Is it okay to ship package using USPS first class package if buyer paid priority mail package fees?

[ten_to_twelve]

I recently sold an item that is 9 oz .  I can send it at a lower cost if I ship it first class package (I am assuming here). My listing was advertised shipping via priority Mail package... a few $$ more than first class. 

I am not a huge business so every $$ counts. My question: is it okay to change shipping service if it would save money or do I have to stick to what was stated my in listing? 

[aproudparent2010]

I don't think anyone else has mentioned it but your feedback score is already  90.9%.

Another bad feedback and your selling days are over.

[robot-hands]

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@aproudparent2010 wrote:

I don't think anyone else has mentioned it but your feedback score is already  90.9%.

Another bad feedback and your selling days are over.

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Feedback is not longer counted by ebay as an account metric and seeing as how all the new ebay buyers don't read or look at pictures I doubt anyone will see it.

[7606dennis]

I would advise shipping by the advertised method always.

[flyinhawaiiangirl]

I have found it best to package the item up as if you were to ship it tomorrow so you can get an accurate weight and size, use the shipping calculators on the usps website and figure about what it's going to cost to ship outright before posting your item. You can unpack and store prior to actual shipping if better for item that way. I tend to base my shipping prices on the best flat rate box option. Many of my items can go padded flat rate which is $8, without the ebay discount, for whatever will fit inside up to 70 lbs.

I will post my items choosing Priority Mail vs the Flat Rate however because that leaves the option open to send without Flat Rate Materials OR with the Flat Rate Box/Envelopes. All are considered Priority Mail, but it gives a bit of option once you have an actual address to send it to.

Anything under 1lb. packaged is listed First Class, and it will show the buyer the same average arrival dates. This method always worked for me in the past, if that helps at all for future listings. I list most things free shipping now anyway and regardless of if I choose First Class or Priority, the expected date to the buyer is relatively the same.

My disclaimer is I don't do high volume by any means. I just sell random whatever didn't work for me for whatever reason and stuff around the house. Other sellers with more experience and actual stores know what they're talking about. It's much better to ask yourself how you would feel if you were to catch onto that as a buyer. Would it matter to you? If your answer is yes,. then you know your answer. If your answer is no, it's a roll of the dice. A few bucks? I see bad odds. That's just my two cents.

[berserkerplanet]

>> keep in mind that the flat rate envelopes are also priority and may be cheaper, depending on distance.

Priority Mail (flat rate or zoned) is NEVER cheaper than First Class package.

If you were trying to say that PM Flat rate envelopes may be cheaper than Priority mail zoned, then carry on.

[berserkerplanet]

Everyone in thew almost 20 replies so far has focused on ethics and implications, but not actual current policy.

Yes, you should provide the service the buyer paid for and you promised (ethical issue), but you ARE NOT required to by eBay policy.

Shipping an item via First Class Pkg when the listing indicated, and buyer paid for Priority Mail is NOT a "not as described" situation as far as eBay is concerned. (no idea how PayPal interprets that situation these days)

However, delivery beyond the eBay stated estimated delivery date can be not as described. That can happen with Priority Mail, Express Mail, or First Class Pkg, but is more likely to occur the slower the service.

Additionally, if delivered late, a buyer is more likely to be bent about it when they also see that a lesser delivery service was used, more likely to leave negative feedback, and more likely to raise a stink and possibly demand a return or compensation.

So although you don't HAVE TO ship using the stated and paid for service, it is ethically the right choice and generally a good idea to reduce friction with buyers.

[green-night]

Everyone in thew almost 20 replies so far has focused on ethics and implications, but not actual current policy.

Yes, you should provide the service the buyer paid for and you promised (ethical issue), but you ARE NOT required to by eBay policy.

Shipping an item via First Class Pkg when the listing indicated, and buyer paid for Priority Mail is NOT a "not as described" situation as far as eBay is concerned. (no idea how PayPal interprets that situation these days)

I have a different take on it. 

While the entire 'ethical' debate can rage on,   the OP could technically ship FC even though though they advertised PM and I'd bet most buyers wouldn't know the difference (and as you say eBay would not recognize as NAD). 

Whether it is kosher with eBay depends on if the buyer offered PM and was flagged as guaranteed delivery.  A buyer who had their eye on that could complain and the OP would indeed be on the hook (to refund the original shipping). 

[evry1nositswindy]

@berserkerplanet  No,no I was saying that flat rate products are often cheaper than shipping traditional priority not first class.  That is why I mentioned the distance.  First class is the same no matter how far it goes.  No so with priority.

[berserkerplanet]

>>No,no I was saying that flat rate products are often cheaper than shipping traditional priority not first class

In the context of the OP and your statement I was afraid it was the latter. I pointed it out because noobs tend to latch on to statements like that and stay misinformed.

>>First class is the same no matter how far it goes

Don't know how you missed the 2019 rate changes and the howls of despair that started back in October, but starting 1/27/19 First Class Pkg (Commercial and Retail) is now zoned the same as all the other USPS services

[johnrj1226]

Would think the added value of Priority Mail is mostly beneficial to the seller - i.e. no cost insurance coverage for loss/damage up to $50 or $100 for TR+ seller, free Priority boxes/envelopes, free home pick-up service.

Always thought Implied Value had something to do with a companies stock profitability or net income and number of outstanding  stock shares  etc.  There is a formula to calculate this as I recall.  And there is another formula to caluclatefor an IPO.

To travel in 1-3 days anywhere within the US (including Alaska & Hawaii) would involve some sort of air travel - hard to travel via surface transportation coast to coast in 3 days including the time spent in those sort facilities at  both ends and some others along the way.

[pjsmith2719]

No. The buyer may of wanted it quicker than first class. Even if it was slower the buyer paid for Priority you send it Priority.

[orangehound]

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@green-night wrote:

While the entire 'ethical' debate can rage on,   the OP could technically ship FC even though though they advertised PM and I'd bet most buyers wouldn't know the difference (and as you say eBay would not recognize as NAD). 

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^^ This is the golden point.  Buyer's don't see a shipping service like "Priority Mail" or "First Class Package", unless they bother to dig down and explore the shipping method ... or the seller set up different shipping methods and the buyer specifically chose PM over FC.

What most buyer's encounter is an obscured description of shipping, with terms like "Fast-n-Free" or "Expedited Shipping" or "Standard Shipping".

I'm all for high-quality customer service, but also reasonable customer service.  I think there has been widespread abuse heaped on sellers by eBay to the point that too many sellers fear punishment for even the slightest "i" not dotted ... I get that.  But, if a seller gets to that point, eBay selling will be dark and unpleasant.

Bottom line, if a seller gets the item to me safely and in a quick time frame, I don't care if they had a donkey deliver it.  Both PM and FC are great shipping services ... and they arrive probably 99.5% of the time on the exact same day, and 99.9% of the time within a day of each another.

So, if I made a listing mistake by listing PM rather than FC, I would have no trouble substituting FC for PM if the item's sale price was, say, under $50.  I would pack it securely and beautifully, slap a FC label on it, and not think another thing of it ... Why?  Because I'm getting that item to my customer safely and quickly using a safe and quick shipping service.

[a_c_green]

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@orangehound wrote:

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@green-night wrote:

While the entire 'ethical' debate can rage on,   the OP could technically ship FC even though though they advertised PM and I'd bet most buyers wouldn't know the difference (and as you say eBay would not recognize as NAD). 

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^^ This is the golden point.  Buyer's don't see a shipping service like "Priority Mail" or "First Class Package", unless they bother to dig down and explore the shipping method ... or the seller set up different shipping methods and the buyer specifically chose PM over FC.

What most buyer's encounter is an obscured description of shipping, with terms like "Fast-n-Free" or "Expedited Shipping" or "Standard Shipping".

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That's true, but "Expedited Shipping" is Priority Mail, and "Standard Shipping" is First Class Package. There's no gray area here. If the listing states Priority Mail, then it ships Priority Mail, and if the listing states First Class Package, then it ships First Class Package. 

<desk_bell> *ding!*

Next crisis, please! 

[orangehound]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@orangehound wrote:

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@green-night wrote:

While the entire 'ethical' debate can rage on,   the OP could technically ship FC even though though they advertised PM and I'd bet most buyers wouldn't know the difference (and as you say eBay would not recognize as NAD). 

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^^ This is the golden point.  Buyer's don't see a shipping service like "Priority Mail" or "First Class Package", unless they bother to dig down and explore the shipping method ... or the seller set up different shipping methods and the buyer specifically chose PM over FC.

What most buyer's encounter is an obscured description of shipping, with terms like "Fast-n-Free" or "Expedited Shipping" or "Standard Shipping".

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That's true, but "Expedited Shipping" is Priority Mail, and "Standard Shipping" is First Class Package. There's no gray area here. If the listing states Priority Mail, then it ships Priority Mail, and if the listing states First Class Package, then it ships First Class Package. 

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Yes, I know that is how it is configured/defined in the listings ... and that First Class Package gets the "standard shipping" label.  But (like all things "eBay") we sellers get mixed messages.  For example, on the new shipping option page, First Class Package is now listed as an option for "Expedited Shipping".

Anyway ... yeah ... you're right ... next crisis.  🙂

[aproudparent2010]

OP you only offered Priority as an option if you want to ship First Class then make that an option......your listing clearly says even in description that you will ship by Priority Mail.