eBay

zirbco · ‎07-10-2019

Ebay, isn't there anything you can try to negotiate with USPS to get the instore retail ground rate and the online Parcel Select rates to match up? Ebay have you noticed a common 16x12x12 box has literally tripled in price? Both services are ground and not air and I don't understand why this is occurring. Seems like a step back to third world shipping to have to hand write shipping labels and pay instore with Retail Ground when we could just do the work ourselves online and not tie up there staff in Post Offices and have the tracking number automatically insert to the listing. Many sellers live very rural and the only option is USPS. This is basically killing any business and businesses that ship larger items. I'd like to see Ebay comment on this as it's ridiculous and what if anything have they tried to do on this issue.

7606dennis · ‎07-10-2019

I'm not sure that eBay has enough clout to negotiate such a thing with the USPS. Of course, I've heard that the dimensional weight rate does not apply to items shipped USPS ground when purchased retail at the PO counter. Perhaps standing in line is worth it if your PO isn't a super busy one.

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

rabbitation84 · ‎07-10-2019

I just noticed this today, when a buyer paid $42 for a 16x12x11 package that should have cost $23. Priority Mail was actually less! I hadn't heard a word about it and wondered if I had missed something. This will kill my sales of larger items to the majority of zones. I guess I'll be limiting the sales of larger items even more. Someone needs to fix this.

johnrj1226 · ‎07-11-2019

You need to talk to USPS they set the retail & commercial rates. The dimensional weight pricing only applied to a couple shipping zones for a long time - I'm certain there are people in rural area in those zones too, now it applies to all zones. Learned my lesson when I shipped a western hat from Georgia to California - thought I was shipping a a brick of gold for what I was charged. Now if it can't fit in a 1728 cu. in. box I don't sell or ship.

eBay announced a couple times this was coming here is the latest announcement.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/USPS-dimensional-weight-changing-in-June/ba-p/29842834

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csbbct · ‎08-09-2019

@zirbco wrote:
Ebay, isn't there anything you can try to negotiate with USPS to get the instore retail ground rate and the online Parcel Select rates to match up? Ebay have you noticed a common 16x12x12 box has literally tripled in price? Both services are ground and not air and I don't understand why this is occurring. Seems like a step back to third world shipping to have to hand write shipping labels and pay instore with Retail Ground when we could just do the work ourselves online and not tie up there staff in Post Offices and have the tracking number automatically insert to the listing. Many sellers live very rural and the only option is USPS. This is basically killing any business and businesses that ship larger items. I'd like to see Ebay comment on this as it's ridiculous and what if anything have they tried to do on this issue.

This happened to me for the first time today! I noticed the Retail Ground price on the USPS website for a package 14x14x10 was $19.73 but buying online using Parcel Select was $35.93! Parcel Select is the same service as Retail Ground except for it being purchased online and always used to be slightly less than buying at the post office.

orangehound · ‎08-09-2019

@7606dennis wrote:
I'm not sure that eBay has enough clout to negotiate such a thing with the USPS..

At eBay Open this year, it was reported that 15% of USPS business comes from eBay. That is some serious clout.

Remember, it was eBay that lobbied and got the USPS e-Packet service so that China sellers could have cheap, tracked shipping to the USA. Also, we know in prior years they said that they "negotiated with the USPS for lower rates". Up until 2019, eBay just pockets the profit, and charges sellers normal on-line rates we can get with any other on-line service ... but, beginning in 2019, they started shaving 3% off Priority Mail for Top Rated Sellers ... because they indeed have the "clout" to get lower rates.

eBay really needs to be working the USPS for better rates. The OP is correct ... because of eBay's clout, there is no reason the USPS could not grant their Retail Ground rates to eBay sales, and waive the Zone 1-4 hazardous requirement.

pjcdn2005 · ‎08-09-2019

Dimensional rates came into affect in the late June. Packages that are over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) are charged a 'dimensional weight" if shipped via Parcel Select Ground or Priority Mail. Retail Ground doesn't have a dimensional weight. A package with the dimensions that you specified would ship at the 16-pound rate if you printed a label on eBay (for either Parcel Select or Priority Mail). But at the Post Office you can purchase Retail Ground at the 8-pound rate. However, the rule for Retail Ground is that if you are shipping to Zones 1 - 4 it can only be used for contents that require ground shipping, such as hazmat or live animals.

csbbct · ‎08-09-2019

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
Dimensional rates came into affect in the late June. Packages that are over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) are charged a 'dimensional weight" if shipped via Parcel Select Ground or Priority Mail. Retail Ground doesn't have a dimensional weight. A package with the dimensions that you specified would ship at the 16-pound rate if you printed a label on eBay (for either Parcel Select or Priority Mail). But at the Post Office you can purchase Retail Ground at the 8-pound rate. However, the rule for Retail Ground is that if you are shipping to Zones 1 - 4 it can only be used for contents that require ground shipping, such as hazmat or live animals.

Yes, I knew about dimensional rates. But what I missed (and thought others may have also missed so I wanted to bring this thread back) was that there are times for zones 5-9 you will have the option to bring it to the post office and pay at the window for Retail Ground and save quite a bit. In my case for a zone 7 shipment Retail Ground at the post office was $19.73 but buying online using Parcel Select would have been $35.93. It was the first time I had that happen since dimensional rates went into effect.

For those needing to identify shipping zones you can find them here -https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart

As mentioned above, you will be limited to parcels requiring ground transportation (hazardous materials, etc) to use Retail Ground in zones 1-4.