Fees for canceling an order...

[alluvz2fish]

My listing state shipping only in the contiguous US.  The buyer live in Puerto Rico.  I had to cancel the order because first, the cost for postage is only inside the US.  When I canceled the order, I think it charged me $2.00.  Why?  Or am I mistaken on the fee to cancel the order?  This is my first attempt to sell some merchandise.

Can someone please help explain… Would really appreciate the advice. 

[1786davycrockett]

@alluvz2fish 

Puerto Rico has been part of the United States since 1898.

USPS shipping to Puerto Rico costs the same as to any of the "contiguous" United States.

[1786davycrockett]

@alluvz2fish 

If you are talking about that Mazda emblem, your USPS First Class envelope would have cost the same to ship to Puerto Rico as to anywhere else in the United States -- "contiguous" or not.

The price of a Forever stamp.

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

Just like the other post says, there's no reason not to ship to Puerto Rico. 

Plus Cancelling orders will put your account at risk...

[alluvz2fish]

I understand the PR is part of the United States.  Contiguous means connected or touching.  Puerto Pico is not connected or touching any of the states, it is separated by water.

But okay, if the shipping cost is the same.  Do I have to fill out customs form to send the item?  Also, before I cancelled the order, I tried to print out a shipping label… but it wouldn't allow me?

[alluvz2fish]

  My listing states "contiguous"… with means connected or touching.  Puerto Rico is not connected or touching, it is separated by water.  I do not understand why my account would be at risk?   Can you please explain. 

[1786davycrockett]

@alluvz2fish 

You can't use eBay to print USPS First Class postage, since eBay does not receive discounted postage rates for USPS First Class envelopes.

As I stated earlier, just use a Forever stamp on a #6 envelope.

Since the shipment is going to Puerto Rico, you will need to hand it to a USPS counter employee, rather than to just drop it in the mail -- that should take care of any "customs" questions.

And I'm aware of the meaning of "contiguous" -- I simply find it odd that you are shipping by USPS First Class letter mail, but refusing to ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the American Virgin Islands, and other American states, territories, possessions, plus APO and FPO addresses -- when the cost of shipping USPS First Class envelopes is the same for all of them -- the cost of a single Forever stamp.

[alluvz2fish]

Sorry, this is the first time I am trying to sell stuff on eBay.  I really do not know what I am doing to be honest.  I just thought contiguous meant the lower 48.  I mostly buy stuff from eBay.  I sent the buyer an apology and explained I am new to selling.  I thought sending to the PR would cost more and I would have to fill out customs form.

If he responds, I will make it up and send him an extra set.  

Thank you very much for your help and taking the time to explain.  Please accept my apologies, I hope I was not out of line by trying to explain my position. 

[1786davycrockett]

@alluvz2fish 

Not a problem -- until you grow accustomed to all the ins and outs of USPS, it can indeed be confusing.

If you have any further questions to ask about eBay or USPS (or hundreds of other subjects -- really!), don't hesitate to come back to these boards for suggestions and assistance.

Most of us don't bite -- and some of us don't even have real teeth, anyway.

[alluvz2fish]

😂 You're awesome, thanks!

[nobody*s_perfect]

Indeed, PR is not part of the contiguous 48 states.  But if you want to exclude it, you have to do that formally in your site preferences; it's not effective to just state it in your listing Description.

https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

From your location in California, shipping to PR, Alaska, and Hawaii via USPS would cost the same as shipping to me here on the east coast, so even if you're using a shipping service with zoned pricing (such as Priority Mail or Ground Advantage) there's no cost justification for excluding those locations.

[kensgiftshop]

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@alluvz2fish wrote:

  My listing states "contiguous"… with means connected or touching.  Puerto Rico is not connected or touching, it is separated by water.  I do not understand why my account would be at risk?   Can you please explain. 

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Your description says that, but you don't have Puerto Rico excluded in your shipping.

[alluvz2fish]

Went to the post office today and handed the envelope to the USPS counter employee.  They felt the envelope and said, this is not a letter.   Therefore you cannot send it with the forever stamp.  Only letters up to a certain weight qualify with the forever stamp.  I had to pay $5.85 to ship it to Puerto Rico, that's more than $3 bucks extra out of my pocket. 😢

If I would've dropped the envelope in the mail shoot.  Pretty sure it would've been returned to me for insufficient postage.  In any case, I had no choice but to pay to ship it out.  I hope I do not get another buyer from Puerto Rico. 😬

[nobody*s_perfect]

 A "Forever" stamp is good for shipping a letter up to 1 ounce to any US state or territory. The $5.85 that you paid would cover a package up to 4 ounces to any Zone 8 location, including PR, Florida, Maine, etc.   

Your issue here is not the buyer's location -- it's the weight and/or the thickness of your package.   The item that you handed to the PO clerk was apparently too heavy and/or too thick to mail as a First Class letter.  A letter mailed with a Forever stamp has to be not more than 1/4 inch thick.

[bdmh-enterprises]

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@alluvz2fish wrote:

Went to the post office today and handed the envelope to the USPS counter employee.  They felt the envelope and said, this is not a letter.   Therefore you cannot send it with the forever stamp.  Only letters up to a certain weight qualify with the forever stamp.  I had to pay $5.85 to ship it to Puerto Rico, that's more than $3 bucks extra out of my pocket. 😢

If I would've dropped the envelope in the mail shoot.  Pretty sure it would've been returned to me for insufficient postage.  In any case, I had no choice but to pay to ship it out.  I hope I do not get another buyer from Puerto Rico. 😬

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That little emblem looks no bigger/thicker than a coin in sleeve which are allowed in letter mail. It would probably need more than a single forever stamp though (3oz is $1.29). IMO Unless it was over 3.5oz, sliding around loose in the envelope or encased in something stiffer than a greeting card it should be fine. Counter clerks tend to be better trained at up selling the shipping than actual mail regulations..