First Class Package Weights

[cypressgardensgroup]

Is there a way to filter the listings by package weight?

I sell used clothing - mostly mens dress shirts.  I have several hundred listings.

I need to adjust my rates for shipping policies using first class package rates.  I never had any luck using Ebay calculated rates for first class packages.  E-bay never seems to calculate the correct rates.  They frequently charged the seller less than my shipping cost - maybe I'm doing something wrong. 

As a workaround I took a several years' worth of shipping data and found an average flat rate that worked pretty well for me for a long period of time.  However, since the First Class package changes that went into effect in Jan 2023 using an average rate often resulted in losing money on a vast majority of the shipping transactions.

I'm looking for a simple solution.  My plan is to charge Zone 8-9 rate for each weight class to avoid losing money on shipping. 

All first-class packages rates 

1-4 oz = $4.13

5-8 oz = $4.44

9-12 oz = $5.33

13-15.99 oz = $6.78

The ability to filter listings by package weight would allow me to assign a shipping policy based on the package weight.

The rate table looks one possible solution, but I don't understand it how it works - it is way to complex. 

[wastingtime101]

Since you're charging a flat rate, what you can do is go to seller hub active listings page and click the "shipping cost" column - click the text in the gray menu bar. That will sort your listings based on ship cost. You can then select in bulk listings with the same rate and pull them into the bulk editor where you can update the rate for all listings.

But a simpler solution would be to switch to calculated shipping so you never have to manually change things and buyers in closer zones will not be overcharged.

If buyers were undercharged in the past, that means your listing was set up with a large envelope (aka letter/flat) package type instead of the correct selection of package/thick envelope.

Package type is not available on the new listing form so you can no longer edit that field, but if you switch over to calculated shipping it would be easy to look over your listings and see which, if any, are still set up with wrong data. Since you can no longer change package type you would have to create a new listing without using relist or sell similar which would carry over old data. The brand new listing will always default to package and not letter/flat.

Edit: You also mentioned editing the shipping policy. Are you using business policies? If you are then all you have to do is change the cost on the shipping policy and it will automatically update all associated listings. If you're not using business policies then technically you haven't set up a shipping policy, just shipping services/rates. I only call it out because using the term policy will often get you advice on using business policies which may not apply to you.

[monica-sells]

@cypressgardensgroup 

Sounds like you are making this harder than it needs to be...

....that being said, you couldn't do much better than @wastingtime101 

for shipping questions....very knowledgeable

for your limited category of shipping, it should be easy.....

(btw, I always put the item weight in the specifics just out of habit)

[cypressgardensgroup]

Thank you for your help.  I switched my 126 listings to a Calculated - USPS First Class

U.S shipping
Calculated: Cost varies by buyer location
Services
USPS First Class (2 to 5 business days)
Handling time : 1 business day
International shipping
No international shipping
Exclude shipping locations
Excluded Locations : No locations are excluded

But I'm not convinced the First Class calculated charges are working correctly.  

Go to this listing here:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/285069897041

If I ship to somebody in my same zip code (Winter Haven, FL) the cost will be $3.66.  If I click See Details link and change to zip code to 98101 (Seattle, WA) the cost will be $3.66.  

I get the same results if I open an incognito window or a different browser.

What am I doing wrong?

[wastingtime101]

That listing is set up with flat rate, not calculated shipping @cypressgardensgroup.

$3.66 is the online discounted rate. Many sellers prefer to charge retail rates because that adds in a cushion to help cover eBay fees sellers pay on shipping+tax, or it can go towards shipping supplies.

[monica-sells]

Are you sure you did the bulk listing change correctly? You got the confirmation pop-up window confirming you changed 126 items?

If you look (edit) the listing you linked above, does your shipping indicate the proper oprions....or are your shippings being controlled by policies?

I spot checked your stuff and it is showing incorrect rates

if you're not sure what i am after, can you get a screen shot of your shipping area (domestic)?

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@cypressgardensgroup wrote:... I'm not convinced the First Class calculated charges are working correctly.  

Go to this listing here:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/285069897041

If I ship to somebody in my same zip code (Winter Haven, FL) the cost will be $3.66.  If I click See Details link and change to zip code to 98101 (Seattle, WA) the cost will be $3.66.  

I get the same results if I open an incognito window or a different browser.

What am I doing wrong?

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It seems that listing is set up to charge for a flat (AKA Large envelope) rather than for a package.

This example is confusing because $3.66 is the postage cost for an 11-ounce flat, but also is the online postage cost to ship a First  Class package up to 4 ounces to Zone 3. 

As noted in another post, the new eBay listing form does not give sellers the option to list their First Class items as a letter, flat (AKA Large envelope) or package, so there's no way to fix a listing that has defaulted to charge the Large envelope rate.

[krazzykats]

Maybe I'm wrong but seems size has very little to do with first-class postage costs.

up to 4 oz 12"x12"x12"

8oz 12"x12"x12"

12oz 12"x12"x12"

up to 16oz 12"x12"x12"

Covers everything that I ship first class across all zones.

I weighed my packaging separately, and add that to the weight of the item.  

[wastingtime101]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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This example is confusing because $3.66 is the postage cost for an 11-ounce flat, but also is the online postage cost to ship a First  Class package up to 4 ounces to Zone 3. 

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Good catch!

So that means @cypressgardensgroup any listing showing an incorrect rate likely has to be ended and you'll need to start a brand new listing. You can copy/paste description, title, etc. But do not relist or sell similar as that will carry over the old package data from the original listing as noted in my first reply above.

[wastingtime101]

It appears OP changed their listings back to flat rate and put in zone 8/9 pricing.

I'd suggest @cypressgardensgroup taking a look at the link in my signature because offering flat rate shipping means you may have to manually adjust some rates when First Class service changes in early July.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@krazzykats wrote:

Maybe I'm wrong but seems size has very little to do with first-class postage costs.

up to 4 oz 12"x12"x12".... 

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Dimensions up to 1 cubic foot have no effect on any USPS costs.  Even above one cubic foot, First Class packages are not subject to the dreaded "dimensional weight."

[cypressgardensgroup]

Correct - I changed all my listings based on 8/9 zone pricing.  I'm not convinced the calculated pricing is working correctly for first class packages.   It took about 2 hours to edit my listings with the new packages.   In July if the First Class prices do change I'll change the Business Policies at that time to reflect the new rates.  

On the example I gave earlier Ebay calculated the first-class pricing for one of my shirts sold to a Zone 8-9 customer at $3.75 .  The actual first class rate should have been $6.78.   Thats a difference of $3.13 per order.  If I get 100 orders from Zone 8-9 I have to absorb $313.    I used PirateShip.com to confirm the correct rates.

Maybe I'm missing setting somewhere.  But I know from my experience as a e-commerce product manager that there are probably thousands of other who struggling with the same issue.

At the end of the day I need to at least break even on shipping.  

Thank you for your assistance on helping me work through this.  I do appreciate it. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@cypressgardensgroup wrote: ... Maybe I'm missing setting somewhere. ...

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The shipping calculators in those listings were set up to charge buyers for a First Class flat (AKA Large envelopes) rather than for packages.

[Anonymous]

For USPS First Class Package Service you will first need to decide how you intend to bill customers.

That starts with your eBay preferences.

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

Are going to charge customers the retail rate of the commercial rate?

If you charge the commercial rate that means you are losing money on shipping as eBay charges FVF on shipping. You will then need to increase the price of each item by a percentage of the FVF on shipping - 20% should cover all categories for the foreseeable future. Each time there is a rate increase then you will have to adjust your pricing to account for the higher FVF on the higher shipping. This is a huge waste of man hours!

A better plan is to charge customers the retail rate and pay the commercial rate. The difference pays the FVF fee on the shipping. You do not have to edit your listings when rates go up as eBay will automatically calculate the new rates.

If you plan to charge customers the retail rate you can't enter a weight above 13 ounces because the retail rate is limited to 13 ounces. Any packages with a 14 or 15.999 rate would be charged a Priority Mail rate for 1 pound. Any packages with a weight of 13 to 15.999 ounces should use a weight of 13 ounces in the listing if you are charging customers the retail rate - you then purchase a label using the actual weight at the commercial rate.

You can override your eBay settings in some cases on individual listings such as using Parcel Select on a listing when your eBay setting are set to charge retail rates.

I use a third party listing application. I don't add any package sizes for USPS packages unless its above a cubic foot or exceeds 22" in length. eBay will assume its below those thresholds if left blank. As 99% of packages are below such thresholds that saves huge amount of labor.

Package sizes are used for UPS, but I use them rarely and only for large items. Since UPS commercial rates can be as much as 70% below retail I have UPS set to retail. I then calculate the highest possible shipping costs based on the Lower 48 states and add 20% of this to the price of the item to cover FVF on shipping. This is based upon a zip code located in Zone 7 as that represents the highest shipping cost. I exclude Alaska & Hawaii for UPS Ground as its so much higher and the 20% added would need to be based on these much higher costs, thus scaring off buyers in the Lower 48.

Real simple.