Title. Currently on minute 33 of call with eBay support. I have had 5 orders over the past week and a half that are confirmed by USPS as eligible to be shipped as a large envelope (a flat). I have tried to create a business policy with only this service as an option, and repeatedly, once someone places an order and I go to purchase the label the option is defaulted to ground every single time. Shipping is offered free so there is no buyer selection, in fact there's only one selection.
I've been told just now by eBay customer support that they are discontinuing this specific service as an option offered. I'm now at minute 50 and apparently the USPS came to the conclusion to remove this offering to eBay sellers for over a year now. After minute 60 my phone call is done. Neither they nor myself have been able to identify an announcement or carification regarding this issue.
I have no place to say what service should or shouldn't exist on the platform. However, if I select a shipping option during the listing, and furthermore create an entire business policy with this sole selection, I am going to expect it as an option to purchase my label upon an order being placed and payment completed.
Apparently if I an ebay seller wishes to use this service they must pay for postage at the post office. This is not an unreasonable method. However, there has not been any disclaimer indicating that this is the case. The ability to select to ship an item as a flat remains in the listing workflow, the business policies, and to quote from eBay's most recent announcement regarding the seasonal rate increases posted on the 21st of October:
"Even with these increases, you’ll still see significant savings purchasing your labels on eBay. The eBay shipping calculator will automatically display the new rates on October 27, and we’ll continue to keep you updated on carrier rates throughout the season."
This statement is inconsistent with the information displayed in the user interface, which also conflicts with the news I have been told by ebay customer support.
There are several issues I have with this, aside from the fact that I felt compelled to pay a higher rate due to information not being available. Outside of my inability to receive compensation for paying more for shipping than required, despite the option to ship as a large envelope with the USPS remaining an available option to select during the creation of a listing, this lack of disclosure has the ability for a buyer to exploit the "does not match description" dispute option if they wanted to. If I said I was to ship via a singular and specific service, but then proceeded to ship it as a different service, this technically makes my listing description inaccurate, as I cannot make the disclaimer that "I may use a different service," if that isn't true and I am not aware that you cant even use the feature that is still an option to select. Basically, it provides the potential for my service metrics, my report rate, and my wallet to be negatively impacted.
My last point that I will end on: Why am I unable to purchase a label to ship as a large envelope when ebay offers not only their standard evelope's, but offer branded, large envelopes for sale. I find it unacceptable that a shipping option remains if it is no longer offered to ebay sellers by the USPS, especially when there is no way for me to have known that unless I were to come to the conclusion that I could not rely on ebays calculated prices for shipping. I don't believe it is on the USPS to disseminate this information either, that should be the job of the marketplace.
Is there a reference that I am completely missing that formally discloses this? Has anyone else on here realized this? Regardless of if you agree with me or not, I am very curious to hear what other sellers have to say about this situation. Should there be an option to list an itme for shipment as a large envelope if there is no explanation that this needs to be purchased at the post office while at the same time allowing me to purchase shipping at the ground rate in which it defaults to for double the price?
