Parcel vs Retail prices

[davidanorman1944]

I attempted to print a shipping label today and the dimensions are 20 x 17 x 9 and the weight 3 lb 6 oz and parcel is $42 when retail is $19 and no discount is being added at all. I called eBay and USPS. USPS took my dimensions and weight and calculated it to cost $12 and change. I researched the rates and anything under 130 inches combined falls under these rates. Parcel ground should be cheaper than retail. I’ve never had this issue in over 12 years of using eBay. USPS recognizes this as an error but eBay is just giving me the run around. Has anyone else run into this issue?

[coffeebean832]

There's currently a loophole in the USPS system where you can ship a package Retail Ground at the post office and avoid dimensional weight charges as long as your package is not shipping to zones 1-4 (where retail ground isn't an option with the exception of hazardous materials, live animals, etc.)

Your 20x17x9 4 pound package to zone 5 is $12.38 retail ground.

The same packaged shipped with postage printed online will be subject to dimensional rate. (20 x 17 x 9)/166 = apx 18.4 = 19 pound rate.

A 19 pound parcel select package to zone 5 is $31.37

A 19 pound priority mail package to zone 5 will be very similar in price when the label is purchased online

Retail rules-

"For parcels that measure in combined length and girth more than 84 inches but not more than 108 inches, and the piece weighs less than 20 pounds, use the 20-pound price (balloon price) based on the applicable zone.

For parcels that measure in combined length and girth more than 108 inches but not more than 130 inches, use the oversized price, regardless of weight, based on the applicable zone."

Your package has length + girth of 72 inches so neither of these rules apply to your package.

Parcel rules-

"For parcels that measure in combined length and girth more than 108 inches but not more than 130 inches, use the oversized price, regardless of weight, based on the applicable entry.

Parcels that exceed one cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) are charged based on the actual weight or the dimensional weight, whichever is greater (as calculated in DMM 253.1.3)."

Your package exceeds 1 cubic foot so this rule does apply to your package.

[davidanorman1944]

It’s only 3 lb 6 oz. where are you getting the 19 lb from I’m confused? I’ve never had this issue before.

thanks

[nobody*s_perfect]

Starting on June 23, 2019, USPS is applying a 'dimensional weight" to all packages over 1 cubic foot (i.e., 1728 cubic inches) if they are being shipped via Priority Mail or Parcel Select Ground.  Somehow, Retail Ground was not included in this policy change.

The formula for figuring the dimensional weight is the volume (in cubic inches) divided by 166. Your package has a volume of 3060 cubic inches, so its dimensional weight is 3060/166 = 18.43 pounds. So it will ship at the 19-pound rate if you ship via Priority Mail or Parcel Select Ground, but at the 4-pound rate if you ship via Retail Ground.

[davidanorman1944]

Wow that’s insane! I thought the whole incentive for printing labels online was bc it’s cheaper and you’re not holding up the line at the post office. I’ve never shipped anything ground within the US for more than $30 in my 12 plus years of selling on eBay. That’s international shipping prices. Why would anyone print a label versus going into the post office and waiting in line when it’s 3 times cheaper?!?! Both FedEx and UPS are now cheaper than parcel so why would I or anyone else continue to use it? I guess when I run into this overpriced **bleep** I will just take it in myself which is a hassle but not worth the extra $20-30. Hell FedEx is only $21 for the same package for a printable label. I hope they change this in the near future. I def won’t be using it over anything cheaper. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

One more crazy tidbit to add to this story: You can't use Retail Ground to ship to Zones 1 - 4, unless it's something that MUST travel by ground per USPS rules, such as hazmat or live animals.

[davidanorman1944]

Yeah that’s def crazy. I suspect usps will be losing a lot of business bc of this. I know I will just go with FedEx with any of these zone issues when retail ground isn’t available. 

Thanks for the info. It’s sad I spoke w eBay 5 times in the last 24 hours and they couldn’t explain this to me. I also spoke w USPS and they didn’t give me this information either. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

I suspect that the folks at USPS's 800 number are only trained in retail.  And I also suspect that the eBay Help staff get no training at all regarding the US postal system.

[futurespast1113]

One more crazy tidbit to add to this story: You can't use Retail Ground to ship to Zones 1 - 4, unless it's something that MUST travel by ground per USPS rules, such as hazmat or live animals.

To get around that all you have to do is throw in a free alcohol wipe in a foil pouch or some kind of dollar store perfume or air freshener for your customer and now you instantly have hazmat in your box and you get the cheaper rate. I think I am going to get my logo put on a bunch of alcohol wipes to give out to my customers like a business card. If the post office asks if you have a hazardous substance in the box you won't be lying. There's always ways get get around these dumb loopholes that will save you money.