Particular label availability?

[dantekratoscloud]

I was not sure how to title these issues that came up accordingly and I'll describe it to the best I of my ability.

I usually sell mostly trading cards and the process is very simple. If the listing is 20 and under it can be shipped via the ebay standard envelope option. That is 99% of what I do so there is no issues most of the time aside from the usual once in a while usps marks it as delivered at the truck and it actually get to the buyer a few hours or even a day later.

For the first time I decided to sell a pack of card sleeves, and as I was on the listing and put in the appropriate dimensions of my bubble mailer and it's weight, it told me that it was considered First Class Mail Large envelope and the shipping was $1.63 this is what was I had set before I clicked the list button.

However, when the pack of sleeves sold and I tried to print the shipping label, that option for USPS first class was no longer an option, even though I put in the correct dimensions and weight. And all of the shipping options available costed pretty much the price of the product itself.

The best I was able to do because I wanted to get it to the customer as fast I could was send them a message saying that it was now being sent out with stamps and could no longer provide the tracking It initially would have had.

In a different sale that was just made two days ago, the buyer claimed that when he purchased the trading card they claimed that they chose usps first class, but in reality, it was ebay standard envelope.  As respectfully I was able to say and with a screenshot of my own as evidence, I told them.

The card on my end was listed as a ebay standard envelope, and it also shows that was the service you selected. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

My two questions in regard to both instances are.

1) Why would ebay offer me the option for a particular shipping service during the listing but then it winds up unavailable when its actually time to print the label?

 2) Is it possible for me to list something with the ebay standard envelope as the only option but on the buyer's side they see something different?

I understand that ebay is not perfect by any means but in these instances, I can see why a buyer with no malicious intentions would assume that I am trying to cheat them out of a shipping service they selected. And in turn it makes it awkward for both parties involved.

[wastingtime101]

Hi @dantekratoscloud . On the listing that offered eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) exclusively, that is the service the buyer would see - nothing else.

Your first situation is a case where you need to research a shipping service before offering it on the listing. First Class Letters/Flats are untracked. So while eBay does allow you to offer that service, you cannot purchase a label for that service through eBay. You'd go to the PO to buy a label or just use postage stamps in the correct amount. If you have a stamps.com you can buy untracked First Class labels there.

What eBay did, since you wanted to purchase a label through eBay, is default your shipping label to the least expensive package service: USPS Ground Advantage

What you described, a bubble mailer with a pack of card sleeves, does not sound like it would meet the flexibility and uniform thickness requirements for First Class Flats, so you would have had to buy a package service label anyway. I suggest updating any listings where you may have offered a service for which the item does not physically qualify.

Things to keep in mind regarding untracked First Class letters/flats:

• USPS First Class Letter (untracked): max weight 3.5 oz / max dim 11.5x6x0.25
• USPS First Class Large Envelope/Flat (untracked): max weight 13oz / max dim 15x12x0.75 (and it must be flexible & of uniform thickness)

[12345jamesstamps]

"they claimed that they chose USPS first class"....that usually arrives very quick 4-5 days cross country vs. tracking of anything. Buyer might have wanted item quicker.

"bubble mailer"...those usually are considered a package not an envelope...that might be returned with incorrect postage to the seller...some of those envelope even say "bubble envelope" on the back.

Probably would be best what the buyer requests as mailing and a simple email to buyer would work.

Not really allowed to change how item is shipped...however, when I do an upgrade for free buyer seems very happy.

[kensgiftshop]

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@dantekratoscloud wrote:

1) Why would ebay offer me the option for a particular shipping service during the listing but then it winds up unavailable when its actually time to print the label?

 

Same reason they offered USPS Retail Ground.

You could offer it, but you couldn't buy a shipping label, you had to buy it at the PO.

They try to give sellers different options so they can choose what shipping options they want to offer.

If the only option you offer in a listing is Ebay Standard Envelope, that's all the buyer will see.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@dantekratoscloud wrote: ...

1) Why would ebay offer me the option for a particular shipping service during the listing but then it winds up unavailable when its actually time to print the label? ....

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  eBay wants sellers to be able to offer any service, BUT eBay has chosen not to offer postage labels for First Class letters and flats, probably because they do not come with tracking. You can just put stamps on items that are eligible for those services.

 As noted in another post, a flat (AKA Large envelope) must be flexible and not over 3/4 inch thick. Your package of card sleeves should have been listed as shipping via Ground Advantage, not First Class flat.