How many of you use Regional Rate B USPS boxes; no longer an option on the New Shipping Screen.

[getitright1234]

How many of you use Regional Rate B USPS boxes; it’s no longer an option under the New Shipping Screen.

I have items that fit perfectly into a Regional Rate B Box, yet it appears it is no longer an option under the New Shipping Screen, for now I can use the classic shipping screen to get Regional Rate B shipping, and that is what I will do, but what happens when the old Shipping Screen is gone.     

I read where eBay has removed some shipping options from Sellers and Buyers; in my opinion, this is not a good thing; most Sellers want to have all the options available to them.   I recently learned if you are selling a Book and you listed it in Collectibles, because it’s a collectible "Book", you can no longer select Media mail postage, when in fact the "Book" is legit for Media mail shipping. 

 In the above case, if the Buyer paid for Media, why should the Seller have to lose money by paying out of their pocket the extra for Priority?  And, in my case when I use Regional rate B boxes, I am able to list my Buyer's shipping cost at a better rate, yet after they made such purchase, I now have to dance back to the old shipping label system to process the shipping label.  

 The limited postage selection compromises the Sellers' being ability to ship the item out timely, Sellers are now forced to unnecessarily overpay for postage only because someone else thought they knew better. And, their will be Sellers who will go back to the Buyer and ask for more shipping money.   It now takes multiple steps to get the correct shipping label because we have to go from new system to old system to get the features that is better for us and the Buyer.  This whole process is scary, inefficient, and becoming more expensive for the Buyer and Seller.  ..............................We need someone to take a second look at this and make revisions. 

[poppyswag]

 Just asked this last week on the Shipping & Returns discussion board. The answer is you can still get the Regionals (A&B) on the dropdown, IF there is no weight or dimensions filled in at the top.

The rates went way up on the Regionals with this last hike too.  Sadly, I have a feeling they are on the way out.

The new ebay shipping page is an absolute nightmare in so many ways I can't even count. The latest edit actually made it worse.

[dhbookds]

yep, I still have it...........

[ekmadonna]

Never anymore! I used to use a fair amount 3-5 years ago but like Poppyswag stated the rates ballooned up so much on them they are worthless and cost prohibited now.

[poppyswag]

Yes. The trick is you have to manually delete any weight or dimensional info to actually see them in the dropdown. Otherwise, they don't show. 

[poppyswag]

Had a few Regional C boxes hanging around I used occasionally (stickered over the "C") - but the new dimensional rates are so brutal I probably will never use them up.

Recently had a 60 lb order that shipped $20 cheaper using 5 large flat rates than one box. Heavy pottery, but still ridiculous. No wonder our cross country business is shattered.

[calntom]

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@poppyswag wrote:

Had a few Regional C boxes hanging around I used occasionally (stickered over the "C") - but the new dimensional rates are so brutal I probably will never use them up.

Recently had a 60 lb order that shipped $20 cheaper using 5 large flat rates than one box. Heavy pottery, but still ridiculous. No wonder our cross country business is shattered.

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Check on UPS Ground prices for anything over 5 lbs.  

[Anonymous]

I just shipped a "B" box the other day and did as the others have said, just leave the weight blank. When setting up a listing I always choose plain priority with no A, B, or flat rate designator then once sold I choose it at label printing time.

My last sold item fit perfectly in a 12 inch "B" box and weighted 7 lbs but only cost $9.40 to a zone 4 - to a zone 8 it would have been twice that but not until you hit 21 lbs does a large flat rate become cheaper.

[disneyshopper]

I use a lot of the Regional Rate A boxes.  I set up my listings for a 2# box so the shipping costs look more reasonable for those buyers in zones 5-8.  When I go to print my labels, I have to select the option to SEE CARRIER PACKAGING (whatever the wording is) in order to see the option to select the regional A or B box.

[anthology-of-treasures]

You may want to read this:

https://support.pirateship.com/en/articles/1831652-why-you-shouldn-t-use-priority-mail-regional-rate

eBay does not offer cubic pricing. eBay offers different pricing levels for Top Rated and Not Top Rated sellers.

Pirateship's cubic pricing may be cheaper even with eBay's fake* 3% discount on commercial rates.

*Its fake because they are charging you FVF on the shipping - its really a partial rebate on the FVF. Pirateship does not charge any fees.

The whole process is about raising prices for buyers so eBay makes more money off FVF.

eBay managers are only concerned about getting their bonuses! They do not care about the long term effects on eBay, you, or your customers. Long term these actions will further kill off this venue. So far their plans to catch up with Amazon (which they uses ot laugh at) haven't worked out so well. That is because they are only concerned about short term goals that reward them.

[Anonymous]

I read the article on pirateship and double-checked my math and still can not come up with a cheaper USPS alternative to a regional B box, even the free shoebox they mentioned in the story would have cost me $14.80 vs the $9.40 I paid?

I don't disagree that there may be cheaper alternatives but I don't have the time or energy to entertain a 3rd world sockpuppet company that requires you to "signup" to see your special price.

[poppyswag]

General Reply - 

Another trap on the new page is - make sure after you X out the weight ebay hasn't automatically filled in 1 oz back in the ounce weight window - even after you "update". I am finding I have to "update" twice to get it to zero out.

This can make the rate go up a pound increment. For instance - 5 lbs can actually be the 6 lb rate because they keep sneaking 1 oz in there.    FACE PALM!!!

[fern*wood]

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@anthology-of-treasures wrote:

*Its fake because they are charging you FVF on the shipping - its really a partial rebate on the FVF. Pirateship does not charge any fees.

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You still pay the FVF on the shipping cost when the buyer pays even if you use Pirateship.