Low buyer shipping costs on kitchen knives

[dansonlinedeals]

All of our kitchen knives under the House and Garden category list with very low USPS First Class shipping costs. Buyers are paying as little as $1.50 for a 2 - 4 oz package that costs us over $3.00 to ship!

I’ve been complaining to EBay for about 1 year now, but so far they haven’t done anything about it. The USPS will not ship the smallest package even a mile away for less than $4.75!

Is anyone else experiencing this? Has anyone else complained about it?

[kensgiftshop]

It sounds like you have them set for First Class envelope and it should be package.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

$1.50 is the correct postage cost for a 2-ounce flat (AKA Large envelope).  The eBay listing form used to have an option to choose "package type" as letter, flat, or package, but these options have disappeared from the newest version of the listing form.  So the only way to set up a listing which doesn't contain this carryover error would be to start a new listing from scratch -- don't use relist or "sell similar."  eBay has been aware of this issue for at least a year.

If you purchase your postage through eBay (or anywhere else online), then the cost for a First Class package up to 4 ounces would be $3.59 - $4.13 depending on distance, whereas (as you noted) the retail pricing starts at $4.75.

[1786davycrockett]

@dansonlinedeals 

Yes, USPS shipping charges are expensive -- and they'll be increasing again on July 9, and again in early 2024.

But eBay has no power to force USPS to lower shipping costs -- USPS is a semi-independent agency, regulated by the United States government.

Perhaps you need to raise your prices -- there can't be much of a profit selling kitchen knives at $1.50 each.

[dansonlinedeals]

Yes, I change it from “Letter” to “Package”, but when I go back into the item in edit mode it has reverted back to “Letter”. I’ve advised EBay of this every time I call them to complain. 

[dansonlinedeals]

The $1.50 is the SHIPPING COST for the buyer. 

[myfrugalboutique]

You can shipping nothing for $1.50. I don’t know where you are getting $1.50 for a flat  envelope first class   That is incorrect  . I ship a lot of first class packages, and based on zone now, the lowest is approximately $3.50 and up. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@myfrugalboutique wrote:

You can shipping nothing for $1.50. I don’t know where you are getting $1.50 for a flat  envelope first class  ...

---

I'm getting it from the official USPS rates publication, Notice 123.  As I mentioned above, letters, flats, and packages are separate categories of First Class postage.  Among other criteria, flats must be flexible and not over 3/4 inch thick.

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

[ms.rodriguez*]

You need to change it to first class package  and charge at least 4.00 .  The lowest label that I printed was $3.81 to a nearby state. I get a shipping discount.  This same box would be about a dollar more at the post office.

If you leave it like that, then you need to add the extra shipping cost to the starting price of the knives.

[myfrugalboutique]

https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=Flats

You might want to read this. Knives do not qualify. 1/4 “ thick. 

[myfrugalboutique]

Not 3/4 “ thick.   1/4” . This is Incorrect and you need to pay the proper postage. Everyone complains about postal rates, and then when items are shipped with the incorrect postage everyone pays for misuse. 

[myfrugalboutique]

Wrong 

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@myfrugalboutique wrote:

https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=Flats

You might want to read this. Knives do not qualify. 1/4 “ thick. 

---

Thank you for the link. An envelope with a knife would not be eligible to be mailed as a flat because it would not be flexible.  The page that you linked to says, "Be no more than 12 inches high x 15 inches long x ¾ inch thick"  and has this chart:

[myfrugalboutique]

Sorry, you are wrong. If you continue to misinterpret the postal regulations, it has an effect on all of us. 

I have shipping thousands of first class envelopes in 22 years, and I can assure you that what you are interpreting is not correct. If you go to the shipping options on eBay that is not even an options. 

I am calling  our post office when they open.

FYI. KNIVES WOULD NOT QUALIFY, they also must be machinable scanned. 

To be classified as a flat, a mail piece must also:

• be flexible enough to go through postal sorting equipment. For example, a carton, hard-cover book, or an envelope with contents that cannot bend is a "parcel" even if it fits the dimensions for a flat.
• not be "lumpy". The thickness may not vary more than ¼" except within 1" of the edges.

[dansonlinedeals]

I’ve changed it, but it reverts back. Gonna try new listing without using existing listing as template - list similar item. See if that works. 

Thanks!