eBay

trucknut-nj · ‎10-02-2019

Hello,

I am trying to calculate a combined price for a buyer from OH on the USPS site. It is a larger package 20x10x10. Weight is 6 lbs 4 oz. After I put in all of the shipping information, on USPS site, I only have three options that come up- Priority Express, Priority, and Media Mail. I've been doing this almost 20 years and don't know why I am not seeing a Parcel Select or Retail Ground option. It's too late to call my Post Office so looking for any assistance. I have tried 4 times on the USPS site and keep getting only these three options. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎10-02-2019

You won't see Parcel Select, because it's n online service and IIRC the usps.com site only shows retail prices.

Retail Ground is supposed to be used only for Zone 5 - 9, unless the contents must be shipped via ground (e.g., hazmat). So if you have plugged in a ZIP Code that yields a Zone of 4 or closer, then USPS won't show Retail Ground if you haven't checked off one of the boxes that asks about hazmat, animals, etc.

Here's a shipping calculator from eBay that might suit your needs better:

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

lja440 · ‎10-03-2019

It's easier to use, www.paypal.com/shipnow to check on postage options pricing. It's OK to print postage from there too only you will have to manually input the tracking number onto your purchase page.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎10-03-2019

PayPal shipnow won't show prices for Regional Ground or for the Priority Mail Regional-rate boxes. Also, you have to enter a full address, whereas the eBay shipping calculator will work with just a pair of ZIP Codes.

lja440 · ‎10-04-2019

True, none of the systems are perfect. PayPal is my go to but others may like different systems. If I don't have a complete address I'll google the Post office address in that zip. I get around the RR boxes by entering 2# and 5# ,I know not exact but close enough for a combined shipping quote. and I always honor my quotes.

I'm not sure what the issue is but eBay calculator has always worked rather slow for me. I have a couple other auction sites that bog down with my computer. I have Hughesnet and it is problematic.

richard1rst · ‎10-06-2019

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
You won't see Parcel Select, because it's n online service and IIRC the usps.com site only shows retail prices.

Retail Ground is supposed to be used only for Zone 5 - 9, unless the contents must be shipped via ground (e.g., hazmat). So if you have plugged in a ZIP Code that yields a Zone of 4 or closer, then USPS won't show Retail Ground if you haven't checked off one of the boxes that asks about hazmat, animals, etc.

Here's a shipping calculator from eBay that might suit your needs better:

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

I am in Nevada and I have a package that only weighs 4 ounces going to Arizona (literally the next state over). Parcel Select does show on eBay as an option. Interestingly it does NOT show on USPS.com. Obviously first class is the better choice, but it does show. I am guessing that NV to AZ is within the zones 1-4 you mention. Maybe they have rethought it.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

nobody*s_perfect · ‎10-06-2019

@richard1rst wrote: ... I have a package that only weighs 4 ounces going to Arizona (literally the next state over). Parcel Select does show on eBay as an option. Interestingly it does NOT show on USPS.com. ...

Parcel Select will never show in the pricing calculator for usps.com because they show only retail prices.

If Retail Ground isn't showing up then they haven't "rethought it;" they are doing what I suggested: not showing Retail Ground as a shipping option for Zones 1 - 4, except for packages that require ground shipping.

richard1rst · ‎10-06-2019

Unfortunately, "never" isn't quite what it used to be.

Additionally, when I bring up this 4 ounce item and click "sell similar" I do get the option of selecting "parcel select".

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

dasarock · ‎10-06-2019

@trucknut-nj wrote:
Hello,
I am trying to calculate a combined price for a buyer from OH on the USPS site. It is a larger package 20x10x10. Weight is 6 lbs 4 oz. After I put in all of the shipping information, on USPS site, I only have three options that come up- Priority Express, Priority, and Media Mail. I've been doing this almost 20 years and don't know why I am not seeing a Parcel Select or Retail Ground option. It's too late to call my Post Office so looking for any assistance. I have tried 4 times on the USPS site and keep getting only these three options. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

parcel select ground and retail ground are two separate beasts with different pricing. retail ground can only be purchased at the usps counter inside the post office.

pjcdn2005 · ‎10-06-2019

@richard1rst wrote:

Unfortunately, "never" isn't quite what it used to be:

Additionally, when I bring up this 4 ounce item and click "sell similar" I do get the option of selecting "parcel select".

I’m not sure why you think that a price for Parcel Select shouldn’t come up on eBay. As nobody*s perfect mentioned, it IS available on eBay, but not on the usps.com website.

Parcel select is not subject to the same zone 1-4 restrictions that Retail Ground has.