How do I get the best rate for Economy Shipping (USPS Parcel Select Ground)?

[westlake68]

I'd greatly appreciate some help with a shipping rate question.  I'm wanting to sell an item that weighs 7 lbs.  I found another ebayer that is selling the same item which ships Economy Shipping (USPS Parcel Select Ground).  When I request the shipping rate from their location to mine within that listing it indicates the cost of shipping would be $11.41.  However, when I specify the same shipping service in my listing and specify their zip code as a test I get a rate of $22.43.  They also offer FedEx Smart Post and that shipping rate matches between their listing and the test for my listing.  I'm a Top Rated seller and print my labels through ebay.  Should I be able to get the same lower shipping rate?  Is there something I need to sign up for to get the better rate for this service?  Do I need to sign up for some program with USPS?  Or do I not qualify because I don't do enough volume?  Thank you.

[sam9876]

You should use Priority Mail or UPS Ground.

[westlake68]

Appreciate the response but those services are no cheaper in the calculator than the rate I get for my test listing for USPS Parcel Select Ground. And, still nowhere near as cheap as the other listing when shipping from them to me.

[nobody*s_perfect]

You are being charged the "Balloon" rate, which is for packaegs with a length-plus-girth over 84 inches. Apparently the other listing has a smaller package.

[scga912]

Parcel Select prices for 7 lbs ranges $8.04 to $27.03. 

Priority Commercial Plus (TRS pricing) ranges from $7.80 to $26.23.

I did not see any price of $11.41 for USPS a 7 lb package.  $11.41 is the Commercial Plus Priority and Parcel Select Ground pricing for 9 lbs to Zone 4.

$22.43 is the price for 20 lbs Zone 4 Parcel Select or Priority... or Balloon Rate.

You don't mention the size of the box.

[westlake68]

Size of my box is 37 x 27 x 4. That isn't a huge price difference between the Parcel Select prices and TRS pricing ranges so how can my shipping price for Parcel Select be twice as much as the listing I'm comparing to. Their box size can't be that much different than mine. It's a big item. What is a balloon rate? My total girth would be 68" for those dimensions. Correct? Previous response indicated that anything with a total girth over 84" qualifies for a balloon rate. Is that correct?

[westlake68]

My package size is 37 x 27 x 4 which should be a total girth of 68". Correct? Don't you just add all three dimensions to come up with the total girth? Their package can't be much smaller than my dimensions because it's a sizable item.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

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@westlake68 wrote:
My package size is 37 x 27 x 4 which should be a total girth of 68". Correct? Don't you just add all three dimensions to come up with the total girth? ...

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"Girth" is the distance around the package.  The length-plus-girth of your package is 37 + (27 + 4 + 27 + 4) = 99 inches.

[westlake68]

Thank you for the clarification on how to properly calculate the girth. I played with the dimensions in the shipping calculator and got it down to 84" and confirmed that the pricing did drop significantly. I do appreciate everyone's time in helping me with this. Trick now is finding a box that will work now to ship these items. Item packaging dimensions are 31 x 18 x 2. The shipping box dimensions I listed above was the smallest I could find that would work for shipping this item. I guess I'll look more.

[joem4stuff]

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@westlake68 wrote:
Size of my box is 37 x 27 x 4.

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Shippers now use dimensional weight and that is a big box.

According to the FedEx calculator it has a dimensional weight of 29 lb so you will pay the rate for 29 lb even if it weighs 7 lb.

If the other seller is only charging $11.41 he is either a very big customer of the shipper and getting a very low rate or, maybe he is purchasing shipping from a service that has a very good rates. More likely, he may have misquoted the rate or is using it as a selling point and absorbing the loss.