New to Shipping

[trueave]

I need advice. I see different sellers on Ebay having  items for sale  that has parcel select shipping and others at economy shipping. What is the difference and which is cheaper for a five pound item in a box that measures 5x5x5 inches. Thanks

[nobody*s_perfect]

"Economy" isn't a specific service; it's just a category.  eBay uses that term to describe the slower services, usually ground-based, including Parcel Select, Retail Ground, Media Mail, etc.

For a  package that is under 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches), you'll find that Parcel Select costs about the same as the online rate for Priority Mail, which of course buyers would prefer because it's so much faster.

You can compare rates using eBay's shipping calculator. Note that you can choose to have it show either retail ("in store") rates or online ("eBay") rates.

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

[anthology-of-treasures]

• It does not appear that you are Top Rated thus eBay is giving you $50 insurance and commercial pricing.
• When you become Top Rated you get $100 insurance and commercial pricing less 3%.
• It makes no sense to use eBay labels when you are Top Rated. Instead, signup for a free acount with pirateship. Pirateship will give $100 insurance, commercial pricing and cubic pricing for small items. Cubic pricing is not offered by eBay and may give you lower pricing than regular priority mail or flat rate boxes - it all depends on the weight, size of the box, and buyer's zip. You can import your eBay orders there and tracking numbers are automatically sent to eBay.
• https://www.pirateship.com/usps/shipping-calculator
• After you are Top Rated switch to eBay labels to get the 3%. Pirateship's cubic pricing may still be cheaper for certain packages. eBay also does not always give you the 3% discount even though you are Top Rated thus pirateship costs the same - I guess this is another one of eBay's millions of "glitches" they can't seem to fix with billions of dollars and thousands of employees.
• A 5" x 5" x 5" box seems a little too small:
  • https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/Q201e.htm#1009536
• If you print your labels two per 8.5." x 11" sheet you are going to have problems finding enough surface area on that 5" x 5" x 5" box to attach the label across a flat plane. You'll have to downsize your label somewhat. Can you put the box in a larger envelope to increase the surface area for the label? You can easily toughen up a manilla envelope so that it does not tear by covering it with 2" tape on the outside before putting you box inside. Can you fit this inside a padded flat rate bubble mailer if that rate is cheaper for the buyer's location? Alternatively switch to a slightly larger box. When my supply of free small boxes form stores are running low I use a 6" x 6" x 4" box that I bought in bulk for $.25 each or less.

[anthology-of-treasures]

Third paragraph has typo. Should be: "It makes no sense to use eBay labels when you are not Top Rated.

[johnrj1226]

Yes  it  does make sense to use eBay  labels vs a 3 rd part.  It is called the convenience factor - all trackign  number are auto up loaded to teh  sales file, receive the commercial rate discount, receive the $50 loss/damage insurance on Priority Mail insurance from USPS if you wish added insurance for more expensive  Priority shipments  or insurance for First Class Package or Parcel Select/Ground eBay does  offer Ship Cover insurance at a rate less than USPS. Plus reduced  possibility  something  can  go wrong in the  importing process of information.   When things  do go wrong no one  takes the blame - they  call that finger pointing time.  The K.I.S.S. factor is always the best choice in my book - the  last S is Sam or Samantha not that other derogatory word.

  Have bought all my labels for our eBay  sales thru eBay and  have yet to have an issue, except  for operator error (aka Me).    Our  ave sales over  1527 shipments  has been in the  $25 -30  range plus S & H fee (don't do Free Ship).  So the $50 coverage for Priority Shipments from USPS is adequate.  99%  of our shipments are via Priority Mail.  if I want or need coverage more I buy Ship Cover insurance via eBay.

I like one stop selling and shopping too.