping but I did not know pay pal offered Economy shipping too? I will have to check into that.

JG

[nobody*s_perfect]

PayPal does not offer "Economy" shipping. They do offer Parcel Select Ground.  You can also purchase Parcel Select Ground postage labels from other online postage sellers such as endicia, stamps.com, and USPS Click N Ship.

[simba6]

I suppose it depends on what you consider economy shipping.  Paypal has the non priority ones.  Not that any shipping is exactly cheap these days.   Those "hybrid" services like smartpost might be a bit less but can take a week longer to arrive. Should be called slowpost.  Then there is the issue of insurance with them each says the other caused the damage and it's a pain to collect on the claim.

[turtlecatz333]

I don't sell very often and much of what I sell can ship first class. I can offer this in the listing but when the buyer pays me for first class and I go to purchase and print the label I can only find priority shipping. If I use that,  I'm paying the overage, which in this case is a lot.  There is no such thing as free shipping. If I ask 1.00 for an item because that's about what its worth, but I then tac on $8 for shipping and say its free shipping who do think is going to buy that. NO ONE  Low volume sellers especially, should be able to ship anyway they please.